I started my trek into Ham Radio back in the 60s when I was just a child. Our next-door neighbors were involved with the local Civil Defense and had a military style receiver in their basement that would pick-up the local police calls. I use to go over there often trying to understand how all this worked. Also, a childhood friend’s father had a Zenith Trans-Oceanic SWL radio. While over at their house he would let me listen to the short-wave broadcast bands. This led me to really wanting to pursue this wireless fantasy. My parents gave me a “Lafayette Explorer Air Mark V” shortwave receiver as a Christmas gift in 1968. After that, I went thru the CB craze in 1969 thru 1970. There I made friends with several guys that were on the CB band and they were also Ham Radio operators. I was also very lucky to have had a couple of great Elmer’s (Murf W4MRF & Uncle Bud W4QJU, both who are now SKs) in the mid to late 70’s.
I received my Novice license in January of 1971 and was assigned the callsign WN4TPF. Five months later I upgraded to the General class license and received the call WB4TPF. I passed the Advanced class in March of 1972 and in March of 1987 upgraded to Extra class. In 1996 I applied for the vanity call sign W4PF and received it. I’ve been licensed for over 47 years now.
I’m a graduate of the University of Louisville Speed Scientific where I majored in electronics and spent some 46 years working in the electronic field. I just retired from the local Gas and Electric Utility company the first part of 2017 after 39 ½ years of service where I held several technical positions; the last being the Telecommunications Supervisor.
My HF station consist of a complete Elecraft K3s line, a Kenwood TS-590SG & an Alpha 8410. The antennas are a HEX beam, end fed inverted “L”, and 40m OCF dipole. I spend a lot of time chasing DX, doing a little contesting, and monitoring the bands. I also enjoy any 6-meter openings. And oh, my preference is working CW!
Thank you for allowing me to join your group, and many thanks to my main sponsor, Glenn Petri KE4KY.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.