My Elmer was WA9HFB Ed Keuper (SK). He was a 6 Meter ham. I remember the nights that I went over to his shack for those elusive openings. His Hallicrafter receiver with the Amico converter. The best was his home brew AM transmitter on a 3 foot rack. This was in the early 60's. I was young and I let the experience slip by, high school, girls, and sports took over my interest. It took the Navy to teach me the code. I finally got my license in 1966 - WA9USD. I was home on leave from the US Navy with only a day left before I had to return to base when my ticket came in the mail. I made a few QSOs with great excitement. My first radio set was a Knight Kit T60 with the Knight Kit R-100A receiver. The antenna was a 130-foot wire that looked like a Windom. I switched the wire feed line between the receiver and transmitter by using an alligator clip attached to a screwdriver. The screwdriver was stuck into the center hole of the coax connectors in each rig. Yes, I was really new at this Ham radio stuff! The real thrill .... the mystique of radio......you know what I mean that is why I love my ham radio hobby. Over the many years as a Ham I have had several different ham shacks. I only have one picture of an early setup which was in the mobile home. Sure wish I kept better records. I like to backpack into some of Floridas wilderness areas and preserves. Yes,there are some real nice ones near the Tampa Bay area. My KX3 is the portable work horse. I like to try different types of antennas and their variations. Some are experimental and some are the standard kind. I like building kits and putting parts together to make gadgets. You can find me using CW, SSB, PSK-31, and other modes. I have had about fifteen plus different station set-ups since I became a ham 1966. In 2013 my radio gear and station(s) had a big changeover. First, a dear ham friend passed away on April 4th, 2013, Phil LaMarshe W9DVM. Phil liked to purchase ham rigs and try them out but would later sell and get another. For the last couple years he kept the "K-line" by Elecraft. I figured since this was his last and supposedly his best choice I figured I'd buy the K-line from the widow. Wow! 'em I glad I paid attention to him. My station: K3, P3, KPA-500 amp, KAT-500 tuner, KX3 QRP rig. I sold the FT-857d and installed the Icom-7000 in the new truck (2012 Nissan Frontier 4X4). I use the AH-4 tuner to tune hamsticks. Antennas vary from W5GI to verticals and 43 foot wire in a tree. Away from the vehicle I backpack with my converted baby carrier holding my KX3 and whatever goes with it to make up a station in the bush so I can play radio away from the home by going to parks. I have installed antennas on the Jayco Sport 19ft. travel trailer. I modified a lamp stand/book shelf for the K-line, which I use in the trailer but it can also be positioned behind the driver's seat of the truck. I converted a microwave cabinet for home use which holds the K-line station. I'm building a magnetic loop to use in the apartment (no antennas allowed outside). See pictures elseware on my website. http://www.qsl.net/n4nss/index.html I'm addicted to ham radio. Ham Radio Forever!