Because I'm quite
busy as a full-time college student and working full-time, I can be a little slow with processing my QSL cards
both paper and electronic. If you've not received one from me within a few weeks of our QSO please send me an email and
let me know. While I do use eQSL, I much prefer getting paper QSL cards since I collect
them. I will only send paper QSL cards direct and not via any bureau (I don't do enough DX to justify my use and expense
of a bureau).
I earned my Technician license in November 1997, being given the systematically assigned callsign of KD5COL. I then earned my General license in early 2008. I became active in HF as soon as I earned my General license and continue to be active today. I'm wanting to upgrade to my Extra class license sometime soon when I have the time to study.
I use 17, 20, and 40 meters for SSB and digital (mainly PSK31) DX. I don't get on the air nearly as much as I want to because of work, school, and life's other oblications. I enjoy ragchewing, a little contesting, and listening to shortwave at night. I also enjoy working special event stations as I love to collect QSL cards and certificates.
I am the District 7 SKYWARN Washington County Coordinator and a member of NorCars.
My shack consists of an ICOM IC-706MKII for my main HF rig and an Azden PCS-5000 for 2-meter work. I have an ICOM IC-735 that I have for a backup rig. I use a home-built G5RV Junior antenna as my main HF antenna. For 2 meter work, I have a copper J-pole my dad, Lyle KD7SXQ, built for me. My dad also built my shack's desk. I think the desk will last longer than I will!
I also own a Mosley RV-4C vertical antenna (10-40 meters) with the 80 meter coil. It's on "permanent loan" to my dad and he's partially restored it. I own a Hustler 5-BTV (10-40 meters) with the 80 meter coil. I'm busy restoring it and will hopefully be installing it soon in my back yard. I also have enough parts to build a 31' vertical with collapsible fiberglass masts but I think that will be a project for a time where I have more time.
I have several 2-meter and 440Mhz HTs. My main HT is a Wouxun KG-UV3D, a dual band 2 meter/440 mHz radio. I also have a Motorola Radius GP300 (mine is like the radio on the right in the picture) which is my "backup" 2-meter HT. I really like to use the GP300 for public/race communications. I also own a Yaesu VX-150, a Yaesu FT-23R with the CTCSS option and keypad, a Radio Shack HTX-200 "mini" HT, and an ICOM IC-04AT 440 mHz HT that I bought at a hamfest and haven't really messed with it much.
I hope to have updated pictures of my shack and equipment on this website when I have time to do that.
The obligatory picture of my shack (old):
Below is a picture of my G5RV Junior dipole antenna. This was the first antenna I'd built and it still works wonderfully. Unfortunately, my landlord cut down one of the trees I was using for supporting the antenna and I had to take the antenna down.
