For direct QSL's - This is the ONLY correct address:

Randy Holt
P.O. Box 128
Fort White, Fl 32038
U.S.A.

Real paper QSL's only - NO LOTW! I will upload to eQSL but it's not a QSL - real paper QSL's only!

Me funning on guitar (this is a song I wrote) when I'm not funning on CW:

 

I've been licensed since 1970. Here's the earliest photo I can find of my "shack" in 1972:

Gear: Knight R-100 and RME 4350 RCVR's - Knight T-60 XMTR and VFO - Turner 254Z Mic
for the very rare AM QSO and my old Vibroplex standard bug for CW (the bug is hard to see
but it's just to the right of the T-60). Two of my early DX QSL's cards (ZL3IS and VP5JA)
are on display too!

---

October 26, 2013 - After about 15 years of very little HF activity here - I'm back on and having
fun! This is my current "Shack". It's certainly a modest station - nothing fancy and no amp but making
QSO's again!

Above is the current standing in ClubLog showing worked and confirmed DX
(with real paper QSL's)  since re-activating in October of 2013!

All accomplished with the most modest of stations - you don't need beams and
amps to work DX, but it wouldn't hurt - Hi!

 

November 2014 - got a new TS-590 as primary rig - the Alinco is now backup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic HF Rig - Alinco DX-SR8 - Now doing backup duty.

 

 

 

If you've had a CW QSO with me - most likely I was using my solid brass "K8RA P6" single
lever key but - if we QSO on straight key night or any other SKCC, FISTS or NAQCC
event, I'll be using my "SpeedX" with the Navy knob:

 

 

Antenna? Hustler 4BTV vertical - ground mounted with 32 radials - I can also switch to
low elevation dipoles on 40-30-20 meters. I experiment a lot with wire antennas and am
also planning some "experiments" for the vertical - like adding 12/17 meters or adding
an 80 meter inverted "L" section - and maybe even trying the same concept on 160???

 

 

Thirty two ground radials really do make a difference - this photo was
taken before adding the shunt coil:

 

 

Looking up:

 

 

---

 

Ha! An Extremely Brief History of WB9LUR

Radio is magical. I was a BCB and SW DX'er by the time I turned 10 years old. I learned morse code by listening to W1AW, copying random ham QSO's and by struggling to copy the maritime ship to shore CW traffic that dominated the HF utility bands back then. I was very lucky to meet an "older" (well, older to me anyway) ham in my neighborhood and he was extraordinarily helpful and patient. George (then K9BPL now KI5X) was the best "elmer" a young wanna-be ham could ever have and he was also an RF engineer at the nearby Motorola headquarters in Schaumburg, Il. Thank you George! In fact, George facilitated my adoption into the Motorola ham club and I participated in several of their Field Day operations at their Plato Center testing facility.

With George's mentoring, I was originally licensed as a "Novice" in 1970 and upgraded to "General" class as WB9LUR in 1972. In the mid 90's I passed the 20 WPM code requirement and got my "Extra" class license. I also have a lifetime FCC GROL Commercial license (closest thing the FCC has to the first class "ticket" these days!)

I have not been the most active ham for the last 40 years but I did manage to operate from Jamaica as WB9LUR/6Y5, worked the world on Oscar-13 using a 10 meter to 435 TX SSB converter that I built myself, spent many-a-night listening to the exotic music that was once so common on the tropical SW bands, constructed and used various pieces of QRP gear, got a boatload of old "boat-anchors" working again and just completely enjoyed the magic of radio whenever I could.

My wife and I have been married over 30 years and we have two great sons that I am very proud of. Many of my professional years have been spent in electronics. I have worked for Motorola, have been a broadcast engineer, was director of engineering for an 800 MHZ SMR network - you get the idea. I have also worked as a professional musician and as a fishing guide.

In 2003 I decided to do something "completely different" and switched careers and went into the car business. Cars are magical too! I am currently the Internet Director for a very successful Ford dealership. If you're interested, you can see me "playing" at work (just a few days ago) on our Youtube channel here:



http://www.youtube.com/user/gainesvillecars

So flash forward to right now - after about 15 years of limited and casual activity on HF - I'm back on and having a blast! Since October 26, 2013 through today (Jan 12, 2014) I have worked 148 different countries and 47 states with a very modest station. My original love of CW has been renewed and I have joined some of the organizations that help foster an appreciation for code.

What's next? I am looking forward to putting together a "vintage" CW station with a separate receiver and transmitter, playing with some new antennas, building / operating extreme QRP, maybe try some of the new satellites, 500 meters, IOTA, check out some of the digital modes, join the local ham club - who knows? Radio is still magical and I'm gonna have some fun.

If you have the time please check out some of the organizations I have linked to below - it's all good stuff!

73's

Randy
WB9LUR

 

email me at : randywithford@yahoo.com - - - - - - FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyLeeHolt

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

Fini - SK - I also want to acknowledge and say thank you to the late Wayne Green, W2NSD, for being just who he was - I only met him briefly once - he is missed - but his spirit lives on - Never Say Die!

 

 

 

---

 

Some Fun Stuff To Check Out!

 

 

 

Maritime Radio Historical Society:

This is a very dedicated group that has rebuilt and re-opened an original CW shore station. They also have an affiliated ham station (K6KPH) that uses the actual old-timey maritime gear to work on the ham bands! Here's their URL: http://www.radiomarine.org/

 

---

SKCC-Straight Key Century Club

This is a great organization with a slightly mis-leading name. Why? Because they are also into any type of hand generated code so a lot of "Bug", "Cootie" and "Sideswiper" stuff is here too! Membership is free and they have a lot of fun activities! Long live code!

Check them out here: http://www.skccgroup.com/

---

FISTS - "International Morse Preservation Society"

From their website: "FISTS is a well established and recognized CW (Morse Code) organization in the world of amateur radio. Founded in 1987 by Geo Longden, G3ZQS, it now has a world-wide membership in the thousands and growing daily.

What FISTS wants to accomplish.

1. To further the use of CW on the amateur bands.
2. To encourage newcomers to the CW mode.
3. To engender friendship within the membership.

Visit FISTS at: http://www.fists.org/index.html

---

 

The NAQCC - North American QRP / CW Club

From their website: "No dues or membership fees - open to any licensed radio amateur or shortwave listener (SWL) worldwide with at least some interest in CW/QRP operation. Encouraging use of CW and helping all hams increase CW speed and proficiency is a top club priority. Club activities are dedicated to QRP/QRPp operation, using CW. Some will also place emphasis on using simple wire antennas."

 

Visit them here at: http://naqcc.info/

 

 

---

 

 

QRX --- More adventures and strange
tales from Dog-Xray to come!

 

My friend and lovable DX hound Tequila!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why the flags of Great Britain? Well, thats my history too ... England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland ... maybe not in that exact order but .... that is my family's history .... here's my castle (Hi!) http://www.castlewales.com/holt.html


 

---

Club Log is a great online tool for DX'ing!
Check below - to see if we've worked before ...

 

 

In the early 1970's operated as portable 6Y5 - near Ocho Rios, Jamaica