Originally VE2FSS, my road to "Ham" Radio came from several years of Short Wave Listening. I began in 1972 with a Nordmende Globetraveler Pro receiver, and from that I became an avid Medium Wave DXer, and following which became an amateur operator in 1978. My station consisted then of a National NC-155, about a mid 1960's model, and a homebrew 20 watt solid-state transmitter for 20 meter CW. It was after that I had several years of fun with tubes (valves!) starting with a 40 watt homebrew on 40 meters (6K6 oscillator/pre-amp into a single 807 amplifier, and an inductive coupler for a 75Ω output). Then came an upgrade, also on 40M, and also using a 6K6 front end, followed with 2 parallel 807s for an 80W output. I briefly used a Heathkit DX-60 and followed that with a DX-100. Finally I bit the bullet in 1983 and bought my dream Drake TR3 transceiver, which I still use today. About the same time I obtained my advanced class license, and a few short years later I got the 2 X 2 call sign VA3JO. My station photo, as seen at the top left corner of the home page, consists of the TR-3 and a paddle key into a homemade electronic keyer, my computer with a program reading CW, and in the background, a Heathkit Monitor Scope.