I was licensed as a Novice in 1978 at the age of 15 (former call is WB3LDX). My first station was a Heathkit DX-40 & VF-1, Hallicrafters SX-71 and J-38 straight key-- all gifts from my Elmer. I earned my General class ticket while in high school and upgraded the station to a Heath SB303/SB401 combination.

After relocating to Atlanta, GA in 1981 I acquired a TenTec Omni-D (if you've ever operated this rig, you know why I won't part with it!). My operation is 95% CW with sparse HF/VHF digital modes, too. In 1999, the QRP bug bit me and I built the DSW-30 kit from Small Wonder Labs and then the Elecraft K2 (later to become a K2/100). My only HF antenna is an extended double zepp up 30' in the pine trees and fed with ladder line, tuned on all bands 80-10m. With this QRP setup, I receive 559-589 QRP signal reports worldwide on all rigs @ 5W or less and worked over 120 DXCC entities in the year 2000.

Former Georgia ARES Digital Coordinator in 2001-2002. I co-sponsor the 'JASP' SEDAN node on 145.770 MHz on Mt. Olgethorpe (Jasper Co.) and served as the Georgia SEDAN Net Manager in 2001-2002. See more about SEDAN at http://www.sedan-central.org

Former NCS for Georgia Training Net on 80m CW and regularly handle traffic by CW and Pactor as a part of Georgia State Net (GSN).

Hope to hear you on the bands.

73, Barrett Thompson / KE4R Fayetteville, GA

QRP-ARCI 10600, FISTS-7944