Topband: ZL and W6KIP?? back in the 60's?

[Dave Hollander]

Although I was on 160 in the late 1960's from Southern California as 
WB6NRK, I was lucky to work into the next call area with my homebrew 6L6 
transmitter with two crystals, Gonset G-66 receiver and a Hy-Gain 
Hytower with no radials. Who needed radials when I had six ground rods?  
LMAO. They still were having Transpacific DX tests back in 1969-1970 and 
I did actually manage to work a JA with my meager setup which I found 
hard to believe until I got his QSL from the bureau a year later.

My first ZL was Bob Tanner, ZL2BT who I worked in 1977 on SSB using a 
Swan 270 with a homebrew 160 meter transverter that I built myself.

In 1983, I visited ZL and spent a night at ZL2BT's farm in Palmerston 
North. His setup was amazing. Bob had set up a sked with good friend 
Otto W5YU (SK) who was 20 over 9 when he came on at ZL sunset and when I 
finished with Otto, worked around 50 more US station on SSB. What an 
experience that was. ZL2BT became an SK a few years after that and his 
call his been reissued.

Memories....

Dave N7RK

-- 
Dave Hollander N7RK
Arizona Tube Supply
http://arizonatubesupply.com

Ham Radio Page
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