Phil - K1GMD: Field Day 2005

My fascination with Amateur Radio was sparked at an early age.  Both my grandfather (WA1HVZ-SK) and dad (WA1DWS –SK) were hams.  I remember many a Saturday mornings sitting quietly in the shack as dad pounded away on CW.  He was an amazing operator.  My dad was blind and could go about 30 WPM copying all in his head and still hold a conversation with someone in the room.  Anyway that’s pretty much where it started. 

In 1978/79 (I honestly can’t remember the exact timeframe) the local club held a novice class.  Both my mom and I attended and passed both the theory and code.  She was issued KA1GMC (witch she still holds) and I received KA1GMD as my first call.  Dad showed me how to operate the rig and I was on the air.  Of course I was only allowed to operate CW at the time but what a blast.  

 In 1984, I joined the Air Force and well radio took a backseat for a few years.  Hey I was 19, had money in my pocket, and there was an abundance of single girls around.   Boys will be boys.  In 1988 one of those girls finally made an honest man of me and we have been together ever since.    

In 1994 while in Texas I finally got around to upgrading to General and received the call KC5JNM.   I was hoping for a nice 1x3 call but they were all gone.  In 1995 I upgrade to Advanced class which is the ticket I still hold today.   After a few years of being QRT because of overseas duty I got back on the air in 2005.  I never really liked the KC5 call so I took advantage of the Vanity system and received K1GMD back in May of 2005. 

My current station consists of a Kenwood TS-870, all mode 10-160M transceiver.  The antenna I use mostly is a G5RV up about 20 ft for now.  I also have an Alpha-Delta DX-EE up in the attic as a backup during bad weather.  For 2M I have a Yaesu FT-2400 and a GAM Mini in the attic.