Greetings. I began my radio experience 69 years ago; not by choice, but by mandate. The Air Force decided I’d make a suitable radio operator; circa 1956. Returning from the far east (Okinawa) I left the service and began a new and unrelated career but, after a brief hiatus, I decided to take a leap and see if I could find a way to use my CW skills - which as many of you know, never leave your head.
So since about 1962, when my shack included only a Heathkit HW16, HG10B VFO and a long wire antenna with which I made my debut, I’ve been on and off the air many many times; usually limited by antenna restrictions as I relocated from place to place. I’ve enjoyed building gear more than using commercial equipment, and I have always found designing and building antennas to be the most fun.
I am now in a community where antennas of any type are prohibited and there isn’t any attic space for stealth antennas. Because I am an HF CW faithful, I can’t bring myself to move into what is locally available with UHF/VHF handheld, so I am confined to listening. Seeing as how I’m 86 years old, having to simply listen and not transmit offers a modicum of compensation and reflecting on my experiences recruiting and training three novices and watching them advance through Extra class provides a lasting sense of satisfaction. I am sure that I will enjoy reading the posts on this forum and, who knows, I may even have something to offer.
My username is the callsign for the station I worked in while serving time on “The Rock” (Okinawa), oh so many years ago. On the amateur radio HF bands, I am K6RAS.
So since about 1962, when my shack included only a Heathkit HW16, HG10B VFO and a long wire antenna with which I made my debut, I’ve been on and off the air many many times; usually limited by antenna restrictions as I relocated from place to place. I’ve enjoyed building gear more than using commercial equipment, and I have always found designing and building antennas to be the most fun.
I am now in a community where antennas of any type are prohibited and there isn’t any attic space for stealth antennas. Because I am an HF CW faithful, I can’t bring myself to move into what is locally available with UHF/VHF handheld, so I am confined to listening. Seeing as how I’m 86 years old, having to simply listen and not transmit offers a modicum of compensation and reflecting on my experiences recruiting and training three novices and watching them advance through Extra class provides a lasting sense of satisfaction. I am sure that I will enjoy reading the posts on this forum and, who knows, I may even have something to offer.
My username is the callsign for the station I worked in while serving time on “The Rock” (Okinawa), oh so many years ago. On the amateur radio HF bands, I am K6RAS.
