K4PK

Don Aldridge
Roanoke, VA

Station - FT-1000MP MkV, TS-870S, AL-811H, Carolina Windom 160, DX Engineering RBS-1 Beverage system NE/SW @ 800�.

Mobile - IC-706 (vintage), and High Sierra Screwdriver vertical.

Occupation - Manager Purchasing, Norfolk Southern Corp.

Original Call KE4PUC. Hated it so bad, I upgraded to Extra as fast as I could to be one of the first to go thru the Vanity call process in 1996, and received K4PK.

Active with State QSO parties as a mobile operator in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. Also, I have activated two islands on the coast of North Carolina (Sunset Beach 1995-1997, and Ocracoke Island in 1998-2000). Helped organize a multi-club Special Event in September of 2006 activating 14 locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia called the "Blue Ridge Bonanza".

Got involved locally in VA in contesting with a couple local club members. Looser of a contest would have to buy Ice Cream for the winner at the local Dairy Queen, (where I bought more than I actually won). Hit the "Big Time" when I moved to Fayetteville, GA and heard NQ4I on the local repeater talking about placing 9th in CQWW in '96. Met Rick shortly thereafter, and the rest is history. I have graduated to Contest Cook, and chief bottle washer for the SSB team (along with 40M & 160M operations), and am currently QLS manager for all NQ4I activities (HELP WANTED!).

Moved back to Roanoke in 2001, and still active with local contest activities with Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club, W4CA, and on occasion, win an Ice Cream cone.