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W7LR

8/13/2016

3 Comments

 

Episode 106 - Bob Leo - W7LR

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​Bob Leo, W7LR, began his ham radio journey in the 1930s as a kid growing up in California. He went on to become a member of the first commercial DXpedition to Africa and later a co-founder of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand. Bob had a rich career as an electrical engineer and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Montana State University.  Now, his 90’s, Bob resides in Bozeman Montana with Cobi, his wife of over 60 years.  Bob is  my QSO Today.


Show Notes
Listen to Podcast
XYL: Cobi Leo, wife of over 60 years.  Married in Florence, Italy, October 1949

1 Tube #30 receiver  

Hugo Gernsback - inventor, writer, and futurist

First License: W6PBV, Age 16, 1937
Bob and friend, Bud, W6PBI, took the ham radio exam in San Francisco

First DX contact: MX2B in Manchuria

Favorite band in 1930s: 40 meters

First Rig: 
211 tube transmitter, 110VAC on the key.
3 tube amateur receiver
First contact to New Jersey: QSL card

Elmer: Cam Pierce W6HJT, at Stanford, gain antenna for 160 Meters

Current Rigs: 
  • Kenwood TS-590 to listen on 6 meters
  • Elecraft K3 for HF
  • Icom for two meters

Current operation and modes:  What is your favorite mode and band?  
Has 251 countries on 160 meters

Favorite mode: Prefers CW, concentrates on 17 meters

Education: 
  • San Mateo Junior College 
  • Cal-Tech BSEE and Stanford University
  • Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in California and Montana.
  • Professor at Montana State University,  in Bozeman, Montana -  taught Electrical engineering


MSU ARC Callsign: W7YB, was 7YB, Bob recommissioned the MSU ARC

​US Naval Reserves

Katakana  Japanese radio code.  

Bainbridge Japanese code school

Battle of Midway - decisive battle in the Pacific during World War 2

Gatti/Hallicrafters  Big DXpedition - to British East Africa, Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda

Bill Halligan, Owner of Hallicrafters

Simon Ramo, Founder of Hughes Aircraft Company.  

Stanford Research Institute, Palo Alto
HS1L - Bob’s Thai callsign
HS1I - King of Thailand

Founder of the RAST, Radio Amateur Society of Thailand

Max Planck Institute, Germany

FAA Antennas: 
  • V-Beam wire antenna
  • Four Square Antenna - four vertical antennas in a phased array
  • N6TR antenna work

Advice to to and returning hams:  Get an Elmer.


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One Tube Regen Radio using a #30 vacuum tube
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  • KK7UV's 211 Tube Transmitter
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Kenwood TS-590S
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W7LR Station
3 Comments
Yehuda Cern
8/18/2016 08:01:41 am

W7LR's firsts in ham radio are astounding and leave me breathless. His career reads like a list of the pioneering companies and organizations that laid the foundations for communications. We're so honored that he recorded this interview, and thanks to Eric for the insightful questions.

Reply
Bill Erhardt
4/3/2018 07:40:20 am

Hi Leo, thoughts and prayers with you from Helena. Bill

Reply
Roger Cooke G3LDI
2/14/2022 07:48:11 am

What a great Podcast! So nice to hear that Bob and Cobi are still together after 60 years. Very interesting to hear of his CW copying of the Japanese wartime messages, not easy! I had a good friend Dick N7ZL who was a CW op in the Far East during the war. We used to have skeds every day. He was fluent in American and standard Morse alike. Live long and prosper Bob 73 de Roger G3LDI
By the way I have been teaching Morse in the UK since 1956

Reply



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