John - KI4BJS

KI4BJS John A Gray, Jr
705 Abilene Rd
Charlotte Court House, VA 23923


"I thought I would have nothing to do when I retired, but I sure was wrong!"

A Simple Station out in the Country
I really enjoy ham radio...

        I live 4 miles north of the town of Charlotte Court House, Virginia in Charlotte County. I retired from Richmond in 2001 where I sold insurance for Mutual of Omaha and Mutual of New York. I had spent my entire life in Richmond until retiring. I left three sons and a daughter to move to the county to live next door to a foster son. I thought I would have nothing to do when I retired, but I sure was wrong!

        I have always had an interest in Amateur Radio but never took the time to get my license until July 3, 2003, when I became a Tech and on August 8, 2005 I became an Extra. At home in my shack, I operate a simple station, using a dipole antenna and an ICOM IC-746Pro which puts out about 100W. For supporting equipment, I have a PR-60A power supply, an Ameritron A-L-811 Amplifier, Dentron GLT-100 Tuner, and a Heathkit watt meter. I have an additional radio in my shack, an ICOM IC-2200H, which I use for higher bands.

        I am greatly supported by my wife who is also a HAM (KI4EAS) but has no desire to advance her license as she has other hobbies. In my Dodge pickup truck, I run a 706 MK IIG, which is supported by a Tarheel Antenna.

        I enjoy traveling and have visited 49 of the 50 states, several Caribbean Islands and a few of the European countries. I enjoy camping in our travel trailer, gardening, fishing and making things with wood. I truly love living in the country where there is not a single traffic light in the entire County. I especially like talking on my radios and working DX. I sometimes forget what time it is and look up and see I have been on the air for hours. What a wonderful life I have.

        I also enjoy nets and am looking foward to participating in the Jokers Net each morning. I'm graduadly getting the hang of the sequence each morning and have a check-off list for the normal rotation.

73�s John

   About Charlotte Court House, Virginia

Greetings from Charlotte Court House, VA !