I got my first ticket in the spring of 1970, and my first callsign was WNØBEK. In the Autumn of that year I passed both my General and Advanced tests and became WBØBEK. I got the callsign KDØCA in February 1983, and then passed my Extra Class test in the summer of 1985. I retired from the Environmental Protection Divison of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in April 2003, and found that I can now spend more time on Amateur Radio.

I enjoy Rag Chewing and casual operation using the PSK,Olivia, Contestia, MFSK, RTTY,and other digital modes as well as CW using a Side Swiper (Cootie Key), a straight key, a Vibroplex Original bug, and a laptop computer for keyboard CW. I joined the FISTS CW Club in February 2000 and I am FISTS #7064. My SKCC # is 5186. I am also a member of the American Amateur Radio League.

I operate mostly in the early mornings, and in Winter I spend a of lot time on 160 & 80 meters in both CW and digital modes. As the morning wears on, you'll find me on 40 meters and above as they bands begin to open for me. The rest of the year my operations are also mostly in the morning and I'm often on 40, 30, 20, and 17 Meter bands I have been able to enjoy portable QRP CW operation from various sites when my wife and I are traveling and camping in our motorhome.

My rigs are currently a Ten-Tec Eagle, model 599, and an IC-703+ rig which I use portable more often than at home. I enjoy homebrewing antennas, and I have some of my creations described on my Ham Radio web page as well as a couple interesting articles I've written and a description of my side swiper CW key. Come visit my web page at http://www.praisescribe.com/kd0ca.html

Other activities in my life are playing bass guitar and piano at Grace Fellowship Church in Iowa City, IA, and writing and arranging southern gospel and praise & worship music. I am also an active member of The Gideons International - you probably know us as the people who place Bibles in hotels and motels, and distribute Testaments to military & to college students on campus, etc.