[SFDXA] K9ZDK: Return of a Silent Key

[Bill]

 From Bill NA2M:


I met the author Dan Van Hoy, K7DAN in Dayton several years ago. He was 
at a table at Hara
representing C.CRANE selling shortwave radios. His sister sent this 
article to my daughter Linda.

Bill Hellman, NA2M

K9ZDK: Return of a Silent Key
8 Replies 
<https://swling.com/blog/2020/08/k9zdk-return-of-a-silent-key/#comments>

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/*Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy (VR2HF), who writes:*/

It was one of the most sublime moments in my 55+ years in radio. Almost 
every night I listen to shortwave station, KNLS in Anchor Point, Alaska, 
from my home in Hong Kong. KNLS broadcasts to Asia and the Pacific in 
English, Russian and Mandarin. The English broadcast is an amazing mix 
of secular and Christian music and topics, science, current affairs and 
more. It has something for both the seeker and the saint and is one of 
the most informative and entertaining shows on radio.

On this particular Monday evening, August 3, 2020, I tuned in late to 
the English broadcast from KNLS at 1000 UTC, but went on to listen to 
the remainder of the show. To my complete surprise as the show closed I 
heard “73 de K9ZDK” in Morse code and quickly wrote down that callsign. 
I assumed it was the engineer on duty, obviously a ham, having a little 
on-air fun with a big transmitter and antenna.

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A few minutes later, I also heard “CQ de K9ZDK” at the beginning of the 
Russian program at 1100 UTC. So, I looked up K9ZDK on QRZ.com 
<https://www.qrz.com/db/K9ZDK> and found it was Zavier, a young ham who 
had become a silent key in June of 2019.

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Zavier Klingensmith (K9ZDK) Silent Key

A little more online sleuthing and a phone call later revealed that his 
father, Thomas, KL0K, was at the controls of KNLS that night sending 
Zavier’s final CQ and 73 on this planet with at least 1 million watts of 
power (ERP: 100KW TX + 10dBd TCI curtain array) all around Asia and the 
Pacific. His call on CW was heard on every English, Russian and Mandarin 
show that evening over 16 hours of broadcasts (two Continental 100 KW 
transmitters). Wow!

In Zavier’s memory, Thomas has created a DIY kit for an Iambic Keyer and 
is offering it for FREE (though you might want to send some $$ for his 
production and mailing costs…my suggestion) to anyone who asks. Details 
can be found at Thomas’, KL0K, QRZ page <https://www.qrz.com/db/KL0K>. 
Maybe one of the first things you can send when your keyer is completed 
is,”K9ZDK de YOUR CALL, 73 OM!”

Thomas, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Thanks 
for the amazing on-air tribute to Zavier. I suspect he was listening 
with a big, big smile!

Dan VR2HF, Hong Kong
(K7DAN, USA)

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