First licensed as KN9KYL in 1959, upgraded to K9KYL the following year. Let the ticket lapse for awhile while moving around courtesy of Uncle Sam. Got relicensed in 1975 while stationed in Nebraska, hence the W0PZD. Moved to Needles, California the following year and discovered the wonder of mountain top repeaters. Nearly gave up on HF until the challenge of QRP got me reinterested. Moved to Arizona (only a 5 mile move) in 1993. In May, 2002, I moved to Tucson, Arizona.

The first of February, 2013 I retired after 50+ years as an RN, 40 as a Nurse Practitioner.  My hamming time is now increased and I have become more active in the Radio Society of Tucson, serving on the Board of Directors. 

I still like QRP, am the proud owner of  Elecraft KX3 #3688, but find maybe life is a "bit short forQRP" especially on the lower bands.  I have gotten active in NTS traffic handing--have even made the PS honor roll monthly for over a year.  As a Volunteer examiner with our local Laurel VE Group we give monthly exams plus at least one extra exam session monthly and I send radiograms to each new ham or upgrade.

 Since 75 mtrs is not conducive to reliable QRP communications and some of the messages go out on HF I  added the Elecraft KXPA100 Amplifier.  My station is not quite ready to take on Net Control activity as I am still limited to very short antenna but checking in is doable on my Alpha J-pole Sr.  It"s only 34 feet long but I completed WAS/W1AW and have 36 countries in the log.

 Now I just need to figure out LOTW so I can keep track of my progress.

I tried D-star for awhile found that the programming was a bother and the local repeaters unreliable.   

My laterst pursuit are the digital modes.  I used to do PSK but find it repetative.  WSPR is a hoot.  I dug out my FT-817 and find it works well at 4 watts into an Alpha loop that I got for Radio-in-the-Park.  Now getting comfortable with JT65 and think it is the ultimate digital mode because you don't have to use your digits much  (almost NO typing!).  Haven't tried JT9 yet.  Have a new (to me) Yaesu Ft-991 that seems to work well on digital modes so it should see some activity.

Hope to catch you the air.   Dick  W0PZD