Bob Witte (KØNR)
By background, education and (probably) genetics, I am an Electrical Engineer. I received a BSEE from Purdue University and an MSEE from Colorado State University. While attending Purdue University, I became interested in amateur radio (W9YB Purdue Amateur Radio Club) and received my first amateur radio license in 1977. I also hold a commercial license (FCC General Radiotelephone License) and a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license (KAF1068). I’ve held a number of positions in R&D and engineering management for Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, and Keysight Technologies. Along the way, I completed a Masters Degree in Management of Technology (MSMOT) from the National Technological University. I currently operate a technology consulting company, Signal Blue LLC.
Technical Writing
I enjoy getting ideas committed to the written word and almost always have some kind of writing gig going. In addition to this blog, I am contributing to HamRadioSchool.com, writing various technical and operating articles. I also co-authored the Ham Radio School Extra Class license book. In the past, I’ve had articles in QST, On The Air, QRP Quarterly, CQ VHF and other magazines.
Summits On The Air (SOTA)
I’ve always been interested in hiking and climbing mountains, which blends nicely with ham radio activity. I am very active in the Summits On The Air program, activating peaks and chasing other peak activators (mostly on VHF). I qualified for the Mountain Goat Award (1000 activator points) using only VHF/UHF radio contacts. See my SOTA-related posts. I founded the Colorado 14er Event, a fun SOTA operating event.
Parks On The Air (POTA)
I recently discovered Parks On The Air and have become active in that program. This activity is a nice complement to SOTA and can often be combined with the same activation. Of course, it also works well with the RV camping that my wife Joyce/K0JJW, and I do regularly.
OSCAR Satellite Awards
Although I have not been real active on the birds lately, I’ve done quite a bit of operating on the low-earth-orbit (LEO) amateur radio satellites. In March 2002, I received the Satellite VUCC award (#115) from the ARRL. These contacts were mostly completed via the UO-14, AO-27, and ISS (digital) satellites.
DX Century Club
After many years of sporadic operation on the high-frequency radio bands, I managed to confirm contacts with over 100 countries around the world. I received DXCC award #36,847 from the American Radio Relay League on February 5, 2000.
Other Operating Awards and Organizations
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) member
AMSAT member
FCC Amateur Extra Class License
Worked All States Award (WAS)
Worked All Continents Award (WAC)
Worked All VE (Canada) Award (WAVE)
VUCC Award (Satellite, 50 MHz, 10 GHz)
DXCC Award
Worked Colorado 144 MHz Award
Sidewinders on Two (SWOT) #3030
Ten-Ten International #40615
Satellite Communicators Club
OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement Award #381
QRP Amateur Radio Club International #11122
Colorado QRP Club #761
CQ WPX Award (mixed and SSB)
Previous US Callsigns
KB0CY, KA0BZQ, WD9AJO
Operating From Outside the 50 United States
Operated from Honduras as HR3/KB0CY and HR6/KB0CY
Operated from Japan (Tokyo and Osaka) as 7J1AUE
Operated from Australia as VK2GKD
Operated from The Bahamas as KB0CY/C6A and K0NR/C6A
Operated from Bonaire as PJ4/K0NR
Operated from the US Virgin Islands as KP2/K0NR
Operated from Antigua as V29RW
Operated from the Cayman Islands as ZF2NR
Operated from the Dominican Republic as K0NR/HI
Operated from Switzerland as HB9/K0NR/P (SOTA activation)
Operated from Roatan Island (Honduras) as K0NR/HR9
QSL Information
QSL to KØNR via Logbook of the World, QSL bureau or via postal service to:
1288 Blacksmith Rd, Hartsel, CO 80449 USA.
Contact Info
Email: web@k0nr.com