First off, let me say, I prefer an honest signal report, over the typical 5-9 given by contesters, looking for a 5-9. I give, and expect to receive, an HONEST signal report. Simple. I am not a vain man, and do not want some contester asking me 8 times for my call sign, then giving me a 5-9 report. PLEASE, give me an honest report, as that is what I will give to YOU.

I am fond of older, glow in the dark radios. There is something about the look, feel, and "ambiance", created when one operates a well adjusted tube type radio. My affinity for them began as a child, when I visited my uncle Walt, the original W3RXO, at his shack in Butler, PA, as he operated his old Collins 32V-3 and Hallicrafters SX-28 receiver. Currently, my "Boatanchors" include a Collins KWS-1 and 75A-4, a 32V-2 and 75A, a complete Collins RE "S" Line, including a 75S-3C, 32S-3, 312B-3, 312B-4 and a 516F-2, a Drake "B" Line, with the C-4, a Drake "C" Line with an L4-B, and an Alpha 374. 

I have recently had an epiphany, regarding foreign made goods, and want to "put my money, where my mouth is". I am ridding myself of most foreign made rigs. The few that will remain, will mostly be older Japanese rigs, that were actually manufactured in a FRIENDLY nation-Japan. No more cheap, toxic, made by slave labor, Chinese sweat shop goods will be in my shack. I am going through all of my gear and looking for the "Made in" label, and trading off, or selling, anything made in China, or any other enemy nation.

When I get moved, I plan to trade my TS-480HX for something older, and American made. Possibly a TR-7A with accessories, or a TR77 (the last rig on he short list, of desired classic American radios). I have admiration for the Chinese people, but between the slave like, child labor, and the economic manipulation, perpetrated by the ChiCom government, I am voting with my wallet. True, today, not everything is made in America, and some things we buy, must be of Chinese origin. That's just the times we are in. My idea is to limit, as much of my purchasing power, as possible, to buying American made goods, and when that is not possible, I prefer to buy those made by friendly, or allied nations, before I resort to buying Chinese goods, and sending my hard earned dollars over there, so that they can be used to the detriment of the U.S.

Considering there are SO MANY deals to be had, in the real estate market, today, my wife and I purchased a home in the community of Evening Shade, near the towns of Vian and Cookson, OK, and plan to move there, once she is retired. I recently moved almost all of my gear to storage, near our new place, so I have very little capability, here in The People's Republik of Kalifornia. The Collins 32V-2, 75A-1, KWS-1, 75A-4, a couple of Motorola mobiles, a pair of Kenwood TM-621A's, and my 3 HT's, are all that I have here, for now. But, I have no HF antennas up, and likely won't get any up, before we move. Since we have a bit of time, before we move there, it gives me time to set up a station, there, exactly as I want. I expect to have two towers. One for an M2 Log Periodic, and other low band antennae, the other for all of my VHF and UHF gear, and have it ready for me to move in, and have my dream station already set up. It sure is nice to have acreage, for the room to farm antennas. Maybe one day, I might have the ambition to erect a 160M Rhombic, or delta loop.

I like "Ancient Modulation" mode. Hence the reason for the 32V-2 and 75A-1. A while back, I joined, but have been inactive from the AMI group. Something about the full, well rounded sound of a good AM station, just warms my heart. That doesn't mean I don't like SSB. Obviously, under normal circumstances, that is where I spend most of my time, on HF. Since I am mostly a rag-chewer, my favorite band is 17M, where I work the entire voice portion of the band. But, I work whatever band I find enjoyable propagation on. It doesn't have to be DX, though I do enjoy that. Still, I prefer rag-chewing, over contesting. 10M, I typically work 29.1 mhz AM, 15M I work any station I can find, or hang out around 21.425 AM. On 20M, I tend to stick around near 14.265, 40M I typically hang out, around the lower part of the General class (voice), portion of the band, or on AM at 7290khz. On 75M, I work the upper part of the general voice portion, or 3870 AM

I wish to thank 4 people who sparked my interest in amateur radio, and helped me gain an appreciation for it. Ted-WB6WCO, Felix-N6VQL, Matt-K6MI (SK) and my uncle, Walter J Hempfling (SK), who was the original W3RXO. I have several more friends who have given support and encouragement along the road, but these 4 folks, gave me the impetus to attain my General class license. One of these days, after I get my code speed up to where I want, I will get my Extra Class. BUT, I refuse to be a 5WPM TECHxtra. I feel bad enough being a slow code General.

I hope to catch you on the bands someday soon after I get moved to the new place, hopefully, by late this summer.

73 all. I look forward to a contact, with you.

A nation of sheep, will beget a government of wolves.

Edward R. Murrow

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights, cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.

Ayn Rand

If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand.

Milton Freidman

In tough times, experts recommend we invest in precious metals. I choose to invest in blued steel, brass, and copper jacketed lead.

Those are the most precious of ALL metals.

Me