I got interested in HAM radio pretty young. I got my novice license in 1960 at age 11. Back then you had to pass the 13 WPM code test within one year to get your general, or the novice expired. Mine expired.

I got re-involved with HAM radio when they dropped the code test.

I'm not no-code. I learned CW again and took the tests for general and also took the CW test. Actually, I am the last person to take the CW test here in Shirley. I took it in Jan 2006, the last month before it was eliminated.

The HAMs at the local club got a kick out of it. They said it was appropriate that the last one to take the CW test should be named Farnsworth.

The first thing I did was apply to get K1NNJ as a call sign. In 1960 I had KN1NNJ, and sending that call in CW is etched into my brain.

A couple of months later, I went back to get my extra class. I didn't like not being able to use parts of the bands.

I started out with a Kenwood TS-570D and a Cobra Ultralite dipole up about 40 feet. This worked pretty well - I got DXCC with this rig, at the bottom of the solar cycle.

Last year I graduated to a K3 and a hundred foot tower with a Mosley Classic 33 on it (borrowed from my friend Ben - KB1FJ). I also have a Zero-Five vertical with 48 radials, and a K9AY loop for RX on 80 and 160. The dipole is at 65 feet now. Also, I just put up a 3 element 6 meter yagi at about 25 ft.

I have a SB-200 amp, but don't use it very often.

I enjoy CW and using a straight key, so I joined SKCC (Straight Key Century Club). K3UK, a member of SKCC, has a great web site where you can make skeds, in real time, with other SKCC members ( http://www.obriensweb.com/sked/ ). This year when the ARRL created the Triple Play Award, Andy (K3UK) put up a page to support real time skeds with other HAMs that send their logs to LOTW. This has been a very useful tool for SKCC members and anyone trying to get TPA or other WAS endorsements using LOTW.

I am trying to get my code speed up to 30 to 35 WPM. To send that fast, you can't use a straight key, so I am trying to learn how to send with a paddle. I'm learning with a single lever paddle, and will also use a dual level paddle. Even though the dual lever paddle is iambic, I am not trying to learn the squeeze. I think most CW ops that operate at higher speeds use an iambic paddle, but don't squeeze (I performed a very limited survey).

I load my QSOs to LOTW daily, and EQSL less frequently.

To help with my code speed, I put a Kenwood ts 480 in my car, with a hamstick. I use this to listen to CW while driving.

I use DXLAB software to run the rig and log QSOs.

I have only experienced the bottom of a solar cycle, so I am looking forward to the next few years.