Welcome to Radio WN4AFP!
I'm Dave Edmonds and I've been licensed since 1975. I've had several "chapters" in my ham radio career...
1 - "Under 21"
2 - "WN4AFP/m"
3 - "Rewind".
"Under 21"
This was a very active time in my ham radio career... Received my license at age 12. I was very active on the "traffic nets" and was an ORS. NCS of the South Carolina Novice Net and other slow nets. I also enjoyed contests and 10-10 paper chasing, even as a Novice. I won the top spot in South Carolina in one of my Novice Roundups. My top competitor in contests was WN4KKN (Trey) - ever heard of Cabrillo. I traded in my old Heatkit for a brand new FT-101-EE. I was really on the air!
After upgrading, I enjoyed contests, but I got hooked on 10m with 10-10. I also became a regular on the 3.905 Century Club and was around when they started the 40m net. As I worked on their awards program, I became a regular Net Control Station on their late nets. Then in the 80's, I got hooked on "county hunting". CHing was my 'full-time' ham radio job during this period.. I was a regular NCS of the 14.336 net with WA3TUC, WA6MAR, W0GOQ, N7BKW and many others. I also help start the 75m CH net on 3.865.
"WN4AFP/m"
With grocery store checks and tips, I purchased a brand-new Icom IC-730... I immediately started "running" counties in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia on a regular basis. I'm still using the IC-730 today! After graduating high school, and heading to college, my main operating station was my mobile IC-730. This remained my primary station through college, apartment living, running my own business, married with kids, etc... I operated /m during last 20 years. My most memorable contact was working KC4USN "Byrd Naval Station - South Pole from my driveway.
"Rewind"
In early 2013, I decided to put up an antenna and get back on the air from inside a house. I put up my original 40m dipole and unpacked my IC-730, purchased an PS-15, dusted off my Vibroplex paddle and MFJ keyer. I was
"ON THE AIR". I got back on CW immediately and began contesting once again. My first contest was WPX SSB 2013 and I haven't looked back. I love contesting and you can see my results. My favorite contests are the state QSO parties. I love these because each of the QPs have unique rules and awards. I have a number of "1st Place South Carolina" finishes and my first plaque was from the 2014 WVQP! My primary "major" contests include WPX, Sweepstakes, Field Day and a few others. I've received some awards in these major contests too...
I am an active member of the South East Contest Club and also the Swamp Fox Contest Group. I am also a very active member of the CW Operators Club.
During July of 2014, I had an opportunity to operate as a member of the W1AW/4 South Carolina team. This was an awesome week. I was running barefoot with my IC-730 and working the "DX" pileups. I made over 1500 QSOs as one of the "40m" guys. Click here to listen to one of my pile-ups.
I'm currently working the ARRL Centennial Challenge. This year-long 'contest' has been a blast. I hope to be close to the top in South Carolina.
73's CU ON THE AIR
Dave WN4AFP
IC-730 with G5RV Jr. - MM1 Keyer with Brass Racer.
Here's a look back to 1975.....
"AT AGE 12 - David Probably Youngest Ham Operator In State (South Carolina)"
by Cindy Store The Williamston Journal (July 1975)
David Edmonds of Route 1, Williamston has a very interesting hobby – at the age of 12, he is a licensed ham radio operator, WN4AFP.
His interest in ham radio developed from earlier experiences with walkie-talkies and citizen’s band radio. Bill Allen of Anderson helped him learn Morse code and study ham radio theory. “I wanted to hear somebody and just talk to them, with no wires or anything,” David said about the beginning of his interest in ham radio.
David is not sure if he is the youngest ham radio operator in the state, since the Federal Communications Commission does not require their ages printed on their licenses. He feels he is definitely the youngest “ham” in the Anderson Radio Club.
In order to operate his ham radio, David had to meet FCC requirements for a Novice license. To qualify, he had to be able to send and receive 5 words per minute in Morse code, in the presence of a licensed ham radio operator and a witness over the age of 21.
After establishing his ability to use code, he had to take the FCC written test, administered by a licensed ham radio operator, again, in the presence of a witness 21 years of age or older. David’s test consisted of 20 questions. He received his Novice license on July 3, 1975.
A Novice license entitles David to send and receive messages in Morse code. Although he can hear others talk, he is not allowed to speak over the air until he earns his General license, which he hopes to do around the first of the year. He now sends and receives 11 words per minute, and is attending a code class in Anderson. To obtain his General license, David will have to take an FCC test in Atlanta.
With money he received for Christmas, David purchased his ham radio equipment. He got it second-hand from a friend for $110, without an antenna.
David is able to handle some of his own repairs. “If I can find out what’s wrong, I can fix it,” the young operator remarked. He has some test equipment for pinpointing the technical problems.
David tries to work with his radio every day. To begin a communication, he taps out “CQ” – calling all amateurs. Anyone who hears may respond and David quickly writes down each coded numbers or letter of the alphabet as he receives it.
Answers may come from down the street, or from another continent. One of David’s most interesting communications was with a ham radio operator in Burnsville, NC. The operator told David about a 70 ft. motorized tower constructed by a friend of the Burnsville “ham.”
David has exchanged messages with ham radio operators as far away as Mesa, CA, and Humacao, Puerto Rico. He is working toward a certificate from the American Radio Relay League, which is awarded to a “ham” who has communicated with operators in all 50 states. To prove that they have communicated, operators exchange QSL cards by mail. These cards bear the address and call number of the operator.
So far, David has reached 10 states and Puerto Rico. The American Radio Relay League also gives awards to “hams” who communicate with 100 countries, and to those who reach all the continents. Generally, beginning ham radio operators try first for the 50 state certificate, David said.
Ham radio is a non-profit venture. David is not allowed to play records or attempt to sell anything over the air. Ham radio operators can, however, assist in emergency situations. David explained that some “hams” work with Civil Defense. These operators, among other things, are instrumental in alerting citizens to threatening weather conditions, such as tornadoes. Ham radio operators can also be helpful in getting emergency medical aid to people in crisis situations. “Amateur radios save a lot of lives. If somebody calls an SOS, and I’m listening, I’ll try to do something,” David said.
A 7th grader at Palmetto Middle School, David is the son of Rev. and Mrs. C. Ellis Edmonds. His father is pastor of Beaverdam Baptist Church. David has one brother, Bill, age 15.
Some of David’s other interests are sports, playing the trumpet in the Palmetto band, and collections, particularly of objects that are old. He hopes to go into communication engineering in the future.
About her son’s hobby, Mrs. Edmonds said, “I think it’s fascinating. The first night he got on it was unbelievable. This activates the mind – we’re proud he got into this kind of hobby.”
David finds his hobby exciting, commenting, “Amateur radio can talk all over the world.” and “I’ve got a whole bunch of friends, already.”
(This is a reprint of an article was written by Cindy Stone of The Williamston Journal July 1975)
This article can be reprinted.
