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| Amateur Radio Station N5VAV |
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 Ham Radio Deluxe LIVE Logbook
I use Ham Radio Deluxe logging software. It automatically updates here and shows if I'm currently on the air! www.hrdlog.net
For Ten-Ten number collecting, paperchasing, and the Ten-Ten contests I use K4HAV's contest program, WIN1010CH. I've found it is THE 10-10 software for everything 10-10. WIN1010CH can be found at Hardy Data Systems' WIN1010CH Page HERE. My Station OverviewI have been interested in Radio and Television for a very long time. I remember that when I was little, I was always fascinated with the radio and TV towers we would pass along the highways. I remember the glow of the red beacon lights at night and thinking how neat it is that there are signals being sent out all over from that tower. I have been interested specifically in ham radio for a while also. My first real experience with ham radio came in 1990 when I went to a Field Day site. I had seen ham shacks and towers before, but never anything like Field Day. Something I will always remember is when one of the operators asked me to sit down and "give out a call". Well, I was nervous, but I knew that this was a chance to actually transmit on the air. I called CQ and someone came back, I was absoutely thrilled! Today, I wish I could remember the call, because the person I spoke with was very patient and helpful. He made me feel comfortable. I completed the QSO and I realized that this is what I had always wanted to be able to do. The hams there that let me talk on the radio gave me more information as how to become a ham. It was because of the innate friendliness, helpfulness, and character of those hams that I knew I wanted to join the fun.On June 12, 1991, my dad-N5VAU and I went to take our tests to get our license. My dad passed his 20 wpm. CW test and his written General. I passed my 5 wpm. CW and my written Technician. My dad qualified for his General class, and I qualified for my Technician class license. HF was my first love and I wanted access to all the bands so I knew the General Class license was what I really needed. My dad helped me with CW, sending to me, and me sending to him, and I studied for the written test. One week after I qualified for the Technician class, I qualified for the General class. I was really on my way! The license arrived August 1, 1991 in the mail and I then knew my callsign-N5VAV. I hurried to the HF radio and turned it on. I had thought that it would be easy to simply start talking all over the world. Well, like most new hams, I was wrong, I couldn't bring myself to actually transmit. I was pretty nervous actually knowing that anyone in the world would hear me. I finally got up the courage and called CQ on 20m. It is interesting that because of how soon I upgraded, my first contact was as N5VAV/AG. My first contact was with KB2LOX. He was, like I had imagined, as helpful as all the other hams I had met. We had a good QSO and after about 30 minutes, we signed off. Since then, I have had many QSO's with hams in all 50 states and in countries all over the world. I received my Amateur Extra License in 1994. I have always been very interested in weather, so RACES/SKYWARN activities are a favorite of mine. 
Things I Like to DoI enjoy exchanging QSL cards and working for different awards such as the
Contests are FUNPrimarily, Contests are simply a lot of fun. I enjoy trying to work as many stations as I can during the course of the contest period. I find that I meet a lot of old friends all over the world. A great many hams are usually on the air for the same reason I am; to work a lot of stations. Because of this, It is easy, with good band conditions, to work many states and countries. The majority of my confirmed countries for DXCC came from working contests. In a contest, all stations want to work you for the contact. Therefore, DX stations that under normal circumstances you would have to break a pileup to work, will be striving to work YOU! I currently contest mostly on 10 meters. I enjoy the challenge that band affords. Like the old Charles Dickens saying, "Sometimes the best of bands, sometimes the worst of bands". Since 1992, I have placed first in the low power, phone only, North Texas Section, category of the ARRL 10 meter contest. I had just over 1300 contacts in the 1992 event.
As I say, it is always fun to hear and work old friends across the world, and meet new friends. Probably my favorite of all contests is Field Day! I just love going to the site, setting up antennas, tents, rigs, generators, etc. It is more than just a contest, it is a chance for hams to get together and have a big time. It is great for families to come out to Field Day and participate in the activites. I enjoy having a new ham, or a prospective ham, come to the an operating table and letting them make a few contacts. After all, that was my first real experience with Amateur Radio. The results are always the same, they are quite excited and want to learn more. I would encourage ALL hams to participate in your local Field Day setup. If there is not currently one scheduled, get one started. You won't be sorry. 
The 60ft VHF/UHF Tower. DB-420 repeater antenna on top. ATV, Packet, etc. antennas.  NATIONAL WEATHER MAPS
KDAF - Channel 33 / KDFW - Channel 4 doppler radars
If you would like to link to me, feel free to use one of the banners below! (RIGHT click on banner, then choose "Save Picture As...")
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