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W8GV Gerard W. 'Jerry' Venlet Fort Ogden, FL QCWA # 38792 |
My name is Gerard Venlet but I usually go by Jerry. My call sign is W8GV. I was first licensed in 1996 as KB8UMT as a no code Tech but upgraded to general and then advanced and then went on to Extra. The hardest part back then was passing the 20wpm code part of the test but am happy do say I did it. I first got interested because my brother N8YEL peter and my dad KC8ATL now a SK were active on two meters fm and I would listen to them talk on the repeaters. I am a retired truck driver and ran two meters in my truck for a lot of years and made good use of the IRA repeater system in Michigan. I was fairly active on HF in the 1990's but with young kids and the business of life took a break. I am a pretty active POTA hunter and have worked all states on POTA but still need Hawaii on QRZ for worked all states. I often check into the YLsystem nets on 20 and 40 meters. I am also a member of omiss.net and check in there occasionally. My wife and are have been fulltime RV'ers in our motorhome for around six years and are Florida residents for most of the year and spend a few months visiting the kids and grandkids in the summer. I am also getting more active on the cw portions of the bands and have to say that I get the most joy out of making cw contacts. I am not fast by any means but am comfortable at around 15 wpm. I also really enjoy talking to my brother Peter N8YEL in Oregon when the bands are open. It is a lot more enjoyable than using a cell phone. Hope to catch you on the air.
73 W8GV
Jerry
November 25, 2022