Current Ham Shack: Kenwood TS480 and TM-D710A in a Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Call sign history:
KA4AXS -- May 1978 to March 2006 N4LS -- March 2006 to present
My first hamshack in 1978 at the age of 14 in West Point, GA as a Novice. I still have this rig and it still works great. Heathkit SB-100 built in 1964 by Fred Strother, West Point, GA. I fire up the rig for Straight Key Night--it heats the room up well.
KA4AXS in 1980. I bought a brand new Kenwood TS520SE with my summer work money. I still use this rig today and I think it out performs my little Yaesu 897D. I've DXed with world with that radio and wire antennas.
In 1981, I had the only key to the Samford University radio station in Birmingham, AL. I had a Kenwood 830S and a TH6DXX antenna. I had my own office as a 18 year old kid...I demonstrated lots of CW to many a drunk frat brother....hi hi.
Fun times in college with a new Kenwood TS830. What a great radio! This was "Ham Heaven".
KA4AXS 2005. I still use the old radios that I've had since I was a kid exploring the world with CW and Phone.
N4LS -- most of my ham radio activity is now mobile. My rig is a Kenwood TS480SAT and I use hamsticks for antennas. From Dec 05 to April 06, I worked over 100 countries from my car.
I was featured in the Novice column of CQ Magazine back in 1980.
I was proud to have complete W.A.S. as a Novice with CW only.
Oct 1980
My first QSL card from 1978. What a great feeling it was to receive your first batch of cards!
This was my 2nd QSL card.
My QSL cards in 2005 and 2006.
My new QSL card from Florida and IOTA.
The back of my new QSL card depicting the IOTA locations that I enjoy operating portable operations.
This is my portable station. Yaesu 897D. This was my operating location from the tail of my airplane on Field Day 2005. The 897D is a good portable station because you can have everything built in as one. I use the internal powersupply and connect it to my Honda Generator. I've also used it on battery power as well. The biggest problem with this radio is that the receiver is very noisy compared to my Kenwoods. The speaker is no good so you have to use a headset to operate.
This is my ARS radio station. Yaesu 897D in a computer backpack, Honda Generator and a BuddiStick. With my airplane, I can deploy anywhere.
This is my QRP station. I built this radio in 2005 from a kit. It is a Wilderness SST and puts out around 2 watts with a 12v battery or power supply. The receiver is great (very quiet compared to the expensive 897D) and I've worked 16 states with it. I enjoy some QRP work but it requires a strong glass of Merlot to go with it. Hi Hi. Back in 1979, I received the "1000 mile per watt" award for working Argentina from Georgia with a few watts.
I took the Level 1 ARES course to be ready for Hurricane season.
My 6 year old girl at the time, helping me CQ in a contest. March 2005.
2 of my most rare QSL cards. I received these via the bureau. Both QSOs were CW from 1980. This was during the Cold War and the same time the US boycotted the Olympics. The Olympic symbols were on both cards. I have a stack of rare QSLs that I've kept in a safe deposit box since I was a kid. Until I settle down, those cards will remain untouched.
My first hamshack in 1978 at the age of 14 in West Point, GA as a Novice. I still have this rig and it still works great. Heathkit SB-100 built in 1964 by Fred Strother, West Point, GA. I fire up the rig for Straight Key Night--it heats the room up well. 
KA4AXS in 1980. I bought a brand new Kenwood TS520SE with my summer work money. I still use this rig today and I think it out performs my little Yaesu 897D. I've DXed with world with that radio and wire antennas.
In 1981, I had the only key to the Samford University radio station in Birmingham, AL. I had a Kenwood 830S and a TH6DXX antenna. I had my own office as a 18 year old kid...I demonstrated lots of CW to many a drunk frat brother....hi hi.
Fun times in college with a new Kenwood TS830. What a great radio! This was "Ham Heaven".
KA4AXS 2005. I still use the old radios that I've had since I was a kid exploring the world with CW and Phone. 
N4LS -- most of my ham radio activity is now mobile. My rig is a Kenwood TS480SAT and I use hamsticks for antennas. From Dec 05 to April 06, I worked over 100 countries from my car. 
