Welcome to K8CWG's Website

K8CWG.COM
Got into amateur radio a little over a year ago and enjoy the hobby very much, but so much to learn. My base rig is a Yaesu mobile FT857 powered by a Jet Stream JTPS28M Switching Power Supply. The 5BTV Hustler vertical antenna in the backyard is tuned by an LDG AT-100 Pro Autotuner. My cable run is 120 feet of RG213/U coax that is run through rigid PVC pipe placed underground back to the antenna. There are no radials used for the antenna and tunes up great. Just an 8 foot ground rod at the antenna end and another one at the equipment end. I have a 2 meter Yaesu VX170 HT, and a 2 meter Yaesu 1802 mobile unit with just a standard Jet Stream lip-mount attenna. I am usually on the 147.345 MARC repeater. Purchased all my equipment from R&L Electronics practically down the street from where I work.
My logging software is the N3FJP's Amateur Radio Software (ACLog) full version, and just currently signed up for the Logbook of The World ( LoTW ). I am an ARRL member and also a local club member with the MARC in Milford Ohio. I want to say that becoming a member was the best thing ever. I purchased a SignaLink USB with built-in sound card and the 6 pin DIN along with the CAT (6pin DIN) to USB cable back to the laptop. I plan to run the Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD5) software and hope to get started very soon.
I was born and raised in southern Michigan and lived, for a short time in the Sault Ste. Marie as well. I have lived in San Antonio, TX (For USAF Boot camp), Rantoul, IL (USAF Tech School), Fort Walton Beach, FL. (Eglin AFB), Osan AB, South Korea (USAF Remote Tour), Barstow, CA (Goldstone STDN - Fort Irwin), Waldorf, MD (Mainframe-Field Service), Lexington, MA (Mainframe-Field Service) and Cincinnati, Ohio (IT Teacher) since 1995.
My real job, for the past 15 years, is teaching Information Technology to high school students in Southwest Ohio. I have my Bachelor's degree in Information Systems with a Masters in Education (M.Ed.). Served four years in the United States Air Force (1977-1981); three years at Eglin AFB-Duke Field in the 728th Squadron and my last year at Osan AB South Korea. Worked as a contractor for NASA as a telemetry support analyst for orbiting/geosynchronous satellites, shuttle missions and deep space projects. Became a field service representative providing hardware/software support on main-frames, mini/macro computers and PC's throughout New England and the Midwest before becoming a licensed Ohio High School Educator.
I do volunteer work at the VA Hospital and National Cemetery up in Dayton, Ohio. I've been taking my high school students every year for the past 15 years to help out. The students always want to go back and veterans absolutely enjoy the visit.
I'm an amateur vintner, enjoy running, skiing,all types of technology, weather reporting, and earthquake data collection. I have been married thirty years, raised two boys, and have two grandchildren.
email - tom@k8cwg.com