Topband: A Ham for 75 Years

[kd6nrp at earthlink.net]

Hi Paul:

Congratulations. I am impressed.

Keep on hamming and keep on flying.

73

Brian, KD6NRP


-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Elliott <paab at valornet.com>
>Sent: Jan 19, 2012 7:38 AM
>To: topband at contesting.com
>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