Biography

Many of you have asked about the gear in the above photo. You can click on the image to enlarge it. This picture was taken when I was licensed as a General Class operator in 1962/63. I was 17 years old and operated from Pascagoula, MS at my Mom and Dad's home. I was a Senior in high school at the time the picture was taken by my friend Jim Blair, WA5MYI, who is now retired and living in Florida.

The rigs to my right were a Knight Kit T-150 transmitter sold by Allied Radio (now Allied Electronics) in Chicago. It had two 6146 tubes in the final and ran about 150 watts. The transmitter was AM/CW and used controlled carrier screen grid modulation on 80 through 6 meters. Plate modulation was preferred on AM but screen grid modulation was a cheaper design and did not require a big modulation transformer. No WARC bands were authorized back then.

The receiver was a Hallicrafter SX-140k built from a kit and purchased through the Sears Roebuck mail order catalog store. It also covered 80 through 6 meters.

Directly in front of me is a Heathkit HX-10 six meter transmitter which ran 10 watts PEP on SSB/CW. To the immediate right is the matching Heathkit HA-20 six meter linear amplifier which ran about 125 watts PEP. It used two 6146’s in the final. Above the HX-10 is a Heathkit HO-10 Monitor Scope that I won at the Biloxi, MS Hamfest in 1963. Early SSB rigs didn't have ALC circuitry so a scope allowed me to watch my transmitted audio wave form to keep the transmitter from "flat-topping." You old-timers will know about that. Above the T-150 and next to the phone is a Heathkit phone patch (that's the box with the audio VU meter on it). I ran a lot of patches back then for our deployed military. This was way before cell phones.

Although the gear sounded good on the air, I received several SWL reports from neighbors who listened to my QSO’s on their TV sets. This was way before Cable TV and all the TV stations serving the area were 65 to 70 miles away. We were in the fringe viewing area so six meters was fun but not friendly to the TV viewers. We furnished several high pass filters made by the R.L. Drake Company for our neighbors. It solved most of the RF overload problems at their TV sets.

In later years Cable TV remedied those problems for the six meter operators and the transition to HDTV has eliminated the RF overload experienced on VHF channels 2 through 6. Most all TV stations currently transmit on the UHF channels 14 and above.

You may wonder how a kid of 17 years of age could afford the gear in this photo? Not seen is the rotor, tri-bander, 80 and 40 meter inverted vees, 10 element 6 meter yagi and 60 foot EZ Way crank-up tower in the back yard. I worked at a music store after school and on Saturday. I didn't have a girl friend at that time so money was not spent on dates. When I turned 19 I quickly discovered there was indeed a life after Ham Radio. I dropped about 55 pounds and engaged in an additional hobby called "YL Hunting." Now, with 5 grown children and 10 grandchildren, I have made up for lost time. But that is another story.

Turning to the professional side of things, I spent my entire working career in the Broadcast Industry.  The first 18 in Radio and the remainder in Radio with Pictures, better known as Television.  I came up through the ranks starting as a part time announcer in 1964 and ending my Radio career as Station Manager.  In 1981 I was offered the opportunity to move into TV.  After 46 years of fun and joy I hung up my hat and retired in October, 2010.  My Ham Radio hobby opened the door to my Broadcast career.  A fellow HAM, who was the Engineer at a new AM/FM going on the air, got me an interview with his Station Manager. This resulted in my first job in the field I dreamed about since I was 12 years old.  It was a good ride and I am thankful for the experience.  The rest is history.

Since retirement my current situation is this -- I am dealing with antenna restrictions imposed by my Home Owner's Association.  I have managed to keep a G5RV up at about 25 feet without any repercussion.  I miss my tower and beams.greatly.  I have always liked RTTY having started with the old Teletype Model 15 in the 60's.  Mark Dalton, K5JPG (sk) was my Elmer and introduced me to the mode.  I was in awe when I first saw his ham shack.  It was truly a thing of beauty. 

Now that the newer technology has arrived on the scene I have added many digital modes to my daily operating arsenal.  I can be found on JT65, JT9 or PSK31 most of the time as evidenced by my log above.  Dealing with the fact that my antenna farm is limited now, I have managed to do well on the digital modes vs. phone. I use an ICOM IC-7000 with low power (50 watts).  My digital interface is a SignaLink USB.

I never really went after awards in my younger years but this has changed.  I recently qualified for eQSL's eDX Award confirming 50 countries.  My total countries worked is actually much higher but unfortunately I lost all my paper QSL's during career relocations over the years.  So, I am starting over.  I have also earned eQSL's eWAS Award for Mixed, JT65 and JT9 modes. A big thank you goes out to Ken, WL7X for giving me the last remaining state I needed for JT9 eWAS.  I had been hunting for Alaska for months.

I still haven't completed the ARRL WAS Award with the "digital endorsement" but I am getting close.  I've held the "mixed" version for decades.  It seems more and more HAMS are using eQSL over LoTW worldwide.  DX stations appear to prefer it.  IMO it might possibly have to do with the rigid registration process required to get on board with LoTW.  I still enjoy getting paper QSLs and will always confirm 100% electronically via eQSL and/or LoTW.  Paper QSLs will be sent 100% upon receipt.  I still sincerely believe that "a QSL is the final courtesy of a QSO."

73, Pat - WA5DVV

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom IC-7000 100 Watts
LDG Antenna Tuner
G5RV at 30 feet