WA3USG Richard E. 'Dick' Goodman Mechanicsburg, PA QCWA # 31048 Chapter 165

Hello & greetings from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania! As well as Amateur Radio, I love the outdoors. I enjoy Hiking, Kayaking, Bicycling, and motorcycling. I am also active in Amateur Astronomy & photography. This Summer I'm hoping to do a good bit of backpacking to the top of some of our local mountains with my new Yaesu FT-817. I never realized just how many great mountain topping locations there were until I started hiking about 10 years ago.

As well as making two way contacts, I'm hoping to hike to some "Electricially quiet" locations to see if I can copy some of the activity down on the Part 15 Lowfer frequencies. Lowfers are experimenters who run a maxium of 1 watt to antennas no larger then 50 feet on frequencies below 200 KHz. The problem is that down that low in frequency, in most neighborhoods, there is severe interference from electrical lines, Quartz Halogen lamps, TV set horizontal oscillators, electric motors, water bed heaters, electric blankets ... everything! Even so, from my home, I've managed to copy some of these LowFer signals over 1,000 miles away. These are not signals that you actually hear, they are far too weak to be copied audibly. A computer is connected to the output of the receiver via its sound card and the signal is displayed graphically.

I also enjoy chatting on 2 meter FM, operating SSB on HF through UHF, operating Fast Scan TV, experimenting with the digital modes on both HF through UHF, and just plain tinkering and building things down in the shack. I am also active on EME on 2 meters running 2 phased 12 element M Squared beams and about 400 watts of power. ! Since our daughter Becky has moved out and is now on her own, my XYL Sandy, N3ECF has taken an active interest in the EmComm aspect of Amateur radio, so now there's two of us operating (and sometimes desensing each other!). She has really gotten enthusiastic about Amateur Radio and this has had an excellent effect on my Ham radio budget!

We both are active in the Keystone VHF Club of York, Pennsylvania. I am currently the President, Newsletter Editor, and Webmaster ... Sandy is the Secretary. Sandy also holds the position of Auxiliary Communications Officer for York County. The clubs Website is: http://www.w3hzu.com. If you live in the York -Harrisburg area, we are always looking for a few new members! Give us a call on the clubs repeater on 146.97 MHz (Tone 123 Hz).

BTW, the age here is 67. In 1999, I retired from the Dept of the Navy, after serving 7 years in the US Navy stationed on the USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN 624), a Nuclear Polaris class Submarine. Following this, I worked at the Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg for 23 years as an Equipment Specialist working with submarine systems & subsystems, and then as a Computer Systems Analyst. After retirement, I worked part time as the Network Admin and applications programmer for a small Defense Contractor in Mechanicsburg for another 13 years. I retired from that in 2012. and now do whatever suits me! I've been a ham since 1973 and getting my license was always just a dream in my younger days ... I wish that I would have done it sooner ... it certainly enriched my life! Our time on this planet sure passes by quickly doesn't it? However, because of my family and this incredible hobby, I'm enjoying every minute of it and my life has been full!

Finally ... I would like to thank three folks who helped get me on the air back in the early 70's and made my time in Amateur radio enjoyable. First and foremost, Bert Thornhill, W3HIZ for living right down the road from me and exposing me to this great hobby ... and also giving me my Novice test. Once I had my license, I met a wonderful couple while stationed in Goose Creek, SC. Lynn Hunting, W4CSP and Jeannie Hunting, K4RHU ran a speaker reconing shop in Goose Creek. Both Lynn and Jeannie became wonderful friends and mentors. They have both been Silent Keys for many years but will always be in my memories ... I do mss you guys!

! That's about it, if you hear me on the air, please give me a shout!

January 31, 2015