US callsigns:

WN4ITB (1974 - 1975)

WA4ITB (1975 - 1981)

NW4Y (1981 - 1996)

K0EX (1996 - present)

DX callsigns: 

DA1MF OK8ANZ ZL0AEM SO9NW

Founder of "Rocky Mountain Telegraphers" - W0KV

Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL -- mentioned in Lynyrd Skynyrd's song 'Sweet Home, Alabama' -- and having lived in several very different QTHs for various reasons (jobs, school, etc.), I must say that Colorado is one of the best. It has some of the most beautiful and exciting outdoors anywhere! Here in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains, I enjoy snow-boarding, mountain-biking, camping, dirt-biking, street-motorcycling, and exploring remote 4WD-only areas. My 'motorhead' interests are my Harley-Davidson and BMW motorbikes (riding, wrenching, and restoration). Last-but-not-least, I love to travel -- as might be evident from the DX callsigns I've held.

I became interested in HAM radio because my father was a very active CBer in mid-late 60s. I recall his Browning Eagles (R27 & S23 pair), his 4el Gizmotchy yagi, and listening to him 'shoot skip' around the US and abroad. I was fascinated! Then one day in 1973, a new neighbor began to put up a tower and a yagi antenna. Curious, I rode my bicycle over for a visit. This new neighbor, Tom K4ZGB, did all the right things to spark my interest in becoming a HAM, even offering to elmer me. Due to his excellent coaching, I passed my Novice exam in early '74.

Thanks to Tom, I guess I can say that my favorite operating activity is CW, CW, and CW. I also chase DX, but not as religiously as I did years ago. After all, if one isn't yet on the Honor Roll, there's still some things to chase. right? In 2002, I took interest in QRP. I've built a couple of Elecraft K1s, Small Wonder Labs SW-40+ and SW-20+, and a Rock-Mite 20. From time-to-time, new things to build find themselves in the queue.

After 35+ years as a HAM, I've become radio-nostalgic for the 'old days'. I've collected some Heathkit, Ten-Tec, Collins, Hallicrafters, and Drake gear -- stuff I either had as a kid or wished I could have afforded back then. When I make room for another operating position, I plan to put some of this old equipment on the air.

My current antenna system consists of an old KLM 40m rotatable dipole above a Cushcraft A3S on 48ft of Rohn 25G.   Hanging on the tower is an EDZ cut for 40m, fed with 450ohm line for multi-band use. My small 50ft x 125ft piece of downtown property doesn't accomodate much! On the desk, I currently have an FT-950.  If needed, an AL-1500 is an arms-reach away.  A BT1500A tunes the EDZ.

I operate 99% CW.  If you'll ask, I'm happy to swap FISTS, SKCC, CWops, NAQCC, or ARS numbers.

My formal education includes an MSEE from Auburn University. After schooling at Auburn, I moved to Colorado for a position as a ThickFilm-Hybrid-MCM R&D Engineer.  Following that, I was an RF Applications Engineer, developing applications for micro-controller-based TX/RX/XCVR ICs.  I currently work as an IC Package Design Engineer. 

-Mark