[OKDXA] Hello from K5YAC

[Mark Chouinard]

Currently 20 degrees and ice everywhere here in Collinsville, OK.  No
better place to be than in the shack with a hot cup of coffee, which is
where I am testing equipment and getting my logger ready for WPX RTTY this
weekend.

Been a long time since I've been on the OKDXA reflector.  Was active with
the group in the early 2000s but split off for a while to focus on another
project, which you can see on my QRZ page if interested.  Many of you knew
my Dad (K5YAA), who passed away in Nov 2019.  His last decade was a tough
one for all concerned, even some of you guys at times.  As you may know,
Mom (Carol - K5YAB) passed away quite unexpectedly in August 2020.  My
brother and I are just now going through some of their things, which in
part prompted me to rejoin the organization.  Dad has a TON of awards in a
binder going back to the 1960s, milk crates full of plaques (more than he
could display) and stacks of plastic storage bins full of QSLs.  I had
forgotten how many Qs he cranked out in the 90s alone with many awards to
boot.  I've found several short stacks of unanswered direct QSLs (recent)
that I am working to provide replies to.

I was emailing with K5WE a bit ago as we have a common interest in my
area.  I told him how my son Tyler (in 2018 - then 13 years old) asked me,
"Didn't you have a radio set that you used to talk on?"  I told him that I
did, and we proceeded to unpack the old TS-850 and listen to faint signals
on a wire that evening.  I got set back up and Tyler helped me with logging
duties during the 2018 WPX SSB contest that year, then he proceeded to earn
his Technician and General Class license within a week of each other at 13
years old (KG5ZGW, now W5EAA).  We operated from Owasso for about a year
when an opportunity to build in Collinsville at Airman Acres came along, we
couldn't pass it up.  Probably good that I was recently on the air as it
helped me to consider and incorporate proper station accomodations in the
early sketches.  Now I sit here with several open conduits through the slab
and proper grounding right through the floor of the shack.

I'm not a big DXer or much of a great contester, but I enjoy being on the
radio and competing against myself in a number of contests.  K5YAA had some
heavy equipment across the way, most of which is too big (and now too
dilapidated) to get my interest.  I saw what was required to erect and
maintain that stuff and I just don't know that I'll try to replicate.  Plus
my other hobby has wings... two mistresses is sometimes one too many.
However, I will be standing his HDX-555 back up here at the house and plan
to top it with a couple of his smaller yagis or maybe a HEXX Beam.  For a
guy who has only used ground mounted verticals and wires, this should put a
few new countries in my log and help my scores a bit.  My only concern is
that this next level of equipment might just make me want a little more
gain, a little more power, and so on.  :)

As I explained to Jeff in my email, I've been licensed since 1995 but have
never been on the air during a peak (95-98, 02-08 and now 18-present).
Looking forward to cycle 25 and I'm gearing up for it.  Hope it's a good
one!

Thanks for letting me (re)introduce myself, and sorry for being so windy.
Guess I get it from YAA.  If I start talking about lily pads, the Lone
Ranger, the Man of Steel or you hear me say "HI HO Silver!"... somebody
take away my keyboard! hi hi

73,

Mark Chouinard - K5YAC