2DA120 Tom

– May 29, 2011Posted in: Meet the Members

One of the most well-known 11m DXers in North America, 2DA120 Tom from the scenic Washington State City of Kalama is the newest addition to the ranks of the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) in 2011.

Also known on the 11m band as 2WA120, Tom is a licensed amateur radio operator also and one whom has achieved many noble feats in the hobby.

In addition to impressive DXCC stats on all bands, Tom is involved in a number of other comms related pursuits which also qualify him for DA-RC membership in a leadership capacity (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/membership/).

A long time member of the Western America DX Group, as well as the Northwest Modulators, Tom is responsible for administering the latter club’s website which can be seen at www.nwcbradio.com.

Tom also manages a popular eBay store which deals in new and preloved ham radio equipment.

Tom’s small home QTH of Kalama is located in Cowlitz County on the Colombia River north of Vancouver, Washington and south of Kelso and Longview, Washington.  Known as the “Place where highway, rail and water meet”, Kalama has many stirring activities going on from spring Chinook fishing to exciting festivals and the antique class car show.

The Kalama High school has also been made famous by the recent Twilight movies in which the school’s parking lot and other areas where used in the filming.

In the hobby, Tom’s interests are diverse.  In addition to typical ham and 11m stuff, they include UHF/VHF radioing, exchanging QSL cards, portable and field DXing, ragchewing, contesting and emergency comms.

On the SOTA front, Tom has also dxed with cycle 23 friends from Mt St Helens……crazy stuff indeed given the mountain’s history as an active stratovolcano and the site of the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States :-)

Tom also enjoys participating in the Stomp Fest on 27.205 MHz AM.  “We go to different locations that we feel will be the loudest locations,” explains Tom.  “We then see who can key best in a top ten list. It is a very enjoyable activity…”

Away from the shack where ICOM and Heil products take pride of place on his bench top, 2DA120 Tom enjoys spending time with his family and listening to music, as well as pitching a tent and fishing in the waters near his home.  People from all over, in fact, flock to Kalama for its famous Chinook, steelhead and sturgeon fishing, making use of the town’s excellent marina and boat launches in the Colombia and Kalama Rivers.

One of Tom’s most beloved pastimes, however, is All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riding (See right and above top). These are also known as a quads, quad bikes, three wheelers, or four wheelers and Tom has lots of land with creek and log crossings, dirt roads and wooded trails where he and his mates loves to ride.  The muddy, rocky, root covered terrain around his home furthermore is ideal for rock crawling and hillclimbing and as you can see by the pictures Tom doesn’t hold back at all!

It is this same passion for the outdoors and sense of adventure that Tom brings to the hobby of radio comms, traits that make him a valuable and popular member of the DA-RC as well!

QSL Information

  • PO Box 1211 Kalama, WA 98625, USA