WB6YTE
Inspired by my two older brothers -
one is still active - Don, VE6WBT, and a friend, Tim -
now W6MU, I was first licensed in 1967 with the General Class
license and the Advanced Class license in 1969.
Those were the days when my friend, Tim (WB6UJD at the
time - now W6MU), and I had to drive 100 miles to the
nearest FCC office to take the test. Then after 6 - 8
weeks
the license arrived in the mail.
My first experience working DX was operating with 65 watts
AM on 10 meters from Grand Rapids, MI in 1968 - 1970. The
rig included a Johnson Ranger AM transmitter, a National
HRO-50T receiver and CB beams modified for 10 and 15 meters
mounted on the top of the science building at Calvin College.
The band was frequently open to Europe.
It was 1974 after I was married and living
in San Diego before I had an opportunity to put up an outdoor
antenna. The first home we bought was in a valley but a two
element quad on a 20 foot high home made wood tower mounted on
the roof was quite effective. A long wire was able to bring in
some voice contacts on 75 meters with Japan. The rig was a
National NCX-5.
Our second house was selected by driving through a new
housing development until we found the highest point in the
development. We bought that house. During the 1980 sunspot
peak, 65 watts was sufficient to work USSR stations on 20
meter phone with a poorly tuned 2 element beam mounted about
10 feet above the roof of the 2 story house.
During the '80's I used a Heathkit
HA-10 1KW amplifier for a few years that I
had acquired in a package with a couple other pieces of Heathkit equipment. But it was
a 3 element beam and a 40 foot tiltover, crankup tower - both purchased very inexpensively - that opened
up the world in the late 80's. The '90's brought a
new IC-735 and digital modes on HF and VHF with a PK-232MBX.
The sunspot peak of 1990 was the best of the 3 from 1970.
My participation in the activities during the sunspot peak of 2000
was limited due to family responsibilities and other interests. I did
try packet, RTTY and AMTOR on the HF bands a bit
as well as VHF packet.
My introduction to PSK31 in 2001 was a big boost for my interest in ham
radio. PSK is the primary mode I use these days. The computer interface
is simple and QSOs can be held with relatively low power
(<50 watts) and dipoles on the bands that typically require beams
for phone operation. Listen for me on 3.580, 7.070,
10.140 or 14.070 MHz primarily on weekends and some evenings.
2006 brought a TS-2000 into the shack and opened
the world of satellite operation. Some experimentation with
analog SSTV and the new digital SSTV mode has also added to my
interest in ham radio. I can also be contacted on EchoLink
when I am in the shack.
In 2007, after almost 40 years of ham
radio, I decided it was time to upgrade so I
finally got the Extra class license. Times have really changed. I studied for a few weeks,
found the place where the tests were being
given on the first weekend I felt ready, took the test and
went home with the Extra Class privileges. Within one week the
new license arrived in the mail.
Picture of the main desk,
12-14-2008:
| 
