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Callsign Lookup A Story
Amateur Radio Station N7HKK
I
was introduced to amateur radio by my late friend, "Silent Key"
Commander John H. Hogan, USN Retired (that is how John referred to himself in
all correspondence). John had been active in amateur radio and continuously
licensed since 1932. Once he found out that I had an interest in electronics,
an antenna “showed up” at my house, and pretty soon some morse code practice
tapes and books. I was first licensed as a "Technician" in 1985, and
John helped me construct my satellite station for communication through Oscar
10 mode B. At the time of this writing, it is non-functional while undergoing
upgrades to include mode S and mode J frequencies. The only functioning equipment
is my 2-meter VHF station. I have an Icom 290H, a Kenwood TR-9000 (with the
base and speaker), and an Alinco DR-135T. All three can drive a Mirage B108
Linear Amplifier which outputs to a Butternut Vertical Trombone antenna. Also
included in the 2-meter mix is an Alinco
DJ191-TH HT, which I bought at the SeaPac ARRL convention in June of
1999. It turned out to be a good little hand held, so it goes with me when I
don't have a mobile. My mobile rig is an Icom 27A which is a great little radio
too. APRS is in store for the mobile, and packet hopefully soon for the shack
radios.
Since
1985, I upgraded to "General Class", and then to "Amateur Extra
Class". Since upgrading, I have become an ARRL Volunteer
Examiner, and
an ARRL Registered Instructor. I love to do both as
amateur radio is one of my passions, and because ARRL is the leading advocate
for Amateur Radio!
Station
"Tour" Photo's…
The
Satellite Station HF
(left) Satellite (right)
The
Computer End
The
satellite station consists of:
Mode
B: Uplink is an Icom 471A which
drives a D1010 Linear Amplifier to a KLM 21C X-Yagi
Downlink is an Icom 290H
receiving from a KLM 28C X-Yagi which is enhanced by a GasFet pre-amp
Mode
L: Uplink is an Icom 1271A which drives
a Down East Microwave Linear Amplifier, and their Loop-Yagi array (x4)
Downlink is another Icom
471A receiving from a Down East Microwave Loop-Yagi array
Mode
J: Coming soon…
Mode
S: Coming soon…
Also
pending, is the installation of a 60' tip-over and crank-up tower for my HF
equipment. HF consists of a Kenwood TS-930S driving a Kenwood TL-922A Linear Amplifier.
The beam array is not yet up on the tower, but will a tri-bander of some sort.
Amateur Radio Links
ARRL AMSAT Icom Kenwood
Alinco Clark County Amateur Radio Club US Amateur Bands
QRZ FCC/ULS FCC Home Page Ham Radio Outlet Communication Specialists Ramsey
Electronics
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Downloads
Click
the following links to download the complete Amateur Radio FCC Part 97
Regulations, available in text, MSWord, or PDF format. Once you have clicked on
the version you want, use the "save as" function on
your browser to save, or if you only want to print choose "print-file".
Use your back button to return to my page, or click on the frame to the left.
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47CFR97 Text Version 47CFR97 MS Word Version 47CFR97 Adobe Acrobat PDF Version
Callsign Lookup
A Story
If
you've got the time, every amateur has an amazing story, or a favorite contact.
Here's mine! As you have previously read I was licensed in 1985. I took my
technician-general written tests in June of 1985 and waited weeks for my
license to arrive in the mail. I had a 2-meter station set up that went to a
homemade x-yagi antenna, and would turn it on and listen every day. I would
also listen to 20 and 40 meters to copy code and gain some proficiency in
tuning the receiver.
One
day in August I was at home (off from work that day) and was sitting there
listening to the 2 meter rig. I happened to tune in to two operators in
Portland, Oregon that were discussing the ongoing SAREX mission aboard the
space shuttle Challenger. Little did I realize at the time, but this would be
the Challengers last successful mission before the tragic explosion that would
occur during it's next flight. Anyway… the two operators in Portland were
discussing the 2-meter frequencies that would be used, so I jotted them down on
a notepad and programmed them into my radio. I set my radio to scan and just
listened. Unbelievable, but in about 10 minutes I heard a faint signal that got
stronger and then after a couple of minutes started to fade. It sounded like
listening to a slow-scan TV signal, and I knew that was one of the experiments
they were going to do. So knowing that possibly if it was the Challenger and
the orbits were about 90 minutes in duration, I decided to shut down the rig
and come back in an hour and a half and listen again. Boy… if only I had my
license and it was really the shuttle.
About
an hour later the mailman came, and I walked out to get the mail. Guess what?
Yes, there was a document from the FCC, my license had arrived after almost two
months. 20 minutes later or so with my new license in hand I again turned on my
2 meter rig and listened. Will I hear anything, or was it my imagination? Time
would tell.
Almost
90 minutes exactly since I'd heard the supposed slow-scan TV signal, I heard a
voice. "JPL, JPL, JPL, this is W0ORE aboard the space shuttle Challenger,
do you read"? My heart jumped out of my throat, my gosh, this can't be,
it's really the shuttle and I have my new license and can talk back to him, but
do I dare? I've never talked on a ham radio before, will I sound stupid? Again
I hear a stronger signal "JPL, JPL, JPL, W0ORE aboard the space shuttle
Challenger, do you read?" He must be getting closer, the signal was
stronger, What do I do? I heard no reply, so mustering up all the courage I
could, I keyed the mike for my very first time. "W0ORE, W0ORE
aboard Challenger, this is N7HKK, QTH White Salmon, Washington, do you
copy"? A tense couple of seconds and then came "Roger N7HKK, this is
W0ORE aboard Challenger, I copy and have you down". That was it, my first
day as an amateur and I had reached the pinnacle of my new amateur career, how
wonderful radio is. My heart raced, my head swelled to twice it's normal size,
I WAS A HAM!
So,
the first contact I ever made as a licensed amateur was one I will never
forget. It was with the last amateur to fly on the Challenger, and on the very
day I received my license in the mail. It couldn't get better than that as far
as I was concerned. But considering all these factors had to come into play, 1)
I had to have the day off, 2) I had to turn on the radio at the right
time, 3) I had to tune to an unknown frequency and get the
"unlisted SAREX frequencies", 4) those frequencies were being
passed at the time I happened to be listening, and 5) my license arrived
30 minutes before the shuttle acquisition window was available to me. I must
have had a higher presence helping me. Too many coincidences. Ending this
story, about 3 months later I received a QSL card from W0ORE and NASA, they had
indeed heard my call and logged it down. My first contact, my first QSL card,
my first logbook entry. For you new hams that might read this, something like
this or even better could happen to you too, radio opens up many new avenues
and adventures. Enjoy the hobby, respect the hobby, and continue to learn.
Enjoy your new frequency privileges, and thank God that we live in America!
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