I am a retired physicist.  I was first licensed in 1968 and operated a homebrew/Heathkit station driving a vertical antenna on the roof from my bedroom closet.  In those days a 200 mile QSO to another station in California was a BIG DEAL!!

Now I own a Flex Radio 6700 driving a Flex Power Genius XL linear amplifier.  I still only have a vertical antenna which is on the ground in the backyard due to HOA restrictions.  Sometimes ya just can't win...  However, it's a much better vertical than when I was a kid - a Hustler 6BTV - which currently sports about 30 mostly 1/4 wavelength long radials (only 30 also due to HOA restrictions).  I also have an active magnetic loop antenna which is coherently combined with the vertical using a DXE NCC-2.

I enjoy CW, SSB and SSTV DX and ragchewing and also the old and new digital modes.  I have a Kenwood TH-D74 handheld as well and operate D-Star from time to time.  There doesn't seem to be much activity on any of the local repeaters most of the time.

Hope to see you on the air!  73, KR6W