QSO Today Podcast - QSO TODAY AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST

N7FF

4/1/2015

Episode 036 - Frank Fahrlander - N7FF

Sixty years in the hobby hasn’t diminished Frank Fahrlander’s, N7FF, enthusiasm for amateur radio and the exploration of new technologies and operating modes. With a solid foundation in electronics that began in grade school and through a career in computers, Frank continues to build projects and kits, elmer new hams, lead his DX club, and volunteer in his community. N7FF joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

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First License: 1955, WN8CGF

Elmers: Pete Peterka, W8HXB and Jim Lancaster, K8FL

First Rig: Hallicrafters S-39 Receiver and Johnson Viking Adventurer Transmitter

First Amateur Radio Club: Fort Hamilton Amateur Radio Association

Surface barrier transistor

Scanning disk television, or mechanical television.

NCR 304 Computer

Rigs along the way:
Heathkit Sixer
Heathkit SB100
Heathkit HW7

Current Rig: Icom 756Pro III

Projects:

SDR or Software Defined Radio - R820T2 dongle.
NorCal 20 QRP Transceiver
BitX20 QRP Transceiver Kit
3D RGB LED Cube 8X8X8

QST Article: Dipoles Atop a Vertical, QST Magazine, Oct 2013, pp. 30

Hot Springs Village, Arkansas - Frank's current home

Carolina Windom Antenna

W6TDM Repeater - Cupertino, California 440.150 + PL: 100 Hz

Clubs and Organizations:

Most valuable test equipment: Array Solutions AIM4170D RF Analyzer

First Rig Suggestions:

VHF/UHF - Baofeng UV5R portable
HF, Low cost - Icom IC-706
HF, $ no problem - Elecraft K3

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Johnson Viking Adventurer Transmitter and Hallicrafters S39 Receiver

Heathkit Sixer - 6 meter AM "Lunchbox"

Frank with his father

BitX20A QRP Transceiver Kit

8 Comments

Ed LeGault

4/7/2015 08:53:37 am

I met Frank at Tandem Computers at TRAC, the company ham club. Not too many companies had their own ham shack and repeater. Frank encouraged me, and others, to go for the code. At that time I was just a Tech Plus, but am now an Extra. If I remember correctly, Frank used to run a CW station while riding his motorcycle :-)
7 3
Ed NX6ED (formerly KD6UBY)

Frank Fahrlander

4/7/2015 10:04:02 pm

Hi Ed,
Good to hear from you. I'm happy you got your Extra! I operated cw from my car but I only had a CB in my Goldwing. Can I say CB on a ham podcast? :)

Eric 4Z1UG

4/8/2015 11:19:17 pm

Sure you can say CB. Working CW on a Goldwing is the stuff that legends are made of.

Ghery Pettit (N6TPT)

4/7/2015 01:58:23 pm

TRAC brings back some old memories. We had a great station at corporate HQ, right across the street from where I worked. Didn't hurt having W6JKV as the president of the company. :-)

Frank Fahrlander

4/7/2015 09:59:08 pm

Nice hear from you Ghery. Yes, we were blessed. I remember doing an open house during a DX contest at W6TDM.

Hank Fahrlander

1/2/2020 09:14:08 am

Hello Frank
Just wanted to say hello and wish you a happy new year.

W5PXB

Tony Armendariz

5/30/2020 11:29:17 am

Hi Frank,
Good to see you’re still having fun.
73 & 88,
Tony, AD6ID, Santa Barbara

Dan Watson

2/1/2021 12:11:05 pm

Howdy Frank. For some obscure reason, your name popped into my brain today, so not knowing your current email address, I stumbled onto this site and wanted to drop you a line. Sure hope all is well with you and Phyllis and that you're both staying safe in these horrible times. I've not done any ham stuff in a very long time, but I enjoyed reading your history here. All the best to you, Dan

N7FF

Episode 036 - Frank Fahrlander - N7FF

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