Biography

I have loved radio communications since I was 10 years old when I was given a set of CB walki-talki's. I met a guy who said I was interfering with him on channel 14 and he invited me to his home and introduced me to real CB Radio. Of course I was to young to have a CB license which cost 20 dollars at the time, however my dad who was very supportive of my radio interests, signed up for a license which was KBQ2562. I used that call for years. Well in 1976, my dad and I decided to obtain our amateur licenses. We both practiced our CW and after a period of time obtained our novice licenses.(5WPM) I was KA2CHX and my father was KA2FOM. After continuing our studies, I eventually went up the ranks of tech, general,(13WPM) advanced and extra(20 wpm CW) with the randomly issued call sign of WS2W and my Dad who's call now is KE2PG at 92 years of age, and advanced class. As a matter of fact, my brother is also an amateur with the general call sign of KA2PVA. As you can see..its a family thing. I really enjoy amateur radio and throughout the years have met some great people and a few not so great. Ham Radio should be fun and there is something for everyone regardless of what element of radio communications your interested in. My good long time friend WW2V Tony and I co-own the WS2W-145.450 2 meter repeater in the Mohawk Valley which covers a large portion of central New York. WW2V(Tony) and I support this repeater on our own with no help from any clubs or organizations. Its open to any licensed amateur and is designed to meet the need of any possible disaster or help required on a quick basis since its open and NON TONED with emergency power. Its unfortunate in my view that in the last 10 years the quality of many new hams has declined due to the elimnation of CW. As far as I am concerned CW delayed the licensing of potential amateurs giving them time while they mastered the code requirement to understand how to properly operate on the air. The NEW system of studying actual questions for a week while never operating on the air EVEN ONCE and becomming an EXTRA CLASS just deters from the hard work hundreds of thousands of amateurs of the past accomplished and truly understood what a good operator should sound like on the air. One just has to listen to any of the bands to verify my opinion. Lets hope that in the future things will improve, but I am doubtful. Amateur Radio is what you make of it and I have traveled the world through the miracle of men such as Marconi, Tesla, Armstrong and many others and have traveled FIRST CLASS sitting in my chair.

73 WS2W

Equipment

My Station consists of a Ten Tec, Omni 7, Kenwood TL922 Amp, Nye Viking MBVa Tuner and Antenna's, Telex Hygain, Explorer 14, 3 band 4 element beam on my 48 foot Rohn HDBX Tower and also a double G5RV. I also have numerous classic receivers, Halicrafters, Nationals, Hammarlund, ect and the compulsion of new acquistions continue.