If you have never had the chance or desire to venture out on a Dxpedition, how about a four-star resort and full-up station, complete with three towers, ready to go? Just show up and get on the air at PJ2T, while staying 1000 ft down the road at the Sunset Waters. The 'inclusive plan' includes all you can eat and drink, including at the bar that's inside the swimming pool - just swim up for your favorite tasty beverage. Hal is making his second trip to PJ in October so he will have some up-to-the minute updates for his presentation. His program will cover:
Here is some background on Hal. He was first licensed in 1961 as WV2QPW, became WA2QPW, then moved to FL in 1972 and became WA4BTC. He got his current call, N4GG, when the vanity license program started up. Other than taking 1987-1998 off altogether, he has been chasing DX for the better part of 40 years. His Dad was licensed in 1916 as 2NJ and was a pioneer in the development of TV - working for RCA and later for NBC. He operated spark rigs shipboard for a few years.
Hal has been on the honor roll from about 1970 onward, except for the 11 year break and currently needs five countries. He also has 196 of the 200 for 5BWAZ, and holds an early 5BDXCC. These days he contests a lot as well as works a lot of DX - all with wires from his deed-restricted neighborhood up in Woodstock. He is a founding member of the Central Fl DX Assn, a member of PVRC and SECC, and a former member of the NCDXA.
He enjoys station design and antenna design, and does a lot of antenna modeling for some of the larger contest stations. He did the modeling for the 80 meter 9 circle that was built at K4JA and is now being replicated at K9DX - these are among the largest and highest gain antennas ever put on the low bands - they are written up in ON4UN's low band DXing book. He has written two articles in QST in the last three years, and three articles in NCJ. When contesting, he runs a fully automated SO2R station, with automatic band switched antenna tuning that he designed, automated bandpass filters and stubs, etc. Rigs at the moment: 2X FT-1000MPs with contest mods, 2X Acom 2000As, homebrew SO2R gear and switching, Dunestar BPFs, multi-computer logging and station automation.
Hal has a BSEE from Lafayette College and an MS in Management from the Sloan School at MIT. He retired in July 2003, after 34 years at Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin, doing everything from design engineering to strategic planning. He also worked a little with Wes, W3WL, when he was at Martin and Wes was at NA Rockwell.
