I have been a licensed ham since September 1974, having discovered this hobby at the age of 15 when I was still in high school.  I have recently become active again and I am exploring the six meter band.  I intend to have dipoles up in the very near future where I can work 40 meters as well as 20.

My occupation is that of Senior RF Test Engineer.  I lead an effort to provide certification of some rather specialized HF transceivers, sort of what like Underwriters Laboratories does for consumer items except that I don't work for UL and our testing is not destructive.  These tests are for different customers and are done on different systems from different vendors.  It's a great job for a ham radio operator.  Before that I worked on hardware verification for medical devices, systems and test engineering for a planned manned spaceflight effort, and in other areas of the aerospace industry.  I've tested satellite ground stations as well, and even though it would be neat to get back into that I can't say that I liked the traveling that was involved with it (aside from those trips I did to Japan).  

My callsign history is as follows:

• WN2WVB, Randolph NJ, September 1974 to March 1975
• WN4ROS, Manassas VA, March 1975 to March 1976
• WN6MPP, San Jose CA, March 1976 to September 1976
• WA6MPP, San Jose CA/Santa Cruz CA, September 1976 to March 1999
• W7DCM, Tucson AZ, since March 1999.

These days hamwise, I frequent the Eastern Arizona Amateur Radio Society's linked repeaters on some evenings when I get the chance, and on some weekend afternoons.  This system has an excellent community feel to it.  If you're in southern AZ or southern NM, check them out!   

And as stated above, I'm on six meters and having a lot of fun there.  I think it would be neat if I could bag WAS on this band, and so I'm going for it.  I'm also pursuing VUCC.  If you're a new grid square, please QSL!  

What else?  I maintain a blog page to chronicle my on the air adventures.  I plan on writing some articles as well as some stories.  I'm doing this mainly to practice my writing skills and not for anything else.  What I would really like for that is a non ham to stumble upon it, read about ham radio, and say "you know, that guy is having a lot of fun!  I'd like to get into ham radio too!"  If I can get a scanner that I recently acquired for free to work, I will post some QSLs from memorable contacts that I've enjoyed over the years.  The blog is not as slick as the other ham blogs, but as I learn more about blogging maybe I'll catch up.  The page is w7dcm at blogspot dot com.  I don't advertise it on the air nor is it on my QSL cards.  

Speaking of QSLs,  I realize that we are several years into the 21st century but I'm old school when it comes to QSLing.  I like exchanging QSL cards; it's one of my favorite ham radio traditions.  Yes, it's fun to collect countries, states, counties, and grid squares, but it's more of a memento of communicating with a fellow ham and perhaps that good propagation that you got to enjoy.

ATTN  SWLs:  if you hear me on the air (NOT via a repeater) and would like a QSL from me, please send me an email!  You'll need to tell me when you heard me, and who I was talking to (or if I was calling CQ) and please don't forget to tell me how my signal was.  In your email, please tell me your name and address where you want me to send you a card.  Please tell me about yourself and your receiver.  Postage is on me, OK?  I'll shoot you an email to let you know your report was received.  It doesn't matter where you are..........stateside, across the pond. or right here in Arizona.  I was once where you are, and if this will help your interest in ham radio, I'm all for it.  

Future plans:  a return to HF later on this summer, mainly with a telegraph key I've had for over 40 years.  Exploring the WARC bands (I'll start first with 30 meters).   Portable operation the next time I'm out on a hunting trip.  Setting up for portable operation in Hidalgo County NM.  I'm also thinking of getting the Yaesu FT-2900 for base and mobile two meter operation, but I'm an HF guy at heart and so the 2900 is backburnered for now.  (There will also be frequent re-writing of this QRZ page as that it never seems to be to where I want it.  That's the trouble with being an engineer, you're always wanting to change things!)

I hope to see you on the air!  If we've QSO'd before, please give me the pleasure of another one!

best of 73s,

Dave