This is a picture of my QSL card; photo on the front of my card shows God's miracle of creation, which never ceases to amaze me. Every summer, spiders build their webs on top of the zinnia flowers in my garden. Insects that are attracted to the nectar in the flowers are no match for this ingenious trap. I look forward to sending you my QSL card and hope you enjoy the beauty!

Originally licensed as a Novice in November 1977, I have been active ever since. I love to rag chew, work DX, and operate both SSB and CW. I have recently started contesting (actually submitting my logbook) and look forward to working you on one of the contests, SSB or CW.

Recent ARRL awards include DXCC (Mixed, CW, SSB, and Digital), 5BDXCC, Triple Play Award, 5BWAS, and DX Challenge. I love to collect QSL cards - see my QSL policy below.

Jesus is Lord of my life - although I fail miserably on a daily basis, I continually ask the Good Lord to assist me in my daily journey of picking up the cross and following Him. The highlight of each and every day is going to daily Mass. Jesus, I trust in You!

Doing some antenna work on top of the 80 foot Rohn tower.

A beautiful view of my tower as the sun is setting.

View of the back yard from the top of the tower at sunset.

My modest station.

A couple of nice shots of my antenna array - the tower is an 80 foot Rohn 45G and the antenna stack includes Hy-gain 14 el on 2 meters, OptiBeam OB2-40 on 40 meters, M2 5 el on 6 meters, and a Hygain TH11DX for 20 - 10 meters. I also have a full wave loop for 30 meters and inverted vees for 80 meters and 160 meters. The picture on the left is during autumn. The picture on the right is a nighttime shot of a full moon illuminating the tower.

I am using a K9AY receiving antenna for 160 meters and 80 meters. My tower is in the background.

Putting the top section on the tower. I built the antenna stack, mast, and top section on the ground and hoisted it into place with a crane. Although I'm not terribly fond of being up that high, I was glad to get the project completed.

The KBØEO antenna stack and tower survived a brutal 75 mph sustained wind storm in November 2010 - I took a brief video of the antennas - everything took the pounding and survived fine.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDMOvPRXr6k

This is why I love 10 meters - check out this great video my friend Enrico IW3FZQ made of our recent QSO on 10 meters -he is using awalkie-talkie with 1 watt - QSO between Minnesota and Italy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XPxIiHDWuU

My DXCC mixed award - I placed stamps from around the world around the perimeter of the award showing some of the places I have worked.

Fishing for the elusive rainbow trout on one of Minnesota's Lake Superior tributaries.

Setting up camp at our 30-acre wilderness site near Lake Superior (Duluth, MN).

Target practicing in the back yard with a Sig Sauer P6 9mm.

Getting a little pheasant action in the "back yard".

Drinking a toast to the brave men who lost their lives during the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I am sipping the great Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from the Great Lakes Brewing Company while standing on the shores of Lake Superior. "The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early."

I also do a little bluegrass picking in my spare time - I play the 5 string banjo and guitar. This is a photo of a band I used to play with - we are playing "Man Of Constant Sorrow" at the Minnesota State Fair in front of a couple thousand people (that's me with the banjo).

Yes, I am a hacker. Golf is a game that is best enjoyed while consuming some adult beverages.

A Todos Mis Amigos Que Hablan Español

Trato de aprender español. Espero practicar mi español contigo. Por favor ténganme paciencia ya que mi español no es muy bueno todavía. Por favor ayúdame a aprender nuevas palabras y frases. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.

An meine Deutsch sprechenden Freunde

Vor einigen Jahren habe ich am College die Deutsche Sprache studiert. Unglücklicherweise habe ich einen grossen Teil davon vergessen. Nun versuche ichmeine Sprachkenntnisse sowohl in Deutsch als auch in Spanisch zu verbessern. Ich hoffe dabei sehr, die QSO in verständlichem Deutschabwickeln zu können undfreue mich über jede damit verbundene Hilfe.

DX Code Of Conduct

• I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling.
• I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
• I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DX station's call sign before calling.
• I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone calling and will never tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
• I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before I call.
• I will always send my full call sign.
• I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call continuously.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another call sign, not mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a call sign not like mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than mine.
• When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my call sign unless I think he has copied it incorrectly.
• I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
• I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself as to earn their respect.
• KBØEO addendum: If you have already worked a DX station on a band/mode, why do you need to clutter up the pileup by working him again? Put your ego aside and let those hams work the station who really need it.

My QSL Policy

QSLing is an integral part of ham radio. As an avid award chaser, I QSL a lot via LoTW and QSL cards. I want to have at least one QSL card per DX entity - after that, I prefer confirmations via LoTW to fill out the band slots or modes.

• LoTW - I upload 100% of QSOs to LoTW - usually within 1-2 days of QSO. Please use Logbook of the World - it is a fantastic system for quickly confirming QSOs. Please upload to LoTW on a reqular basis - it really sucks to make a contact and then have to wait a year for the LoTW upload.
• If you need my state, county, etc., send me a direct card with or without an SASE - I will QSL 100%. I always appreciate an SASE or an SAE and 1 green stamp.
• DX stations - If I really need your country, I will send my card direct with appropriate $$$ to cover return postage. Please do not let this become a money making enterprise - some stations keep the money and never return their cards. If you need my QSL direct, I always appreciate an SAE and 1 or 2 green stamps to cover postage.
• eQSL - I am an AG user on eQSL, but I do not upload my logs. If you need my QSL on eQSL, you need to send me a notification to confirm the QSO.
• Contest QSLs- I will only QSL for contests via LoTW. If I need your card, I will most likely send mine direct. If you need my card, send me an email and we'll figure out the best way to get it to you.
• BURO QSLs - the BURO is extremely slow. I will send my QSL via the buro ONLY if I receive yours first OR you tell me during the QSO that you want a BURO card OR you send me an email. Cards will go out with my next shipment, currently running 2 times per year.