updated 2/8/13
I got an e-mail from a guy who noted that he couldn’t find my name anywhere on this website. I looked and he’s right. So, here’s a little bit about me. I’m going to figure out a way for a link to this post to appear on one of the nav bars so that readers can find it more easily….
My name is Dan Romanchik, and I’m just a guy who’s having fun with ham radio.
I’m 57 years old, and have been a ham for 42 years, although for most of those years, I wasn’t very active. I have been very active since the summer of 2002, after I got the bug again after working some CW at our club’s Field Day. Since then, I have:
- made more than 12,000 contacts, mostly on CW,
- increased my code speed to 30 wpm or so,
- built a bunch of kits and other stuff (including an Elecraft KX1 handheld HF transceiver),
- worked a bunch of contests and have even garnered a few certificates from doing so,
- taught Tech and General class course,
- written five amateur radio books, including license study guide for all three license classes,
- set up an amateur radio station at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (WA2HOM),
- served as president of ARROW, a club that serves ham in and around Ann Arbor, MI, and
- served as Affiliated Club Coordinator and ASM, Training for the Michigan section.
I’m no “super ham.” I don’t have a 120-ft. tower with a three-element 40m beam on it. I don’t own a $10,000 transceiver, and I haven’t yet been on a DXpedition. I am having a lot of fun, though.
Ned Newlin, W8VFM says
Hi Dan: I am 67 and semi retired. I do some expedite trucking with a cargo van for extra income and to keep my hands in the business. Hi! I have been 100% QRP since 1966, when I built my first OHR-400. Since then I have built a K2 and a K1. Next will be a KX1. I will have a tower and a tri bander, when I can get my neighbor to bring over his equipment to raise the tower. I have used a Hy-Gain HY-TOWER vertical for many years, along with various dipole and inverted vee antennas. The thrill of qrp is much more enjoyable than the big QRO rigs. I know, I have had them. There is just something more enjoyable about working those far away places with a little rig you have built.
Do you have an active QRP group in Ann Arbor? I have been involved in a group from Indiana, The
East Central Indiana QRP Club. (no dues, just fun) http://www.eciqrp.org our webpage.
Thanks for your Ham Radio Blog
73,
Ned, W8VFM
[email protected]
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Ned–
Thanks for your comments. While not a QRP group, per se, there are some guys who belong to ARROW (www.w8pgw.org), the amateur radio club in this area, who play around with QRP rigs.
73! Dan KB6NU