Greetings from Long Island, N.Y.

Like many people in this hobby, I first got started in Amateur Radio during my teen years, first as an SWL and then on 11 meters as KKD8086, using my Dads call. I was first licensed in 1965 as WN2UJX from my home in Flushing N.Y. As a novice, my first radio was a Heathkit Twoer that I assembled myself and used extensively on 2 meter AM. The 2 meter AM band was very popular back then and there was no shortage of people to communicate with.

Five months after my Novice license expired, I headed to the FCC Field Office in lower Manhattan. There I passed my General exam and was back on the air as WB2ZSY. I operated 10 meter AM using my converted CB, a Lafayette HE-20C. I worked the world running 5 watts to a vertical antenna.

Through the 70’s I was into the 2 meter FM craze using Drake, Standard, and Clegg radios. However, my favorite back then was a SWAN 500C. I worked most of my neighbors via TVI and a lot of DX. Later on, I even owned a Heathkit HW-8 QRP radio with a working under the carpet antenna that I ran from my apartment.

Eventually after putting the hobby on hold for a few years, I got the bug again and finally upgraded to an Extra class license in 1989 as WV2C.

Today, I’m enjoying the hobby as much, if not more than I did as a kid growing up in Queens, N.Y. This year I jumped into SDR with a Flex 6500, I’m active on all bands from 3.5 Mhz thru 450 Mhz and yes, I’m still rag chewing on 2 meters and chasing DX on HF.

When I’m not playing radio you can find me scouring the beaches of Long Island hunting for treasure with my Minelab Metal Detector.

Please say "Hello" the next time you hear me on the air and I hope you are enjoying the hobby as much as I am!

Tony

‘73

WV2C

WB2ZSY STATION IN1969: Swan 500c and for 2 meter AM a Lafayette HA-1200