KV4CW

KV4CW

About Me

Hello all! I am Clayton Workman, KV4CW. I’ve always been interested in electronics, engineering, and radio. As a kid, I read the Handbook of Electronic Tables and Formulas (5th ed., published by Howard W. Sams & Co) from front to back so many times, and it had such an influence on me and the path that I chose in my education. Eventually, this led to me getting a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Microelectronics-Photonics. I specialized in semiconductor materials and started my career working as an engineer and engineering manager in epitaxial growth of semiconductors used for RF power amplifiers and switches used in cell phones and other wireless devices. Today, I am an engineer for a wafer fab in Greensboro, NC doing work mainly with RF surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters used in cell phones.

Even though I have always been interested in the radio waves (from an engineering perspective), it was always more from the passive (listening) side of it. I grew up listening to my dad’s scanner – an old Electra Bearcat III which he eventually handed down to me. In college, I upgraded to a digital handheld scanner that I purchased from Radio Shack. The only radio transmissions I did was while flying as a private pilot, and I loved that aspect of flying. I never really seriously considered getting into Ham, as I assumed it required extravagant and unslightly antenna systems to “seriously” get into it. I was wrong, and I wish I had become a “Ham” sooner!

Fast forward to August 2023… a co-worker of mine mentioned his interest in getting into GMRS and maybe ham radio while we were eating lunch together one day. This converstation rekindled my interest in the radio waves, so I decided to delve into GMRS (callsign WRYN757). After a few weeks, I decided GMRS wasn’t enough for me and that I should pursue my amateur radio license. I started studying on 9/8/23 and went to a test session on 9/11/23 and ended up passing all three levels of exams (technician, general, and extra.) I was sick that weekend, so I didn’t have much to do except study! A few days later, I had my initial callsign (KZ4AV) but immediately applied for a vanity callsign (KV4CW) which contains my first and last name initials.

I enjoy many aspects of the hobby, and look forward to continuing to find more ways to enjoy it. I hope to see you in the airwaves! 73

Memberships

  • Forsyth Amateur Radio Club (FARC, callsign W4NC)
  • Qorvo Amateur Radio Group (QARG)
  • American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
  • Long Island CW Club (LICW)
  • Straight Key Century Club (SKCC)

My Equipment

HF Base/Go-Box

  • Radio:
    • Yaesu FT-710
  • Antennas:
    • MyAntennas.com EFHW-4010-2K-Plus end fed half wave antenna (home installation)
    • XTenna Switch EFHW (portable)
    • Spark Plug EFHW Antenna 100 W (portable)

VHF/UHF Base/Go-Box

  • Radio:
    • Yaesu FTM-500DR
  • Antenna:
    • Diamond X300A antenna (home install)

Mobile

  • Radio:
    • Yaesu FT-500DR
  • Antenna:
    • Comet CA-2X4SR

Handheld

  • Radios:
    • Yaesu FT5DR (x2)
    • Wouxun KG-UV9PX (x2)
    • Quansheng UV-5R Plus (x2)
  • Antennas:
    • Diamond RH77CA
    • DIamond RH707
    • SignalStuff Super-elastic Signal Stick
    • Ed Fong J-Pole
    • N9TAX Dual band 2M / 70CM Slim Jim Antenna

Other

  • Digirig Mobile for digital comms (Winlink, etc.) with HTs/mobile