E.A. "Rex" King III - W5EAK
Biography
I grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, working in my late parents' restaurants. I joined the United States Navy in 1965. While serving in Vietnam, I used my skills as a Ham Radio Operator to make countless phone patches, providing a vital link between service members and their families back home.
After retiring from the Navy and raising a family, decades passed through record droughts, floods, heat, cold, and massive Texas tornadoes. Today, I live with my awesome XYL, Donna Snow King, W5SML, on our ranch spanning Tarrant and Parker Counties.
Amateur Radio Station - QTH
Amateur Radio Station - QTH
Our HF station is built around a Yaesu FTDX-101D using a Heil PR-781 microphone with the Heil Parametric Receive Audio System and an HPS-5 speaker.
CW operation includes a trusted Vibroplex and a beautifully restored WWII/Korea/Vietnam-era U.S. Navy "Flame Proof Key," restored by my dear friend John Hamilton, KD5INM. This key was designed for shipboard and submarine use with no exposed contacts.
Amplification is provided by an Ameritron ALS-600 (600W). Our HF antenna is a SteppIR DB42 with 80-meter dipole mounted on a 72-foot tower with a Yaesu G-2800DXA rotor.
For VHF/UHF we run a Yaesu FTM-510D with a Heil HM-10XD microphone and Yaesu SP-101 speaker feeding a Comet dual-band antenna on the tower.
Computing & Monitoring
The shack includes a 27-inch iMac for logging, QRZ, and daily operations, a second 21-inch iMac dedicated to APRS and monitoring, plus a weather station and security camera system.
Mobile Operations
Our mobile platform is a 2023 RAM 1500 Laramie Limited EcoDiesel 4x4. It is equipped with a Yaesu FTM-510D with APRS on VHF/UHF and a Yaesu FT-1 Optima for HF paired with a Yaesu ATAS-120A antenna.
Life on the Ranch
Affiliations & Service
Founding Advisory Board Member - Hershel W. "Woody" Williams MOH USMC (Ret.)
Foundation Honoring Gold Star Families
Ambassador - Airpower Foundation
Member - Fort Worth Airpower Council
Ambassador - Freedom Mobility Foundation
Links
Rex's QRZ Page: qrz.com/db/W5EAK
Donna's QRZ Page: qrz.com/db/W5SML
Woody Williams Foundation: WoodyWilliams.org
Airpower Foundation: AirPowerFoundation.org
Freedom Mobility Foundation: FreedomMobilityFoundation.org