Info on KA4RRU



  • 1967 had my first look at a ham shack ... best friend - Chris Coats dad had a basement full of ham gear in Niskayuna NY. (do not know call)

  • 1968 -1980 SWL with cool radios like Trans-Oceanic, FRG-7

  • September 1980 Passed Novice Test - Test given by my Elmer - W4NVN - in Stafford VA

  • October 12, 1980 First Qso (Using a Globe Scout Deluxe TX and FRG-7 RX)

  • First Contest - Novice Round up January 1982 - 251 q's !!!

  • July 5, 1982 - started using TenTec Triton IV (big move up - had a VFO !!)

  • Second Contest - Novice Round up January 1983 - 397 q's !!!

  • November 4, 1989 Passed 20 wpm

  • December 2, 1989 Passed Technician

  • December 9, 1989 Passed General

  • December 30, 1989 First SSB QSO

  • January 14, 1990 Passed Advanced

  • January 26, 1990 Passed Extra

  • March 16, 1990 First RTTY QSO

  • May 19, 1991 First Tower (TH3 at about 35 or 40 feet attached to the house.)

  • November 27, 1992 First QSO from current QTH in Catlett VA.

  • August 8, 1993 First tower at new qth TH3 on a 48 foot HBX tower

  • Spring, 1995 Went to VP2M for ARRL SSB DX with W4DC and others had a blast!

  • Summer, 1995 Second tower at new qth 90 feet of Rohn 25 with 2 el 40 at 100 feet and three th6 at 90, 60, and 30 feet

  • Summer 2004, Put up third tower. 68 feet of rohn 25 (20 meter 4 el at top and 4 el 15 meter at 35 feet added in Feb/2005)

  • July 2006, Started work on redoing the shack and basement.

  • July 2007, Put 5 el 15 on top HBX and 4 el 15 at 30 feet on HBX.

  • August 2007, Put second 4 el 20 at 35 feet on 68 foot tower.

  • Winter 2008, Got a ICOM 706 and started doing HF mobile.

  • March 2008 and 2009 - Did VA Qso party with WA4PGM. Had at blast! Over 1K qsos mobile.

  • Spring, 2010 Went to TI5 for ARRL SSB DX with WA4PGM, W0CN, W4DC and others ... had a blast!

  • March 2012 and 2013 - Did Multi Multi VA Qso party here.

  • FALL 2012, Replaced 5el 15 meter beam with 3 el SteppIR beam on top of HBX Tower.

  • December 2013, Finished USA-County Award 3077 #1240

  • FALL 2014, Replaced 3 el SteppIR beam with C3E on top of HBX Tower.

  • 2014, Took part in the W1AW/4 event.

  • 2016, Took part in the NPOTA event.

  • February, 2016 Did NC QSO Party with WA4PGM

  • March, 2016 Did Multi Multi VA Qso party here

  • April, 2016 Worked FT4JA for my LAST DXCC and Number 1 Honor Roll.

  • November, 2016 Replaced C3E with a Skyhawk at the top of HBX tower.

  • November, 2016 Put C3E at 35 feet pointed south on the HBX tower.

  • December, 2016 Put up a new 160 inverted L .. Works FB.

  • March, 2017 Did Multi Multi VA Qso party here

  • November, 2017 Put up a 2el 40 meter beam pointed West at 50 feet.

  • November, 2017 Put up the 160 inverted L (again - Storm took it down in April).. Works FB.

  • February, 2020 Replaced Tri-Band VHF/UFH with Duel Band VHF/UHF Antenna and replaced coax jumper

  • March, 2022 Went to J68HZ for ARRL SSB Contest with WA4PGM and W0CN had a great time.

  • July, 2022 Lightning destroyed the Duel Band VHF/UHF Antenna (and a couple of other things)
    Web Page Updated 07/31/2022

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