KI5IO

I was born and raised in a small farming community in Northeast Montana. Our farm was located between Outlook & Plentywood, MT. 
 G-Map Link to our farm homestead

In the late 1950s I was introduced to amateur radio communications while visitng a neighbor farmer (Don Koterba - W7YXN-SK) who had a Hallicrafters pair (transmitter & receiver) in his basement shack.  On top of his wind mill / water well pump he had a huge beam. All of this was very new to me and I was "hooked" listening to this kindly neighbor talk to stations all over the globe. I spent as much time as I could soaking up all this 'new radio communications' as a youngster.

In November/2022 Montana PBS published a video produced by the School of Visual and Media Arts in the University of Montana School of Journalism.  It is ~25 minutes and directly involves several "Hams" in the State of Montana.  I found the video very nice and seeing as how Montana is my "home state" I'm quite proud of the U of M "J School" along with MT PBS for the production. You are more than welcome to watch it by
clicking:  Montana Hams

My parents had a Zenith cabinet radio that I also spent many hours listening to with the ability to change to the "shortwave" bands and listen to broadcasts from 'who knows where' all over the world. I still have that radio in our living room and it still works FB.

In the 1960s the 1st FM radio station in Montana was installed and signed on in our small community. I was recruited (not a hard decision) to start working at the radio station during it's 2nd or 3rd year of operation.  I studied for my 3rd Class Radtiotelephone license as that was the minimum FCC license required to be able to work "on the air". I recall the Great Northern Empire Builder train ride to Seattle and then the trip to the FCC Offices to sit/take my test.  Notification of results were in the mail several weeks later.  I spent my high school years working at the local FM station (KPWD-FM at the time) each morning before school and also occasionally had duties after school, but also had to keep up with my farm chores.

Couple of years in college followed along with broadcasting & electronics school at Brown Institute of Broadcasting and Electronics in Minneapolis. I was taking the dual-track classes for broadcasting and electronics.  I was able to graduate early due to having had the 4 years of local FM radio experiencce.  Then I focused on electronics and got both my 2nd and 1st Class Radiotelephone licenses from the FCC Office in St. Paul, MN. Still have my 1st Class Radiotelephone license today albeit it has been re-named to the GROL or General Radiotelephone Operator License.

I finally got around to sitting for my first FCC Amateur test in 1972 and was granted my Novice license and call sign of WB5WAX. Over the following years I sat for the exams and stepped up to Technician, General, Advanced and finally Extra. When I was able I finally changed to my current 2x2 call of KI5IO.  My call is not a vanity and simply the luck of the draw or next in queue when issued. All in all turns out it is a pretty good call for CW as well.

As with most of us operators radio activity ebbs and flows with family, work and all of the many wonderful things in life we're fortunate to be able to do and enjoy.

My working career started in broadcast AM radio both on-air and finally as chief engineer at stations in Texas. I continued my experience with excellent opportunities (all in technical, engineering, communications and program/project management) with:  The Associated Press, American Airlines, Teleport Communications Group, AT&T Labs and Nolan's Inspections (my own inspection company). 

My wife and I are now both retired and each involved with our passions. Hers being crafting, designing and creating special cards for friends and now generally many folks who see her products. My joy is with my ham radio and focus on the CW mode. 

We like to tour the many parks available to us here in the USA and especially like to experience the scenic railways that run (sometimes limited) each year.  Our favorite is the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway.  Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway 

We have a great son and daughter with our blended family and also 4 wonderful grandsons. 

My station is very simple. I have an Elecraft K3/100, P3 with svga and my antenna (due to suburban lot size limitations) is a W5GI Mystery Dipole that has been up over my house for about 12-years and has worked FB for all that time.  I've also tried a couple different vertical antennas, but the noise floor in my part of suburbia is way too high.  On a daily basis I use the Begali Simplex Mono Single Lever Paddle and I also have a Begali Blade for a straight key that I use from time to time.

I was able to add a Vibroplex Lightning Bug to my collection.  The serial number dates it back to 1942 and the original owner of the key was Joseph Moskey - W1JMY (SK) who worked for the ARRL about 40 years. 

I've recently completed what I can describe as the "last" course I will need to help me better learn and improve my CW skills.  I've taken many of the offerings of CW courses from well known and well respected organizations, but none of them ever could help me 'close the loop' for learning CW.  The Comprehensive Instant Character Recognition (CICR) course has now closed that loop. I heartily endorse the course and strongly recommend any OP who has struggled (like I did) to learn CW to sign up for an interview and see if you can get a slot for a simply great learning process.

The course is designed for operators who have a fundamental/basic working knowledge of CW.  The course is very immersive and is totally about "HOW to Learn CW".  The course is 'coached' by a group of OPs who are simply excellent to work with. They provide the tools I needed and will be able to use as I continue my CW Journey that is a great path for me. 

Look into Comprehensive Instant Character Recognition presented by CW Innovations:  Click Here  -  CW Innovations

CWops - #2549

SKCC - #9532T