1971: Charles Ahlgren, WB6IYM






1966: Brian Wood, W0DZ

1961: Richard Pumphrey, WN9DDV

1962, Walt Beverly, W4GV

1961: Rick Roznoy, K1OF

1962, Steve Meyers, W0AZ

1951: Bill Weinhardt, W9PPG

1955: Paul Johnston, W9PJ

1964: Michael Betz, WB8ZFQ.

1967: Pete Malvasi, W2PM

1962: Terry Schieler, W0FM

1969: John Kosmak, W3IK

1953: Dan Girand, W5ARB

1975: David Collingham, K3LP

1961: Jim Cain, K1TN

1957: Bill Tippett, W4ZV

1961: Bob Lightner, W4GJ

1956: Bernie Huth, W4BGH

1952: Dick Bender, W3SYY

1951: Dale Bredon, W6BGK

1963: "Sig" Signer, NV7E

1958: Jeff Lackey, K8CQ

1953: Dan Bathker, K6BLG

1961: Rick Tavan, N6XI

1956: Bill Penhallegon, W4STX

1958: John Miller, K6MM

1959/1993: Tom Carter, KC2GEP

1966: Kelly Klaas, K7SU

1976: Mary Moore, WX4MM

1970: David Kazan, AD8Y

1957: Paula Keiser, K8PK

1971: Charles Ahlgren, WB6IYM

1952: Tom Webb, W4YOK

1964: License Manual - Chapter 2, Novice

1964: Advertisements

1970: Jim Zimmerman, N6KZ

1987: Matt Cassarino, WV1K

More - Mike Branca, W3IRZ (sk)

1953: Bill Bell, KN2CZZ

1952: Ron D' Eau Claire, AC7AC

History - 1950s: The Beginning

History - 1960s: Mid-Peak

History - 1970s: Late Peak

(sample story) My Elmer

1954: Novice Logbook (Dick Zalewski, W7ZR)

1961: Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

1953: George Marko, K2DWL

1964: How to Become a Radio Amateur

1967: ARRL Handbook

1963: Learning the Radiotelegraph Code

1955: Jack Burks, K4CNW

1979: Ann Santos, WA1S

1952: Ron Baker, WA6AZN

Welcome to the Novice Historical Society Home Page!

1952/1955: The CQ Twins (Clint, W9AV & Quent, W6RI)

1956: Mike Branca, W3IRZ

1959: Don Minkoff, NK6A

History - 1980s: Early-Decline

1990-2000: The End

1976, Rick Palm, K1CE

1978: Larry Makoski, W2LJ

1961: Gary Yantis, W0TM

1955: Al Cammarata, W3AWU

1951: Bob McDonald, W4DYF

1951: Charlie Curle, AD4F

1953: Kenny Cassidy, WN2WNC

1951: Jim Franklin, K4TMJ

1953: Rick Faust, N2RF

1973: Greg Harris, WB9MII

1957: Mickey LeBoeuf, K5ML

1957: Jim Cadien, KC7ZMV

1976: Tom Fagan, K7DF

1953: Fred Jensen, K6DGW

1957: Tony Rogozinski, W4OI

1961, Novice Roundup Award (Art Mouton, K5FNQ)

1956: Woody Pope, ex-KN5GCM

1967: Larry Rybacki, WA2ARA

1955: Gene Schonrock, W6EAJ

1955: Dave Germeyer, W3BJG

1983: Harry Weiss, KA3NZR

1970: Paul Huff, N8XMS

1976: John Yasuda, WB6PTC

1953: Alvin Burgland, W6WJ

1966: Neil Friedman, N3DF

1976: Lyle Heide, WB9VTM

1968: Leigh Klotz, Sr., N5LK

1956: Ken Barber, W2DTC

1977: Keith Darwin, N1AS

1959: Tom Wilson, K7FA

1956: Wayne Beck, K5MB

1984: Paul Conant, WQ5X

1970: Ward Silver, N0AX

1982: Christopher Horne, W4CXH

1953: Paul Signorelli, W0RW

1954: Ray Cadmus, W0PFO

1957: Norm Goodkin, K6YXH

1959: Glen Zook, K9STH

1970: Ken Brown, N6KB

1962: Fred Merkel, AK7D

1972: Rob Atkinson, K5UJ

1955: David Quagiana, K2MTW

1952: Sam Whitley, K5SW

1967: Frequency Chart

1983: William Wilson, AB0VG

1953: Jim Brown, W5ZIT

1958: Al Burnham, K6RIM

1952: Gary Borri, K9DBR

1961: Bill Husted, KQ4YA

1955: Dan Schobert, W9MFG

1976: Charles Bibb, K5ZK

1979: Bill Brown, KA6KBC

1965: Ken Widelitz, K6LA / VY2TT

1975: Tim Madden, KI4TG

1972: Steve Ewald, WV1X

1969: Mike "Jug" Jogoleff, WA6MBZ

1964: Phil Salas, AD5X

1954: John Johnston, W3BE

1968: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU

1975: Last of the Distinct Novice Callsigns (Cliff Cheng, AC6C; ex-WN6JPA)

