American Radio Relay League

Los Angeles Section LAX

Los Angeles ARRL Section News for QST

Los Angeles: SM, Phineas J. Icenbice, Jr., W6BF

You don't need a lot of money or a good location to communicate with the World. Last month the W7DXX, remote base station, computer controlled via the internet, was mentioned as one solution for those with difficult or nearly impossible locations. The following is proof that you don't need to spend lots money for your dream Ham station.

In 1937, W9QUV, in Renolds, IL., was visited; since he was very active on 160 & 10 meters and always had a good signal in Iowa. I was anxious to learn what a really great station looked like. After arriving at what I thought was the correct address I found the beam antenna but the front door was boarded-up, so I walked around to the rear of the two- story house to look at the beam. The beam was mounted on a pipe that passed by an open window. A ladder nailed to the house was next to the pipe that turned the beam. The method of antenna rotation turned out to be the often quoted, "Armstrong-method of rotor power". After calling Ivan, are you home, a voice came out the open window. Climb up the ladder. I climbed the ladder and entered the window to find the complete second floor loaded with ham gear. It was difficult to identify the transmitter and receiver but I found the 12", loudspeaker that was blasting away with familiar voices. My first question was where is your microphone Ivan? He paused and said, "how, does my audio sound"? I had been looking at "Turner" microphones in Cedar Rapids, IA and was very curious about audio quality. I told Ivan that his audio was excellent. I said but where is your microphone? Ivan said you are looking and listening to it. It is the 12" loudspeaker. He then told me that he had tried not to spend more than ten dollars for his ham radio station. Sometimes looks can be deceiving. His audio quality was very unique. Ivan was very resourceful and his job, I found out later was selling groceries to the farmers in western Illinois, from an old truck. He closed the grocery store because it interfered with Ham Radio. By the way Ivan's last name was "Turner". Art Bell, W6OBB, can you top this TRUE Ham story?

The new email QSL-system is a very interesting concept. The question is will ARRL HQ ever adopt the system? My opinion is that some day a low cost QSL conformation system like this first one (www.eQSL.cc) will be accepted, at least on a limited or modified basis. These internet systems are very fast and cost effective for confirmation of contacts. I have been using the system since February 7, 2001. It works!
73 de Phineas, W6BF

Phineas J. Icenbice Jr, W6BF, Section Manager
19323 Halsted St Northridge, CA 91324	818-349-3186 e-mail: w6bf@arrl.org

14 September 2001 maintained by KK6WO kk6wo@arrl.net
http://www.qsl.net/arrlsw/lax/qst0201.html