I am Elisamuel Resto Donate, and I go by Sam. I was born in January 1987 in KP4 territory and lived there until my early twenties then moved to the United States. I am KFØACN operating out of Winona, Minnesota along the beautiful Mississippi River looking across to Wisconsin on the other side.

I got a taste of amateur radio in my childhood when my father, who was really into CB and even joined a organization called the Auxiliar Police Force de Camuy which was a created by the Camuy (Puerto Rico) Police with the intention to provide emergency short range communications and auxiliary services as a volunteer, and used a number of Cobra and Ranger radios in his vehicles over the years, the most notable in my childhood being a Cobra 146GTL. At home, he used a Galaxy DX-2517 that made the sound of static and voices a frequent staple of my evenings in our living room. Later on played with a Ranger RCI-2950. Sadly, I did not get to keep any of these units.

With the 2020 pandemic and having to be on quarantine for two weeks after a trip to Puerto Rico earlier this year, I finally decided to become a ham. I passed my exam on May 7, 2020 and got licensed as Technician on May 14, 2020. On August 11, 2020 I passed the exam to upgrade to General and showed up on August 12, 2020 on the FCC ULS. This was done on a whim one late night/early morning at 2am — signed up for a remote session that same morning at 10am and passed.

I am a member of the Winona Amateur Radio Club (W0NE) and participate in public service events throughout the year, including Ride the Ridges, Storm the Park, Storm the Farm, and Storm the Bluffs. I occasionally take part in Trinona as well.

A thanks to all the OM who have taken time to be my Elmers in many aspects of being a ham: W0IH, W0VTT, KU0HN, N0QK, K2OPT, K0NY, AC9TO, W9LSE (SK), and WB0NIU (SK).

Special thanks to other hams who have helped me in one way or another: KJ7FX, K7GWA, N7TMS, KA4KBX, KJ4AXD, KD4PCU, N3RYB, K0LTZ, and K0VH.

I reply to all QSL cards I receive and while I appreciate a SASE, I do not require them. I upload all my QSOs consistently to LoTW, QRZ, and ClubLog.