I took my Novice test in
1978 and
received my license in December 1978 and the callsign KA2DOH.
My
first QSO took place on January 29, 1979 with KA9CIH (whom I believe is
no longer active). I studied hard and upgraded to General in June of
1979. That was an interesting story. I took my
General
class test from the FCC who came out to give license exams at a Hamfest
in Morristown, NJ !!! Shades of the VE program to
come! In
1983 I got a hankering for a "General" class callsign;
so I filed for a new one and received N2ELW. Later that year,
in
October, I travelled to the FCC Office in Langhorne, PA and took the
test and passed and received my Advanced ticket. In 1992, I
upgraded to Amateur Extra; and in the year 2000, I applied
for
and received W2LJ under the Vanity Callsign Program.
I have always been interested in public service with Amateur Radio. In 1980 I participated in the communications effort during the Olympic Torch Run for the Lake Placid "Miracle on Ice" Olympics. I received a Certificate of Merit from the ARRL for that effort. I have volunteered many hours as part of the ARRL's National Traffic System. I have served as Net Control for local traffic nets; and have held appointments as an Official Relay Station and as an Official Bulletin Station. If you ever get a chance to glance at CQ Magazine's video "Getting Started in VHF"; you'll get an opportunity to see me running a session of the Old Bridge Radio Association's (now known as the Central Jersey Radio Amateurs) "Old Bridge Trash and Traffic Net". During the 1980's I participated in the RACES program and served as a Communications Officer in the Department of Emergency Management for Middlesex County, NJ. During my time as an active officer I received training in Emergency Communications, Hazardous Materials Identification and Handling, as well as Radioactive Materials Handling and Measuring.
Besides my affiliation with the various QRP organizations, I am a Past-President, past Vice-President and current member in the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club. I am also a member of the Electronic Testing Society of New Jersey; or, as it is better known, the ETS of NJ. This fine group of folks maintains the 146.940/.340 Greenbrook repeater which has a statewide reputation. I also served as Vice-President of the Raritan Bay Radio Amateurs who operate out of Sayreville, NJ. I was a Volunteer Examiner with that group; and eventually took it over, becoming the VE Liason after George Miller, K2FD became ill and could no longer fulfill his duties. I learned from the best as George,K2FD and Julius,WV2O were the finest VE's I have ever had the opportunity to meet. They were kind, helpful, enthusiastic and supportive. They are both Silent Keys now; and I miss them both. Because of my efforts in running Sayreville's VE program, I was awarded, in 1998, the "Elmer of the Year" award by QCWA Marconi Chapter 138. To date, this is my proudest acheivement in Amateur Radio. I still VE with a group of hams affiliated with both the ETS of NJ, the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club and the Raritan Valley Radio Club. We administer exams on the second Saturday of every month at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. And the summit, for me at least, was reached in January of 2006. Unbeknownst to me, I was nominated, seconded and accepted into the A-1 Operator's Club! This was a dream of mine since my Novice days; to be a member of this august body of Amateur Radio operators. I have no idea who nominated me; but whoever you are, thank you so very much from the bootom of my heart!
In addition to those organizations, I take extra special pride in my association with Elecraft, the Flying Pigs and the NAQCC. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to be the Awards Administration Person for the Elecraft Awards program. These certificates are earned by Hams who use their Elecraft rigs to achieve such goals as WAS, work 100 countries, etc. This is a a ton of fun; and being allowed to recognize the acheivements of my fellow Hams is very special, indeed! Also, I am the Publicity Person for the North American QRP CW Club. This group has been discussed elsewhere on my Website. If you see an announcement for a NAQCC Sprint or read an article or other news blurb about the Club; it just may be the result of one of my efforts! From this and the other pages of this Website, you have probably already figured out that two of my Amateur Radio passions are CW and QRP - the NAQCC is "right up my alley" and helping to promote them in any way possible is extremely satisfying. Another "fun" job that I have is serving as the Contest Manager for the Flying Pigs QRP Club International. With the help of the Webmasters, I coordinate, and keep track of the results of each month's "Run For The Bacon" QRP Sprint. If you've never tried a Run For The Bacon - then please join us! The Flying Pigs is a group of the nicest, most down-to-earth, and talented Ham Radio operators that you would ever want to meet!
