MEMBERS CORNER

I became a radio ham in the 70s as SWL Followed by the novice license with 6 channels in the 2 meter band 10 Watts simplex only. General was next for VHF and UHF all mode. Then my favorite CW 12 wpm and became PA3DPO. Moved to the States and used the W4/PA3DPO. 2011 I had to start all over and did all 3 exams in one sitting. Still enjoying the hobby and especially the Albuquerque boat anchor net. Ken became a good friend of mine. I'm the YAESU guy and Ken likes his Kenwood hihi. Hope to hear from y'all on Thursdays. 73 and God will bless you and keep you.

AF5AI Hans.

 I am Greg Walker, wa4iii, Thanks for accepting me in the group. First licensed in 1974 as Novice, wn4iii. In 1975, I upgraded to Technician, then to general.in 1978, Advanced in 1979 and made Extra in 1996. I am retired and enjoy country living in Northwest Alabama. 

My hobbies include building  homebrew projects and trying to keep my Boat Anchors working. Also I enjoy working in my shop doing mechanical work and woodwork. I can't say I enjoy mowing the grass and weeds, but it has to be done. I try to make all the local Hamfests and tailgate parties. DXing and rag chewing and participating in some selected nets pass the time. Attached is a few pictures of some of my radios. Although my main station is a Yaesu FT2000D with an Ameritron AL82  and an AL80B amp converted to 6 meters. I use an FT991 on 50, 144, and 432mhz. Antennas include a cushcraft A3S at 70 ft, Dipoles on 160, 80, and 40  meters and a cushcraft non rotatable, rotatable dipole for 30, 17, and 12 meters. I say nonrotatable because it is clamped directly to the tower. BTY, I don't work 30 and 60 meters. I do SSB. AM. and FM where permitted. AM station is a Johnson Valiant with a Drake R4A receiver and Drake MN2000 Tuner. 

For the Albuquerque Boat Anchor net, I pick out one of the radios and usually an amp from the collection. I alternate them, so you may eventually hear all of them on the air.

 73, Greg - wa4iii  

Originally from Long Island, N.Y. I relocated to Florida in 1994.  I have been fooling around in radio communications since 1968 when I was 11 years old. I started with Citizen Band Radio back when a license was required. My dad bought me my very first C.B base radio from Lafayette Radio Electronics in Syosset N.Y. which was a Lafayette Comstat 25A. Although only on occasion do get on CB radio to talk to a few close friends,  It was the foundation of my interest in the radio hobby and part of my radio memorabilia in my shack. Now, after 40 years of having my ham ticket I am still loving the hobby of communications and active just about every single day. I am also an avid Shortwave Listener and love tinkering with older shortwave receivers. 

FRANK - KB2CWN

First got my technician in November of 2024 with call sign KF0SHN. Obtained a vanity call of KA0DDY that originally belonged to my step great grandfather, then was later assigned to my mother. Obtained my general in February of this year. Operating radios: Radioddity DB-20-G Drake TR-3, Swan 350 with Swan 117XC power supply, Drake TR-33C 12 channel VHF, RadioShack HTX-242 VHF, and Kenwood TS-520S. Non-working equipment in need of repair: (2x) Swan 117XC power supply, Swan 500CX

I have been involved with electronics since a teen, but didn’t get a license until 2012.

I always wanted to, but there was a busy job, kids to raise, and lots of other responsibilities.

Over the last 3-4 years, I have become interested in building or repairing old rigs and vacuum tube equipment.

The photos attached show my “old” operating position.

It is a Drake 2-B receiver, a home-built transmitter with 807 final, a Heathkit VFO and an  old Vibroplex bug.

The other is my “new” operating position, which is an Icom 7610, MFJ tuner and Ameritron 811-H

I also like refurbishing old bugs and keys, and have built a couple from scratch, one of which is on my QRZ page.

I graduated from Ohio State in 1970 with a BS in Engineering, and later an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan.

My next project will be a “true” vacuum tube boat anchor. I am eyeing either a Heathkit or Drake.

With many thanks and 73.

Fred Reed KD8SMO

My original Mentor was WA9ENM SK George my father in law after I met my wife Gail George would say let’s go listen what’s on the bands we would go down to the basement and listen to the sounds coming out of the Halicrafters HW-101 and an Eico 720 Transmitter Swan 250 C TV2B I still have them and every once in a while turn them on.  When I asked George to Marry his daughter he told me NO the only way he would say yes is when I got my Ham Licensed I agreed and Danny W9GOB gave me my Mother in Law and my Wife the Novice test after much studying and a lot of questions we passed the test.   

