NY2RF Thomas J. 'Tom' Gallagher West Palm Beach, FL QCWA # 36981

NY2RF first licensed in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1966, as WA3GRF; in Charlotte, NC as N4GRF.

I live in West Palm Beach Florida along the inter coastal water way (Lake Worth) about one mile from the Atlantic Ocean. The sandy soil has attractive conductivity properties and of course the salt water helps propagation.

In beach communities, antennas are a challenge, and I try to keep a low profile even though there are no HOA restrictions. I use a random-length wire tuned with an ICOM AH-4 tuner which feeds 170 feet of multi-directional wire at about 26 feet in height.It's radiation pattern is somewhat unpredictable but it works well to Europe and Latin America. As an alternate, I have a 40-meter windom at 26 feet. The balun attached to the windom with 10 feet of ladder line is grounded where it connects with the coax to reduce noise. I am also constructing a beam antenna mast.

I operate three basic stations:

1. Modern solid-state equipment including an ICOM-7600, an ICOM IC-756 Classic, a Yaesu FT-847, and a Yaesu FT-817 for QRP. My mobile installation includes an FT-857 combined with an Outbacker Perth+ antenna.

2. A vintage station which includes a combo Drake T-4XC, R-4C, L-4B linear amplifier with a Drake MN-2000 matching network/tuner. Signal reports indicate that the audio is especially high quality. I also have a Kenwood TS-520 hybrid.

3. An HSMM (high speed multimedia) digital repeater consisting of a Linksys WRT-54GL, with .081 watt output, feeding a 15-dbi omni vertical antenna with an effective radiated power of about 500 mw. It's battery operated, solar-powered, and part of the Palm Beach County HSMM mesh network infrastructure. See HSMM-mesh.org and PBCmesh.com for more information.

I belong to West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group.

Working Europe and Latin America DX on HF is my favorite activity. I would like to work Asia when I get a better HF antenna solution. With a recent upgrade to Amateur Extra, I hope to be more active on 80/75/40 meters.

My email address is NY2RF@arrl.net.

I accept only paper QSL's (although I'm grateful for an email if you wish). I respond with a paper QSL direct your address on QRZ.com unless you otherwise specify.

Thanks for your contacts, and also thanks for supporting this excellent hobby.

73, Tom

February 17, 2016