Biography

In 1974-1975 a good friend of mine, Randy, formerly WB8TAH now KN4DY, his dad WB8TAI (silent key) and his uncle, Carl, W8CEG (SK), encouraged me to go for my novice license in September 1975. Herman Veogler, WA8ONS (silent key), mentored the high school radio club and was my elmer during my high school years. So, I have been a licenced ham radio operator for 50 years this September. I began my amateur radio journey in September 1975 as WN8VNH. In December 1975, I received my first rig for Christmas. It was an HW-101 with the power supply and speaker. Randy and I assembled it within a week during Christmas break. I enjoyed the novice experience for almost two years. In February 1977, I traveled to Detroit, MI to take my technician class exam, pass it and becoming WB8VNH. Two months later I passed my general class licence and have been a general class operator ever since.
In December of 1975 I received a Heathkit HW-101, the power supply and speaker for Christmas. I spent all of Christmas break assembling them with my friend WN8TAH now KN4DY. In the mid-1980's the HW-101 power supply was taken out in a lightning storm. The HW-101 was replaced with a Kenwood TS680S, P/S and speaker. I added a SB-610 Station Monitor Scope and rebuilt the power supply HP-23 and the HW-101 is fully functional today. In the early 1980's I added a digital audio notch filter to the HW-101. Made working CW super nice. My amplifier is a Heathkit SB-200. I still have the HW-101 transceiver today.

Equipment

Yaesu FTdx10; Icom IC-2730 2m/70cm; HW-101 and power supply/speaker and use RCForb Client/server.
My current antennas are a ALPHA DELTA DXULTRA 80-10 meter multiband trapped dipole up about 45 feet, and a Cushcraft AV5 40-10 meter vertical