Any steelers who are Ham Radio Operators?

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 May 2003 6:26 am

I'm surprised at how many steelers are also bikers....gee, we're not as "square" a group as I thought...

! ...Well, it's probably perceived as being on the other end of the "nerd" scale, but not true...I've always been a both a biker and a ham.....any steelers out there who are also radio Hams? I've been licensed since 1970, first as WN7OQX and now hold W7OQX.....here's a pic of my "boatanchor" setup, ranging from about 1941 to 1963 (not counting the junkbox computer). Currently hanging around 14.230/14.233 messing around with SSTV (slow-scan television).

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David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 May 2003 6:33 am

My dad and a few of his friends were, I did get to bla bla bla a few times bouncing of the sky. I had a little FM transmiter as a kid... good for about 500'.

Oddly enough I was just thinking late last night about the old Radio Amateurs Handbooks I used to read as a kid. You had to be half electrician / half plumber to build some of that stuff.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 08 May 2003 at 07:35 AM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 8 May 2003 7:25 am

Wow, Jim! You have some really classic gear...some even older than a Bigsby!

Bill Fulbright · Post by **Bill Fulbright** » 8 May 2003 7:55 am

Is that an old Hammerlund on the right that I am seeing????

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Bill Fulbright
Mullen D-10 8x7; Gibson ES-165; Peavey Vegas 400;
ICQ# 2251620 My Music Site

William Peters · Post by **William Peters** » 8 May 2003 8:33 am

I used to be WA3EBI back in 1968 through 72, but got drafted in the army, and left my license expire.... I had a Heathkit SB100 rig. I never took the time to get it back again.

Bill

Dan Farrell · Post by **Dan Farrell** » 8 May 2003 8:58 am

I started out as WN6TIF in 1996. I became WF6O in 1985 when I got my extra and W6QZ in 1996 (through the vanity callsign system). I don't have a photo of my firsy station but I still have it. It is a Collins 75A3 and a Johnson Viking Valiant II.

-73-

Dan W6QZ

'97 Carter D-10
Nashville 1000

Allen · Post by **Allen** » 8 May 2003 9:30 am

Jim,
I have been licensed since 1963.
Started out as KN5JOB, KA5JOB. Moved to Calif., WB6PBY. Then to Arizona, WA7FIU. Then to Virginia, WA4ALX. Then to Colorado, KD0KR, now K0AWH.

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Allen Harry
Zum SD10
Emmons SD10
Nashville 1000

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 May 2003 10:34 am

Well hey, there are a few of us! Yep Donny, I have radios older than Bigsbys (heavier too!) but not nearly as pretty or musical! Bill, the radio on the bottom right is a Mackay 128AY, a superregenerative very-low-frequency receiver that did duty from WWI all the way (hard to believe) to early 1999. It receives 15 khz to 650 khz (kcs in those days). More about them at http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/Mackay.html . I do have a Hammarlund SP-400X from about 1941 also, but no room for it on the bench. Also in the "boatanchor collection" but not in the photo for lack of room are a Motorola-built R390 (80 pounds of radio), a Heathkit HW-16 (my first rig), Heathkit HW-32, Wells-Gardner BC-348Q, Heathkit GR-64, Heathkit twoer.

The photo shows bottom left a '41 National NC-100ASD, on top of it is a '55 Hallicrafters S-85. Right of the computer monitor is a '63 Drake TR3 and RV3, far right top is a '60 Gonset G Sixty Three, below it the Mackay 128AY.

I also have had nice newer stuff from Collins, Kenwood and Icom but already sold it...will have to be selling most of this stuff too before long because of our moving to Mexico this fall. I'll keep the TR3, probably sell the rest. Hope there's a good radio shop in Mexico City. Thanks to everyone replying to my question. 73!

Jim
W7OQX

Mike Fereday · Post by **Mike Fereday** » 8 May 2003 10:46 am

Licenced since 1966 as G3VOW but have not been active for 10 years or so.

