[CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

All,

I have been getting some new material from the many people that knew Jim 
and/or attended the field trip that day.  I've been adding that new material 
today and will continue to do so.  I have also posted a reference to when I 
make updates at the top of the main page.  That way you can check in 
whenever you like to see if there is new material.  Enjoy.  I am glad 
everyone is getting a chance to virtually visit the W6AM super station.  KB 
Don, we miss you.

--Dennis NE6I

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Neiger" <n6tj at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Dennis Younker NE6I" <ne6i at cox.net>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures


> Thanks to Dennis for re-kindling some very fond memories.
>
> I had met Don Wallace in the mid-60's at the Visalia (then it was Fresno) 
> DX
> Convention , but since I lived in Northern California and he in Sourthern
> California, our paths only crossed once per year.  And then when I moved 
> to
> Ascension Island in 1968, our friendship really took off.  I forget which 
> of
> the 18 rhombics (at the time) passed through ZD8, but his signal was 
> simply
> outstanding - and we QSOed often.
>
> I moved to Los Angeles in early 1973, and Don invited me to operate his
> station in a contest, certainly with some reluctance as only Don knew the
> workings of his station.  I soon was able to convince him that the Johnson
> Viking 2000's (or whatever they were) had to go, and they were soon 
> replaced
> with a couple of Collins S-Lines.  The amplifiers, of course, remained the
> pairs of 833's and 450TL's, on each band.  Later, Don got three  Alpha 
> 77's,
> especially designed by ETO to handle sudden high VSWR's in case the 
> rhombic
> feedlines should short during high winds.  And I believe it safe to say 
> that
> this custom micro-processor controlled Alpha 77 became the predecessor to
> the fantastic Alpha 87 amplifiers.
>
> So, pretty much from early 1973 to Don's passing in June 1985, I operated
> many contests from W6AM, and spent literally 100's of hours there - 
> working
> on the station and listening to him and the history of ham radio.  Don was
> truly one of the pioneers (I think he got his first "license" in 1912).
>
> During the last couple decades of the W6AM rhombic ranch, it was 'only' 9
> rhombics and 18 directions on 24 acres, 1234 ft above the Los Angeles 
> Basin,
> right on the edge of the Pacific.  During its heyday, Don's property was 
> 120
> acres with 13 rhombics and 26 directions.  The site was originally a
> trans-Pacific radio site (Press Wireless, I think) and Don somehow
> "acquired" the property from the billionaire Howard Hughes.  Height of the
> rhombics varied from 100 to 140 ft.  In the late 60's or so, Don had to 
> sell
> 95 of the acres (to pay the property taxes) and he collected the grand sum
> of $100K for the 95 acres.  Today, the property is covered with hundreds 
> of
> million dollar (plus) homes.  Go figure.....
>
> Don Wallace, W6AM, an amazing builder, DXer, contestor, and ham radio
> enthusiast right up to his passing 25 years ago.
>
> Vy 73
>
> Jim Neiger   N6TJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dennis Younker NE6I" <ne6i at cox.net>
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 6:18 PM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures
>
>
>> To all on the list,
>>
>> At the recent urging of a few SCCCers, I posted pictures on the web from 
>> a
>> 1986 tour of the legendary Don Wallace, W6AM super station.  There were 
>> 14
>> rhombics on his antenna farm at the time.  Can you imagine that?  I was
>> lucky enough to SEE it!
>>
>> I know that many of you remember Don and competed with him in the 
>> pileups.
>> And I thought you might enjoy the pictures.
>>
>> To Mark, N5OT, please chip in with your memories of that day.  Tree, I
>> can't
>> remember if you were there.  And Dave, AA6RX, I don't remember if you 
>> made
>> it either.  But any and all that were there, please send me your memories
>> of
>> that day.  I want to include them on the web pages.
>>
>> http://www.qsl.net/ne6i/w6am/
>>
>> Dennis, NE6I
>>
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>
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