Thanks for visiting.

Considering this photo, there is little doubt about where I was heading!

During 45 years of living in New England I never made it to Newington. After 5 years of living in Mississippi I decided it was time to rectify that error, so during a trip to see family I made it a point to stop by the ARRL and see Bill Moore, NC1L and Mike Corey, W5MPC at the League!

I enjoy spending my spare time playing with radios. I mostly enjoy DX, and mostly on CW. Next most often I am on RTTY, and I do spend a bit of my time on SSB. I have spent more time on the low bands this solar cycle bottom but hope to migrate back to 12 and 10 meters as conditions improve.

My QSL Card

I've just updated my QSL card, seen below. The University of Southern Mississippi is my employer, and the Centennial Gateway is seen along the top of the card. The bottom row shows me in my shack, a blossom from our magnolia tree in the front yard (planted to replace a pine lost in Hurricane Katrina), and a shot of the student section at a Southern Miss football game.

History

I was first licensed in 1983 as KA1KDL, due to the influence of my Dad, who wasn't licensed until much later in life as N1MJS. Dad had enjoyed his high school radio club, W1KMU. Another influence was a co-worker, Dick Bell, KB1AN, later NM1R. I stayed mostly on 2M FM until Novice Enhancement in 1988 or so exposed me to 10 meter SSB and DXing. That set the hook! Shortly after that I began to study in earnest and upgraded to Advanced as KC1NH and shortly after that to Extra as WS1L.

I lived and worked for most of my career in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I started working as a summer officer for the Plymouth Police Department in 1980, and began working full-time in 1985. By 2005 there were several factors at play that made an early retirement at the rank of Captain attractive, so my wife Stacie and I and our cats packed up the house and moved to Mississippi, near the city of Hattiesburg. Stacie was an alumni of the University of Southern Mississippi, and we liked the area.

After working as a civilian for the Hattiesburg Police Department I was offered a position as a Lieutenant with the University Police in 2006, and have been there since. The department is smaller, the pace is slower, and things are much less stressful! Currently I hold the rank of Captain and command the Patrol Division.

My ham radio interests are mostly DXing. I am usually on CW, often with a Vibroplex bug. If not, then I am on my new favorite, RTTY. There *IS* a mike around here somewheres. I use a Tennadyne T-6 LPDA on the higher bands, a Butternut HF-9V Vertical and an Inverted-L for the lower bands.

I am ably assisted and/or bothered in my operating by our cats.

I QSL 100% via LOTW, and usually upload every week or so. I hope to see you on the bands!!