First licensed in 1961 as WV2SYM I upgraded to General Class the same year and received the call sign WA2SYM. I upgraded to Advanced Class in 1964. I held the call sign K2EGJ, and today hold W2LCQ which belonged to my Elmer Bob Rauhofer W2LCQ (SK) and which I requested in my 50th year as an Amateur Radio Operator. I would not be here today if it were not for Bob who showed a 16 year old kid how to make a 6L6/807 50 watt crystal controlled exciter work, and instilled my love for CW with a gift of a McElroy Champion bug. I still operate mostly CW today but also some SSB and FM. I enjoy rag chewing, contesting and working DX.

I am a proud member of CW Ops, QCWA, FISTS, SKCC, ARRL. I am NCO on Saturday mornings at 1500Z for the East Coast Amateur Radio Service (ECARS) net on 7.255Mhz. Drop in an say hello. I also belong to the Jarhead and Navy Amateur Radio Club (NARC) nets.

Station consitsts of an Icom756 Pro III running 100 watts to a 33 ft end fed inverted L wire up 30 ft, tossed into the top of a tree in front of my apartment building. Feed the antenna through an Icom AH-4 external auto tuner. Main key is a 1961 Vibroplex Original. I also use a Begali Contour for contests, and a J-38 straight key for SKN and SKCC events. VHF FM rig is a Yaesu 7800 with Diamond antenna.

I operate CW at around 35 wpm but will always QRS and enjoy helping new hams with the code. I am an instructor in the CWOps CW Academy. If you want a code buddy please contact me on email. Also, if you need New York County (Manhattan) for your WAC award I am happy to sked with you.

I retired from the telecom industry after 30 years at ITT, Sprint, MCI and Nextel and technology venture capital firms. Today I am a working actor in theater, film, and TV, proud member of SAG, AFTRA and AEA. You can see me on the hit CBS TV show Unforgettable on Tuesday evenings at 10:00 p.m. on your local CBS affiliate. I have a regular role as a NYPD detective. Other shows that I have appeared on are 30 Rock, Rescue Me, Law and Order Criminal Intent and SVU, Gossip Girl and Mercy. I have a recurring role as a gangster thug on the award winning HBO show Boardwalk Empire. Some of my hobbies include reading, listenting to all kinds of music, collecting U.S. an Russian postage stamps,, playing my guitar and riding my bike around the city.

Lastly, I am a proud Vietnam veteran and served in country as Communications/Fire Direction Officer of 1st Battalion 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division 1968-1969. A hearty Semper Fi and Welcome Home to all my brothers.

Please QSL direct, via the W2 bureau or eQSL. I reply to every QSL.