We were first licensed in 1975 as WD9GDA Blanche Mother in Law, WD9GDB Gail My Wife  and my self WD9GJK. By one of my mentors Dan WB9GOB/W9GOB SK Danny. He listen to some of the worst CW that he ever heard but with lots of patience a lot of persistence and some luck I finally passed my5 wpm code and written tests. Danny would help me figure out troubleshooting my radios I bought over but he never told me how to fix them but would point out the things I should look for to fix them I thank him for that now I use my thoughts of what would Danny telling me where to look and I can most of the time figure it out there are those times though I wish he was still here.   

Next was WA9FIH SK another mentor and good friend Jim has always been there to help me fix all the problems that I could not figure out and he had an awesome Vintage parts supply if I needed a part Jim had it. Jim lost his house to a fire 2019 May stayed at my house for a few months and is in an apartment now most of his stuff was burned up in the fire.   

I joined the Six Meter Club of Chicago after I met my wife Gail the family were members forever I was the Halo editor almost from my beginning I am currently the K9ONA/R Trustee club secretary Hamfest chairman Field day chairman and whatever else they ask me to do. I love what I do.   

the primary station is a pair of  Yaesu FT 736R 6-thru 1296 a Yaesu, FT 847 And a Swan 700 CX SS-16 and a Swan 500 I have a well-stocked bench and if the good lord will give many years of repair. I recently bought a pair of the Swan 600 Recover is a 600 R custom. My first Swan HF was a 750 CW wish I had her back but the kids needed Braces and it helped to pay down the bills I will find another someday.

Mike

Our youngest member, Casen is 13. 

 My name is Casen and I got my license in August of 24. My callsign is KJ5HQI. My setup currently consists on an icom 718 with an off center fed dipole for hf, and an icom ic v8000 with a tram antenna for my vhf. 

I got my first ft-101b about a week ago and I have recapped the whole thing except for the two big filter caps.  This is a bit of an unusual radio inside in that it still had the original Toshiba factory tubes.   All of the mylar capacitors look brand new, the choke in the final stage also looks new.

K6REA - KEVIN

I've updated my operating position (Icom IC7300 main radio) to include my old Heathkit SB102 (built in 1974) with the original PS-23 power supply (built in 1967). The IC7300 replaced the Icom IC-728 transceiver (circa 1995) that's still on my desk. What a difference, although the 728 still a good rig. My 24 foot vertical wire antenna inside my fiberglass flagpole, HOA friendly. I have a Balun Designs 4:1 unun at the base. An LDG RT-100 remote tuner and NI4L rf choke are under the fake boulder with 80 feet of buried RG213. There are 20 buried radials. This arrangement allows me to operate 40 thru 6 meters. A bit squirrely on 80, so I don't bother. I mainly operate on 40 and 30 meters CW ragchewing.

I was first licensed as a Technician in 1964 in Queens, New York. I operated 6 meter AM with a Utica 650A rig with a Halo antenna on the roof of my Grandparents 3 story apartment building. I upgraded to a 3 element beam and had lots of fun, and got the “Worked All TVs” award, since NYC uses TV Channel 2 at 54MHz. I built a Knight Kit T-60 transmitter (that covered 80 thru 6 meters, AM & CW) and a Knight Kit R-55 shortwave receiver. I added an Ameco 6 meter converter to the receiver so I could use it on 6 meters. I sold the beam and rotator and put up an inverted V on the roof. In the mean time I upgraded to Extra Class, as well as obtained my commercial 1st Class Radiotelephone Operator license (now called General Radiotelephone Operator). I took both exams, including the 20 wpm code test at the FCC office in NYC on the same day.

I also have built a few Heathkit transceivers (HW-16, HW-22 and SB-102) over the years, but sold them.

NR2Z Dominick Golino

 I have been repairing electronics professionally since the changeover from vacuum tubes to solid state.

I was forced into retirement due to health conditions in 2002.

Now I enjoy buying vintage electronics for cheap and bringing them back to life.  Shown in the picture is my Swan 500C that I bought for $1 at a tailgater.  After cleaning the controls and switches it came back to life. It has 8950 finals and still does rated power.  I paid more for the power supply than for the radio ($35)! It has been recapped, and refinished.  I received the Kenwood TS-520 as payment for services, along with the DG-5, AT-200, and the SM-220.  The solid-state rig is a TS-590s I use for digital modes (rarely).  The 2-meter ssb radio is a Kenwood TR-751A that I bought from "that big online auction site "  The amp is the Kenwood TL-922 that I rescued from destruction from the "golden screwdriver".  It has been completely updated with the restoration kit from Kessler engineering. I had to replace the band switch and the filter bank.  The tubes are the original 3-500z, and it still puts out rated power.  My HF antenna is a simple off center fed dipole with the apex at 30'.

