I got my Novice license in 1959, and got on the air with a Collins 75A-2 receiver and WRL Globe Chief Deluxe CW transmitter. I upgraded to General in 1960 and added a screen modulator and VFO for AM phone. I then traded for a Collins 75A-4 and got a Central Electronics 100V for SSB, using a Mosley TA-33 Jr beam and a folded dipole. I was active through the 1960s (using the club station at Brown University), but my career in computers took over and I unfortunately let my license expire.

In mid 2003, I re-tested and got back on the air using my original call K0ZXU as a vanity call. I upgraded in 2006 and got vanity call K6XZ. Finally in 2009, I was able to get this call.

My primary HF station now is a Kenwood TS-2000, sometimes with an Ameritron ALS-600 amp. I enjoy both SSB and PSK31. One HT is also a Kenwood -- TH-D7A(g).

I enjoy D-Star Digital Voice. At home,I've set up a small repeater using a Star*Board Node Adapter and DUTCH*Star WinDV software. Some people would call this a full duplex D-Star Hotspot. An ICOM 91AD talks to the hot spot. I use an ICOM ID-800H D-Star radio in my car.

I am alsoenjoying QRP with my FT-817ND and the NUE-PSK Digital Modem. I sometimes take them to the field using a Pacific Antennas PAC-12 ground mounted vertical.

I now have four functioning HF stations in the shack:

• my modern station
• my QRP station
• a re-creation of my first rig --on eBay I found an A2 & Globe Chief Deluxe with a Johnson 114-320 straight key with Navy knob
• my actual second station -- I pulled the 100V and A4 out of storage, where they sat for over 30 years. The A4 was beautifully restored and aligned by Howard Mills, W3HM. The 100V got the same treatment from Bob Sullivan, W0YVA. He also restored a beautiful CE 600L linear for this station -- admittedly I didn't have one back in the day, but I sure wanted one, so I got this on eBay. I just love to operate this 50 year-old station where the transmitter and linear are broadband - I touch only the bandswitch.

My other hobby is showing my dog (Hungarian Puli sheepdog). I find there's almost no cross-over of interest among people in each of these hobbies, which maybe is good!

Check out my website at http://www.k6jm.com for more, including photos of my boatanchors and my showdog. Also check out the website of my company, MoenComm LLC, at http://www.moencomm.com, where I sell the Star*Board D-Star Node Adapter.

I was off the air for over 33 years, but I'm back and very happy to be having fun again with this great hobby.