GMRS Callsign – WSEB693
Hello, My name Is Josh and I have been a Ham Since January of 2010. My Test Group was under VE N4JTQ. So far I have met some great friends on the Radio. I enjoy working with Skywarn. In April of 2010 I obtained my first vanity call sign, WX4KXT On May 1, 2010, took and passed my General Exam, on the same day I made my first HF contact W7RN in Nevada. 13 Years Later, on April 22, 2023, I passed my Extra Class License Exam. About an hour later I made my first contact in the Extra Class portion of 20 Meters N0SDH in Minnesota, he recieved me at a 5-5, I had him at a 5-3. On August 18th, 2023, I was granted my Extra Class Vanity Callsign AA4WX. This call belonged to a charter member of Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club. I was asked by one of the longest tenured active members of the club to memorialize charter member Charlie Williams, in which I am honored to do.
I am the founding President of the United States Ham Radio Council. Upon learning of my XYL’s pregnancy with twins, I elected to step down as President but remain a member of the board of directors.
I am a member of the Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club (W4OLB), where I am Past-President. I previously served as Public Information Officer of SMARC from May 2023-January 2024. I am also a member of The University of Tennessee Amatuer Radio Club (AA4UT), and the American Radio Relay League.
I am Assistant District Coordinator for District 5 East Tennessee Skywarn where I serve as a net control station and trustee of the club call sign WX4TYS. District 5 East Tennessee Skywarn primarily serves Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, and Union Counties but also welcome reports from any station anywhere! We relay and report directly to the National Weather Service WFO in Morristown TN. Join us on the 146.940 repeater during severe weather.
I also serve as a News Anchor for This Week in Amateur Radio, a weekly news magazine that airs on amateur radio systems around the world and is also available where you get your podcast.
My home station is a Yaesu FT710 HF. Antennas include Jetstream JTV680 Vertical for 10m-160m, and a copper J-Pole for VHF/UHF. Software/Hardware includes: MacMini M1, RadarScope, JTDX, HRD, and MacLogger. Portables include YaesuFT3D, Anytone 878 Baofeng UV82 and TYT MD380. Mobile conditions is a Yaesu FTM-200DR with a comet magmount. Other radios in my inventory that are not in active use are Midland DBR2500, and Yaesu FTM3200. Favorite modes include FM, SSB, C4FM, DMR, and FT8.
I am also an Accredited VE for ARRL-VEC, Anchorage ARC VEC, WCARS-VEC, and GLAARG. I am session manager for Volunteer Amateur Radio Group VE Testing Team. I also assist with the W4PCA WCARS VE Team. In addition I help lead exam sessions for USVEG, CECC, and Kilowatt ARC VE Team. Collectively we are a co-operative group of VE teams that help each other out. We test 7 days a week. Come test with one of our teams. Find a session at www.HamTicket.org.
Professionally, I work as a Video Production Specialist for the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee.
On the personal side, I am married, my XYL is Whitney, we have been married since June 2014. Together we have 2 Daughters, Charlotte born June 2016 and Caroline born January 2022. I am also Media Director for Middlesettlements United Methodist Church where I coordinate all Social Media activities as well as lead a team of people who assist in streaming worship services to Facebook and Youtube.