Officers – Plano Amateur Radio Klub

Following a lifetime of interest, interrupted by family and career, Tim became a General Class Amateur Radio Operator (KF5JDH) in 2010 and upgraded to Amateur Extra in 2012. He is active on the HF bands, chasing DX, working digital modes (RTTY, JT-65, and FT-8), casual contesting, and the occasional FM satellite pass. Off the air, Tim enjoys Antenna Parties, Field Day, the Plano Balloon Fest Special Event Station, Elmering and being Elmered, teaching Technician and General classes, and is a Volunteer Examiner.

Tim is a retired Chief Petty Officer (Electronics Technician) having served over 25 years in the US Navy and Naval Reserves.
Tim’s career in telecommunications, has ranged from twisted pair phone lines, satellite, microwave and fiber-optics networks; to VoIP technologies. Tim is currently working at Verizon as a Principal Solutions Architect for cloud based telephony and networking solutions.

Vice President: Anthony Burokas, KB3DVS

Licensed back in the last millennium, back when the “world was going to end” because of some Y2K bug that didn’t really seem to end up causing much trouble… I’m down in Texas (USA) now after spending much of my life up in Pennsylvania, where I got the “3” call. But as I call myself a Digital Video Specialist, and KB3DVS was the call issued by the FCC- purely by chance, I’m going to keep it.

I joined the Plano Klub after visiting several area clubs and really liking the open and welcoming nature of the members I found in the Plano Klub. It felt fun and comfortable like the Warminster Amateur Radio Club I was a member of in PA. As VP, I look forward to bringing some interesting programs to PARK members.

I have a modest station with antennas based on stealth as opposed to getting a big signal. My base is a Kenwood TS-2000. I like that it’s both HF and 2m in one, with 100w on 2m as well as HF.

I have a RadioWavez OCF dipole that gives me 80-10m aligned down the back alley to be both out of view and to also not be close to the RF hash that comes from the houses. I also have an Hustler multiband vertical with some tuned radials. I switch between the vertical and the OCF dipole as needed.

The most fun I’ve had on the radio is when I had the opportunity to stay with my father KL1HB (SK) in his bush cabin in Alaska. No AC power, no running water, no flush toilet, no TV, but solar panels and a couple big marine batteries powered his radio connected to a 55′ tower and a 3-element beam. Couple that with the rare Alaska activation and, when the bands were open, pileups ensued. Other times, despite the quiet locale and great setup, the bands would be absolutely silent. I also got to hear what radio signals sound like when the aurora was in full swing. A real adventure.

For my “day job” I’m a video producer – specializing in multi-camera, live-switched, streaming. Mostly for corporate and events. I make your meeting look like a well produced TV show. With Covid making most everything “hybrid” and “virtual” things became a lot more challenging. I may well have earned a secondary career with everything I’ve needed to learn about IT and networking.

With full time work, and two active kids, I’m not involved in many ham activities, but I do make sure to carve out time for the winter and summer Field Day events. I enjoy the camaraderie of being on the bands with other hams, solving problems together, filling the logbook, and having our Field Day dinners together.

Secretary: Johnnie Young, KG5CQO

I have been an Amateur Radio Operator, HAM, since 2014 with an Extra Class License. I belong to PARK, Plano Amateur Radio Klub, and became Secretary in October, 2020. I also am a member of SARA, Sachse Amateur Radio Association, and have been Secretary since 2018. I became an Assistant Section Manager for the North Texas West Gulf Division of ARRL with the main focus on ladies becoming Hams and have joined YLRL, the Young Ladies Radio League with the hope of bringing more attention to the contributions Ladies have made in Amateur Radio. During the summer of 2020, I began helping with the North Texas Traffic System, learning the process of passing messages through this system. This will help when normal means of communication goes down in the time of need. I love helping with various activities and help to support the Plano Balloon Festival as part of the radio group for balloon recovery teams. I work with four VEC’s as a supporting VE hoping to encourage new hams to continue with their radio studies. I completed my CW studies with CW Academy in the beginning of 2022 and became a member of CWops. I participate in club nets and volunteer as net control with SARA, as well as volunteering with PARK and SARA in various community activities. I am a part of CCARES, Collin County ARES, participating in weather nets and working with Wylie’s lead radio operator to provide updated information for my home area of Wylie. I am a member of ETCERT, East Texas Community Emergency Response Team, which serves Rockwall, Hunt, Kaufman, Collin, and Vans Zandt, and I have recently joined the Sachse CERT Team. I continue to train by attending Skywarn training yearly and taking various FEMA courses on line. I am really enjoying myself with these various groups and continue to acquire skills that can help my community in times of need. I look forward to providing the PARK group with information and documentation that will benefit the Klub and the community it serves. I am proof it is never too late to learn something new. I hope to meet and talk with many of you in the next couple of years. 73 (- -… …- -)