1987: Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV

1966: Tom Morgan, AF4HL

1954: Dan Smith, K6PRK

1954: Novice Callsign History License (Dan, K6PRK's License)

1975: First of the Non-distinct Novice Callsigns (Cliff Cheng, AC6C; ex-WA6JPA)

1957: Doug Millar, K6JEY

1954: Dick Zalewski, W7ZR

1962: Steve Pink, KF1Y

1975: Cliff Cheng, AC6C

1966: Tom Napier, AI4QV

1965: Novice Code Test (Ken Widelitz, K6LA / VY2TT)

1954: Bob Brown, W4YFJ

1977: Russ Roberts, KH6JRM

1958: Jeff Wolf, K6JW

1964: John Shidler, NS5Z

1972: Rick Andersen, KE3IJ

1977: Barry Whittemore, WB1EDI

1967: Grover Cordell, WB5FSP

1959: Val Erwin, W5PUT

1953: Bob Rolfness, W7AVK

1953: Paul Danzer, N1ii

1969: Dennis Kidder, W6DQ

1971: Jonathan Kramer, W6JLK

1959: Chas Shinn, W7MAP/5

1961: Mark Nelson, AJ2K

1978: Alice King, AI4K

1965: Gary Pearce, KN4AQ

1988: James Kern, KB2FCV

1958: Jay Slough, K4ZLE

1954: L.B. Cebik, W4RNL (sk)

1997: Novice Question Pool.

1952: Steve Jensen, W6RHM

1989: Michael Tracy, KC1SX

1979: Matt Tinker, AA8P

1965: Dan Gaylord, W7IDG

1956: Chuck Counselman, W1HIS

1976: Scott McMullen, W5ESE

1961: Joe Park, WB6AGR

1955: Jack Schmidling, K9ACT

1969: Bill Continelli, W2XOY

1962: Bob Roske, N0UF

1963: Glenn Kurzenknabe, K3SWZ

1969: Phyllis Webb, WN4IIF

1956: Dan Cron, W6SBE

1954: Carl Yaffey, K8NU

1967: Ted White, N8TW

1982: Penny Cron, W6SBE

1961, Kent Gardner, WA7AHY

1970: Brad Bradfield, W5CGH

1976: Steve Melachrinos, W3HF

1994: Brian Lamb, KE4QZB

1958: Operating an Amateur Radio Station

1965: AL LaPeter, W2AS

1961: Rick Swain, KK8o

1956: Keith Synder, KE7IOW

1951: Elmer Harger, N7EL

1987: Lou Giovannetti, KB2DHG

1966: Dave Fuseler, NJ4F

1976: Marcel Livesay, N5VU

1965: Bob Jameson, N3LNP

1951: Byron Engen, W4EBA

1956: Cam Harriot, KI6WK

1965: FCC Exam Schedule

1962: Joe Trombino, W2KJ

1956: Ray Colbert, W5XE

1964: Geoff Allsup, W1OH

1977: Tom Herold, N9BUL

1951: Hank Greeb, N8XX

1959: Dean Straw, N6BV

1970: Alan Applegate, K0BG

1957: Richard Cohen, K6DBR

1971: Ronald Erickson, K0IC

1965: Jan Perkins, N6AW

1953: Charlie Lofgren, W6JJZ

1960: Art Mouton, K5FNQ

1955: Dan Marks, ex-K6IQF

1958: Mike Chernus, K6PZN

1960: Bob Silverman, WA6MRK

1951: Richard Schachter, W6HHI

1953: Joe Montgomery, W1DWJ

1958: Richard Dillman, W6AWO

1968: Bob Dunn, K5IQ

1988: Jamie Markowitz, AA6TH

1952: Jim Leighty, W6UJX

1955: Matt Wheaton, W1EMM

1957: Dick Newsome, W0HXL

1956: Slim Copeland, K4KCS

1959, 1993: Tom Carter, KC2GEP

1968: Bill Byrnes, AB9BD

1971: Jeff Angus, WA6FWI

1956: Dean Norris, K7NO

1972: Dennis Drew, W7RVR

1958: Stan Miln, K6RMR

1958: George Ison, K4ZMI

1978: Fred Soper, KC8FS

1956: John Fuller, K4HQK

1961: Riley Hollingswworth, K4ZDH

  


1971: Charles Ahlgren, WB6IYM


Charles Ahlgren, WB6IYM (former WN6IYM, 1971)

Ahhhhhhhhhhh the memories.....I was licensed as WN6IYM back in April, 1971...Don, WA6FFF (sk) was my Elmer.  Although he had no offspring of his own, over the years he had helped a lot of you guys get their tickets.  Don had his own shack built on the back of his garage, and ran a pair of Drake twins to a homebrew cubical quad at about 40 feet.  I had the pleasure of my first exposure to ham radio and chatting with someone on that rig.  I was a really nice set up for its day.

