First licensed in 1976 as KA2FXA as a Novice and Tech while in grammar school I soon upgraded to General class and became N2CZF. I have tried all aspects of amateur radio over the years from 160 meters to the microwave bands. All modes have been operated at this station at one time or another except for EME which will be a conquest down the line sometime. Over the years other things like work, shooting sports, motorcycles, photography and my CERT Team (Community Emergency Response Team) have taken time away from amateur radio but I always return to my first and best hobby. Later on I talked my wife Danea into taking her test and she quickly earned her no-code license, at the same time I sat in on the Advanced test and upgraded myself. I guess when Logan my 2 year old takes his test I will need to go for my Extra! That won't be long considering he knows how to use my old SW Receiver and can turn on my Dad's power supply, 2M mobile and then grabs the microphone and talks. We make sure the radio is on simplex but we really should remove the mic when we are not in the room.
Sometime in early 1992 I came across a band opening while living in NJ and saw some interesting packets come across the screen, I later found out these were APRS packets. Soon I was downloading the program from the Annapolis BBS (remember BBS's right?) and found myself deep into what would become one of the most exciting aspects of amateur radio before PSK31 was envisioned. No one knew or cared what APRS was at the time but I set up a HF gateway along the coast of Southern NJ so that anyone on 2M would have something to look at since there were so few people. Here it is 10 years later and I am still active on APRS having snagged the vanity call of K4GPS when the Advanced vanity call pool opened. Now we have things like the internet and radios with built in TNC's, how things have changed. I still run a HF gate but from my home in Florida along with a Internet Gateway on my DSL connection.
I have worked in many fields over the years but I always return to electronics. My first job when I was 14 was selling electronic components and ham equipment at Route Electronics 46 in Totowa NJ. Later on I drove an ambulance both paid and volunteer for many years while still selling parts. Soon my interests turned to Law Enforcement and I became a Investigator for Passaic County Consumer Affairs and transfered to the Sheriff's Office. After going back to school (but not finishing) I sold high end audio/video equipment and cameras, tired of the bait and switch routine we moved to Florida and I started working for a small Motorola Shop called Radiotronics. I had a great time there working on 2-way radios and police Radar/Laser units along with building and installing special equipment for Police K-9 units. I had tested and received my FCC GROL (FCC 1st Class License for you old timers!) and eventually went to work for Primeco Personal Communications a PCS provider which later became Verizon Wireless tthe largest cellular provider in the country.eThat is where I am now, I work out of my home as a field engineer and maintain between 25-30 cell sites along with several Harris microwave and fiber links.gI may not get as many cast off radios as I did at the 2-way shop but I can't complain about the occasional 150 ft. runs of 1 5/8in hardline that would be discarded or large sealed batteries that are no longer of commercial use but great for emergency power. Cellular provider in the country.
This past Christmas I decided to revive my HF operations with a new antenna the Cushcraft R8. I never owned a commercial HF vertical before and I am glad that I bought it. On Christmas day I put the antenna in the air and I have been working pileups like never before, if I can hear it I can work it! Christmas 2002 was the first time since 1992 that I had ever plugged a microphone into my HF rig, before that it was always the digital modes and I am having a blast again. Now DX stations are not only giving me "599" <grin> but their web address so I can learn more about them so that is why I have put this page up, boy have times changed.
My main interest is still APRS, and 2M SSB once I get my tower back up but I wanted to have a few photos of myself on the web in case any stations I work on HF were curious. If you are interested in APRS please go to the TAPR website for the latest software downloads and to Bob Bruninga's WB4APR site for some history. I also have a small old web page with some information on the Florida APRS network.
Using the internet and internet to VHF/HF gateway's you can track most mobile APRS stations anywhere in the world. If you are wondering where Jupiter is or where I am at any given time you can see my home and mobile stations by clicking on the links below.
Home http://map.findu.com/k4gps-1 (2M 30M Internet Gateway)
Mobile http://map.findu.com/k4gps (Work Truck Tracker Only)
73's and gud DX!
Rich K4GPS