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W8KR

4/30/2016

4 Comments

 

Episode 091 - Jack Falker -W8KR

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Jack Falker, W8KR, has been a ham for over 60 years.  He now divides his time between ham radio, rose gardening, and writing an international blog on rose gardening. Now that his tower and beam are retired, Jack uses phased vertical antennas above the rose garden to work DX around the World. Jack discusses amateur radio, vertical antennas, and the mystical side of amateur radio with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Show Notes
Listen to Podcast
Bunnell Telegraph Key

Hallicrafters SX28 Receiver

Hallicrafter SX43 Receiver

Collins 32V2

Astatic D104 Microphone

First Elmer:  Frank “Mac” McDonald, W8QIX

“Mac’s” gear: National NC125 Receiver

First License: 1954, Age 13,  Novice, WN8SRK
Upgraded to: W8SRK

Big Mentor: Dr. Ed Mackenzie, W8NGO, World War II hero during D-Day

First Kit: Heathkit SB-102

First Rig:
Heathkit AT1 Transmitter
Hallicrafters SX71 Receiver
80 meter dipole

Zepp Antenna

Current Rig:
Icom IC-781
Henry 2K Classic X Amplifier

Favorite Operating Mode: CW and SSB, in that order

Vibroplex Bug

N1MM Logger

University of Michigan, Masters in Finance,

A Rose Garden Array, QST February 2005

COMTEK ACB-4 Hybrid Four-Square Systems

3 wire elevated vertical antenna

Phased vertical antennas

The Minnesota Rose Gardener Blog - Frank’s Blog on

ON4UN Book Four Square Antenna

South Sandwich DXpedition

20 meter foursquare

The Long Path Radio Propagation  

The Collins System

QRZCQ DX Cluster

ARRL Centennial Contest


ARRL Code Practice

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Hallicrafters SX-71 Receiver
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Heathkit AT-1 Novice Transmitter
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Icom IC-781 Transceiver
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W8KR on ladder with Comtek-ACB4
4 Comments
Joe Marconi
5/1/2016 12:40:06 pm

good interview. Thank you both for taking time to share. I agree that radio is mystical but in a way that we CAN understand. It's magic and we are the magicians. That is what homebrewing has taught me anyways.

I think that the reference to an iphone being able to pop popcorn may explain why radio seems so mystical. It's a matter of understanding how radio works because an Iphone cannot pop popcorn. That was a hoax. I appreciate how Jack has the desire to learn and understand these things better though, especially after attending a school that fell short of providing the fundamentals for this understanding. Ham radio (& learning about RF design) are a great way to develop such an education of science and mathematics, where institutional learning facilities may have fallen short or not provided the right resources for the way one learns.

Thanks again to you both for the excellent interview. Jack, may your roses grow strong and your signals S9.

Reply
Kevin
5/5/2016 12:30:38 pm

I enjoyed your podcast 091. I am that new ham you were talking about. I recently passed both my tech and my general tests. I am just setting up my "shack" so I find myself in need of some kind of tutelage (sp?) on learning code and getting on the air with HF. As far as code goes, I am playing with it but I think I need some kind of regimented (weekly?) class or something to motivate me to learn\progress. It may be safe to assume that there are others like me and are looking for some kind of more formal training....

73
W5LNA

Reply
Eric 4Z1UG
5/6/2016 09:08:14 am

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for your message. There are many like you who need a tutor. Don't we all when we start something new. I had great ham radio mentors, or Elmers, when I started out.

On CW, check out CW Ops at http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html

I saw your sign up on the community, stay tuned as I am building a QSO Today Neighborhood as an online source of ham radio mentors.

Good luck and stay in touch.
73,
Eric

Reply
sop for mechanical engineering link
12/6/2016 10:48:29 am

Well thought content impressed me! I am glad to check out sharing information and accordingly meet with the demands.

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