about w1jks

The name here is John -- I'm not sure why we hams talk like this, but we do, HI! After taking the Element 2, 3, and 4 exams on 14 May, 2007 (passed all in one sitting with only one wrong on each element), I was licensed as AB1HJ, Amateur Extra, on 29 May, 2007. I applied for a vanity call sign W1JKS (first choice) and K1JKS (second choice) on 10 Aug, 2007, and W1JKS was granted to me on 29 Aug, 2007. I then signed up for the w1jks.com domain so that this website would have a proper URL :-)

It took me over a month and a half to get on the air after being licensed. I decided that I should really build rather than buy a rig and decided on the Elecraft K2 kit. Talk about a lot of parts!!! I took my time and followed the most excellent directions and was rewarded with a rig I am proud of and really enjoy using.

So far I am only operating SSB -- I am learning the code, but I'm not as persistant with practice as I should be. I've QSO'ed with all 50 states and all but New Hampshire have been confirmed with a QSL card -- I'll get that WAS at some point!!! (Update: the WAS certificate has arrived!) I've also made a number of DX contacts from Argentina to Lithuania. The W1AB Killer Ant has only extended my range and I've finally QSO'ed with Hawaii :-). I don't have much of a chance in those big pile-ups that I've come accross. Most contacts have been more a matter of luck and timing -- getting in before the pile-up forms. Sometimes I'll tack "QRP" onto the end of my call...sometimes this helps, but usually not. (Update: What has helped is the addition of the KPA-100 100W amplifier option for my K2!)

Here I am "Sqeezing the cans" in an attempt to dig a signal out of the noise. Yes, I can hear you now! I had been keeping track of which states I've QSO'ed with (yellow), which have QSL'ed (outlined), and which grid-squares I have QSL cards from -- the WAS wallpaper has arrived. Thanks to all those that have sent QSL cards!

After months of using a basic QSL card -- printed and trimmed by hand -- I've finally put together a nice color card! I'm good in the W1 QSL bureau, the OMISS bureau, and both 3905 Century Club bureaus. I am doing my best to QSL 100% -- I try not to go to bed before the paperwork is done :-) I entered the ARRL November 2007 Phone Sweeps -- QSL'ing 103 contacts is a bit of a chore -- included an SASE (or SAE plus a greenstamp for Canada) with each QSL sent to maximize the return rate.

73 de John W1JKS

my family

Here's a picture of me with my XYL, Ilise, and our "harmonic", Bryanna, on a Summer 2007 hike through Purgatory Chasm (Sutton, MA).

Extended Family Highlights

Ilise's sister, Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle, lives in Key West and, as the president of the Florida Keys Community College since arriving there in 2007, has made some remarkable and very bright changes to the college and to their SCUBA diving program. How would you like to take a class where you get out there and help doing 3D GPS mapping of coral reefs? That's just so cool! Thanks to her hard work and dedication, FKCC is a much better school than it was just two years ago. Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle has also recently joined the online social networking craze. We've been teaching her how to tweet, blog, and link-in.

And what a place to go for a family visit -- looking forward to next time. Hi, hi!!!