Biography

First licensed as a Novice in October 1975 as WN3ANC from that rare DX state known as Delaware. My first station was the Heathkit DX-60B, HR-10B with the VFO HO-10. I had spent many hours as a teenager pounding out the code. When FCC decided to end the WN, KN calls my call was changed to WB3ANC where I kept the call for 25 years.

I later entered the Navy as a Radioman and spent many hours in the various ham and MARS stations around the world. While stationed at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, and tired of still being a Novice, a group of my friends threw me in a car and off the FCC building in San Diego where I passed my general class. About 4 years later, I visited the FCC office in Boston where I successfully passed my Advanced class, which I held it for about 15 years.

With all the changes happening (some good, a lot not so good), which made it easier for Chicken Banders to infest our bands bring their bad habits with them. I decided to get the Extra class the old-fashioned way. Now as an Extra class, my hobbies are ELMERING the younger, and newer hams, collecting Collins equipment, building QRP rigs, and of course, CW!!! At present time, I am an Electrical Engineering consultant and work in the wireless field. I am also an avid supporter of ARRL, a Technical Specialist in the Western Washington area, and now an ARRL Mentor.

My latest achievement as well as the greatest honor was becoming the first ham radio operator in a newly formed Country "Republic of South Sudan". While in Juba opening up a new business, I had the honor to meet and work with the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services. After spending about 4 weeks working with his staff setting up the callsigns for both aviation and ham radio, building the database I was given the first callsign (Z81A). Visit my Z81A QRZ page for more information. That evening I keyed up the transmitter and South Sudan entered the amateur airwaves and pile ups soon began. I look forward to working you on the lower bands. I ejoy mostly working CW, and homebrewing.

--73--

Jim

Collins Collectors Association: AC02-11293 -- Signal magazine Editor

SKCC: 15560

NAQCC: 5020

Equipment

-- Yeasu FT-1000
-- Several Vibroplex keys with one dating back to 1914 complete with original wooden shipping box. The key is still fully functional, and I use it today.

Collins Radio equipment
-- KWM-2
--30L-1
75A-4
-- KWM-1 with the 516F-1, and matching speaker
--S-Line

-- Now looking for a nice Gold Dust twins.

-- DXCC award
-- Technical Specialist with ARRL
-- ARRL Life Member