K3TOW's Home Page

Personal Interests
Hot List
Biographical Information
Contact Information
My Workbench
My Hamshack
Comments and Suggestions

Personal Interests

Amateur Radio

I am an Amateur Radio Operator (Call Sign: K3TOW) I was originally licensed in 1985 with the call KA3QKI.

My current call was that of my late Uncle Jerry (later K8JF). I enjoy the experimentation involved in this hobby as well as the chance to learn from and work with others involved in the hobby. It's also a thrill to be able to communicate with people from all over the world.

My original interest was sparked by Amateur Packet Radio - computers networked together via radio.

Currently I serve as sysop of Wilkes-Barre area packet network stack K3YTL and a control operator for the

WB3FKQ repeaters also in Wilkes-Barre.

I am also involved with the Murgas Amateur Radio Club in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

I have also served as President and as Director of the Club. I hold an Extra Class licensee and serve as an

ARRL Official Emergency Station, and a Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency Radio Operator.

I have completed Levels 1 and 2 of the ARRL ARECC Emergency Communications Course.

I'm a life member of the ARRL and a member of AMSAT.

Amateur Astronomy

Did you ever look up at the sky at night and wonder? I did too and bought a telescope to get a better look.

Computers

I have played with computers ever since they became available. Programmed COBOL and Fortran in college, and wrote some BASIC programs for work and for Ham Radio. I still have my first computer, a Timex/Sinclair 1000, as well as a Vic20 and C-64.

I currently am webmaster for several commercial and non-profit web sites.

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Hot List - Links to follow

Where I work

I work for as a technician for WNEP-TV, in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. Here's the stations web page Including Live Doppler Radar covering Northeastern and Central PA.

Murgas Amateur Radio Club Home Page

Home Page of the Murgas ARC, of which I am a member.

Broadcast.Com

Live TV news broadcasts from around the country. (You will need RealPlayer to view the broadcasts)

American Radio Relay League

Lots of good information and links about Ham radio.

AMSAT

Amateur Radio Satellite Home Page.

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Biographical Information

1983 Graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA (BA in Communications)
1979 Graduated from Greater Nanticoke Area High School, Nanticoke, PA
Vocational Training in Electronics: Practical experience with 2-way Radio, Broadcast Audio, Video, and Satellite Technologies
Extensive computer background: Networking, Multimedia, Web Design, System Design, Maintenance and Repair. Windows, DOS, OS/2, NT
Working knowledge of most electronic test equipment: Oscilloscopes, generators, Audio test equipment, Communications System Analyzers, Service Monitors, Spectrum Analyzers.

Available for Freelance Broadcast Audio (A-1 and A-2) and PA work. Past jobs for ESPN, NBC, ABC Sports, Big East Basketball, HBO, PBS, Jefferson Pilot, MBC Productions, NEP Productions, and others. Split mixer and equipment available. E-mail for details and rates. Multiple RF a specialty. Corporate teleconference and Satellite experience.

Motorola R2001A/HS Communications System Analyzer with Spectrum Analyzer
Motorola R2200A/HS Communications Service Monitor
Cushman CE-5 Service Monitor
Tektronix 500 Series frame with scope, DVM, Freq. Counter, and Signal Gen Plugins
Tektronix 422 Oscilloscope
HP 3551 Transmission Test Set
ADC Audio Test Set
Leader Audio Distortion Meter
Motorola TEK-5 DC/RF Voltmeter
Motorola SINAD Meter
Fluke 4012 Bench DVM
Fluke 74 DVM
MFJ-259B Antenna Analyzer
Bird 43 Wattmeter
Motorola S-1350 Wattmeter
Frequency Counter
Astron RS-35M Power Supply
HP Variable Voltage/Current Lab supply
Weller Solder Station

Picture of my bench coming soon! (as soon as I clean it off enough to look presentable)

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My Current Hamshack

ICOM IC-756Pro HF/6 meter Transceiver with RigBlaster interface for PSK-31
ICOM IC-735 HF Transceiver with AT-150 Auto Tuner and PS-35 Power Supply
ICOM IC-701 HF Transceiver
Yaesu FT-817 Portable HF-VHF-UHF Transceiver with Emtech ZM-1 Tuner
Dentron MLA-2500 Amplifier and Dentron MT-3000A Antenna Tuner
Astron Power Supplies SS-30M and RS-35M
Yaesu FT-736R VHF/UHF Transceiver with 2 m, 70 cm, and 6 m modules installed
Kantronics KAM Plus and PacComm Tiny-2 TNCs - MFJ Data Radios for 145.010 and 145.050
Midland 13-509 220 Transceiver
Antennas: RadioWorks Carolina Windom 80 - 10, 160 meter coil shortened dipole, Diamond V-2000 vertical for 6 to 440
Yagis for packet, Hygain OSCAR Pack for satellite work, Ringo Ranger for 220
PentiumII 500Mhz PC for PSK-31, RTTY, Packet and Logger
Optoelectronics CX12 CAT Level converter
ElectroVoice RE-50 Broadcast Microphone on Heil Mic Boom, Heil Proset Headset
Home Brew Station Console switching Mic and PTT signals between radios.