Thanks for visiting my QRZ.com page! If we worked on the air, thanks for the QSO.

If you have a chance, visit my web page at:

http://n9dd.home.comcast.net/

On my web site you can see a lot more information, including my Ham Radio biography and Novice nostalgia, a gallery of my Short Wave QSLs from 1968-1971, an online logbook and stories of my exploits as a runner. I've run the Chicago Marathon 8 times in the last 9 years! If you visit, please sign the guest book. I love it when visitors let me know they've been there!

A friend asked "What is it about Ham Radio that fascinates you?" i thought for a second or two and then replied "There's something about assembling your own station - your own "pile of stuff" that you lovingly build or connect together, antennas that you install, string up or whatever. You take your personal collection of equipment, antennas and wires and through the magic of invisible magnetic and electrical waves traveling through space, you somehow connect with another human being, often thousands of miles away -- a kindred spirit, who has also assembled his own personal "pile of stuff." There is a shared joy in the accomplishment that is unmatchable by any other hobby."

You can usually find me on CW, PSK, RTTY or one of the many other digital modes. I do make the occasional phone contact, but that is usually during a contest. I've never been much of a rag chewer. I also enjoy chasing DX as much as I can with my meager 100 watts and wire antennas. I support the DX Code of Conduct and try my best to live up to it every day on the air.

As a young teen, I was an avid SWLer. During my senior year in high school I got my novice ham ticket WN9IUQ and then upgraded to WB9IUQ the next year. In 1977 I applied for a new call and got N9DD. I've been Donald Duck, Droopy Drawers, Dum Dum, etc. ever since!

Over the years I've been quite active on CW - especially QRP. I love building small receivers and transceivers and putting them on the air. I also enjoy contesting. I'm not very good at it, but I have fun.

Since January of 2009, I've been spending a lot of time on the K3UK LoTW sked page. I used it to get my last few contacts for the ARRL Triple Play Award (#86!) and had so much fun that I stuck around, giving Indiana contacts to anyone and everyone who needed one and making needed contacts for my own 5BWAS. The best part of the sked page is being able to become friends with all the regulars there. What a great bunch of helpful hams! I expect to continue checking in often, filling holes in my 5BWAS and DXCC totals and having more fun than ever with ham radio.

I use the ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) for QSLing. I usually upload immediately after a casual contact or at the end of a contest. I also upload logs to eQSL at the end of every month. If you don't use LoTW, PLEASE check it out. Initially getting signed up can be a bit daunting, but the reward of easy QSLing and instant gratification for QSOs is well worth it! I still love getting real QSL cards, but for awards and record keeping, LoTW can't be beat!

There was a time in my ham radio career that I wasn't very good at replying to QSL requests. If you've sent me a QSL card that I did not respond to, I apologize. Send me an email with the QSO info and I'll get you a card out ASAP.

73 and HAVE FUN! Tom, N9DD

FISTS 11672 -10-X 41235 - QRP ARCI 8081 - SKCC 2634 - Feld Hell Club 1792 - 30MDG 3531 - QRP-L 32 - G-QRP 6978 - NorCal QRP 342 - CQC 302

Valpo Tech - Class of 1975  Check out the "Valparaiso Technical Institute Alumni" group on Facebook! Informal reunion June 30, 2012.