KD5JKH

My Family

(Left to Right Top: Martin, Bailey, Candi; Jacqueline, Katie, Haven, Jacob)

 

STATION INFO:

Base Station: Kenwood TS-2000

Antenna:  ZeroFive 33’ Vertical ground mounted with 20 radials (length varies 20 feet – 60 feet)

Paddle:  Vibroplex standard paddle

Interface:  Signalink USB

Software: Ham Radio Deluxe

Logging software:  AClog

 

QTH:  Mannford, Oklahoma

Locator:  EM16tb

BIOGRAPHY

I became interested in amateur radio between 1999 – 2000.  I got my Tech license in 2000 and had a blast with 2 meter simplex and ssb.  I actually won the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club’s First Annual Oklahoma County Shoot Out simplex contest.  I met and made some great friends.  I eventually became Tulsa Amateur Radio Clubs Net manager and ran the Thursday Night Nets and the Friday TTT Nets.   

My first experience with DX was on 2 meter ssb.  Dave, W5TAZ  and I were having one of our friendly chats.  He left for a bit and came back and told me he worked a station in Minnesota on 2 meter ssb and told me where to tune.  It did not take me long and I finally worked that contact.  That is when the thirst for DX and HF set in.

I met a great guy N5VD and he began to be my elmer.  James introduced me to Morse Code, M.A.R.S., and more DX on HF.  He helped me with antennas and such.  I was just getting started and some life events transpired that took me away from radio for a long while.  My wife met some guy on internet chat (Yahoo chat I believe) and we divorced.  I moved out Memorial Day weekend of 2001.  Most of my equipment got damaged or pawned and I just lost heart for the hobby and was pretty disgusted with life.

2003 I met a wonderful lady with three beautiful children.  We married and had a child of our own, Bailey DeLonais Maynard.  We lost her in March of 2005 at just 3 months 15 days old.  The cause is listed as S.I.D.S. which is an acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  You can read the whole story about that tragic day at www.healingokhearts.org.

It was after this tragedy that Candi encouraged me to get back in to the Amateur Radio Hobby that I loved so much and I did.  I upgraded to general in February 2009 and have had a blast with it.  It is hard to explain the rush you get from that first DX contact you make in the middle of a big pile up, it is sure something to experience though.  I have gotten back in touch with one of my favorite people Dave, W5TAZ.  Heck of a guy and the main reason I love the hobby so much. When I am not on HF you can find me on one of the following, 145.045 (88.5 PL), 147.120 (88.5 PL), 146.94, or 147.435 simplex.  It has taken me but thanks to some very generous hams I have been able to build my station back up.  I am now running a Kenwood TS-2000 and I love it.  I would like to get a TS-50 for the vehicle eventually but that will come with time.  I am a member of the Indian Territory Amateur Radio Society KD5SDJ simplex group and love the people I have met so far.

 

MISC PHOTO’s

 

 

QSL Cards

 

 

Some of my favorite links:

www.qsl.net/kd5sdj

www.k5ehx.net/repeaters/qrepeater.php

www.qrz.com

www.qth.com