I had been a short wave listener ever since I saw a neighborhood friend's SWL rig...I built a Heathkit GR-64 receiver and then decided to get my ticket...I learned code from a 33-1/3 rpm record from Radio Shack that I played on my sister's stereo...Once I got the ticket (code test administered via an old paper tape machine -- WWII vintage), I got on the air with a DX-60B that I built (my parents were always big on building things and learning from the experience)..Then I built the companion receiver (HR-10B) for the ham bands (they cost about $80 each at the time, I believe).  Then came the General Class upgrade (trip to San Francisco Customshouse and all)...I added the HG-10B VFO. The antenna was a Hustler 4BTV on the ground with a 75-meter resonator and a Dipole for 80 meters.

I got a summer job after the first year of college and upgraded the receiver to a Drake 2C (I still have it)....Also built a Heath Q-multiplier, crystal calibrator, SWR/Wattmeter, electronic keyer, HW-7 QRP rig, tube checker, VTVM, and VHF police band radio...Great fun and a great way to learn about electronics..

While I was a novice, I worked most of WAS (had a couple of rare ones like WY and DE to catch as a General, I believe)...Used crystals on 40 meters and had one or 2 that would multiply up to 15 meter Novice band...In those days you had to be cleaver to work stations as you could not move around as easily as you do now.  Sad to say, but I have only one DX QSL card from my Novice days.  It is shown above.

In high school I belonged to the "I Tappa Key Radio Society" at El Cerrito High School, call sign WA6GDR; or Willie Alpha Six, blank , blank Republican...We had a National NC-300 receiver and a Johnson Viking Valiant transmitter that had an old Astatic D-104 microphone...We also had a Navy surplus regenerative receiver that no one knew how to operate...We loaded up end-fed long wires that sloped upward at a steep angle from the electronics shack to the top of the main building - probably at least 150 feet or more.  We fed the wire directly from a short piece of coax via an insulator that ran through the wall.  Counterpoise you ask?  There was none that I remember, but there could have been an existing ground system I knew nothing about or was not aware of.  At any rate, looking back on it all, the SWR was probably pretty high (no meter), but I seem to remember the Valiant loading up just fine! 

The Club had a pretty decent membership roster in the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's under a teacher that retired before I got there, but there were only about 3 hams at the school during my tenure.  So, that rig did not see much activity during my days and during my Senior year, I was the only licensed ham at the school.  In fact, I do not even know where the rig came from, but my guess is that the retired teacher donated it to the club.  The modulation transformer smoked and someone had rewired an outboard affair that took its place (sitting on top of the cabinet in its own aluminum housing).  I worked a lot in the electronics lab helping to build and repair the school's fleet of Heathkit electronic test equipment, and of course took electronics classes.  With all the students in those classes, we somehow could not get anyone interested in obtaining a ticket.  I think learning the code had a lot to do with it; you needed to be self-disciplined to be able to successfully study for the exams in those days.  To my knowledge there was no local radio clubs that offered classes.

Upward and onward after graduation.  I spent the summer getting my General ticket (had to take the test more than once, and wait six weeks in between sittings!!).  I became WB6IYM in September, 1972, just in time for college.   I became a member of the Contra Costa Community College Amateur Radio Club.  The club ran Drake TR-3 transceiver and an old National NCL-2000 linear amplifier (you could arc the caps if you had it on SSB and keyed the TR3 in CW mode!!).  The antenna was a Mosley TA-33 about 30 feet above the flat steel roof; had dipoles for 40 and 80.   I spent my first 3 years of college operating that station and having a lot of fun before transferring to UC Berkeley and pursuing a degree in Structural Engineering. 

The sun spots did not cooperate in the early 1970's so we did not work a lot of DX, but we sure had fun rag chewing on the bands.  It was during this time that I bought my Drake 2-C receiver and my Yaesu FLdx-400 Transmitter.  I remember many summer evenings rag chewing on the 40 meter band with that rig (zero beating the transmitter to the receiver).

Anyway, I am getting a bit off topic here.  The 1970's was a great time to be active in ham radio.  And it is too bad that our hobby seems to be dying out.  I suppose that the generation that came of age in the 1950's, 60's and 70's did have a great time with a lot simpler apparatus than we have now, but what a challenge to work the world with such minimal equipment.  I have often thought about building one of the kits on the market, just to bring back memories of doing something like that.  It is truly rewarding.

Thanks for taking the time to reminisce with me,

Charles, WB6IYM

(c) 2007, Cliff Cheng, Ph.D., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED!