About

My wife and I enjoy keeping touch via radio. When we lived In the mountains of PA, near Altoona, Ham radio was much more reliable than using cell phones. We have since moved to nearby Titusville, FL, Rocket City. 

I am an ARRL certified VE, and have VE credentials bestowed upon me by the Laurel Amateur Radio Club. Also, I teach Amateur Radio classes, using the material provided by Gordon West, W5YI. 

My operating activities are not as much as I like, because there's always something else that needs to be done. Having moved from PA to Florida's Space coast, you may find me on the 147.075 repeater or 146.55 simplex most mornings. On HF you may on occasion find me on the 20m Bathrobe Net, 14.235, M - F around 9 AM. 

My wife and I usually can be found on 446.150 Mhz Simplex. Especially when shopping. 

My Name is Wayne, N3LMS (formerly N4DCL). I have been a licensed Radio Amateur for nearly 50 years. In late 1976, I attended a radio club class to become a Novice Class licensed Ham Radio Operator. Then, Morse Code was a requirement, @ 5 WPM, and during the testing, you had to listen and copy 5 minutes of code, 1 minute of which had to be perfect copy. Testing was administered at the nearest FCC office. I took my test in February, 1977, and passed. About a month later, I took the written test to upgrade to Technician Class, and I passed.

My next hurdle was the 13 WPM code requirement to upgrade to General Class. I was stuck at around 10 WPM - the plateau, as it was called, that many others seemed to have difficulty getting over. But, with the help of another Ham, whom I conversed (QSO'd) with regularly over the airwaves using Morse Code (CW), I eventually became proficient enough to attempt the 13 WPM test. I hadn't realized that my Ham friend had been gradually upping the rate during our QSO's to the point where I was actually copying around 15 - 18 WPM. 

And, in February 1980, I passed my 13 WPM code test and was upgraded to General Class, where I remained until June, 2006, At which time, my wife, Judy - N3JCN, became a duly licensed Technician Class Operator, and I successfully upgraded to Extra Class.