User:NX1Z

Introduction
My name is John O'Brien. I am a ham radio operator. My strange user name is my radio operator ID.

Hobbies
I like to play with radio. I have a license from the Federal Communications Commission to operate radios on the ITU and WARC Amateur radio bands. This makes me a "Ham" radio operator. My radio callsign is NX1Z. The coolest thing that I have ever done on the radio is talk to the Astronauts and Cosmonauts on the International Space Station. Ham radio operators are always there to help in emergencies. They bridge the communication gaps when catastrophe strikes. Whether it’s a hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack or anything that disrupts the communications of the authorities, the ham radio operators step-up to keep the lifesaving communications going in times of disaster. When hams are not helping with emergencies, they communicate with each other just for the fun of it! Many people that I have met on the air (radio) have become life-long friends. Radio is the original internet (and it’s always been wireless) but there is no spam or viruses to slow things down.

My other big hobbies are hiking and taking my truck off-road. I also collect guns and enjoy target shooting (a difficult hobby in Massachusetts). I like to combine radio with my other hobbies, so I have radios that I take hiking with me and I have radios installed in my truck. I haven't yet found a practical way to combine guns with radio though. :)

My new thing is flying. I plan on getting my private pilots license. I just want to fly for the fun of it and because it is an achievement that I would be proud of. I have only managed a few lessons, but I love what I have experienced so far.

Family
I don't have any kids yet, but I have somehow acquired a wife so I am part of the way there. She is exactly opposite me, but that keeps things interesting. She is a Gemini so she has two personalities; I am the only one that knows them both. She makes fun of my radio hobby all the time even though she thinks that it is cool that I can talk to the Space Station. But she likes to talk to some of my friends on the radio too.

Intentions
As for Wikipeadia stuff, I want to contribute without stepping on peoples toes. I will contribute on a casual basis. I wont be looking for things to contribute to; I will contribute only if I happen to look something up and think there is something missing. I am not here to show people how smart I think I am about the things that I know about and will never claim to be expert of any topic. I am certainly not here to fight with people or ruin the hard work of other users. When I add photos to articles, I am NOT promoting myself. It’s just easier for copyright purposes to use pictures that I have taken myself.

Articles created by NX1Z

 * None Yet. Relax, I am working on it.

Articles NX1Z contributed to

 * I added the History section to Wapack Trail and added a pic of the Trail Patch.
 * I copy edited some sections of Radio and added a pic of my amateur radio station.
 * I added a picture to Rock crawling because it had no photos of rock crawling. Good article though! (the pic has been removed without explanation on 11Aug2008)
 * I added a picture to QSL card because there was no example of an Amateur (Ham) Radio QSL card.
 * I added a picture to Monterey Bay Aquarium to show that there is an area for visitors to handle small animals like starfish.
 * I added 5 pictures to Calaveras Big Trees State Park which show tree size, the tree tunnel and Discovery Tree info.

Other Images Uploaded by NX1Z

 * CalaverasBigTreesPatch1.jpg
 * FriendsOfWapackPatch1.jpg

"Pic of the Day" from the Wiki Home Page
