[HIham] Re: [karc-l] KH6BI SK tribute

[Ron Hashiro]

Warren asked me to reforward to the HIHAM reflector.  It has also been 
forwarded to
the Hamradiohawaii reflector.  See below for additional info.

Warren Munro wrote:

>To all KARC-ers:
>
>We all knew Fred to be a kind, gentle and helpful person.
>
>I met him first in the early 1960's while working at the Pearl Harbor Naval
>Shipyard.  He had been an Instrument Maker in the Electric Shop in the days
>when analog meters were not only taken apart and rebuilt, but were also
>built from scratch IN-HOUSE.  By the time I met Fred, he had been promoted
>up to Shop Planner in the Electrical/Electronics Group.
>
>I was a mere Apprentice in the Electronics Shop, trying to support a family
>while attending UH (part-time, later full-time while still working in the
>Shop) and had almost no money or time for anything, let alone ham radio.
>
>But Fred encouraged me, he said stick with it, ham radio is a lifetime hobby
>and the time will come.  In the meantime, try what you can, and stick with
>ham radio...
>
>To me, this is the REAL ham radio spirit, and we should all try to pass this
>outlook onto younger ham folks, not just by our words, but by our actions
>too.
>
>May he RIP.
>
>Warren  KH6WM 
>
>  
>
I met Fred in my early days in amateur radio in the mid-1970's.  Fred 
had a knack and passion
for elmering and encouraging those to go as far as they could in the 
world and joy of amateur
radio.

I'd talk to Fred regularly on my first radio, and Icom IC-215 crystal 
controlled, 3 watt FM'er.
He was there at my beginning.  We'd call CQ and find the few "regulars" 
who might be
listening on simplex 146.52. (Remember, crystals were relatively 
expensive to a college student
and 146.52 was just about the only simplex frequency you'ld guarrentee 
to find in common with
anyone.)  If we heard each other on the 146.88 repeater, we'd QSY to 
146.52 to make
room for another repeater user.

Through those evening and weekend conversations, I was able to learn and 
distinguish what
it would take to make reliable contact from Palolo to Kailua transiting 
the peak of the
Koolaus on only 3 watts.  After all, I wanted to make QSOs, Fred was on 
52 simplex
willing to talk, and 3 watts in a valley don't buy you much on simplex.  
He'd be patient
as I moved around the indoor wire antenna around searching for the 
"sweet spot" and observed
how the signal characteristics changed favorably or unfavorably.  I 
learned what
3 watts could do, I learned how to get more mileage from it with better 
antenna
placement, and I learned there were limits.   After some effort, I began 
to realize he
was right that I would be much better served by placing an antenna 
outdoors ten
feet off the ground (above the nearby vegetation) -- if I could.  I 
eventually got
around to it and lo and behold, he was right.  We enjoyed many a good 
QSOs rag
chewing on odds and ends.

Fred was gentle to point out "new things" that old timers were well 
aware of and
comfortable about two meters (as it was at that time).  Repeaters were few
and expensive, crystals were the thing (synthesized radios would soon 
appear),
crystal walkies were typically 3 watts due to current draw and battery 
availability,
and most mobiles maxed out at ten watts.  That was the state of the market
then.  Given such "limitations" (as we now know it), the old timers had 
tried
out virtually everything on two meters, leveraging their experience from HF.

Fred took the time to introduce and explain things such as SWR, antenna
dimensions, near-field effects on propagation of placing RF sensitive 
material
in the near field of  a radiating antenna, knife-edging over the mountain
tops.  Talking to Fred, I really wanted to get more out of amateur radio
such as synthesized radios and higher wattage, so I could get an easier
time talking to him on simplex, mobile and other settings.  And, each time,
we'd experiment to find the minimal necessary power needed to
maintain reliable communications.  Knowledge and equipment gained
helped in making QSOs with others, and it comes in very handy
in things like contesting and DX'ing.

Such practical knowledge gained about hard-earned QSOs went into
the ARRL course on Emergency Communications in 2000, and has
proved invaluable time and again in such incidences as the World Trade
Center, recovery of the Shuttle Columbia and countless other amateur
operations for emergency communications.  Army Curtis, ex-AH6P now AE5P,
went through the ARRL ARECC course after he participated with
the Columbia recovery and noted much of the hard lessons learned
"OJT" were already captured in the course -- and much of that
knowledge I contributed to that first course was a direct result of
the work and fun of those early simplex QSOs with Fred.

It was always good to chat with him at the ham club meetings, swap
meets and other gatherings.  You'ld never what you might uncover
or discover in the conversation.  In short, you can always count on
Fred to find out something new and get more out of amateur radio.
Try it, work with it, observe and understand, and soon your eyes
will twinkle with ideas you come up with on ways you might try and
improve your situation.  Works for amateur radio, and works
for other things in your personal living.

I moved away into a concrete jungle, out of QSO range, and
the conversations became much fewer, but the friendship
was still there.

Yes, Fred lived the Elmer's spirit, and he had the knack and
gentle touch.  I'm sure he got a lot out of elmering knowing he
helped others have as much fun as he did with amateur
radio.  I for one am going to remember him fondly.

Ron Hashiro, AH6RH