WD4RC
Myron (Wayne) Davidson
This is Myron (Wayne) Davidson WD4RC first licensed in 1984 and is now upgraded to an Extra class. He has previously had the call sign KE4OQ and joined ARMS in 2016. His web Address is mwdretired.com
My main interest in ham radio (CW, contests, QRP) I worked for about 1 month before I finally made my first contact and it was a digital contact (20 watts). Antenna restrictions and a lack of a few neurons was the main problem. After the second month, I made my first voice contact although I don’t think I made it out of the county, it was still progress (for me). In the old days I built a Heathkit 101 transceiver and actually got it working and made many contacts but on these new radios, the more buttons I push, the more confused I get.
My Station description: I have been a Ham since 1984 but inactive most of that time. I did operate occasionally on 2 meters. I recently decided to set up a radio room and bought a new IC-718 transceiver, power supply, and auto tuner. I had trouble making voice contacts so I figured I would get me a little fancier radio with all the pretty colors on the screen so I bought a new IC-7300. That didn’t help so I guess the problem was in the operator. I did manage to put up an antenna on the eaves of my home and made my first voice contact although it was only a few miles away. Praise the Lord though, it was progress.
List
any significant operating awards: I got a congratulations from the
salesman who sold me my two ICOM radios. (every little bit helps)
Share
something interesting to others: Oh my, do I have some tales to tell ya’ll.
I’ll make this short, but I like to build drones and fly them. Many of my
drones had cameras on them so I would get out and sometimes take pictures of the
neighborhood at about 385 feet. I didn’t want to get to close to the ground
because I didn’t want people to think I was spying on them. However, I
posted a couple of subdivision pictures on our neighborhood website and several
of my neighbors started complaining about their privacy. So rather
than ruin my testimony, I figured I would just get into another hobby.
That is where I began to set up my radio room in my “Man Cave”. Little
did I know that that was an adventure that was better than a best seller in New
York City. The problems I have had seem endless but I did manage to get up
and running. It has helped my prayer life because I found out that when I
made a transmission with my radio, it would turn on several of the touch lamps
in my house. My wife has the patience of Job for sure! I prayed that
my neighbors didn’t have touch lamps and especially any of those touch faucets
because I could see a “For Sale” sign being posted next door because of
“Spooky Things Happening” at their house. Anyway, I am a newby and I could
use some encouragement in figuring out how to use these radios properly.
And “Yes”, I did read the manual but it is one thing to read something and
another to be able to use it.
I
retired from MARTA in 2000. I worked in the Engineering Lab and was in
electronics and a computer programmer. With my electronics background one
would think I wouldn’t have a problem with these radios, but I haven’t done
any programming or electronic work since retiring and things just aren’t
the same any more.
My
wife and I moved from Iowa (Mount Pleasant Area) to Madison Alabama because we
could not find a church that we felt God wanted us in. We moved 635 miles
and I only wish I had time to tell you the miracles God worked in order to get
us moved. After praying about it, God showed us that we were to move, and
that is what we did. We sold our home in 6 days, packed in about 30 days, bought
a home and moved all in about a 3 month period. We love our church, both
the Pastor and people. The only thing we have noticed is the people talk a
little funny in the South (grin).
I
am married to the most beautiful and wonderful lady in the world. We have
been married about 7 years and how she puts up with me is beyond me. We do not
have any children at home so I have a lot of time to devote to Ham Radio.
My
favorite Bible verse is King James Proverbs 3:5,6. If you get the
chance, read my testimony on my website as it is different than most
testimonies.
If anyone lives near Madison Alabama, I could sure use some help in figuring out some of what these buttons do on my radio
21 October 2022