Treasurer: Michael Tharp, KG5TJF

I got my Technician’s license in June 2017 and upgraded to General class in August 2019. I like to play around with Echolink, mobile, portable and DMR. My long-term goal is to get involved with the National Weather Service Skywarn program.

Activities Director: Richard Seitz, KG5HCJ

Communications Director: Kipton Moravec, AE5IB

Kip, AE5IB, got his license in 2007. He enjoys the public service and emergency readiness aspects of Amateur Radio. He usually operates on VHF and higher, and likes to work with HSMM-MESH at 2.4 GHz. Now his weekends seem to be taken up working on the PARK repeater. You can usually find him helping out with The Plano Balloon Festival, Bike MS: Sam’s Club Round-Up Ride, the Dallas Marathon, the Blacklands Triathlon, The Plano Christmas Parade, and many other events during the year. He also is active in the Rapid Deployment, Communications Assist Group (RDCAG) to provide Winlink email service.

Webmaster: James McCormick, KG5KBP

James was licensed in 2015. He’s an IT professional by day, and by the weekend he’s operated mostly on low power modes on JT65, FT8, and FT4. Somewhere around the house, he has a Raspberry Pi he set up to be a self-contained Winlink unit. Previously, he was affiliated with Carrollton ARES/RACES, back when he lived in that part of town.

Newsletter Editor: Neil Gould, NE5IL

I just passed 50 years as a ham. I started at 14 years old as WN5ZGC and then became WA5ZGC with the Advanced class which I still have. As soon as I could I applied for my vanity call NE5IL. I was active at Texas A&M W5AC. As with most ‘old’ hams my activities have been varied through out the years and depending on family and work obligations. I enjoy operating Field Day and the 10 meter contest ( when the band is open ). I promoted ham radio through Boy Scouts when my sons were involved and helped with several JOTA activities. I help out with public service activities when I can. After being a member of PARK for many years I decided it was time to give back as a board member.

Public Relations: Dan Francis, W5KKQ

Past Presidents:

Sean Kelly, W5SPK

Sean P. Kelly, our current President, is our immediate past Vice –President serving from the period 2014-2017. He holds an Amateur Extra Radio Class, call sign W5SPK. He was first licensed in May 1999 as KD5HGS. He owes his love of the hobby to his father, Patrick W. Kelly (WQ6N-SK). He has earned certifications in emergency communications from the American Radio Relay League as well as completing courses with FEMA in ICS, NIMS, and AUX-COM. He is a nationally certified firefighter (IFSAC and Pro-Board Seals) and a registered Emergency Medical Technician in the State of Texas. He is a veteran volunteer FF/EMT having served four different departments in three states. He is married and father of two. His family includes three additional licensed operators – his wife Shannon is W5SEK; Conor, his son is KG5UPJ; and his daughter Grace is KG5APE. Sean is employed by Amphenol Corporation. Sean’s mentoring focus is tied to emergency communications and HF mobile operations.

Bruce Dingman, N5BYL

Bruce became a ham in 1980 as a Technician. Just a few months later he achieved Advanced. He enjoyed HF CW, but became more interested in the Public Service side. Bruce became Weather related AEC for Collin County, and served as EC for Collin County ARES for about 8 years, and then became District 5 DEC. He has previously held Communications Director, Treasurer and President offices within the PARK organization. He is an avid photographer, and is presently working as Production Manager for a small company that builds Test Equipment for the US Air Force.

Kipton Moravec, AE5IB

Charlie Taylor, K5USS

Charlie Taylor has been a licensed amateur for 8 years and holds an Extra class license. His favorite activities are contesting, VHF/UHF weak signal work, and building antennas.