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Al Harbach was born and raised in Orchard Park, in Western New York. He got his Class B Amateur Radio License in 1948, while attending college and was assigned the call W2YNI. One year later he upgraded to a Class A license. He built his own transmitter and receiver, which was common for hams in those days, and operated on 75, 40, 20 and 10 meters. Being employed by Bell Helicopter division of Bell Aircraft, he moved with them to Texas in 1954, where he rose to become Chief Electronic Development Engineer. Here he was assigned the call sign of W5IXH. Most of his amateur activity in both Texas and New York was rag chewing on both AM phone & CW. In 1960 he moved to Florida to work for Radiation Corp. (later to become Harris Corp.) and was given the call of WA4DRU. With Harris, he rose to become Director of Aerospace Engineering. In the late 60s he was bitten by the DX bug. To work DX one needs an amplifier to get through the pileups. Thus, in 1970, he built a SB-220. Since then, he has observed about all the problems that a SB-220 can have. Along about this time he also became interested in contesting, particularly from some other country. The experience gained in contesting from the Islands, using SB-200s and SB-220s has led to the design of several of the improvements offered now as products. With his background in aerospace electronic design, all design done for Harbach Electronics has used the rules and philosophies found in spacecraft electronic design. He left Harris in 1974 to guide a small manufacturing company. He finished his work career in 1992, ending as Chairman of the Board and Treasurer of this small company. Retirement did not sit well with him and, knowing that there were a lot of SB-200s and SB-220s in use, he decided to pass along his background and expertise in these amplifiers in the form of repair and upgrade kits for the general ham to use.

Call Signs Held: W2YNI, W2YNI/VE3, W5IXH, WA4DRU, KZ5AH, VP5AH, VP1AH, WA4DRU/VS6, ZF2KQ and WA4DRU/VP5

Contest Stations Operated: WA4DRU, VP5WS, VP5WW, VP5B, VP5M, VP5AH, VP5L, VP5VW, VP5DX, VP1AH, HH5HR, HH5RB, HH5TW, HH2HC, HH2CQ, ZF2KT/9 AND VS6DO.

Awards Earned: DXCC, WAZ, 5 BAND DXCC, 5 BAND WAS, HONOR ROLL (MIXED) HONOR ROLL (PHONE), HONOR ROLL #1

Trophies Won: VP5B - CQWW WPX Phone Multi-Multi World First Place*, VP5M - CQWW DX Phone Contest Multi-Multi World First Place*, VP5AH - CQWW DX CW Contest Single-Single High Score North America.

* indicates as a team member