More Than a Hobby
Amateur radio became the foundation of my professional career as an electronics engineer. I was first licensed as a novice in 1972 as WN9JPS, after taking classes with the McHenry County (Illinois) Amateur Radio Club. Within two years, I had my extra. In August 2014 I finally got my current vanity callsign, NA6O. Great for CW. Look me up on QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/NA6O/db/NA6O
![](images/ham_radio_home/GaryAtRig-3.jpg)
NA6O (Ex- WB9JPS)
![NA6O at N6RO antenna farm](images/ham_radio_home/N6RO_Ant.jpeg)
![WB9JPS in 1979](images/ham_radio_home/WB9JPS_circa_1979.jpg)
My station in Crystal Lake in 1979. That’s a Drake TR-4 with all the accessories. And a memory keyer that I built that was a perfect match. It was a great rig. Photo by Randy Dunning, KC5QHH.
These days, I operate via a very nice remote station, W6SRR, located high on a ridge top where we have a K3/KPA1500 and decent antennas. The DX if fantastic.
I’m a member of ARRL, RSGB, CWops, and the Northern California Contest Club... among other things.
![CWops the cw operators club](images/ham_radio_home/CWopsLogo.jpg)
![NCCC northern california contest club](images/ham_radio_home/NCCC_Logo.jpg)
![ARRL american radio relay league](images/ham_radio_home/ARRLlogo.png)
![RSGB radio society of great britain](images/ham_radio_home/RSGBlogo.png)
Some photos taken at my remote station, W6SRR, co-owned by Ian, W6TCP:
![Inside W6SRR station](images/ham_radio_home/Area51_racks.jpg)
These are some of the “keys to my success”. A Begali Sculpture, a 1963 Vibroplex Deluxe Original, a 1938 McElroy Deluxe, and my Cocobolo hand key.
Also see my Bugs page.
![](images/ham_radio_home/Keys.jpeg)
![W6SRR view toward europe](images/ham_radio_home/Area51_Tower.jpeg)
Regarding presentations, most of these are available in PowerPoint format upon request. I am also happy to present these via Zoom (or in-person to local clubs).