73

Mike

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 8 May 2003 1:30 pm

Jim,
Do you still have to know Morse code to get a license?
Erv

Buddy Elkin · Post by **Buddy Elkin** » 8 May 2003 1:56 pm

I don't ham much anymore, just a little 2 meter. KB4UDW

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 8 May 2003 2:33 pm

Hello WN7OQX--Jim: I've been a ham since about 1972; I run a Kenwood TS140S; when on my boat I also have sat. interface for weather, etc. Also a Kenwood 2Meter: range 140-170mH. I am licensed by the USCG to carry passengers for hire--100 mile ocean, 100 ton vessels since 1971. Alvino Rey (whom I talked with a few minutes ago) is one of the first hams: W6UK, Sandy, Ut......Hugh

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 8 May 2003 2:36 pm

I forgot: my call: WA4PEM (whiskey alpha 4 pussycats eat mice)....HJ

David Cutter · Post by **David Cutter** » 8 May 2003 4:30 pm

WB5SFB—My license is still active but I am not. Still have the old Heath SB401 and SB303. What a great receiver in its day.
David

Walter Jones · Post by **Walter Jones** » 8 May 2003 5:17 pm

Erv, a no-code Tech. is the one that does not require passing a code copy test of 5 WPM. There are only 3 classes of license now, Tech, General and Extra. It used to be 5 classes and a code copy requirement of 20 WPM to get and Extra class. The requirements now are about a easy as you can get.

If you ever held a code endorsement even if your license is expired it is now a lifetime endorsement if you can prove you held a license. A code endorsement is required if you want to talk on HF (around the world on a regular basis). The Tech license is restricted to frequencies above 50Mhz.

I have been in Ham radio since '79 and my call is WT8E, I have also been a license examiner since the FCC gave it up to the ARRL and other Ve's. [This message was edited by Walter Jones on 08 May 2003 at 06:19 PM.]

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 8 May 2003 6:39 pm

Yup . . .NU8R - once KE8DT . . usually cw lower end of the band.

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 8 May 2003 6:54 pm

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/000084.html
From July 2001

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

George Rozak · Post by **George Rozak** » 8 May 2003 7:55 pm

Started out as KN9ATA way back in 1960, but haven't been actively involved for many, many decades...

George

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Sho-Bud: Professional & Fingertip

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 8 May 2003 9:01 pm

Current call: VE1RLL

Ve1 = Atlantic Canada
RLL = Robert Lorne Lawrence

Old calls
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VE7EKI : BC Canada

DA2BS : Germany

Various CFARS : Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System Cyprus and Germany etc..

73 to all,

Bob

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 May 2003 11:00 pm

Thanks Janice, I was a member in 2001 but missed that thread.....anyway I'm sure there are more Forum members now than before so I don't feel bad repeating the question... I had no idea there were this many steelplayer hams! I guess I shouldn't be surprised that anyone who'd play such a unique instrument as the steel would also be into ham radio. Thanks again.

Jim
W7OQX

Keith Currie · Post by **Keith Currie** » 9 May 2003 6:31 am

Hi all
VE5 HKC
still active but there never is enought time for everv thing is there. Hang on 14.143 a lot , and some 2-meter.

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Charles McGough · Post by **Charles McGough** » 9 May 2003 3:45 pm

I have held K5BMG since 1954. I'm not active now, other than a 2-meter rig in my truck, which I seldom turn on. I kind of burned myself out getting 2-meter WAS # 11 back in the late 1970's.
Charles McGough

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 9 May 2003 4:27 pm

When I got drafted in 1942, they sent me to Samuel Gompers trade school in San Francisco. I had to pass 15 WPM with the old hand key, and 35 WPM with the Bug on clear text, to get promoted. I was in the Army Signal Corps Radio Intelligence. So I had to learn Morse Code and Japanese KA TA Kana code. I worked in Western Defense , Pacific Area. And when we were discharged we were offered jobs with various Airlines, none of us took the jobs. I guess at that point in time, we had enough of that....al

Dave Ristrim · Post by **Dave Ristrim** » 12 May 2003 4:37 am

Hi guys, I was not into Ham Radio, but my father had been since the early 40's. He passed away in January of this year and we are trying to decide what to do with his great collection of gear. He had some nice stuff. Hammerlund, Halicrafter, TenTec etc. I will try and get a list from my mother with pics etc. in case anyone is interested in purchasing.
Dave

Dave Ristrim · Post by **Dave Ristrim** » 12 May 2003 4:38 am

Oh yeah, his call sign was W6DUU
Dave