QSO Today with Bill Levy N2WL

N2WL

12/17/2022

Episode 430 - Bill Levy - N2WL

Bill Levy, N2WL, operates from his apartment in New York City, and from a remotely controlled FlexRadio station in Colorado, as part of a network of remotely controlled stations available for hire. As a kid, Bill paid for his ham radio hobby by running Wall Street, and he did a stint as a wildlife photographer for Time-Life and Partridge Films, while operating as a DX entity from Africa. N2WL tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Show Notes

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The total amounts contributed as sponsorships and/or donations since Episode 1 in July 2014 are listed below, and only those who agreed to be publicly recognized. This list does not include “Buy Me A Coffee” donations.

Hometown: Scarsdale, NY

First SWL Receiver: Hallicrafters S-107 Receiver
First License: Age 14, Novice WB2RUD

First Rig:
Heathkit DX-60 Transmitter
Receiver Upgrade: Hallicrafters SX-140
External Plate Modulator for Heathkit DX-60
Mosley TA-33 Beam

Rig Upgrade: Swan 240 Transceiver
Keyna Callsign: 5Z4PA
Hallicrafters FPM-300 Safari Transceiver
Heathkit SB-220 Amplifier
Hy-Gain TH6 Beam Antenna
KLM Long Stick Antenna

Remote Station in Colorado:
FlexRadio Flex6600 HF Transceiver
FlexRadio Maestro Control Head
Elecraft KPA-1500 Power Amplifier
80 Meter Four Square Antenna
160 meter Four Square Antenna

Terms
Shortwave QSL Cards
Shortwave Listening
Harrison Radio Company
Wall Street Runner
New York Pneumatic Tube Mail Delivery System
Washington University, History
House Un-American Activities Committee
Rhodesia
Brian Tracy, Sahara
Corvair
Ford Mustang Historical
NYU Graduate School for Film and TV
Time-Life Films
Partridge Films
Mt. Kisko, NY
Collins KWM-2 Transceiver
Collins 30L1 Amplifier
Africa Sarengetti
Atlas 210x HF Transceiver
Ten-Tec HF Transceiver
Cubic Radios
Packet Radio DXspotting
KPC-3 Packet Modem
Steven Spielberg
Log Periodic Antenna
WARC Bands
Remote Ham Radio
Leica Camera
Nikon Camera
8877 HF Power Amplifier
Pigstick to short capacitor

Excited most by: remote ham radio - sitting in New York City and operating from Colorado.

Advice to new or returning hams: Join a club and meet other hams.

The RSS Feed for all audio content from QSO today is available from here.

Please join our QSO Today community by pressing the button below. It is the best way to suggest guests and topics, and provide feedback to Eric, 4Z1UG.

N2WL Operating Collins, 1992

Mobile with the Hallicrafters FPM-300 Safari

N2WL Colorado Operating Position, 2012

N2WL Colorado Workbench

8 Comments

George

12/17/2022 02:47:46 pm

Pls forward to N6WL
Hi Bill,
Enjoyd your podcast much. I’m also retired, living in a condo and in my 90s. Have not been on sw bands in over 15 years. Used to own 60 tower, 6 el beam and logged over 200 countries. Interested in getting back on via remote radio system. Not much info via text on internet. Do you have to pay to listen prior to start QSO and transmitt? What does software that you use looks like? Any help will be appreciated. By bst 73s. K3EJ. George

Bill Levy

12/19/2022 03:19:32 pm

www.remotehamradio.com go to their website. they will explain everthing. it all works online, no software or you can download an app.
Either way. all the info is on their website. 73, Bill

arnold ziegel

12/17/2022 06:01:41 pm

Bill, ths is a blast from the Chappaqua and Mt Kisco repeater days . This is Arnie W2HDI.
I recognized the name, and knew it was you as soon as I saw the comment about film and Africa.
Glad to see that you're still active. I am as well, from my home in Stowe, VT. Would love to catch up on the air some day. BTW, Eric interviewed me about 5 years ago.
73
Arnie Ziegel W2HDI

Bill Levy

12/19/2022 03:19:40 pm

Arnie,
Delighted to hear from you. Didn't mention repeaters at all. Can't help being active. Mostly operate remotely to the boys in CO in a morning old timers net. The odd dx when it pops up. I am off travelling for a few months after Xmas but in March I will be home and we can sure hookup. There are a lot of East Coast stations I can access so whatever band you find works best for local stuff, 80, 40 whatever. Ping me beginning of March. 73, Bill

Arnie Ziegel

12/19/2022 03:48:53 pm

We had a great group of guys on those two repeaters..ancient history.
I'll reach out in March. We go to Hilton Head mid March, but I operate my Flex 6400 remotely from there and have a pretty decent signal from 2000 ft in Vermont, on all bands with an Expert 1.3.
Best for a happy holiday - nice to be in touch. 73

Ralph Long

12/19/2022 08:38:27 am

Every time I listen to your podcast, I think “that was the best one ever!”

This latest one with Bill Levy, N2WL was “the best one ever”!

Looking forward to the next “best one ever”.

Eric 4Z1UG link

12/24/2022 09:32:07 am

Thanks - labor of love.

Micah

12/19/2022 01:09:05 pm

Regarding the pneumatic tubes -- Fascinating information about the pneumatic tube system as well as other communications infrastructure in this exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York: https://www.mcny.org/exhibition/analog-city. For listeners in the NYC area, catch it before it's gone on January 8th! Sadly there was very little mention of analog radio and television, but it was interesting nonetheless. More info on Untapped New York: https://untappedcities.com/?s=pneumatic+tubes

All best,
Micah (new ham - KD2ZYH)

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Episode 430 - Bill Levy - N2WL

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Episode 430 - Bill Levy - N2WL

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