[ARC5] Way Off Topic

[howard holden]

Wow nice!

Howie WB2AWQ
________________________________
From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of scottjohnson1 at cox.net <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2026 11:43 AM
To: 'Frank Barnes' <fbw4npn at gmail.com>; kgordon2006 at frontier.com <kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>; 'Mike Feher' <n4fs at eozinc.com>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Way Off Topic


I was licensed for fifty years as of 2023, which, coincidently, was the first time I attended the Dayton (Xenia) Hamvention.  My Elmer, W7ABO (SK) offered me a complete TCS-12 if I got my novice, which I did.  I operated CW (very slowly) until I got my general around a year later, then I had the freedom of AM and a VFO!  I still own and operate that TCS, in its original, unaltered form.



Scott W7SVJ



From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Frank Barnes
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2026 12:26 PM
To: kgordon2006 at frontier.com
Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net; Mike Feher <n4fs at eozinc.com>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Way Off Topic



Well, I guess I'll throw my hat into the ring also.  I was first licensed at age 16 in 1957 and have been more or less active since, during long military and healthcare careers. I'm retired now and will be 85 shortly.

As a teen, I lived on Aruba so I had a Dutch license and Dutch and American elmers.

A resident gave me a broken SX-24 receiver which I repaired and was very proud of.  First transmitter was built with parts salvaged from a junked and discarded AM/Short Wave radio I found.  The xmtr used a 6V6 final and put out about 2 watts into a 300 foot "Vee" antenna laid right on the ground on top of a coral plain behind the house.  There were no trees or ability to raise it and it reached into Europe at night.

I still like the old boatanchors and have a HQ-140XA and a Drake 2A and several home brew tube transmitters, antenna tuners, power supplies, etc.  I do have a Yaesu xcvr but that's a plug-and-play unit; not much fun.

Check out my website!  www.w4npn.org<http://www.w4npn.org/>

73,

Frank

W4NPN





On Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 1:30 PM <kgordon2006 at frontier.com<mailto:kgordon2006 at frontier.com>> wrote:

Very interesting, Folks.

I was first licensed as a Novice in 1956, 70 years ago, and have been active most of that
time, although sometimes at a low level.

I of course, love the boat-anchors.

First transmitter was a DX-35, first receiver was an AR-3 in which the BFO didn't work. Made
two contacts my entire first year as a Novice, one local and a K6.

Mom eventually took pity on me and bought a BC-348 from a local Elmer, which was my first
good receiver. I had been using a Hallicrafters S-41G which a subcontractor for my
step-father's construction company had found in his basement, which he gave to me.

I have an S-41G now and cannot really understand how I ever used that thing for real
comms, but I did. In fact, I worked my first DX with it on New Years Day to England.

Eventually traded the BC-348 to the same Elmer for a brand-new RAL-7 because it covered
15 meters. Used that receiver for the next 12 years. Still like it.

I am 83 now.

Ken W7EKB
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--

Frank Barnes

www.W4NPN.org<http://www.w4npn.net/>

Chapel Hill, NC

Grid Square FM05

Cell 919.260.7955
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