W4IV - Robert Fitch 

Started as an SWL, first licensed in 1978 but not active until 2018 when I saw a Swan 270 on Craigslist and decided to get my ham radio license again. Passed the tests and the radio was still available. I bought it on the way home. Since then my Swan collection has ballooned. I've enjoyed making these old radios work again.

My Swans include: 120, 140, 175, 240, 260, 270, 270B, 350 (2), 350C, 400 (2), 500, 500C, 500CX, 500 CX SS16, 600 T and R, 700, SS-200, Astro 150, Astro 102BX and a Swan Mark 1 linear amplifier.

My primary antenna is a 135 foot long doublet, running north and south, about 35 feet high, fed by open wire feedline into a Johnson Matchbox with Annecke mods.

I am also using an old Gap DX Challenger that I picked up at a hamfest in 2024, but it needs a bit of work.

73 Bob NB0BN

Licensed in high school in the mid 90's. Family and career took me away from ham radio until 5 years ago. Now I'm more into it than ever! CW, SSB, digital, new SDR rigs, boat anchors, I enjoy it all. Current station is Ten-Tec Orion II and Jupiter, Icom IC-7600, Yaesu FT-101EE, Drake TR-4 and a Hallicrafters SR-150, but it's always changing. Love the technical side of this hobby!

Adam 

First licensed in 1977 novice (KA9CEE)  general call N9BJB, Now Advanced W9BED, studying for Extra.  I work as an IT manager in Southern Illinois, near St. Louis,  for a utility company and enjoy operating my boat anchors as well as modern rigs for VHF/UHF

Operational Boat Anchors: 

Collins S Line, Collins 30 L-1 amp,  KWM2, Two Swan 350's, Swan 240, Swan 250, Swan 500 (x2), Swan 175, Siltronix 1011D (x3) Hallicrafters Sx100, Heathkit SB220 amp, Johnson Viking Ranger Transmitter, Gonset SB-100 Transmitter Hammarlund HQ -129X receiver

 Bryan W9BED 

I got my extra about 8 years ago and I love working on old ham gear. I live in Holladay Utah and have up 4 antennae, a G5RV, a 37ft sloper, a 40m dipole and another one that I don't know what it is called with 80m traps. I was a Novice then a Technician back in the 60s WA7FED and started  new as a no code general 10 years ago. I would apologize for the appearance of my shack, but I know who I am talking to, no need. 

Loved electronics all my life BSEE from the U of Utah started DOD Electronics in my basement in '73 currently with Rolls Corporation making commercial sound equipment. My hobby right now is getting boat anchors up and running. Love things that glow and amplify. Got my extra 2/11/17 OK, OK I'm a no code extra, but still...... My main rig now is the Hallicrafters FP-300. And using a Rolls HR341 audio processor for cleaning up the signal a little, nulling out anoying heterodynes and limiting the S meter burners. I have a homebrew sloping antenna at 40 down to 20 feet about 50ft long using a homebrew 9to1 UNUN. Also a homebrew desktop mic. My favorite would be the Atlas 350 there in the picture, if it worked, no luck so far.

DAVID 

I come by loving boatanchors naturally. I have always loved anything old. In fact, my wife says that I was born old. Of course, now I qualify since I am 73.

I was licensed as KA5GRL IN 1978, and upgraded to Technician in about 1979 and changed my call to N5NBK. Life with jobs and family kept me as a Technician until about 1990 when I passed my General 13 word per minute code test. Now that I am retired, I need to study and pass my Extra class exam.

The last few years I have enjoyed collecting radios that I could not afford in my younger years. The Collins transceivers are my favorite. I have one KWM-1, two KWM-2’s, two KWM-2A’s, one KWM-380, and one HF-380. I have a Collins 75A-4 receiver. I also have a love for the Kenwood hybrid transceivers, owning several in the TS-520 line, a TS-530, and a TS-830.

My ham shack measures 27 foot by 36 foot, and I am doing my best to fill it up. I have over 40 transceivers to date, and 7 linear amps.

My antennas consist of a rotatable 40 meter dipole at 50 feet, an eight element log periodic at 55 feet for 20 through 10 meters, a nine element vertically polarized 2 meter beam at 60 feet, and a folded dipole for 40 through 10 meters at 30 feet.

I look forward to participating in the net on Thursday evenings.

73 Danny N5NBK