KW4MG Gary W. Stephan Plantation, FL QCWA # 37071

My father, Robert Otto Stephan (W1IYM) was the youngest licensed Ham in the state of Connecticut when he was first licensed in the early 1930s', and later he served in WWII in the Signal Corps. He is now a Silent Key, and I continue to work hard to get close to the proficiency he had in CW!

I was first licensed in 1991 as KD6BRX - Novice/Technician. That year I had the highest score in the LAX section in the Novice Roundup which doesn't exist anymore. I received my Extra KN6DM in 1993, but soon after that I went off the air for various reasons, mostly moving and apartments.

In 2014 I lost my wife, and I decided to retire. In July 2015 I again became active in amateur radio, purchased a Yaesu FT-450D (which is serving me very well), and applied for a 4 district callsign. Living in South Florida in a Homeowners Association I have constructed a 20 meter dipole in my attic, and to keep any possible RFI down I'm running only PSK31, JT65 and CW usually at 25 watts.

After being off the air for such a long time the learning curve is very steep, but I'm working hard to try and catch up and learn the digital modes which were in their infancy when I last was active in Amateur Radio. After becoming active again I had a PSK31 contact with a Russia op, over 6,000 miles away, with a dipole in my attic! That is what is so great about Amateur Radio!

Hope to see you on the air. 73

SKCC# 14323C     PODXS# 2188     NAQCC# 7991     FISTS# 17388     TEN-TEN# 60965  .   QCWA# 37071

September 1, 2016