[CW] Don Wallace, W6AM (b. 1898- d. 1985)

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Did you try it our?

Have you watched the video where he switches rhombic antennas and heard the
difference?

KMI on the next lot to KPH had a series of about 30 switchable rhombics
giving 12 degree resolution all around the compass.

>From WCC the Mediterranean Sea is about 50 degrees true, while the Suez
Canal is 70 degrees.

The further away the other station is from you, the greater the divergence
of great circle bearings.

>From WCC bearings from New Zealand and Australia range from 245 degrees to
345.

Notice how one high gain antenna can cover most of Europe from WCC on this
map, but to cover Australian and New Zealand waters required multiple
antennas.

73

David



On Sun, Jul 21, 2024, 4:29 PM Chris R. NW6V <chrisrut7 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I lived, literally, across the street from Don's antenna farm for a couple
> of years.
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 21, 2024 at 12:53 PM D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:
>
>> 40 years ago Don Wallace, W6AM (b. 1898- d. 1985), was interviewed in
>> 1984 by Wayne Overbeck, N6NB, for the PBS series, "Radio Collector." The
>> interview takes place at Radio Ranch in Palos Verdes, CA, and shows Don's
>> shack and antenna farm. The property is likely a condo farm today. The
>> California Historical Radio Society, CHRS, is presenting this uncut
>> interview. Don had 6 beams for Australia alone! He switches them with the
>> switch that controls relay switching. On the air since 1910 until his
>> death. Don had 14 rhombic antennas. 61 telephone poles supported his
>> antennas, scattered around 120 acres. Another 110 poles carried the
>> feedlines to the antennas. https://www.qsl.net/ne6i/w6am/
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5iVb-3MHEY His QSL card shows the
>> rhombic layout.
>> Press Wireless, an overseas radio communications company, bought 100
>> acres in the 1920s and set up a receiving station. The gently sloping
>> hilltop, without a house in sight, was considered ideal for the station
>> because of its 1,200-foot elevation.
>> Don C. Wallace helped the company choose the site and in 1945 bought the
>> property from Press Wireless, along with an additional 20 acres. It already
>> was dominated by the company’s commercial transmission poles, but Wallace
>> brought in a large crane and reset all of them. “At one time,” said his
>> son, “there were 45 miles of wire in the air.” [image:
>> w6am-00631-sk7.jpg]
>> [image: w6am1.jpg]
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>> =30=
>
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