Member Bio

Hello! Thank you for visiting my QRZ.com page!

I was first licensed in 1971 as WN2SGI, along with two of my high school classmates, (now) K3LO and WA2SRI. I retained that call even after upgrading to General Class. There used to be a rule on the books that allowed you to request any call you once held. Since there were no other requirements, many hams reclaimed their old novice calls and became “rare catches” on the airwaves!

I left the air in 1987 and returned in September of 2021. It’s great to be back and I am having a blast!

I love my “K”, 1 by 3 callsign. It seems that the FCC became stingy with the “K” prefix and did not assign “KA” after “WA” was exhausted. It is only now, that we can request specific callsigns, that the “K” prefix has been given new life. Thanks to W6GF posting the Radio Amateur Call Books 1913-1997 link, I was able to trace the geneaology of my call. From 1957 to 1960, K4JNG belonged to Robert J. Davis of Chatsworth, GA. If you know his family, please advise. I would appreciate the opportunity to send them a message…

I run a Drake 7-Line station consisting of:

• TR7 Transceiver (with PS75 power supply)
  • SL-6000 AM filter
  • SL-300 CW filter
• RV75 Synthesized VFO
• SP75 Speech Processor
• L7 Amplifier (with L7 PS) – not yet online
• MN2700 Tuner
• Koss SB-40 Headset with Audix T50K impedance matching transformer
• Ultra PicoKeyer with L&MAO paddles
• MFJ-1982HP 130’ end-fed long wire (80m, 60m, 40m & 30m)
• Cushcraft R3 Vertical (20m, 17m, 15m, 12m & 10m) – this antenna utilizes a motorized tuning stub operated by a control unit inside the shack

I upload all contacts to LoTW, eQSL and QRZ.com. If you QSL direct, I will respond 100%.

Wishing you good luck and great DX!!

Best 73,

Joe

Yours truly at the console of my Allen GW-4 digital theatre organ