In memory of our grandson
Bill
1981 - 1997

Welcome to the
N2AT and WC2G
Holiday, Florida
web site

  • Welcome to our web page. As this site is developed, we will be telling you about ourselves, our amateur radio interests, other hobbies, travel and work.

  • Let me begin by telling you about myself. My name is Marv, and my call is N2AT. I became interested in ham radio late in 1946 after receiving a subscription to Popular Science Magazine from my parents. In the "Radio construction" section of one of the monthly issues, there was an article which caught my eye. The article, entitled "Build this one tube 10 Meter receiver and listen in on the hams", I found most intriguing. I had no idea what a "ham" was, but I was certainly going to find out.

  • I constructed the receiver in radio class during my freshman year at Seneca Vocational High School in Buffalo, NY. Fortunately my instructor was willing to permit me to forgo building the usual crystal set. The receiver used a number 37 triode in a super regenerative circuit, it was built breadboard style, and used a 6 volt A battery, and a 90 volt B battery to run it. Needless to say, I consumed a bunch of batteries keeping this little gem running. As I continued through school, I would go on to construct 5 tube super het receivers and even overhaul one of the famous National HRO-7 receivers the school had obtained as surplus.

  • As I mentioned earlier, I didn't have the slightest idea what a "ham" was, but after listening for some time from my attic retreat, I was soon able to determine where some of them lived around my neighborhood. I visited them, and they warmly welcomed me as they showed me their radio shacks, rigs and antennas. They really floored me when they showed me the many QSL cards from around the world, testifying to their contacts. They explained everything to me about how their equipment operated, and how to obtain the ARRL publications "The Radio Amateurs License Manual" and "Learning the Radiotelegraph Code" each manual cost .25 cents then, hi.

  • Studying for the license was a lot different back in those days. Multiple choice answers were unheard of, the license manual was only a guide and did not have the exact questions that would be asked on the test. The code test was 13 wpm, and I had to study using a device known as an Instructograph which used a paper tape with perforations in it corresponding to the code that allowed contact closure thus keying a code practice oscillator. It was necessary to pass the 13 wpm receiving test (not QSO format, but random text) before you were allowed to take the sending test. Passing the sending test enabled you to take the theory test which also allowed you to show your expertise at drawing and labeling circuit diagrams. Failure of any test meant a 90 day wait before re-examination was permitted. One hears comments about how hard it is to pass the code or theory exams today.

  • It was early 1949, and I was in my third year, at Seneca Vocational. To this day, I can still recall the time I arrived home from school, walked into the yard, and saw the following written on the sidewalk in chalk" W2ATC ?". I had taken the tests, passed and after 8 weeks received my Class B license. Now it was time to study for the Class A license. By F.C.C. rules, a full year would have to go by before I would be permitted to take and pass the necessary theory test.

  • Although radio amateurs traditionally purchased a receiver from one of the leading manufacturers of amateur radio equipment or from the surplus market following WW2, they almost always built their own transmitters and antennas. My parents came to the rescue again when they purchased a National NC-173 receiver for me which sold at that time for $179.95, and yes it had tubes. In the years to follow, I would construct transmitters using a single 6L6 at 15 watts, 6L6-807 at 75 watts and 6L6-807-812 at 200 watts. All of these rigs were crystal controlled because at this time, the use of variable frequency oscillators for transmitters was still somewhat of a rarity.

  • My first use of a vfo came when I had the opportunity to purchase a Meisner Signal Shifter in kit form. After assembling and tuning it up, I quickly used it to work my first DX station, F9BB on 10 Meter CW. The Meisner had an output of 10 watts into a 300 ohm folded dipole strung diagonally across our dining room.

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  • I was yet to meet the YL who would eventually become KM4HK. To be continued.........

  • For the present, please visit the Suncoast Amateur Radio Club's web site. We are members of this club which is located in New Port Richey, Florida. Enjoy the club site, and return to our's soon to see "what's new".

    73 de Marv, N2AT

    You are visitor number since November 25, 1997.

    Write to us at our e-mail address. This site was last updated on: 02/01/03.