I hold an extra class amateur radio license issued by the FCC with the call sign K4KIO. This entitles me to operate a radio transmitter on a variety of frequency bands using several modes of transmission for the purpose of experimentation, personal enjoyment and public service. This license was first issued in 1956 in New Haven, Kentucky and later lapsed for inactivity until year 2000 when I was re-licensed following a qualification test of radio and electronic theory and use of morse code. Click here for a short article on the early days of K4KIO in New Haven, Kentucky.

My main interests in this hobby are making as many contacts with foreign countries and distant points as possible with single sideband and morse code using the transmitter and receiver equipment for the station which I own and operate at the top left. I also experiment with different antennas and have spent a considerable amount of time in the development of the multi-band, directional wire beam antenna called a hexagonal beam. I have documented the construction steps to build such an antenna and regularly exchange e-mail with other amateurs on this subject. We also manufacture this beam for sale through our company KIO Technology, LLC.

The card above is used to mail to other amateur stations with whom I make radio contact to confirm that such a communications took place. Many amateurs enjoy collecting such cards and various awards are granted by the American Radio Relay League based on the collection of such cards from all 50 states, 100 countries and so forth.

The black and white photo is an early station of K4KIN and K4KIO in our basement at home in Louisville in 1957. It featured a Central Electronics 10A SSB exciter, a homemade RF amplifier with a 4X150A tetrode vacuum tube, a Drake 1A SSB receiver and various homemade and military surplus ancillary gear of that era.

The call sign, K4KIN was held by my brother Hugh who was clearly dominant technically. He is deceased now and his call sign is held by his son, Mike.