In the 60's I found renewed interest and pursued a new novice (the laws had changed) and became licensed as
WB6GIG and worked the world on 15 meters with 10 watts home brew and a Drake 2C receiver. Once again I lost interest in about a year and let that Novice expire at the end of the 2 year term.In about 1968 John Smith WA8WDZ (now KI4RO in Virginia) who I new as a friend in Sunnymead California insisted that I get my amateur license again. I took the Technician test and became WA6OWR. I worked the amateur satelite Oscar 6 on 2 meters and competed with John for contacts. I also worked 2 meter AM from the car with a Clegg 22'er. Yep they even had a big 2 meter repeater in Los Angelos back in those days.
Shortly I succumed to the 2 meter FM movement and purchased an inexpensive 2 meter FM rig. In those days a small transceiver the size of a mobile scanner that could talk to Kingman AZ, Palm Springs, Victorville, San Diego and Santa Monica all at the same time from a car with a 19" piece of welding rod for an antenna was a real novelty.
I secured a position in Morro Bay as a Fireman in 1975 and moved their. Unable to talk with my friends on 2 meters I studied and traveled to the Treasury building in San Francisco to take the test from the FCC examiner. I passed the General and was able to talk with my friends in SoCal again on HF.
A few years ago I upgraded to Advanced and Extra and after trying TV, Packet, Satelite, Amtor, RTTY, Balloon launching radios (edge of space projects) and many other aspects, even below the broadcast band (160kc - 190kc) fun I have for the past several years settled on QRP
I belong to the NorCal QRP Club and write the NorCal Web Page. As with other endeavors in amateur radio I have been envolved in I really am enjoying myself and am currently shareing my hobby with my teenage partners in my family.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my amateur history and may you enjoy this fabulous hobby as much as I!
72,
Jerry WA6OWR...k
since 08/07/00