Nickname is Jim. Was inactive for a number of years until 1997, when we managed to get the children out of the house and into college. Primary operating interest is cw on the hf bands. Occasional PSK31. Enjoy cw contests, preferably domestic ones like Sweepstakes, North American QSO Party, etc. While code speed has never been a problem, had to study the tech side to obtain my Extra Class license in July, 1998. Member of ARRL and the North Carolina chapter of the Potomac Valley Radio Club. PVRC, http://www.pvrc.org/ is a contesting club in the unlimited class. Other hobbies over the years have included flying and hot air ballooning. Radio: Kenwood TS-850SAT. Antennas: TH7DXX tribander and rotating 40M dipole on 75' Rohn tower; dipoles on 80M and 160M. Use N6TR software for rig control and logging in contests.

Rev: K4QPL - 3/31/2003

UPDATE 1/28/2008. Time flies and almost 5 years since last update. Added two beverages for low band receive. Took the rotating dipole off as suspected it interfered with the tribander on 15. Added a 2-element wire beam on 40M aimed west for SS and other domestic contests. Finally abandoned TR in favor of N1MM contest software. Major change is that the TS850 has been relegated to the second radio for SO2R. An Orion II is now the primary radio and Wow! What a receiver! Roofing filters kill QRM and DNR makes low bands a pleasure. Easy copy for stations that don't even hear me. Operate the big DX CW contests as an operator at NY4A and compete in the smaller ones from home.