About
Licensed in 2005 and back on the air after a 15-year hiatus. I'm working through everything that's changed since then, and there's a lot. Digital modes alone have come a long way.
Getting licensed
I was licensed at the Technician level back when General still required CW. I got my Tech with the expectation of learning CW and upgrading soon after. Well, that turned into a 20+ year gap before I actually upgraded to General class. By the time I did, CW was no longer a requirement, but it still deeply interested me. So I am pursuing the skill regardless of a licensing requirement.
Minneapolis
I spent my first few years of ham radio enjoying the local community in Minneapolis, MN, and taking part in the University of Minnesota radio club while I was employed by the college. I carried my radio around campus and kept in touch with local friends during the day, and during commutes with a mobile rig.
Austin, and the long pause
When I eventually moved to Austin, TX, I lost interest in the hobby. I couldn't find a local club that interested me the way the one in Minnesota had, and that put everything on hold for a couple of decades. Post-COVID I brushed the dust off and found myself reinvigorated with a passion for RF.
Not long after getting a dedicated VHF/UHF station set up at home, I upgraded to General and installed my first ever HF rig, an Icom IC-7300. Thus began my adventures in DXing, and I was instantly hooked.
Digital modes and packet
A few years passed and new interests took hold in digital modes, exploring FT8 and pushing the limits of what my station could accomplish for long distance contacts. Most recently, my passion has shifted to packet radio. I am in the process of getting a dedicated node online, using the incredible Pax-25 project to interconnect my local area with Houston and Minneapolis.
The adventures will likely never end, even if I take breaks from the hobby for much shorter durations. I'm enjoying it even more the older I get.
Off the air
I'm neurodivergent (autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and generalized anxiety disorder) and I'm open about my mental health because I think normalizing these conversations matters, especially among men. We don't talk about this stuff enough, and I'd like to help change that.
Outside of radio I'm a father, runner, cyclist, woodworker, hacker, and a 30-year tech enthusiast. Thanks for checking out my page.
73, K0MVH