First licensed in 1959 as KN4QEE in Columbia, SC. On air with Hammarlund HQ129X and homebrew transmitter during high school. Purchased first SSB rig while a student at Clemson. After graduating my interest slowly waned and I let my license expire. In 1976, I got a dose of interest and took the trek to the Long Beach FCC office. Walked out having passed everything for my Extra class license. A few weeks of waiting resulted in a brand new call sign - AB6R. Lots of contesting and field days with the Ventura County (CA) club.

In 1979 we moved to Cypress, CA and I put up a 15 meter monobander on a pushup mast and got on the air big time. Over time, the station was upgraded and the final configuration was a KT34A on a roof mounted 27' mini-tower. Lots of DXing and contesting with the Hughes Aircraft Fullerton club (K6QEH). During a trip to Europe, I operated 4U1ITU for a day. Great fun!

In 1999 we moved to Tiverton, Rhode Island where I changed my callsign from AB6R to N1NK, re-established my station, and significantly upgraded it from the AB6R configuration. A TS2000 and vertical came first with many subsequent changes. A 54' crankup tower was installed and now has a 3 element SteppIR DB-18E on top with a M2 6M5X 6m yagi above that. Miscellaneous dipoles fill out the low bands A second 45' crankup tower hosts a variety of yagis, Either a 5 el 10m or 3 el 15m yagi is used during HF contest season and a 5 el 6m yagi is used for summer Es season.

A SteppIR DB18E purchased from the estate of a SK has replaced the current 3 element SteppIR.

The current rig configuration is:

  Primary station: Elecraft K3/100 s/n 2295, Elecraft P3, Expert 1.3K-FA

  Secondary station: Elecraft K3//100 s/n 6866 + K144XV, Elecraft P3, Acom 600s

DXCC totals currently stand as follows (339 current DXCC entities):

    Mixed 338 worked, 338 confirmed missing only P5 (North Korea)

    Phone - 337 worked, 337 confirmed, missing only P5 and 5A (Libya)

    CW - 338 worked, 338 confirmed missing only P5

    Digital - 243 worked, 233 confirmed

    6m total is currently 100 worked, 100 confirmed. 6m DXCC certificate 1,518 issued July 1, 2017

DXCC Challenge total is 2,419.  (all statistics current as of 11 July 2016)

As of May 2017 N1NK is active on 2m EME with a small to medium sized station.  The hardware lineup is:

• pair 9 element H + V LFA yagis
• pair WA2ODO preamps (RX channel)
• HA1YA 144 -> 28 MHz dual channel downconverter (RX channel)
• Afredi AFE822x dual channel SDR (RX channel)
• Beko HLV-1250 amplifier (TX channel)
• HA1YA 144 - 28 MHz transverter (TX channel)
• K3 s/n 6425 (TX channel)
• M2 S2 sequencer controlling the flashing lights and clicking relays
• Linrad software and MAP65/WSJT

N1NK plans to be active as much as possible, especially with moon above 20 degrees and east of 210 degrees.  Interference from large oak trees is present, especially in summer.  EME qsos are qsl'd 100%.  No IRC or $$ needed. 

Schedule requests for anyone needing Rhode Island for 2m (or any other band) WAS are welcome.

N1NK has operated 4 dxpeditions: VE2/N1NK (zone 2), CY0/N1NK (one of CY0MM ops), MJ/N1NK and J6/N1NK.

N1NK is an ARRL DXCC field checker.

N1NK is qsl manager for XE1UN and YS1GR. All qsl requests will be promptly processed and returned by direct mail or bureau as appropriate.

N1NK is a Logbook of the World User with 28,469 qsos and 12,439 confirmations for all call signs.