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Biography of a Radio Operator

I'm Sparrow, from Kodiak, Alaska. I've lived and worked for most of the last 30 years in Florida.

I'm a retired commercial broadcast engineer. My love for everything radio started when I was only 8 years old, and turned into a full time job when I helped build a family owned radio station: WSUL 98.3 in Monticello, NY.

After that station, many more radio and TV stations followed. I've worked for or consulted for affiliates of all the different networks and then some...

I would have loved to work another 20 years, but at the height of my career, I contracted an incurable and disabling disease called Muliple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis and the side effects of the many drugs I take for it, prevent me from working or engaging in many of my other passions, like building and flying experimental aircraft, (I really miss that) So I've gone back to one of my first loves, amateur radio. Ham radio really helps to fill the void left over from the many activities I can no longer do.

I used to stare for hours at the cubical quad that graced a house near ours. After much begging, the owner of that wonderful antenna, a MARS operator on Kodiak Island, gave me a tour. I was hooked

I started my own ham adventure as a Boy Scout in Japan. I got my Japanese version of the Novice ticket in 1972. Much later, in the late 80's a good friend (N4TKS) Ken got me back into the hobby, and I got my Tech plus ticket.

Working 60 hour weeks as an engineer, along with building and flying all sorts of strange aircraft; found my ham shack packed up into a box in the garage for a few years, but now that I'm retired and can't fly anymore I've jumped back into amateur radio with both feet.

My wife and oldest son got bit by the ham bug too, so amateur radio has taken on great importance in our house.

My Wife Debbie is an Extra as is my son Daniel.

About my call - Well, My name is Sparrow, and I (used to) fly ultra light aircraft. Also, The very first radio station I had a hand in building, was a little FM in Monticello, NY called WSUL. Those call letters have always meant a lot to me, so I just stuck a 4 in there, and the rest is history.

Besides Amateur Radio, my other passion is metal work. I have a wonderful device called a CNC plasma cutter from PlasmaCAM that I use to make metal sculpture, I even enjoy cutting out callsigns for my local club! This company is tops. They even upgraded the firmware in the controller at no cost to me (not even shipping) after I'd had it a full year and a half! I can't say enough good things about this company. They're the best tool manufacturing company in the country!

I can be a bit slow getting the words out when I'm on the radio sometimes (from the cognative problems of MS) and can't always remember your name or call right away, but I know you'll understand.

Sparrow