My Radio History

I was first licensed on October 17, 1950 at the age of 16.  Not having a drivers license, I decided to try bicycle mobile and hold the distinction of being one of the very first hams to operate on a bike.  The radio was a military surplus rig which operated on 10 and 6 meters.  My operation was confined to 10-meters, and the 8 foot whip on the bike took down its share of leaves as I "mobiled" back and forth to school. The battery pack occupied the luggage carrier on my Roadmaster.

How well I remember biking back and forth to school working 10-meters mobile with 2 - 5 watts.

 In fact I was frequently late for my fourth hour English class from finishing up a good contact to California. Mrs. Van Dyke, my teacher  allowed the late entry., but I had to get up in front of the class and tell about my contact. 

My first base station was a little "Micamold 6AG7 to 6L6 40 watt CW transmitter built from a kit, and a National NC-57 Receiver.

Soon after I purchased a Globe Trotter 25 watt phone / cw rig from my friend Bill Sakkers, W8QJC.  The rest is history.

My main interests are emergency communications and just plain "rag chewing".

As a younger man, I enjoyed kit building and designing equipment from scratch. However, technology is getting more compact and my eyes are getting weaker.

Today I operate a Kenwood TS-940 all band / all-mode transceiver from home  plus an Icom 706 MK IIG which is my mobile rig from the car or motor home.  Two towers grace the back yard which holds a Thunderbird TH6DXX tribander, 3-element  home brew 17-meter beam, 80-40 meter trap doublet,   26 element  Cush Craft 2-meter phased array and a 19-element  70cm beam.  The home 2 meter transceiver is a Kenwood TS-711 and the 70cm twin, TS-811.

I am seldom found without a ham radio close at hand, either in the car or in my pocket.

I am an active member and past president of The Holland Amateur Radio Club and the American Radio Relay League.  I chaired the 2003 & 2004 Michigan State ARRL Convention

This hobby eventually became my vocation, as I ventured into radio - TV servicing, industrial engineering and the love of my life, Radio Broadcasting.

My first broadcasting job was at WKNK in Muskegon, Michigan in 1952, during the years learning every phase of the broadcasting business including management and engineering, and concluded after constructing and operating Station WZND in Zeeland, Michigan from 1971 - 1986.

I semi retired in 1987 at 52, spent 10-years in real Estate and during that time ended up doing TV and video work as a volunteer at a local Christian TV station, which led me to what I am doing today as a professional videographer.