R. Mark Jones in Bethel, Alaska USA

I am an Amateur Extra class amateur radio operator licensee in my late forties but I am very new to the amateur radio hobby. My interests include low power communications (QRP), digital communications, long distance communications (DX), antennas, shortwave listening (SWL), contests, Morse code communications (CW) and emergency communications. Most of my air time is via my Yaesu VX-5R, a very capable 5 watt tri-band FM handheld that has been replaced by the VX-7R. I do spend time on the 10 meter band with my Radio Shack HTX-10. I am also working on building several transceiver kits for morse code and digital modes on the 20 meter and 40 meter bands. But I do not plan to have an all mode HF transceiver up and running until the end of 2008.

I passed the Element 3 (General) and Element 4 (Amateur Extra) theory tests thanks to a General License class offered by the Antietam Radio Association in Hagerstown, Maryland during March and April 2003. Now I am supporting the hobby through activities with the Bethel Amateur Radio Klub.

See my Ham Radio Links for the USA page for more information about the hobby available through the web.

In addition to amateur radio, I also enjoy public service through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a civilian volunteer arm of the United States Coast Guard. During 2004 I served as Vice Flotilla Commander for the Capitol Flotilla in Washington DC.

My best friend and beautiful wife, Patty, is from Guatemala, an intensely beautiful country full of warm, friendly people. I plan to operate a portable station from our home in Zona 11 in Guatemala City, as well as from Guatemala's second largest city, Quetzaltenango, the Kaqchikel Mayan ruins at Iximche and Guatemala's former military and colonial capital, Antigua. I am also looking forward to getting on the air from some rather exotic locations in Guatemala such as the Pacaya volcano, San Felipe Castle and atop Mundo Perdido, a Mayan temple in the Tikal National Park, during trips over the next few years.

Our adopted daughter, Natalie Maureen, is an Alaskan Native born in Bethel with birth parents in the traditional villages of Hooper Bay and Kwethluk. We live in the City Sub area of Bethel. Natalie enjoys boat trips on the Kuskokwim River, pot luck dinners with traditional native foods, playing with daddy's radios and watching Mickey Mouse on the Disney Channel.

73 de N5RMJ
(Best regards from Mark)