Early Ham Days--KF7PK
I was 13 when i got my ham radio ticket in 12/57 KN0OBU. First rig was a Viking
adventurer 50 watts 807 final, national nc-98 rec with heathkit "Q" multiplier
(one hand on the bfo knob to stay on freq) and the ants where home drew 40 meter
folded dipole with heathkit balun coils and 15 meter full wave loop (1/2 quad).
Life was interesting for my parents at that time many tv sets had 21 mhz IFs
when I put the key down some TV pictures would go black as far as 4 blocks away.
This was in Iowa City, Iowa and tv sigs where 30- 60 miles away. Local ham club
did lots of TVI calls.
I stayed up late during the summer working on 40 meters my poor dad had to get
up early in the morning , I tried to be kept the noise down but my station was
in the basement and the sound went up the heating duct work. I over heard my
parents taking about it , my mother said " Does Chuck's radio noise kept you up
?" , my father said " Yes a little, but a least we know where he is at." I think
ham radio kept me out of trouble growing up.
Got my General in 58, sun spots where at there peak so I had a lot of fun on 10
& 15 meters. 15 is still my favorite band. Never was interested in awards or
contests. I like cw but never got real good at it not being able to copy (in my
head) or very fast 10-15 wpm is all I could muster. Next rig was heathkit dx-100
2-6146 finals 100 watts am and hamulund hq-170. ants where 80/40 dipole 3 el 15
meter beam. I remember operating 75 meter am the hq-170 had a notch filter and
up/lower sideband switch you had to use all the tricks , 75 sounded like the CB
does now when skip is in .
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