Born in 1970 I am young enough to have missed the tube era of radio. As a young boy in the seventies I was given a pocket size 9 volt transistor radio by my Grandfather. I remember listening to the AM broadcasters at night and being amazed by distant stations fading in and out. Growing up with television and videogames it would be a few years until I discovered the shortwave portion of the radio spectrum. But like many hams before me the seed was sown at a young age.

I learned about electronics in 4H and of course like most boys by tearing things apart to see how they worked. A great deal of knowledge was acquired while serving in the USAF as an Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist from 1989 to 1993. I was stationed at Fairchild AFB (SAC) in Spokane, Washington for three years working on the Boeing B-52H Aircraft.

At the age of 25 I obtained my first general coverage receiver and was introduced to the world of shortwave and ham radio. After being a SWL for 13 years I finally decided to pursue an amateur license. From the start getting on the HF bands with CW is what I wanted to do. Once I passed the test I put in many hours getting a grip on the code using CDs, Morse code software and just copying off the air. I made my first shaky CW contact November 24, 2008 on the 40 meter band under call sign KD8JHJ.

CW is still my mode of choice but I also enjoy experimenting with digital modes. My favorites are PSK, Olivia and Feld Hell.

I am first and foremost a ragchewer but I also enjoy casual contesting with the Straight Key Century Club and participating in Field Day with my local club. Another interest I have developed in this great hobby is chasing special event stations and collecting their qsl cards and certificates.

The rig is an Icom IC718. Antenna's currently in use are 20 and 40 meter end fed half wave wires deployed horizontally with the feed points at 30 and 38 feet respectively. For 80 meter CW and digital operation I employ an LDG auto-tuner and the 66 foot end fed wire as a quarter wave radiator. I use Fldigi software and a Signalink USB interface for digital operation.

For CW the usual keys are a ZN-9A Ironman Iambic paddles with a K-5 Logikeyer or the Vibroplex Original Standard bug. For straight key CW I use the excellent NT9K Pro Pump SKCC Club key. Other keys from my small collection that might see use on the operating desk are the Bushwhacker single lever paddle by American Morse Equipment, A Nye Speed-X 310 and 320 both with nickel hardware, Homebrew hacksaw blade cootie and straight key, A Vibroplex Vibrocube Standard,Vibrokeyer Standard (single lever) paddle and a Vibroplex Standard straight key.

Other interests include photography, guitars, cycling/ fitness, motorcycles, shooting sports, archery, woodworking, history, reading and collecting antique glass insulators. Please check out my blog for more info: http://www.kd8jhj.blogspot.com

ARRL -- Crawford County Amateur Radio Club -- SKCC #4877T -- FISTS #14457 -- FH CLUB #2371 -- 30MDG #3385

Thank You for reading my bio page. QSL via direct and/or eqsl.

73 CUL-- Mike W8MDE

Home brew 40 meter Top Loaded Vertical with Capacitance Hat. Design by Dick Stroud, W9SR

This Antenna will be transmitting 40 meter CW during Field Day 2012 under my club call sign W8BAE.