Biography

My interest in Ham Radio began while listening to a Zenith model 12-A-57 floor model radio back in the late 50s. I wish I still had that old floor model.

It was always facinating to tune off of the broadcast band and listen to the world. I hated not being able decypher the Morse (especially tough to make sense of it all without a BFO) . That needed to change. My first 'RIG' was this Remco "Caravelle" Toy Transmitter that operated on the AM broadcast band (anyone else have one of these??). It had a cheap plastic microphone but it did come with a key... (long live CW).. The most fun I had with it was to 'jam' my two sisters' radio by zero beating their favorite AM radio station.I can still hear them complaining to Mom and Dad that their radio wasn't working. I never told them it was me...

Been a ham since 1967 when I got my Novice call, WN8YWG. Got my General License at 15 years old. Back then, applicants needed to travel the nearest temporary FCC field office that administered the tests. I believe the FCCs office back then was in a Federal building downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Boy that was intimidating for a 15 year old kid. Luckily, I passed the code w/ the theory and the General License couldn't come soon enough in the mail (took several weeks, if I remember correctly). Things are MUCH better today w/ the easing of exams and the quick validation. (Thanks to all those VEs.) Still wish the code test was required, but I guess if a ham wants to do CW, he/she can develop that skill on their own and, in a way, that makes the new CW hams even more committed to CW.

John Robeck (K8ORF, Newton Falls, Ohio, silent key) and John Shelton (Braceville, Ohio, WA8CQZ, also SK. I do remember he copied CW in his head in excess of 60 wpm. Blazing fast.) were early inspirations to me, but, of course, my biggest supporter was my Dad (Johnnie's TV, Newton Falls, Ohio). He didn't have a ham license, but he did have his 1st Class, Commercial License (He serviced CBs, when CBs were meant for small business use). His call was 19W4673. Funny how you remember stuff like that.

At 17, I joined a Boy Scout Explorer group that had an electronics specialty (similar to the Explorer posts that have a maritime specialty). Mr. Kuzeman was our leader. I remember him being very patient with a bunch of hormonal teenagers. We met at ATES Tech which was a technical school located in Niles, Ohio. Sure would be nice to hear from some of the old boys (Odem twins, Birskovitch, etc).

Started a career in electronics back in '76 in Columbus, Ohio at Rockwell International, Missile Systems Division and got my Advanced License around 1977 and rubbed elbows with several hams there that are still my friends today (WA8OMQ, N8ADO, W3WL and W8DMR included). Really miss Harry Vollmer (W8LXC). They broke the mold after him.

Was off the low bands for several years after I got married and had two kids. I did fool around on 2 meters in the 80's and 90's. Coached both my kids in soccer and I used the local auto patch on 16/76 quite a bit (before cell phones) while on the field to call a player who was late for practice or a game. Those kids always wondered how I was calling them.

Now that the kids have families of their own, it's time to start hamming again. Maybe it will rub off on my four grandchildren (pictures below). My granddaughter worked my Vibroplex Bug just the other day... (on the code practice oscillator, of course).

This www.qrzcq.com site is a great way to keep in touch. Instead of being on 'Face Book', my XYL calls this 'Nerd Book'... She's a non-ham and doesn't quite understand, does she?

73... John

PS: My first two grandchildren (Beck and Sasha) are both 8 years old now... Penny and Bennett are both 5... I can't get enough of them. Grandparenting is highly recommended and is far beyond my expectations. Updated pic's follow... (I think the babies are far more interesting than my FT-1000, FL-7000, FT-857, or my Mosley Jr beam, don't you think?)