No one of consequence, but here goes...
Geek
I refer to myself as a “swiss-army chainsaw geek”. Jack of all trades, master of a few. I’ve done just about everything in IT there is to do except maybe chip design.
I started learning electronics when I was 8 and coding software when I was 10. I’ve been blessed to be able to use my skills as a career and a hobby.
Follower of Jesus, Husband, Father, Geek, Ham
Follower of Jesus
First and foremost, I am a follower of Jesus.
Don’t be confused. It’s not about religion, nor it’s not the current cultural Christian Nationalism garbage you see today. No robes, no rituals, no self-righteousness, no conflated alt-right nonsense. Just Jesus.
Jesus is God’s Son, God born in human form, who lived a sinless life yet came to die and rise again to save us from the penalty of our sin.
Whoever believes in Him will live eternally in paradise. Those who do not will spend eternity in torment paying for their sin.
Blunt, I know. Offensive even. We don’t like to think we’re that bad or that there even is a God to whom we are accountable. Yet something within our very souls know this is true.
If I didn’t share it you I’d be the worst kind of person. I hope you’ll consider this for yourself.
HAM
I got my first ticket in 1992 as a Novice, KA1ZRB. My first rig was a Radio Shack HTX-100 (first generation). The sunspot cycle was in a good state at the time so you can really work some interesting contacts.
Over time as life most on and responsibilities increased, sadly I let my ticket lapse. Then a co-worker who was about to travel the world encouraged me to get our tickets together. In 2008 I got my Technician ticket. In 2009 I upgraded to General. I tried for Amateur Extra, but oh the antenna theory. I maintained General for a long time, even after relocating for work.
I wasn’t able to do much for a while with life responsibilities, financial constraints, and really other amazing adventures. After the family was grown, I found myself wanting to dive back into the hobby …. hard.
In early 2025 I studied for my Extra and passed. I’m not much for bucket lists.
By the way, I didn’t just study to pass the test, I took the opportunity to learn and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I opted to allow have the FCC issue a new callsign thinking I’d get the coveted four-character callsign, the status symbol of the Amateur Extra. I did not realize the database of Extra (group A) callsigns had been exhausted and the FCC was issuing the now Advanced (group B) callsigns for new Extras.
Crap.
So I went ahead to apply for a vanity four-character callsign. This was an adventure all it’s own.
There’s a few format limitations. I messed up my request… twice. The agents with the FCC were very patient with me, which I appreciate very much.
Knowing I would not get the callsign I was going for, I looked up expired and cancelled callsigns and plugged in 25 choices, the maximum allowed. Many were taken during the 17-day waiting period by other applicants. I ended up with my 25th choice…. even though my first choice was and is still available. So yeah, that’s on them this time, but I like what I ended up with, so here we are. WB3W. I am not the original. See my homage below.
So now I am working on my shack and getting on the air with a lot of fun and interesting projects. I created this site to share them with the community.
An homage to the original WB3W
-I don’t know much about him except what is published in QRZ and his obituary. He was from an area in Maine near where I lived. His callsign was a vanity callsign. I obtained it as a vanity callsign in 2025.
Robert J. Wiseman, WB3W SK
From QRZ.com
Robert J. Wiseman, Sr., 77, of Schnecksville, died Friday, June 24, 2022 at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. He was the husband of Linda L. (Moyer) Wiseman to whom he was married 34 years.
Born in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine on October 9, 1944, Robert was the son of the late Armand J. and Teresa E. (Minneham) Wiseman. He was a Vice President at Penguin Putman Publishing for 4 years before retiring. Prior to that, Robert was the Vice President of Information Technology at Sure Fit, Inc. and Crystal Brands, Inc. He was a member of the Keystone Region MG Club and the LVH Amateur Radio Club. Robert was of Catholic faith.
Survivors: In addition to his wife, Linda; children, Teresa L. Moore (Michael) of Brentwood, TN, Robert J. Wiseman, Jr. (Anne) of Camden, NC, Carolyn A. Castano (Jessie) of Virginia Beach,VA, John T. Wiseman (Mary) of the Lehigh Valley; step-son, John C. Hangey (Kim) of Princeton, NJ; sister, Mary Ann Johnson of Stewart, FL, 10 grandchildren.
Service: Private and at the convenience of the family. The Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., Schnecksville is in charge of arrangements.
Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 196 Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.
Published by Morning Call on Jun. 28, 2022.
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It also appears he was very civic-minded and involved in the Ham community serving his local community: https://www.arrl.org/news/interim-section-manager-appointed-in-eastern-pennsylvania