In addition, I also like to chase a little DX from time to time, ragchew, work Special Event stations and earn their certificates. And when RS-10/11 and RS-12/13 were orbiting the earth, I was very active on those two Radio Amateur satellites, thanks to Bob, W3BBO who was my satellite mentor.
In February 2004, I took a nine week course and became a member of my town's CERT. This is an acronym for Community Emergency Response Team. This is a division of the President's Citizen Corp. The purpose of the CERT team is to help out by backing up local EMS, Fire and Police agencies during local and regional emergencies when they become overwhelmed and lose the ability to respond. The training included sections on disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and CERT organization. It was a well spent nine weeks of training (one night per week). I am looking forward to helping the teams in whatever way I can, specializing in my abilities as a radio communicator, of course. If your municipality, town or city is forming up CERT teams, I strongly urge you to volunteer and get involved! Two other local Hams took the course along with me; and now we are getting busy trying to get more of South Plainfield's amateur radio community involved. If a disaster strikes, a little training and preparedness can make the difference between being able to help and just being on the sidelines. Public service is a HUGE part of our amateur radio heritage. Get involved ... you'll be glad you did!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
I have always been interested in public service with Amateur Radio. In 1980 I participated in the communications effort during the Olympic Torch Run for the Lake Placid "Miracle on Ice" Olympics. I received a Certificate of Merit from the ARRL for that effort. I have volunteered many hours as part of the ARRL's National Traffic System. I have served as Net Control for local traffic nets; and have held appointments as an Official Relay Station and as an Official Bulletin Station. If you ever get a chance to glance at CQ Magazine's video "Getting Started in VHF"; you'll get an opportunity to see me running a session of the Old Bridge Radio Association's (now known as the Central Jersey Radio Amateurs) "Old Bridge Trash and Traffic Net". During the 1980's I participated in the RACES program and served as a Communications Officer in the Department of Emergency Management for Middlesex County, NJ. During my time as an active officer I received training in Emergency Communications, Hazardous Materials Identification and Handling, as well as Radioactive Materials Handling and Measuring.
Besides my affiliation with the various QRP organizations, I am a Past-President, past Vice-President and current member in the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club. I am also a member of the Electronic Testing Society of New Jersey; or, as it is better known, the ETS of NJ. This fine group of folks maintains the 146.940/.340 Greenbrook repeater which has a statewide reputation. I also served as Vice-President of the Raritan Bay Radio Amateurs who operate out of Sayreville, NJ. I was a Volunteer Examiner with that group; and eventually took it over, becoming the VE Liason after George Miller, K2FD became ill and could no longer fulfill his duties. I learned from the best as George,K2FD and Julius,WV2O were the finest VE's I have ever had the opportunity to meet. They were kind, helpful, enthusiastic and supportive. They are both Silent Keys now; and I miss them both. Because of my efforts in running Sayreville's VE program, I was awarded, in 1998, the "Elmer of the Year" award by QCWA Marconi Chapter 138. To date, this is my proudest acheivement in Amateur Radio. I still VE with a group of hams affiliated with both the ETS of NJ, the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club and the Raritan Valley Radio Club. We administer exams on the second Saturday of every month at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. And the summit, for me at least, was reached in January of 2006. Unbeknownst to me, I was nominated, seconded and accepted into the A-1 Operator's Club! This was a dream of mine since my Novice days; to be a member of this august body of Amateur Radio operators. I have no idea who nominated me; but whoever you are, thank you so very much from the bootom of my heart!
