Greetings from the heart of North Jersey.

My interest in radio began when I was 10 and was given a clock radio for Christmas. From the start I was hooked. I would lie in bed in the dark and tune distant stations through all that wonderful static. It all seemed so romantic then, and that same romance continues to this day as I sit in my little radio room and listen to the world. It still amazes me to think that all those voices are in the air all around us!

Years later (when I had a little money of my own) I came across an old shortwave radio at a local consignment shop (a Realistic DX-300), and once again I was hooked. It was at this point that I learned of "ham" radio, and the idea that I could be talking with those very distant stations. With a few books from the library, and a few phone calls, I was soon well on my way to obtaining my amateur radio operator's license.

In 1992, I took the tests (a 25 question written exam on radio principles and practices and a 5 word per minute morse code test) and eventually received my license, with the call sign KD4JUI. I kept that call for 10 years, and only recently changed to my current call, N2XTO.

In the intervening years, I have kept keen interest in the hobby, although I have been inactive for much of the time. The physical requirements for antennas have made it difficult (most of the time) to operate. But since moving into our first house in May, 2002, I am once again back on the air on a regular basis.

My favorite mode in ham radio is CW (which uses morse code). You can often find me somewhere around 7.060 MHz in the 40 Meter band, and 21.060 MHz in the 15 Meter band.

I am currently Associate Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Succasunna, NJ. I have a lovely wife, Janice, who is pursuing a career in acting. We are celebrating the birth of our first child, James, who was born on November 10, 2002. As of this writing, James has no callsign.

I have other interests, most notably performing music. You can check out my music site, www.tomkildea.com.

My Station