Although I had been interested in amateur radio for several years, I didn’t formally pursue licensing until 2024. Once I did, the hobby quickly became a deep interest—progressing from Technician to Amateur Extra within a year. I quickly adopted the vanity callsign WY0RS to mark that milestone. My original callsign was KK7RLW, which still occasionally resurfaces.

While my station license is based in Wyoming, I spend much of my operating time in the northern Front Range region, both fixed and portable.

My HF station is built around a Yaesu FT-891, typically paired with an end-fed half-wave or a DX Commander Expedition, depending on the operating style and location. On VHF/UHF, I run a Yaesu FTM-510 for mobile work, several handhelds, and an FTM-6000R configured as an APRS digipeater.

My main areas of interest include POTA, digital modes, amateur satellites, and APRS. I tend to gravitate toward operating styles that involve getting outside, working within constraints, and figuring things out as I go—whether that’s dialing in a portable setup, chasing a satellite pass, or troubleshooting why something isn’t behaving the way it should.

Outside of amateur radio, I have a background in aviation and aviation instruction, which has subtly shaped how I approach the hobby. Aviation has a way of encouraging structured thinking, attention to detail, and comfort with complex systems—traits that I find carry over naturally into radio, especially when operating portable, working satellites, or experimenting with new setups.

In addition to my amateur license, I also hold a GMRS license and a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit. I’m involved with the Weld Amateur Radio Society and Feld Hell Club, and I enjoy learning from others who are just as willing to experiment, break things, and fix them again.