User data

User info

Hi!

I've been licensed since 1975 and live in Hamilton Square, near Princeton in central New Jersey.  My current on air activities are mostly about improving my CW skills.  SKCC Number is 19229.

My major interest is Public Service and helping Scouts learn about Amateur Radio. I'm currently Assistant Section Manager of the Southern New Jersey Section of the ARRL. Major events I've helped in include two New York City Blackouts, Hurricane Andrew, the WTC Attack on 9/11/01, and Superstorm Sandy. I encourage all hams to complete the ARECC courses and NIMS training .

I've been in Scouting for 50 years and currently am Assistant District Commissioner for the Washington Crossing Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I also serve on the BSA National Council Radio Scouting Committee and helped teach Radio Merit Badge at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.  I will also be on the Amateur Radio Staff at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree.  I encourage everyone to use the materials on  http://k2gw.tripod.com/radiomeritbadge/ to run a Radio Merit Badge Day to introduce Scouts to Amateur Radio. It's easy and a lot of fun for the boys and for the hams!  Also check out www.k2bsa.net for more resources.

I'm a Life Member of the ARRL and member of the Delaware Valley Radio Association (W2ZQ), the David Sarnoff Radio Club (N2RE), the K2BSA Association, the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (Member 1497) and ECARS (Member 20846). I'm also the trustee for W2MER and W3AEQ.

I QSL 100% direct, LOTW, or via the buro. Non-ham interests include stamp collecting and birding. I'm a graduate of Lehigh University, have an MBA from Pace University, and managed information security for the pharmaceutical industry before retiring in 2017. I'm married to Jill, W2JIL and have two children, Dave, and Pam, W1PAM.

My home station consists of an Icom 7610 and a Kenwood TS-2000X controlled by Logger32 software. These feed an Ameritron ALS-600 Amplifier, LDG AT-1000 Autotuner, an Alpha Delta DXCC multiband dipole at 10 meters AGL, and a Diamond 6000 144/440/1200 MHz vertical.

All are powered by an Astron RS-45 float charging a 75 AH gelcell through a PowerGate and RIGrunner. I also have a Yaesu FT-400 for System Fusion, an ICOM 2m/440 DStar rig, Alinco 220 rig, and a Bearcat 780XLT scanner. NTS packet traffic goes through an AEA PK-232MBX and a Kenwood TM-231.

Besides earning Five Band DXCC, I've worked all states, all zones, and 250 countries mostly using my multiband dipole.

My go kit consists of a Kenwood F6A HT, Icom 7300, and Yaesu FT-897, two 35 AH Gellcells, a 60 Watt folding solar panel, a Buddipole system, and three thirty foot antenna masts and antennas. Supplemental power is a pair of Honda EU2000i's that can also power the whole house through a transfer switch.

My mobile station is a Kenwood D710 for FM/APRS and an ICOM-7000 for HF.

Enjoy the many aspects of our hobby! Good DX & 73

Gary, K2GW