Licensed since 1956, first off as a Novice and then Conditional; that was a long time ago. I let my license expire some years after that BUT I re-took the exams and thoroughly enjoy being back into Ham Radio.

Currently into QRP and operate CW about 98% of the time; the other 2% is SSB but only in an emergency! My main rig, currently is a Ten Tec Argonaut V 516 and I have an Elecraft K1 (160 meters through 15 meters)for my back up and /p rig. My antenna is a 43 foot Vertical, replete with 80 elevated radials at varying lengths, a 160 meter loading coil (switchable via relay control from the shack) and an LDG Z11ProII tuner at the base; that antenna system is working FB!

"QRP is" and my evidence: WAC, WAS and DXCC (140) with my QRP rigs and wire antennas;all of that in the past 3.5 years! I thoroughly enjoy operating on the lower bands, 40 through 160; I completed QRP WAS on 160 meters on 22 February, 2012 and QRP WAS on 80 meters on 22 April, 2012!

Currently, I am the Contest Manager for QRP ARCI so feel free to e-mail me with comments on how that org's contesting process is doing!

Affiliations: CW OPS 202; ARS 2346;SKCC 3314; NAQC 1974; QRP ARCI 12912.

Note: I utilize the ARRL QSL bureau for DX cards. Other QSLs can be sent direct or via LoTW.

I enjoy hiking and walking and, on occasion, use a /p rig, my K1, along with end fed half wave sloper antennas and a KI6J antenna tuner while "out and about." If you are interested in an end fed half wave tuner that's small, efficient and easy to build, e-mail me and I'll send you the info on that KI6J tuner.

That picture,in the upper right hand corner, was taken one early morning here in s/w Utah - you can see the 43' vertical and three sloping top hat wires, 25'each --- that antenna system, including an LDGZ11ProII autotuner at the base, works very well onTop Band and up to 20meters!

72, Jim Rodenkirch, K9JWV