My name is Betsy and I have been licenced since 2023. I am excited to continue my ham radio adventures and continue to expand my interests in the hobby.

A little about my start in ham radio…

My husband, Scott, K4FR (Fomerly N4AAJ), and I married in 2020 and he reactivated his license in 2022 and got back into the hobby. He learned more about SOTA, which combined his long time passion of hiking and ham radio. I got to go on a few SOTA adventures with him but only got to watch. I wanted to be able to join in so I decided to get my license as well!

I passed my technician exam in April 2023 (as KQ4IBL) and immediatly put in for a vanity call sign to match my husband’s at the time (N4AAJ) so I was awarded N4AJJ. When we made our plans to attend Hamvention (my first time!) in May 2023 I decided I would take my general exam there. I passed and had a great time meeting new folks and seeing familiar SOTA faces at Hamvention.

My husband passed his Extra exam in early 2024 so of course I had to keep up… We headed back to Hamvention 2024, enjoyed seeing all the friends we’ve made through SOTA and POTA and I passed my EXTRA exam! Scott got a new vanity call in the fall of 2024 and after a few attempts for my own new 1x2 call I was awarded W4AA in May 2025! (I operate SSB so apparently now I need to learn CW to really enjoy this new call!)

I was part of the 2024 Queens of the Mountain event and operated using W8Q on June 1, 2024. It was a great event and I wish I’d had more time to particpate. I was able to get some DX, a few friends, as well as a special SUBMARINE contact!

I am a mom of two teenage boys (plus stepmom to Scott’s two adult kids), work full time in a public school, and run a hyperlocal website for families in my community as well. I stay very busy with my jobs but I am looking forward to some more SOTA activations & POTA activations with my husband. He and I also enjoy traveling, backpacking, rollerskating, and being ‘foodies’ when we go on an adventure.

73, Betsy