In addition to those organizations, I take extra special pride in my association with Elecraft, the Flying Pigs and the NAQCC. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to be the Awards Administration Person for the Elecraft Awards program. These certificates are earned by Hams who use their Elecraft rigs to achieve such goals as WAS, work 100 countries, etc. This is a a ton of fun; and being allowed to recognize the acheivements of my fellow Hams is very special, indeed! Also, I am the Publicity Person for the North American QRP CW Club. This group has been discussed elsewhere on my Website. If you see an announcement for a NAQCC Sprint or read an article or other news blurb about the Club; it just may be the result of one of my efforts! From this and the other pages of this Website, you have probably already figured out that two of my Amateur Radio passions are CW and QRP - the NAQCC is "right up my alley" and helping to promote them in any way possible is extremely satisfying. Another "fun" job that I have is serving as the Contest Manager for the Flying Pigs QRP Club International. With the help of the Webmasters, I coordinate, and keep track of the results of each month's "Run For The Bacon" QRP Sprint. If you've never tried a Run For The Bacon - then please join us! The Flying Pigs is a group of the nicest, most down-to-earth, and talented Ham Radio operators that you would ever want to meet!
In addition, I also like to chase a little DX from time to time, ragchew, work Special Event stations and earn their certificates. And when RS-10/11 and RS-12/13 were orbiting the earth, I was very active on those two Radio Amateur satellites, thanks to Bob, W3BBO who was my satellite mentor.
In February 2004, I took a nine week course and became a member of my town's CERT. This is an acronym for Community Emergency Response Team. This is a division of the President's Citizen Corp. The purpose of the CERT team is to help out by backing up local EMS, Fire and Police agencies during local and regional emergencies when they become overwhelmed and lose the ability to respond. The training included sections on disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and CERT organization. It was a well spent nine weeks of training (one night per week). I am looking forward to helping the teams in whatever way I can, specializing in my abilities as a radio communicator, of course. If your municipality, town or city is forming up CERT teams, I strongly urge you to volunteer and get involved! Two other local Hams took the course along with me; and now we are getting busy trying to get more of South Plainfield's amateur radio community involved. If a disaster strikes, a little training and preparedness can make the difference between being able to help and just being on the sidelines. Public service is a HUGE part of our amateur radio heritage. Get involved ... you'll be glad you did!
Click here
for
more information on CERT and how to join in your area !!!
St Maximilian pray for us !
St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland (the homeland of my grandparents!) on January 8th, 1894. Maximilian grew up and studied to become a Catholic priest. In his ministry, he was a user of the media to spread the word of God. He was also a licensed radio amateur, SP3RN. St. Maximilian died in Auschwitz, on August 14th 1941. He volunteered to take the place of another prisoner who was scheduled to be starved to death; a man with a wife and four children. Fr. Kolbe was elevated to Sainthood by Pope John Paul II in 1982. He is the unofficial patron saint of Ham Radio operators everywhere.
In Days Of Old,
When Ops Were Bold,
And Sidebands Not Invented.
Words Were Passed,
By Pounding Brass,
And All Were Well Contented.
National Homeland Security Knowledgebase
St.
Maximilian Kolbe
St Maximilian pray for us !
St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland (the homeland of my grandparents!) on January 8th, 1894. Maximilian grew up and studied to become a Catholic priest. In his ministry, he was a user of the media to spread the word of God. He was also a licensed radio amateur, SP3RN. St. Maximilian died in Auschwitz, on August 14th 1941. He volunteered to take the place of another prisoner who was scheduled to be starved to death; a man with a wife and four children. Fr. Kolbe was elevated to Sainthood by Pope John Paul II in 1982. He is the unofficial patron saint of Ham Radio operators everywhere.
In Days Of Old,
When Ops Were Bold,
And Sidebands Not Invented.
Words Were Passed,
By Pounding Brass,
And All Were Well Contented.
 |
W2LJ, Vivat Morse and may God continue to bless America !! |
 |
Home |
|
Portable
QRP Ops |
|
Current
Project |
|
Links
& Favorites |
|
Station
W2LJ |
|
Morse
Code |
|
Operating |
|
Learning the Code |
| QRP - When you care
to use the
very least ! |