Info on KA4RRU



  • 1967 had my first look at a ham shack ... best friend - Chris Coats dad had a basement full of ham gear in Niskayuna NY. (do not know call)

  • 1968 -1980 SWL with cool radios like Trans-Oceanic, FRG-7

  • September 1980 Passed Novice Test - Test given by my Elmer - W4NVN - in Stafford VA

  • October 12, 1980 First Qso (Using a Globe Scout Deluxe TX and FRG-7 RX)

  • First Contest - Novice Round up January 1982 - 251 q's !!!

  • July 5, 1982 - started using TenTec Triton IV (big move up - had a VFO !!)

  • Second Contest - Novice Round up January 1983 - 397 q's !!!

  • November 4, 1989 Passed 20 wpm

  • December 2, 1889 Passed Technician

  • December 9, 1989 Passed General

  • December 30, 1989 First SSB QSO

  • January 14, 1990 Passed Advanced

  • January 26, 1990 Passed Extra

  • March 16, 1990 First RTTY QSO

  • May 19, 1991 First Tower (TH3 at about 35 or 40 feet attached to the house.)

  • November 27, 1992 First QSO from current QTH in Catlett VA.

  • August 8, 1993 First tower at new qth TH3 on a 48 foot HBX tower

  • Spring, 1995 Went to VP2M for ARRL SSB DX with W4DC and others had a blast!

  • Summer, 1995 Second tower at new qth 90 feet of Rohn 25 with 2 el 40 at 100 feet and three th6 at 90, 60, and 30 feet

  • Summer 2004, Put up third tower. 68 feet of rohn 25 (20 meter 4 el at top and 4 el 15 meter at 45 feet added in Feb/2005)

  • July 2006, Started work on redoing the shack and basement.

  • July 2007, Put 5 el 15 on top HBX and 4 el 15 at 30 feet on HBX.

  • August 2007, Put second 4 el 20 at 35 feet on 68 foot tower.

  • Winter 2008, Got a ICOM 706 and started doing HF mobile.

  • March 2008, Did VA Qso party with WA4PGM. Had at blast! Over 1K qsos mobile.

  • August 2008, Replaced 80 meter dipole at 80 feet.
    Web Page Updated 03/17/2009