What is a ZF2NT?
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ZF2NT is the amateur radio callsign assigned to me by the
Department of Telecommunications, Government of the Cayman Islands. In one sense, the call
refers to a person. That person is the writer, Bruce Sawyer, and when not in the
Cayman Islands I normally go by the call N6NT. (Follow this link
for a few pictures of my station in California.) . In another sense, the call refers to
the station on Little Cayman.
The person behind the call
- Initially licensed as KN4LDV in 1957, upgraded to K4LDV in 1958.
- After a lapse of over 25 years, regained interest in amateur
radio in 1988 and was licensed as N6TCE; a month later, this was upgraded to AA6KX.
Obtained current call of N6NT in 1997 via the US vanity call program.
- For the first few years after I started back in amateur radio, I
was bit by the award-chasing bug and spent an unconscienable amount of money on postage in
order to get the QSL cards needed for bunch of plaques which now hang on the wall but
don't mean a lot to me any more. Included in that set I have 5BDXCC, 5BWAS, and DXCC Honor
Roll.
- In contrast to the things I earned by spending too much money on
postage, there are some awards I have received which I treasure highly. At the top of the
list would be membership in the First
Class CW Operators' Club (FOC) and membership in the ARRL A-1 Operator Club.
- For a while, I was organizationally active. Along the way, I
served one year as Secretary/Treasurer for the Northern
California Contest Club (NCCC), was President of the Club for a year, and
also spent several years on the Board of Directors. During '95-'96 I was Co-chairman
(along with W6RJ) of the WRTC '96
Steering Committee and was Chief Operating Officer for WRTC '96 Inc.
- Today, I enjoy contesting and general rag-chewing. I tend to
operate almost exclusively on CW. What I most enjoy is getting to know people via amateur
radio.
For those who care about such things, here's a short synopsis
of my professional background:
- 5 years ('65 - '70) with USMC, including a very exciting year
with 2nd
Bttn/3rd Marines in and around Khe Sanh. I was an infantry platoon commander (1st
LT) and actually lived to tell about it.
- MA in Mathematics ('73) and MS in Computer Sciences ('75) from
University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Worked for Burroughs Computer Systems, Harris Corporation
Computer Systems Division, Zilog Corp., Arete Systems Corporation, and The Wollongong
Group.
- I started my computer life as a compiler writer with Burroughs,
then moved into operating systems development with Harris. The fun couldn't last forever,
though, and I soon found myself dragged out of productive endeavors and into management
ranks. I was first Manager of Networking Software, then Director of Software Development,
and finally VP of Engineering.
- Am now retired from the computer industry but have
begun a new career as a PADI dive instructor. My office is now the
deep blue sea rather than some soulless cubicle in Silicon Valley!
The station behind the call
The ZF2NT station is located on Little Cayman Island, which is
approximately 19.8 degrees north latitude by 80 degrees west longitude. It is located in
grid EK99. I am on the southwestern corner of the island and am right on the
beach. The
property is approximately 280' wide, measured along
the ocean, and is about 300' deep. For those who have been to Little Cayman, it is
approximately 300' east of the lighthouse on the western end of the island. When you fly
into Little Cayman, just look out the starboard window of the plane when you make landfall
during your approach and you will see my antennas.
It took me almost two years of begging and pleading, plus several trips to appear before
various government officials, but in August of 1998 I did finally succeed in obtaining all
building permits needed to construct a house and erect two towers on my property. One of
the towers can go to 87' and the other can go to 67'. While my initial
plans for the station were very ambition, a few years of experience in trying to
keep a station operational in a tropical location next to the sea have taught me
to moderate my plans somewhat. There is one permanent tower at 60' and
another temporary tower at 50'. Both are populated with as many antennas
as I dare try to maintain...and that is never enough! Station photos can
be viewed at ZF2NT station photos.
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