Welcome to my profile. I am Tomas Hood, NW7US, an Amateur Extra class license holder and a dedicated radio enthusiast. On this page, you can explore my logbooks, learn about my experiences in amateur radio, and connect with me through various platforms.
Tomas, NW7US, is a recipient of the YASME Excellent Award
I am the past contributing editor (since 2001, through to the end of the publishing era) of the Radio Propagation and Space Weather column in CQ Amateur Radio Magazine.
I am also the current contributing editor of the Radio Propagation and Space Weather column in The Spectrum Monitor.
I have passed and held every class (level) of amateur radio license, starting with Novice, finally ending with my current Amateur Extra, having passed all three CW test elements.
I've completed DXCC on 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 12m, and 10m. I have DXCC Mixed, Digital, Phone, as well as the ARRL WAS, and CQ WAC, WPX, etc.
My local club is the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club (KØKKV). I am a member of a number of clubs and organizations, including ARRL, SKCC, FISTS, and others (see below for a full list with links).
I am a US Army Signal Corps service-connected disabled veteran; Currently, I am homeless, but I am working on a solution to that. For the full story, please see my page where I explain my situation, and how I am working to resolve it: NW7US Homelessness.
I served in the US Army Signal Corps in the 1980s. My MOS was 31M, which is a Multi-Channel Equipment Operator. I was stationed in primarily in Germany (Bavaria; Karlsruhe), at various times, I was sent all over Europe. I earned two Army Achievement Medals, and one Army Commendation Medal. I was honorably discharged in 1993.
During my time in the US Army, I was a member of the 7th Signal Brigade, 72nd Signal Battalion, 268th Signal Company. I was awarded the Army Achievement Medal twice, and the Army Commendation Medal once. I was honorably discharged in 1993.
I also served as the Washington State US Army MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) State Emergency Coordinator (SEC) for several years, and I was the Washington State US Army MARS State Director for several years, as well. I was a member of the US Army MARS since the early 2000s.
I am a member of a number of clubs, groups, organizations. For instance, I am in SKCC member 4758s, FISTS member 7055, ARRL, Long Island CW Club, MDXC (Mediterranian DX Club), (SWODXA) Southwest Ohio DX Association, True Blue DXers Club member 1607, and others:
I first passed my amateur radio Novice license test in 1989, but it took until 1990 for the paper license from the FCC to arrive with my first license, KA1VGL. Then, I upgraded to the Morse-code enabledTechnician class. After moving from Connecticut to Montana, then eventually to Washington, I upgraded to coded General, and in the same license testing session, Advanced, and the written for the Amateur Extra ticket. At that testing session, I could not pass the 20 wpm for the Extra. After a few weeks, I went back to retest the Morse code element, and finally, obtained the 20wpm Extra Class license. I passed this time, which was in the mid 1990s.
Now, you will find me on the shortwave (HF, or, high-frequency) amateur radio bands from 160 meters through 10 meters, either using CW (Morse code), or a digital mode such as Olivia.
Once and a while I may do voice or other data modes, even FT8.
I have recently discovered the POTA (Parks on the Air), and I am enjoying this new and fascinating aspect of our hobby, first as a hunter, but, soon as an activator, as well. I have also been a shortwave listener since 1972.
NOTICE: As of March 5, 2026, I am living in Lincoln, Nebraska. Grid Square is EN10pt.
Then, and, now. I've loved shortwave radio since the early 1970s.
When I was about nine years old, I got a hold of my parent's Sony Multiband Portable radio. But it had four bands, FM, AM, LW, SW. I soon discovered that the SW selection held very strange and somewhat exotic sounds and stations.
As you might have guessed, SW stands for Shortwave (LW is for Longwave those frequencies below 530 KHz, AM is for the Amplitude Modulation mode, which is what is used in the domestic broadcast band (between 530 KHz and 1750 Khz or so), and FM (frequency modulation), the popular band of radio spectrum that everyone seems to enjoy, with music, talk, and other formats).
Shortwave describes the size of the radio wave used to transmit the signal that the radio can tune and listen in on.
As I began to discover not only odd, interesting noises and pops, whistles, and alien-like sounds, but also a great variety of radio stations from all parts of the world, I became deeply interested in the technical aspects of what made this little radio achieve such great magic. It seemed very magical that the BBC (England), RSA (Radio South Africa), CBC (Radio Canada International), Radio Australia, and so many more exotic stations, could be heard by me in the middle of Montana's Rocky Mountains. Hearing these signals lured me into listening and learning more about Shortwave Listening to the point that I was hooked for life.
I tried to get books about radio, electronics, and related information. Hard to come by for a nine-year-old. But I did get some support from my parents and friends, school, and library. I studied that until I knew it forward and backward. Tube theory, transistors (which were still a newer concept to the general consumer market, in the early 1970s), resistors, capacitors, and all the other doo-hickies and thing-a-ma-bobs that made all this magic of radio come into being.
How about you? Then, and, now?
I Prefer LotW - Logbook of the World
I upload to LotW at least once daily, but usually more often. I upload to eQSL, HRDlog, QRZ, and Clublog after each QSO, if I have internet connectivity.
Getting My Paper QSL Card
There are two methods that will give you a fast return QSL card:
1. Send an SASE
2. Use Clublog's OQRS system (see further, below, for instructions)
Method 1: If you wish to exchange a card, please send a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope (SASE) so that I can easily send a return card to you. I am slow, but I catch up and do send a card, eventually, someday. The SASE speeds it up. Usually, I will put my QSL card into the USA Mail Service within a day or three, after receiving your card and request (with the SASE).
Method 2: You are invited to use my Clublog OQRS for requesting a QSL card from me, for one or more of our QSOs:
