Working on the W1DC Repeater in Hopkinton, MA

(GE MASTR2 52mhz)

I got started in Amateur Radio (HAM radio) back when I was 10, however I didn't seek my license until much later in life.  Radio as a hobby for me was just part of my goal, I just didn't know how to get started in doing 'radio' stuff professionally!   Turns out I found a few local companies that thought I had some talent, and I've been working on dispatch systems, communications consoles, comparators, satellite receivers, repeaters, and all sorts of fun stuff ever since!  

Amateur radio does have a lot to offer, especially with new technologies, digital modes, and if your worried about breaking things, get a nice rugged surplus commercial rigs coming out of service due to narrow-banding!

   W1DC Link system @ WCVB-5 Radar Site (Hopkinton, MA)  - Me posing with active members of GEMOTO group.  Photo courtesy of Rick Zach, (K1RJZ)

Shortly after becoming licensed as KB1NQI, Doug - N2RDF, invited me to W1AQ (Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England) where I later became involved in a problem they were having with their new repeater controller.  The group was about ready to throw in a towel, however, I asked for a week to look over the manuals and get back to them.  By the following Wednesday they had an answer, and the solution has worked flawlessly to this day, enabling the installation of the New W1AQ Repeater that John (K1JI) has miraculously birthed!   This very repeater was the inspiration for me to move forth and get involved in communications as a career.  Club-wise, I was nominated for membership by Bob (KM1X) in 2006, and have since been nominated President (2008 through present).  I am currently a  General Class operator, working towards my extra class and General Radio-Telephone Operators License (Commercial). 

W1AQ is a great group, a brotherhood of amateur radio operators.  Everyone is there to help one another with whatever project they may be working on, or seeking out any knowledge others may have (and trust me, its a VERY knowledgeable group!)

In 2007 I became involved in local emergency management, and also joined a few more amateur groups, one of them being a specialization in GE and Motorola radios, which is fortunate, as old gear is often modified to work in the amateur frequencies; and i happen to spot a lot of it headed straight for the dumpster!  

More info at http://www.gemoto.com/ 

Some of my store-bought rigs:

Yaesu VX7rb - The choice of rich hams everywhere ;)   6m/2m/1.25m/70cm (1w/5w/330mw/5w) with high gain dual band antennas and various accessories.  

Icom 2200H in the mobile (2M /65w) with a dual band Radiall-Larsen antenna.

Icom 207H  in the shack (2m/70cm 50w/35w) currently running Echolink!

Kenwood TS440S-AT (160-10M 100w All Mode) w/ RigBlaster

Yaesu FT767GX 160-10m, (100w all mode)  plus 2m, 6m all modes w/ PL encoder!

The Array (Click for larger image)