[CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

Just for clarification, where I stated "Jim" below, I meant to say "Don". 
Sorry about that...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis Younker NE6I" <ne6i at cox.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures


> 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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
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>
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