Willamette Valley DX Club > Home ( DNN 4.3.5 )

This time we delve into the life of Andy Ziemann, KE7AUB a resident of Aloha, OR with a QTH in the foothills of Cooper Mountain. He is a global Business Systems Analyst in a somewhat obscure field known as B2B. Andy operates with Natasha, his feline companion of 16 years in his lap. Brother Boris was there too, but has since passed on to feline heaven. Andy is the only ham in the family.

While a ham just seven years, Andy says a “some magical force” drew him to the hobby for his entire life. He was exposed to hamming in 1971, then again in 75 with the Boy Scouts. However, due to circumstances beyond Andy’s control and other affairs, kept him an SWLer until 2004.

“I attended the Washington County Sheriff Citizen Academy. Their Search and Rescue Program mentioned Amateur Radio, and a light bulb went off for me and a busy year it turned out to be, Technician in May, General in October, and two days before Christmas, my Extra.”

“I guess 40 meters would be my favorite for phone work. 160 meters was fun before I ‘fixed’ my ICOM AH-4. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it. (hihi) On 160 meters I’ve managed to work most of the western states QRP CW and SSB with 100 watts.”

As far as DX is concerned, Andy has 136 entities and growing. “Even with just a random wire and the low end of the solar cycle, I was able to get my DXCC. It was not easy, but I proved it can be done, from the Pacific Northwest no less.”

The ICOM 7600 was his Christmas present to himself 2 Christmases ago. He is keeping both his contest worn ICOM 706MK2G and somewhat used ICOM 7000 in reserve. Andy really likes his ICOM 7600. “I really enjoy the ability to send RTTY right out of the radio with no PC & special software. It makes RTTY DX’ing fast and fun.” Andy still has a warm spot in is heart for the ICOM 706MK2g.

Thanks to the local Home Owners Association his antennas consist of a less than optimal random wire for HF, a 3 element M2 6M-SS for 6 Meters and a stealthy Ventenna for 2m/7cm.

Andy is very active outside the WVDXC, an active VE, and in organizations such as ARRL NTS, the Beaver State Net, NTS Official Relay Station, Washington County ARES and the KK7PR Club where he is the QSL Manager. He also adds that he is an active member of the ARC Contest Junkies of the World. (Hihi) Under the heading of Interesting/ Amusing: A few years back Andy worked a Russian who actually knew where Aloha, Oregon is.