Hi Paul: Congratulations. I am impressed.
Keep on hamming and keep on flying. 73 Brian, KD6NRP -----Original Message----- >From: Paul Elliott <[email protected]> >Sent: Jan 19, 2012 7:38 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Topband: A Ham for 75 Years > > A Ham for 75 Years > > > >Seventy five years ago today, 19 January 1937, I was issued a Class C >Amateur Radio Operator License and my Station License W5GGV by the FCC. At >the time I was 14 years old and a sophomore in high school in Kingsville, >TX. My code test was given by a Class A Operator who worked mainly 160 m >phone. I still have in my mind a very clear image of his end fed antenna >being clipped directly (no blocking capacitor!) on the output tank coil >(1500 volts) The antenna exited the room by going thru a one inch hole in a >window screen. > > > >My first rig, built with parts from defunct Atwater Kent radios, consisted >of a UX45 tube in a TNT circuit (maybe three or four watts output on 40 m) >and a 2-tube regenerative receiver. My antenna, clipped on the output tank >(200 volts), also went out through a hole in a window screen-but I did use a >blocking capacitor. My key was made from a hacksaw blade. > > > >I did not get on 160 m until I moved to Hobbs, NM, after retirement in the >late 1980s (Hobbs was chosen because of my other hobby-glider pilot). >Trying to work 160 m DX from an electrically noisy 120 x 120 foot city lot >in SE NM is not for those who are easily discouraged. I have managed to >confirm 183 current entities on 160 m and have the credits, cards, and LOTW >for 9-band DXCC and 321 total current countries overall. I have two antenna >tuners and two transmitting antennas: one bent piece of wire and one >slanted piece of wire. > > > >Some thoughts that tell me that I might be getting an to be an old 160 m DX >chaser: > > > >1. I remember that I talked to Civil War veterans when I was a child. > >2. I remember the Great Depression. > >3. I remember that every kid who was building a crystal set KNEW that he >couldn't use any old oatmeal carton for his coil form -it had to be a Quaker >Oats carton or his set wouldn't work. > >4. I remember what happened when I tried to make a galena crystal >because I didn't have a dime to buy a piece of galena. The dictionary said >galena was lead sulphite, an ore of lead. I had access to lead, sulphur, >and a small gas-fired heater. Nuff said. What I got didn't appear to be >galena-but it worked. > >5. I remember that, when I became a ham, there were no 60 m, 30 m, 15 m, >nor 6 m bands. There was a 5 m band. There was no phone on 40 m. There >was no SSB nor FM on any band. There were three classes of Operator >License: A, B, C. > >6. I remember WW II (The Pacific Ocean is very big). > >7. I remember that I was the first ham in South Texas to operate SSB in >the 1950s. > >8. I remember I have had a pilot license over 70 years. > >9. My CW speed has dropped from 35-40 wpm to 25-30 wpm. > >10. I still log on paper by hand. > >11. The size of any amplifier I have is limited by the weight that my XYL >can lift. > > > >Kind and knowledgeable people on this forum have, at times, provided me with >help and information. To them I express my deepest thanks and appreciation. > > > >Now it is on to the next 75 years (and how I can improve reception on 160 m >at my QTH). > > > > > >73 Paul W5DM > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
