Fotos courtesy JA1KSO

First radio: xtal and wire age 8

graduated to germanium diode age 9

added coil and condenser for bc band age 10

first transmitter 6v6 (wireless phonograph on 1035 kc neighbors for 2 blocks enjoyed music. Unfortunately nearby antena resonant on 3105; PDX aircraft landing frequency. Subsequent 1st introduction to (FCC) loop antenna.

First Radiotelphone License age 14. Worked as "engineer" in local radio station. Voice a little too squeeky to be announcer.

Korean war 1948-1952 Morse code interceptor. Second class Radiotelegraph license. One of initial operators at K4WAR, Signal School, Fort Gordon, GA. Original ham call W7NFE.

KTEL AM Walla Walla, WA Announcer and transmitter engineer while attending college.

KITO and KFXM San Bernardino, CA Annoucer and transmitter engineer while in medical school 1955-1957.

K6UYC 1955-57 KWM1 converted to tranceive on CW. Thanks to W6VSS, learned that 4-1000s make good flash bulbs if the plate voltage is high enough. Also the glass makes a nice hourglass figure if one holds the key down long enough. 5 el on 20 at 70 ft from Norwalk, CA.

K6UYC 1967-74 Huntington beach, CA began to enjoy contesting. Multi setup with5 x 5 on 20 at 135/90 ft dn 5 el 40 on 100 ft boom on 40 at 125 ft. Separately rotatable 6 el triangle quadon 10 and 8 el on 15 at 80/75 ft. Switchable vertical diploles on 80.One half mile from beach.Great group of first class operators.

K6RR 1973-1990 See sunset foto courtesy of JA1KSO. Multiple rhombics all about 425 feet in leg length nested one above the other al la W6AM with his helpful guidance and design. Stacks on 10,15, and 20. 8 element 20 and Telrex 3 el 40. Switchable sloping phased 4 dipole array with reflectors on JA/SA and extended zepp at 150 ft on 80. 150 foot vertical broadcast tower (taken down from Santa Paula stn and re-erected) on 160. Multi setup with pairs of S lines on all bands except 80 and 160. Three Hi-Gain Hi Towers in phase broadside to EU. Spectacular bunch of operators who also contributed a enormous amount of hours putting the gear and antennas together and in place. Site was a flat spot on a 3000 ft mountain range sloping sharply downward in all directions except up the ridge at 150 degrees. Though not used much there were filters to allow the two stations on 15 and 20, and the 2nd 40 mtr receiver to operate within 15 kc of each other (on separate antennas) one without knowing the other one was transmitting except for the swinging power output meter. During the period this old Irish ham had an unmatchable tour of enjoyment with the hobby, with the gear, and most especially with the company of the fine young men whom were enthusiatically present.

Many fotos have been taken over the years and are currently being digitized. When that task is completed, plans are to set them up along with the names and call signs of the operators on a web site for friends to view. Engineering data,etc and hints and kinks will be included. I would invite any one who reads this and has fotos available to send them to me by email to include on the site. Such would be greatly appreciated.

Medical economics and family medical economics having taken their toll, K6RR now sports a single 5 BTV mounted on the backyard chain link fence. An ICOM 781,an Alpha 87A, anda computer completes the current station. At the mountaintop site the noise was.the receiver noise. At the current site it is about S9 on the important bands. :)

Now currently searching for a suitable location to consider another contest station. Looking forward to the next sun spot peak.

73s,

Robert K6RR