1953: Jim Brown, W5ZIT






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

  


1953: Jim Brown, W5ZIT


Jim Brown, W5ZIT (formerly, WN5ZIT, 1953)

I was issued the call sign WN5ZIT (4-29-53) and upgraded to Conditional W5ZIT about 4 or 5 months later.  Getting my code speed up from 5 WPM to 13 WPM was the main factor in my upgrade.  I progressed to the advanced class and then the extra class after finishing college.

My elmer was Tom W5RLN (SK) and he held court for several of us at the same time.  I had several buddies in high school who were interested, but I was the first to get a license.  Jon WN5ZKD (SK) was the next to join the ranks, then Horace, WN5ATF (SK) and Hubert (Jon's older brother) WN5ENA (SK).  A couple more in the group were Joe WN5GSP and Robert Jacobs whose call I can't remember.  The last to join the group was Travis, KN5AVH.

Jon and I had some of the last of the original issue W5 calls.  Horace was licensed just a little while later and had the reissue W5ATF.  All the rest were reissue calls until Travis got one of the first K5 original issue call signs.

Before Horace (WN5ATF) got his license, he built a CW transmitter that output about 5 watts using a crystal on 3825 that I had loaned him.  He loaded it into his bedsprings and called a phone station in Shreveport, about 75 miles away.  Since he was not licensed, he used the Texarkana club callsign, W5OZO.  The station in Shreveport sent a QSL card to the club, which alerted them to the QSO.  Since Horace had used his name during the QSO, two of the club officers came to his house and collected the transmitter (and my crystal).  Horace went on to get his novice license a few months later.

To practice the code before I took my novice test, I put my J-38 key in series with the audio output to the speaker of my Hallicrafter SX-28 receiver and would practice sending with the receiver tuned to WWV while it was transmitting a tone.  Tom let us send by keying his VFO without the transmitter enabled and listening in his receiver.

My first QSO was with another novice in Corpus Christi Texas.  I lived in Texarkana Texas at the time, and I recall that I transmitted to the station in Corpus Christi while my buddy Jon copied his reply, as I was too excited to copy.  One other station that I QSOed many times was located in Monet MO, but I don't remember the call (WN0MRC ?).  We used to get together almost every afternoon on 40 meters and say HI.  Another station I QSOed many times as a novice was a mail carrier in the Idabel OK area.  He was not a novice and had a very good fist to demonstrate to us what proper CW sounded like.  When novice stations were in a QSO with other novice stations, there was some concern that the CW we used was not what the rest of the world was used to - HI.

My novice transmitter was a 1619 crystal oscillator driving a 1625 final to about 70 watts input.  I built it on a couple of 1 X 2 boards spaced far enough apart to mount the tube sockets for the two tubes plus another tube socket for the crystal.  My power supply was built on another 1 X 2 chassis spaced apart to mount the rectifier tube, the power transformer, the choke, and the filter capacitor.  For all my later building I found a heating duct business that stocked aluminum sheet and I folded my own chassis.  I also found that the local newspaper used aluminum sheets to print the paper and I was able to get some large sheets of aluminum from them.  Some of my chassis had newsprint on one side - HI.

My antenna was an 80 meter folded dipole strung between two utility poles, one on my Dad's property and one on the neighbors property.  Part of the antenna hung across the neighbors yard.  I did not use enough spreaders on that antenna and was forever having to untwist one side or the other.  I strung my 40 meter dipole between two trees in the back yard.

I remember a trip that Jon WN5ZKD, Joe, WN5GSP and I took over to the Arkansas side of Texarkana sometime in 1953 to see Gene Lamport W5EGY.  Gene had a two story two car garage and the upper story was a large open room he used for his hamshack.  Across one end of the room stood four open frame racks with AM transmitters for 160, 75, 20, and 10 meters.  Each rack contained the exciter, the power supply and modulator for the transmitter.  In the center of the room stood his operating desk, with a VFO for the transmitters, a speech amplifier for the modulators, and a receiver.

I'll never forget this setup, and I have never seen a ham station like that since, except in pictures.  That was my inspiration as an ideal ham station for all of my amateur radio experience.

My main supplier of parts in those days was the Burstein Applebee company in St Louis.  They had a catalog with the front half on white pages and the back half on yellow pages.  All the surplus parts were on the yellow pages, and that was my source for tubes (1625s were $0.25 apiece) and crystals as well as many other ceramic coil forms and such that I used in building radios in those days.  I had three FT-243 crystals on the 80 meter novice band and three on the 40 meter band.  They all started out on the same frequency in each band with the other two ground with tooth paste to a higher frequency.  I recall ruining several crystals before getting one moved in frequency that would still oscillate.  I think they were four for a dollar, so I soon learned how to move a crystal frequency.

Texarkana was more than 75 miles from Little Rock Arkansas, the nearest FCC office, so the license test for Novice was administered by Tom W5RLN.  As soon as we could demonstrate to him that we could send and receive 5 WPM we would send for the test which was delivered to the applicant.  We would take the unopened test to Tom and he would open the envelope and administer the test.  He would then make out the paperwork and mail the test back to the FCC himself with the affidavit that we had passed the 5 WPM CW requirement and that we had not used any cribs to take the test.  It took about eight weeks for the license to return in the mail.

As an interesting aside, when I got ready to take the test for the Conditional license, Tom assured me that I had passed the 13 WPM requirement and said that I could take the test when I thought I could pass the theory.  When I was ready, I sent for the test only to find out that Tom was on vacation for two weeks.  I only had 10 days to get the test back in the mail to the FCC so I had to find another ham to administer the test.  Our local radio store was Lavender Radio, owned by Joe Lavender.  I knew he was licensed although I had never heard him on the air and I asked one of his clerks in the radio store to call him and see if he would administer the test.  He agreed and I had to demonstrate my 13 WPM sending and receiving to him before he would open the written test and let me take it.  You could send back an unopened test with no penalty if you failed the CW exam, but could not re-take the test for 30 days.

Jon (WN5ZKD) and I were operating the novice station at field day in 1953 with the Texarkana club (W5OZO).  We were using a transmitter we had built that used plug in final coils for the 6146 and used a switch to close the high voltage transformer center tap to ground to enable the transmitter.

I was listening on the headphones to a station calling CQ that I decided to try to work and turned the switch on that supplied high voltage to the transmitter.  Unknown to me, Jon was in the process of changing bands and was pulling the 40 meter tank coil out of the socket.  The coil had 600 VDC applied as soon as I turned on the switch and we happened to touch each other during this process.  Needless to say, we were both knocked on our behinds, and had a taste in our mouths like we had been chewing on tin cans.

We both recovered and went on to operate some more, but no more on 40 meters, since Jon had wadded up the Barker and Williamson 40 meter final coil he had in his hand when we made the 600 volt connection.

I never did any code practice after getting the novice license.  My speed gradually increased over several months on the air until I was proficient enough to handle the 13 WPM speed.  I stayed with CW for several years before building my first AM phone rig.  By that time I was headed off to college and I built up a Heising modulated 815 rig to take to school in Austin TX.  I had decided to major in Electrical Engineering and I graduated  from the University of Texas in 1961 with a BSEE.  My novice days started me on a very satisfying career in electronics and I am still active in building repeaters from surplus commercial FM radios.  My only HF operation is using the digital modes, with Olivia as my preferred operating mode.

 

73 - Jim  W5ZIT

 

(c) 2009, Cliff Cheng, Ph.D., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.