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eMail Lou |
I became interested in electronics and amateur radio at the age
of 16. I received my Novice license February 26, 1954 and was
assigned the call WN8QJH, in Hamilton, Ohio. Ham radio was the force
that would challenge my intellect and provide me with countless
hours of enjoyment, frustration and once in awhile a wonderful sense
of pride and accomplishment.
I received my General Class license September 2, 1954 and soon
became very interested in building my own equipment. By mid-1955 I
had completed my first home-brew kilowatt station, a pair of 813's,
plate modulated by a pair of 811's. (Does this setup bring back
any memories?)
Somewhere between building and arguing with my mother about blowing
fuses while she was watching TV with smidges of RFI, I discovered
girls! Of course this led to my girlfriend changing her status from
YL to XYL.
I left Hamilton and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1965 and was
fortunate
to become employed at my first job in electronics at Motorola. I
upgraded to Extra Class and was assigned the call W7HEQ, November
28, 1969. Shortly
after the commission changed the rules regarding vanity calls so I
applied for a two-letter call and received W7JI on May 20, 1977.
Throughout the years, my main interest in our hobby was that of
building home brew equipment. I have written several articles that
were published in CQ magazine on Top-Loaded vertical antenna's and
high power linear amplifiers.
I worked professionally in commercial broadcasting as an engineer
for forty years. I retired in July 2004 and provided consulting
services to the broadcast industry until July, 2006 at which time I
'really' retired and moved to Arkansas City, Kansas.
About 90% of my operating time is devoted to CW and the other 10% is
operating SSB either mobile or rag chewing on 160, 40 or 17 meters.
My son Randy just upgraded to General Class (6/6/09) his call is KE7AZM,
Phoenix, AZ.
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