I was first licensed as WN8DHY in 1969 during the spring semester of my sophomore year of high school, with the General class WB8DHY following 4 months later. During the remainder of my high school years, I was active in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (then AREC) and earned a Public Service Award. I handled CW traffic in the National Traffic System as an Official Relay Station and earned several Section Net Certificates. I also did some contesting.

Ham Radio led to my career choice of Electronic Engineering, and I was off to college. After a road trip to the Detroit FCC Field Office, I earned the Advanced class license in 1974. After several decades of living in California, I obtained the call KQ6RV in 1997. Although I got on the air occasionally and operated Class 1D in several Field Days over the years, I was largely QRT until early 2008.

That’s when Sam, an RF Engineer at work, asked me about Amateur Radio licensing in America. Sam was previously licensed in Russia. After passing the Technician, General, and Extra class exams in one sitting, Sam gave me the Extra study guide. Sam also got a vanity call sign (KS3B). Hence, I obtained both the Extra class license and the vanity call K6WSC in 2008. Thanks Sam.

And that rekindled my interest in Ham Radio. After another Class 1D Field Day, and operating in the IARU HF World Championships on a whim, I got hooked on contesting. Most of my operation is CW. I am a member of the FISTS CW CLUB.

73, Bill