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Amateur Radio Service, commonly
known as "Ham Radio".
I was first licensed in 1962 as WN5CHX when I
became interested in this communication facit through a now deceased (SK)
elmer amateur radio operator, WA5BUA, Roland Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins was my
Industrial Arts Instructor at my high school, Scott High. I expanded
my operating privileges within the first year by passing a Conditional
License examination and taking a13 words per minute Morse Code reading
and sending test. My new assigned call was WA5CHX. I was active for a
few years, but college, employment and family duties took priority
over my life and I left the hobby in 1968.
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My interest in the hobby was rekindled in 2001, when
my new elmer N5RLM, Rick Breaux
encouraged me to get back into the hobby. I found I had not forgotten much
of the electronic theory and needed to brush up on the changes in regulations mostly.
This was surprising because my occupation was in finance and not in the
electronics industry.On
my first try, I passed the Technician and General license examination. On March 2003,
I upgraded to an Extra license by passing a more difficult examination.
This last examination allowed me to have all the operating privileges an Amateur Radio
operator can have. I operated with my old call WA5CHX for sometime, but eventually
applied for a Vanity Call Sign, NA5Q. I found this call sign to be easier to
communicate to fellow Amateur operators on Morse Code and Voice due to the
shortness in its pronunciation.
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| I enjoy chasing DX (countries outside the USA), radio contesting and rag chewing
(lengthy discussions on various subjects). I have assisted and participated in
various contests with N5RLM (Rick), K5UA (Charles), W5WMU (Doc) and N5WE
formerly KI5XP (Charlie).
Under serious operations we have place 1st and 3rd in several contest, Regionally and Worldwide.
I also like to enter contest for the fun of it and to give contacts to more
serious contesters. Living is South Louisiana handicaps us local hams,
trying to work stations in Europe through heavy East Ham walls. But,
we do get through eventually. I operate CW (Morse Code), SSB (Phone) or RTTY / PSK31
/ JT65 / F8 / F4 / MFSK (Digital) in radio
operations. I find that over the years, Amateur Radio has evolved
with computers and they all work well for logging contacts,
producing contacts and producing new modes of operation.
Since we have moved to my new QTH (residence), I have been able to expand my
antenna system and improve my operating conditions. But, I was not very
active in contesting for 2007 and 2009. Too many chores and other Family activities.
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| I belong to the
Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. in Lafayette, Louisiana. This
club is very active in many ham related activities. I have served a
chairman of many ARRL Field Days, as a director and finallay as
president in 2006,
as a director. Recently retired from the club as its QSL Manager for club calls: W5DDL, W5EXI and K5CMA.
I belong to the Louisiana Contest Club which was
founded on August 9, 2008 by Charles
Morrison N5WE,
Mark Ketchell K5ER, Pat
Sonnier W5WMU SK, Roland Guidry
NA5Q and Scott
Dickson W5WZ. Louisiana did
not have a contest before then and it prevailed upon us to establish
one to promote contesting, friendship and sportsmanship.
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| QSL information: QSL
through ARRL's
Logbook of the World or Direct to 701 S. Arenas St., Rayne, LA 70578. If you
need additional information, please email me at rguidry at na5q.com
73, de Roland NA5Q |
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