I was first licensed as a Novice in 1965 as WN3AGC and followed the licensing progression to Technician, General, and Advanced over the next two years. As a Technician I became WA3AGC. In those days we only had a year to move beyond Novice. In August, 2011, I changed my call from NJ3Z, which I had for about 25 years, to W3QT. I work mostly CW, but occasionally check into a net or two on SSB and have just begun to dabble a bit in the digital modes. (You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!)

In addition to my primary rig, an Icom 756 Pro III, I also use an IC-7000 as my backup rig and for digital modes.  I occasionally use an AL-811 amp when calling a needed DX or checking into a net. I never use an amp on 10 meters, so it's just fine for my needs unmodified. Years ago I decided I didn't have to push every watt possible into the antenna to make the contacts I wanted to make, so I downsized to a smaller amp from my AL-572. I use two antenna tuners, a Palstar AT1KM and a Tokyo Hy-Power HC-2000 (very nice). Playing around with antennas is a big part of my ham enjoyment. I’m always changing antennas (on a quest for that "perfect" antenna). I use 450 or 600 ohm tuned feeders on a full-sized 80 meter dipole for multiband operation, an 80 meter inverted L, a 30 meter inverted vee, a Tennadyne T6 LPDA for 20 - 10 meters, and an M2 beam on 6 meters. Through many years of dedicated experimentation I've found that the best time to put up a new antenna generally is mid-winter, temperature in the 20s and a few inches of snow on the ground!

An additional interest of mine is collecting Vibroplex bugs. Here's a link to my modest collection:

or it can be found under the “Details” tab on this page. I invite you to take a peek. The bug I usually use is a beautiful 1937 fully nickel plated #6 (Lightning). On Straight Key Night I get out my 1905 Vibroplex Original (pictured below - one of the first thousand serial numbered Vibroplexes) and use it on a nostalgic journey back into CW history.  It would be amazing if we were in as good a condition when we're over 100 years old and still have all our parts working flawlessly!!

I’ve worked fixed in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana and mobile in many states under my WA3AGC and NJ3Z calls. After receiving my PhD from Purdue we moved back to Pennsylvania in the early 90s where we expect to stay until the key goes silent. I look forward to meeting you on the air.