MY HAM BIOGRAPHY

I started in ham radio in high school with a completely homebuilt station (transmitter and receiver). I later built a Heathkit HW-101. My current station radio is an Icom IC-706MkII. I also have several 2 meter and 440 HTs. My station is completely emergency powered.

I am a Member of the Clearwater (FL) Amateur Radio Club - http://www.carshamradio.org , the ARRL - http://www.wcfarrl.org , Pinellas County ARES - http://home1.gte.net/scout , and Pinellas County Skywarn - http://home1.gte.net/scout/skywarn .

Earlier, in Los Angeles, I was a member of the LA County Disaster Communications Service (RACES) - http://www.lacdcs.org , and the Baldwin Hills ARC - http://www.baldwinhillsarc.org .

My main ham activities are public service events and Field Day, I sometimes try some QRP, portable antenna experimenting, and an occasional contest. I'm just getting into APRS with a Kenwood TH-D7 and a Garmin GPS-V. I’ve got it set up as a portable tracker running bicycle mobile for public service events. Next, I'm planning to get onto PSK-31.

OTHER ACTIVITES

I've been involved in various aspects of communications and disaster services for about 45 years, as Civil Defense Communications Officer, Reserve Police Officer, Special Forces Radio Operator, Emergency Medical Technician, and Hamwatch.

Currently I am active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary as boat crew. air crew, and communications watchstander, both on Auxiliary privately owned boats and aircraft and on regular Coast Guard Facilities (41 ft patrol boats at Coast Guard Station Sand Key and HC-130 Hercules aircraft at Air Station Clearwater). I am also webmaster for the Clearwater flotilla - http://www.uscgaux.org/~0701101 .

I am active in the Red Cross in the Clearwater Branch of the Tampa Bay Chapter as a member of the Disaster Action Team and as a first aid instructor - http://www.redcrosstbc.org .

I am a Clearwater Fire & Rescue CERT team member (Community Emergency Response Team) http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/cert .

I am an active member of my church disaster assistance group (Church of Scientology).

Other current and past interests and activities include flying, guns, off-road 4x4, bicycling, rock climbing, skiing, photography, computers, SWLing, scanning, music (classical, jazz, country & western, bluegrass), and community activities with my church.

Phil