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N3AWS

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My name is Jim Walroth and I live in southern Mississippi. I am a ham radio operator.

I was first licensed in 1971 at the age of 13 with the callsign WN3RVN. Back then, novice licenses were for two years and were not renewable. My rig consisted of an Allied A2516 receiver, Heathkit DX-40 transmitter (crystal controlled), and an 80 meter dipole. I lived in western Pennsylvania in a small town called Youngwood. I did not get to upgrade and my license expired. I was off the air until my college years.

I attended Oral Roberts University from 1975 through 1979. While there, I got my second novice license, KA3AZR, I think (I really don't remember the call for certain!). My rig was a Swan 270B--a self-contained transceiver for 80-10 meters that had a handle on the side. It was the size of a small suitcase and put out about 150 watts. My favorite band was 10 meters.

Immediately after graduating from college, I "crammed" for the general class license. I passed on the first attempt and got the call N3AWS which I have held ever since.

The next few years of my life were spent attending medical school at Ross University. The first two years were spent of the island of Dominica in the West Indies. While there, I held the reciprocal callsign J73JW. Between studies, I had a little time to operate. We had a Kenwood TS520S and a Butternut verticle antenna. The antenna was almost right on the beach and, boy did it get out!!! We worked the world with 100 watts! I operated morse code almost exclusively with a straight key.

Returning to the States, I finished medical school in the Chicago area. I wasn't very active on the air due to my busy residency, but I bought a Drake TR-7 transceiver and used an indoor 10 meter dipole with rather poor results.

I joined the USAF in 1990. I served six years at Andrews AFB near Washington, DC. Then the Air Force moved me to Keesler AFB in Mississippi. I bought an Icom 706 transceiver which covers 160-2 meters. I like to operate on 6 meters, 2 meters FM for ARES/RACES, and the WARC bands. I still use the Drake, too, as my morse code rig. No "fancy" antennas, just indoor wire dipoles and a G5RV that has been down more than up. All of my operation is QRPp (five watts or less output).

Recently, I upgraded to advanced class. I am studying for extra class now. My main motivation to upgrade to extra is to become a VE tester. Keesler has a ham radio club of which I am a member. The club has it's own repeater on 146.790 (-). We also support the Mississippi State Special Olympics each year. The club callsign is K5TYP.

You can send me e-mail at: [email protected]