WD4ERM

My call, WD4ERM, is my original Novice call I received in April of 1977. At that time, there were to be no more "W" calls when the WD series ran out. When I upgraded to General Class in 1978, the "KA" calls were being issued. I thought there was something special, nostalgic, about having a "W" call, so I elected not to change to the "KA". I never lost my liking of CW and still do mostly that. Two years ago the call W4CW became available and I decided to apply for it. So did 44 others and my name did not get drawn out of the hat, so I will be WD4ERM until the last "dit" "dit" is sent.

The picture above is my station here at the nursing home. It is the Kenwood TS-990S loaded with features like I have never seen. My key is a Vibroplex Vibrokeyer (single paddle) and the antenna is an inverted Vee at 32 feet.

When I installed a radio here I wanted to work all states and 100 DX stations within one year. I managed to work all states, but fell short of my 100 DX contacts, logged 80. I'll keep working at it and by no means stop at 100.

Some achievements are: ARRL WAS CW as Novice; ARRL WAS 80 M CW; ARRL WAS 40 M CW; ARRL WAS 40 M SSB; ARRL WAS 30 M CW; ARRL WAS 20 M SSB; ARRL WAS 20 M CW; ARRL WAS 15 M CW; ARRL DXCC mixed mode; ARRL DXCC CW; IARU WAC CW; IARU WAC SSB; SKCC 40 M WAS CW Straight Key; SKCC PFX-25; SKCC DXQ/DXC; no certificate for it, but I have logged 140 DX countries on 40 meter CW and 64 on 80 CW. Currently working on WAS 10 M CW. Have logged 271 DX countries. The equipment is old, but it still works. Hey, I resemble that remark!

I enjoy traffic handling and am an ARRL ORS, Official Relay Station. I handle traffic into and out of the state of Georgia thru the Fourth Region Traffic Net, 4RN.

Do I send/return QSL cards? You bet! I've been a ham for 48 years and even though I did not come up when there was only AM and CW, I believe QSL cards are as much a part of Amateur radio as CW, Rag Chewing and Field Day. I like getting cards in the mail. I have several albums that I keep special cards in to show visitors and for my own convenience. With LoTW you have nothing to show someone but a computer line. You can't see the other person's handwriting or read any comments that might have been made concerning the contact. If it is a picture type card it may show something interesting about the place it came from. You don't get any of that with a computer entry, how boring. By all means, let's swap cards.

If I send you a card with SASE, please be kind and return your card in a timely manner. It is very annoying to have to send someone an email asking them to return their card. How much effort does it take to fill out your card, stick it in the SASE and put it in the mailbox?