WY3A
 A Short "Radio" Biography

My Dad W3LGX

My father, Bob Patton, W3LGX, became a teenage amateur radio operator in the early 1940's.  After that, he became a US Marine, an electrical engineer and then after meeting my mom, he became an entrepreneur, a private pilot, a generous benefactor to Christian ministries, and "Dad" to me and my nine younger siblings.

Before I was licensed, Dad helped me build a Heathkit GR-81 regenerative shortwave receiver.  Hearing shortwave and amateur stations, from around the world fascinated me.  That little receiver rekindled my father's interest in radio -- and he quickly renewed his long expired license and built an enviable station sporting the Collins' S-Line.  Together we hung dipoles for 40 and 80 meters in the trees and erected a 2 element Quad for 20 through 10.  The quad wouldn't stay up in the wind...so we put up a Hy-Gain TH-3 tri-band yagi which worked well (but never as well as the quad).  I have fond memories of doing those projects together with my father.

First Licensed 1966

Dad helped me learn Morse code, patiently answered my naive technical questions and administered my novice exam.  I did not pass the first time, but after 30 days, tested again, and, (it seemed like eternity) received the callsign WN3GZM in the mail.  I was 14 years old.  With much encouragement from my church youth group friend, Rich Boyd (who had traded in WN3DSD for WA3DSD) I became very active especially DX'ing and contesting.  Rich, KE3Q is a well known contester today. Our families were members at the same fine church -- 4th Presbyterian in Bethesda, MD.

Rock Bound

I was not permitted to use my father's 32S-3B TX as a novice.  Novices were restricted to crystal control -- one "plug-in" transmit frequency at a time.  So my dad and I built a Heath DX-60A and the matching HR-10B receiver together.  I loved that DX-60, even though I did blow resistors under the 6146 on a regular basis.

WN3GZM in 1966 -- 14 Years Old (now WY3A)
Using my Father's S-Line with crystal control DX-60A for Transmit
Notice the Vibroplex "Bug" -- which was my favorite key

The HR-10 wasn't much of a receiver -- especially when compared to the Collins my Dad had.  So I used the DX-60A to transmit and the 75S-3B to hear.  Soon, I became more proficient at CW than Dad, especially after operating the Novice Roundup contest for a section win and 2nd place in the nation (1967).  Again, my buddy and "coach" was Rich, now KE3Q.

General Class

The General Class ticket was secured about a year later.  I flunked the theory portion of the exam the first time -- but the code was a slam dunk.  Since that was prior to the advent of incentive licensing, I enjoyed full operating privileges as WA3GZM -- and was very active HF DX'ing and contesting through high school. 

Rich, WA3DSD and I kept in touch after high school QSO'ing from our respective college ham stations.  I was semi-active at W3EAX at the University of MD.  Rich was at Wheaton College Ham Station near Chicago IL.  In 1971 I traveled to Europe with some college buddies.  I was fond of dropping in on homes where ham antennas were clearly visible.  Some of the German and Swiss amateurs let me operate from Europe, which was fun.

Radio Control Sailplanes

I earned a degree in Electrical Engineering but took a different career direction out of college.  I met Sue my senior year at Maryland, married, and went to work as a Christian pastor with my friend CJ Mahaney and other fine men in leadership of what is now Covenant Life Church and the Sovereign Grace family of Churches.  We became parents to three children, Chris, Lindy and Curtis at that time.  Our little family eventually moved to the Philadelphia area in 1984 to help start Covenant Fellowship Church.  I earned a Masters Degree from Westminster Theological Seminary.  I worked as the Senior Pastor for 5 years, then served in a variety of administrative and pastoral roles.

I kept my ham license renewed, but had no radios.  I became inactive except to fly radio controlled model sailplanes as a member of the Capital Area Soaring Association CASA, then the Silent Knights Soaring Society SKSS using 6 meter Heathkit R/C equipment.  I still fly R/C, in the schoolyard across the street.  I most often fly a scratch-built Woody Blanchard design he called "Flit" -- a small hand-launch class sailplane.

My Son Gets His Radio License

In the early 1990's my oldest son, then a teen, became interested in computers and radio.  In 1993 Chris was licensed as KA3ZVJ.  We built a modest station together and I became active once again -- mostly DX'ing.  Chris seemed to enjoy doing radio and antenna projects with me as much as I had enjoyed it with my father.  He enjoyed HF and Packet through high school.

Active Again

Chris's interest in radio rekindled mine and I quickly upgraded to Extra Class and have remained active.  During those years, Sue and I adopted two Chinese baby girls with the help of the LaVida Adoption Agency.  We have five children, three married, and 7 grandchildren.

My son Chris, a software engineer, left that career in 2002 to enter pastoral work.  In that same year, I left pastoral work and began DCE Express -- a regional office for a technology distribution company owned by one of my brothers.

We sell data communications, networking and WAN equipment including products by Patton Electronics where my dad, W3LGX (license expired) still works.  Fellow amateurs in the IT industry always get good discounts from us.

I remain an enthusiastic member of the church we started.  KA3ZVJ is now Senior Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Middletown DE.

I will always be thankful to my father for introducing me to amateur radio.   But I'm far more thankful for the attention he gave me in childhood and for the authenticity of his faith.  He introduced me to the gospel in a most winsome way.

Station

My current station is two Yaesu FT-757GXII's interfaced with the computer and set up for CW So2R, Ameritron AL-811A amplifiers, a G3TXQ Hex Beam at 45 feet, and a variety of remotely switched wire antennas which come and go.  I also have a RockMite QRPp Homebrew radio that I enjoy.

I like to play hard in the ARRL CW Sweepstakes contest each year. 
And I only need a few more DXCC "countries" to have them all.

WY3A Home

Bill Patton, WY3A
West Chester, PA