Ham Bio:
I was first licensed in 1964 at the age of 14. Back then, the Novice ticket was only valid for 1 year and not renewable. After finishing high school and serving on active duty, I once again received my Novice 10 years later. After college and grad school, I upgraded to Extra. I’m not a big fan of CW but studied hard and passed the 20 WPM test. I also love building ham gear, and have built the Elecraft K1, Elecraft K2, Elecraft K3, and Elecraft KX-3 (all with the same serial number -1964!), and the ATS-3 and 4 rigs that Steve, KD1JV has made available as kits. Am now playing with the uBitX, a HF multi-band transceiver from India. That rig offers many opportunities to hack both the software and hardware, lots of fun and learning!
I also operate and use vintage Collins equipment including the KWM-2, 75S-3, 30L-1, and an HF-380 (a two-year restoration project!).
Current shack equipment:
Antennas:

I am a member of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society (RNARS) – member #3889. I volunteer on the USS Cassin Young (DD 793) WW2DD www.fotcy.org, and the Lightship Nantucket (LV-112) W1NLS, www.nantucketlightshiplv-112.org. Both ships are in Boston and we bring them on the air for Museum Ships Weekend and Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend at least yearly.
My callsign reflects the 33 years I spent on active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy. I enlisted in 1969 and retired aboard the U.S.S. Constitution as a Commander in 2002. While enlisted, my rate was Data Processing Technician (DP). I was an DP1 (E-6) when I received a direct commission as a Naval Intelligence officer in 1978. While in the U.S. Navy I worked with the finest group of dedicated, hardworking, brave, selfless, and patriotic people one could ever wish for as friends!
ARRL Awards:
WAS, WAC, DXCC, 7BDXCC
Country total as of 2/2021: 332 confirmed, 325 Current
ARRL Life Member
QCWA Life Member
U.S. calls held:
WN1DAE – 1964 Novice; WN1TPE – 1974 Novice; WA1TPE – 1974 Technician; WA1TPE – 1988 General, Advanced; NW1J – 1989 Extra; W1USN – 1996 Extra Vanity Call
Foreign calls:
- VE1/WA1TPE – Canada 1974 (2M 0nly);
- DL/WA1TPE – Germany 1987 (2M only);
- G0/NW1J – United Kingdom 1989 (TT 509, random length);
- EA7/NW1J – Spain 1990, 1991 (used guest station EA7HAL, Greg);
- P4/NW1J – Aruba 1993, 1994 (IC-706 at P40V superstation);
- V31RN – Belize 1996 (TS-690S, dipole);
- 8P9CI – Barbados 1997 (TS-690S beam), 2012 (IC-706 to Inverted L);
- V26NR – Antigua 1998 (Alinco DX-70 at V26 superstation);
- VP2ERN – Anguilla 1999 (IC-706 to dipole);
- PJ8/W1USN – St. Maarten 2000, 2001 (IC-706 to dipole);
- FS/W1USN – St. Martin 2000, 2001 (IC-706 to dipole);
- P4/W1USN Aruba 2002, 2007 (IC-706 at P40V superstation);
- J75RN Dominica 2003 (IC-706 to dipole);
- J3/W1USN Grenada 2004 (IC-706 to dipole);
- V44/W1USN St. Kitts 2005, 2006, 2008 (IC-706 to dipole));
- VP2MPR Montserrat 2009, 2010 (IC-706);
- V4/W1USN St. Kitts 2011 (IC-706 to dipole);
- PJ2/W1USN Curacao 2013 (KX-3 w/HR-50 to dipole);
- TI8/W1USN Costa Rica 2014 (KX-3/KXPA-100 to inverted L);
- KP4/W1USN Puerto Rico 2015 (2M only);
- YN5RN Nicaragua 2016 (FT-450D to Inverted L);
- HP8/W1USN Panama 2017 (KX-3 w/HR-50 to dipole), 2018 (FT-891 to dipole);
- TI5/W1USN Costa Rica EJ79tx, 2019 (KX-3@12-15W to end fed), 2020 (FT-891 to dipole)
All above QSO’s have been uploaded to the Logbook of the World, as of 3-6-2020.
Cards received direct without SASE’s for the above foreign calls will go through the Buro.
w1usn@arrl.net
I do not use eQSL.
My other toy: 2011 BMW E93 335IS Convertible