COMPUTERS

I have a house full of computers! I am using a IBM clone in a full-size tower with a Biostar 8500TTD motherboard, Intel Pentium 166, 128 meg RAM, 6.2 gig hard drive, 2 - 3 1/2" hi-density floppies, Phillips 8x 4x 32x CD-RW drive, 52x CD-ROM, SoundBlaster, SVGA 17" monitor, 56k v.90 external modem, Cannon BJ-200 printer and external 100 meg Zip Drive. I am using Windows 95 on this machine. All this in one bedroom converted into a computer room (still has a single bed for guests).

I have another bedroom converted to a Ham Radio Shack. It contains a Pentium 133 clone, 32 meg RAM, 8.2 Gig hard drive, SVGA monitor and two 3 1/2" hi-density floppies, a internal Jumbo 250 tape drive, a 8X CD-ROM, 56k v.90 internal modem, and a SoundBlaster compatable sound card, running Win '95 on this machine and a Cannon BJC-3000 color printer. I use this computer in conjunction with my ham radio station.
Both of the above computers are use for Internet surfing. I hope to network them later.

Electronics has always been a hobby of mine ever since my Industral Arts class in the 9th grade. One of my project was building a crystal radio and entering it in the Science Fair Contest, although I didn't even place. When I reached the 11th grade, I joined the High School Radio Club and obtained a Novice Class License (call then was KN5GRK ). The license was only good for one year and when it expired, I did not pursue up-grading to a higher class. After High School, I took a course in Radio/TV Repair and Commercial Radio Broadcasting and obtained a 1st Class Radiotelephone License (now called a General Radiotelephone License) and went to work for a TV station. I had a lot of friends that are "Hams" and they finaly talked me into getting back into "Amateur Radio" so I took the test and received a Technician License (call KC5LTJ ) and joined the Acadiana Amateur Radio Assoc., Inc. (W5DDL) and the Opelousas Area Amateur Radio Club. After a year or so the FCC opened the Vanity Call gates so a person could obtain a old call if it had not been re-issued to someone else. I applied and got the old call back, so I am now again KN5GRK. I am also a member of the Lafayette Skywarn Group

I try to be as active as time will allow in this hobby. I am presently running a ICOM IC 2100H as my base 2 meter station with a Cushcraft ARX-2B on a 30 foot Rhonn tower. I use a Radio Shack HTX-202 as my mobile 2 meter radio with a Hustler RX2-B mag mount. I use a Mirage B-34-G linear to get 30 watts when I go on long trips. I picked up a used ICOM IC-730 HF transciever that I use with a 80 meter inverted "V" dipole and a MFJ 945-E tuner for HF contacts.
Pictures and description of my radio station.

While in Junior High school, I caught the city bus in front of a coin and stamp shop. The stamps really caught my eyes more than the coins. I purchased a small notebook album and started buying the little packs of stamps (which was all I could afford at the time) and putting them in the album. It was a small collection at the time I finished trade school and when I moved away from home, I left the collection behind and they somehow disappeared over the years (I have two brothers younger than I - enough said).

Later in life I married and my wife ran across a rather large stamp collection while working for the Salvation Army Thrift Store and ended up purchasing the whole lot for almost nothing. I started back to collecting stamps again and ended up as a member of "THE ACADIANA STAMP CLUB" for about 12 years.

I find the greatest joy in "scrounging" up my stamps. I do this by asking people I meet that travel or receive mail from overseas for their stamps. I also check out garage sales and find a few here and there. I always put high value postage on packages that I send relatives and friends and they return the stamps for my collections. You would be surprised at all I find.

I think I get the most pleasure and joy from checking out garage sales and thrift stores. Our town has a weekly free newspaper called the "Quick Quarter/Dandy Dime" which lists most garage sales, articles for sale, articles wanted, ect. and sometimes you can hit a "good one".

My favorite thrift store is the SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE . This is where I usually find the best items for the best price. I find the Goodwill Store's selection and price not quite up to that of the Salvation Army, however it is hard for me to drive by without stopping to see what they have. There are a couple of other Church thrift stores that I often frequent.

I usually have my eye out for electronic equipment that I can repair for my use or resale at a garage sale that I have once a year or maybe sale in our Amateur Radio Club "Hamfest".

I used to be into photography pretty much when I was employed in television broadcasting. I had access to darkroom privilages and could do some of my B&W film developing and printing there. I later started doing color transparencies at home because you didn't need a darkroom. I have a Minolta SRT-101 35mm single lens reflex camera that I purchased in the mid '60's and use it for most of my shots.

I don't do too much photography now-a-days, mostly family, friends, and scenery, but I still enjoy doing that kind of stuff when I get a chance.

I picked up a little Kodak DC25 digital camera at a tailgate sale for $50 and really have enjoyed using it for my web picture shots. I made a NiCad battery pack which saves me on lithium battery costs.

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Last update-August 12, 2002

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