N3BMC

N3BMC - Brian - Columbia, MD (FM19nf)

Hi from Columbia, Maryland, USA. I am a member of the ARRL, the JHU Applied Physics Lab Amateur Radio Club (W3APL), where I currently serve as President, and the Columbia Amateur Radio Association (CARA). I have two great kids, and my amazing wife is WA0CGZ. I previously had the calls of KB3BMC and KD3BTI.

I've lived a few different place originally coming from Philly, mostly growing up in Charlotte, NC. I got my undergrad in Computer Science from NC State in 2001 and moved to Maryland to work on the Hubble Space Telescope. I lived in Boulder, CO for a year, where I met my amazing wife, and then moved back to Maryland. I received a Masters in Systems Engineering in 2009 and we have raised 2 kids and now lived most of our lives here in Maryland.

Through the years I've worked on a number of space missions working at NASA including Hubble, James Webb, JPSS, LandSat, and XRISM. I've recently left NASA and now work at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.

I love to travel for work and fun and I've been to the Carribean, England, Germany, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Antarctica. I've done the most travel to Japan working on the XRISM mission with the Japanese.

Although I’m a late bloomer to amateur radio, I’ve spent some of my professional life working with satellite communications — including systems like TDRS and other space-based assets — so RF is definitely not new territory. That background has left me eager to explore every corner of the ham world. Right now, I’m learning the ropes of on-air etiquette and operating procedure while expanding into portable operations (POTA/BOTA), DXing, contesting, experimentation, and, of course, satellite work.

I’m also looking forward to getting involved with Skywarn, public service communications, and STEM education and outreach — helping others discover the technical and community sides of our hobby.

My current station is humble but growing. We have a shack area in our living room with:

• IC-7300
• IC-2200H

We have a mobile pack setup with:

• FT-991A
• UV-Pro HT - love the Bluetooth TNC for packet work (less so the voice performance).
• QRZ-1 HT - great audio quality and simplicity.

And, in need of some work:

• Kenwood TS-130S - an inherited classic currently under repair (pretty sure it’s the PLL).

For antennas, I’m using:

• Spooltenna EFHW
• Super Antenna MP1DXMAX - great portable option once it’s tuned in (NanoVNA is my best friend).
• Signal Stuff Collapsible OSJ - great performance for what I need.
• 4WAVE hitch mounted vertical - Happy with the performance so far!
• ARRL EFHW Kit with 80m Extension that I really need to get into gear and put together.

Thanks for stopping by my page! I’m always happy to connect with others who share an interest in technical experimentation, portable operations, satellites, and the educational side of amateur radio.

73!

Brian - KB3BMC