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1961 Novice Station |
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HQ-120 |
HX-11 |
As I look over these pictures, I can day
dream for hours remembering the many many hours I spent in front of this
equipment. My dad, WA6HZE picked up that old HQ-120 from some fellow he
worked with.
We made a trip to Monterey from Salinas to
a place which sold Heathkit equipment and paid a wallet pounding $43.50
for the HX-11 Transmitter. I worked for several days putting the kit
together and then had my dad look over my work for cold solder joints
(there were many). My Novice exam was given by John, W6UOL, who was the
person responsible for getting my father into Amateur Radio
back in the late 50's.
Then it was the long wait for that small little envelope to show up in the mail box. That day came on November 21, 1961.
Now I was a real Ham, WN6CMH.
I shall never forget how nervous I was the first time I hit
the "Operate" switch on that HX-11 and managed to get my
shaky fingers to send my first CQ. I doubt anyone can ever
forget that first QSO. With my five crystals, three on 40
meters and two on 80 meter cw, I really put that HX-11 and
it's 50 watt input power to the test. I made some life long
friends on the novice bands. These were the days I think I
cherish most of my ham radio career. |
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