Welcome to the Amateur Station of N5XO!

I first got into HAM Radio in 1968 at the tender age of 10 after a book on Marconi created an interest in Spark GAP Radio’s. A friend and I built a set of Spark Gaps from old model T spark coils and began sending messages back and forth to each other. This came to a sudden and abrupt stop one saturday afternoon with a knock on the door by local law enforcement and a Local HAM. It seemed that we were not only sending great signals back and forth to each other, but wiping out 100% all TV and Radio signals for a 10 mile radius. The HAM Figured it was safer to have me join them than not, and after talking my father into letting me live, encouraged me in the hobby, and helped me study for my Novice ticket which I received in Sep 1968. My interested faded in the early 70's as my interest shifted to Cars, Girls and other related activities. Followed by the U.S Navy {Radio Man}. The bug to get back into radio bite me several times over the next couple of decades, but never strong enough to actually do move forward. After my kids all left home for college, marriage, etc the interest was rekindled and I moved back into the hobby with great eagerness.

I tested and got my Technician in Oct 2006, upgraded to General January of 2007 and in May of 2007 upgraded to Extra. I was extremely lucky to have my wife join me in the hobby in Spring of 2007.