A Little About Me

I was born on November 22, 1950 in Chicago, IL. We lived in a south suburb of Chicago in the small town of Lansing, IL with my Dad (Bob Sr.), my Mom (Helen) and my Sister (Janice). The town was on the state line between IL and IN. I always enjoyed mechanical and electrical things.

When I was in Junior High School, my best friend, Ron had received a Knight-Kit Star Roamer as a gift. I wanted one too so I convinced my parents to let me get one. Ron and I had a lot of fun listening to Short Wave Broadcasts and Ham Radio Stations. There were three Hams near our house; K9QNQ, K9SDL and WA9DII. Ron and I wanted to be like Hams so we strung a pair of wires between our houses, used old phonographs as radios (microphone connected to where the phono cartridge was, speakers connected to the wires between the houses) and we had our first (Intercom) Ham Station. (Ron now lives in Florida with his wife Paula. He is now WB4SKD). With the help of a lot of people, I studied for my Novice test and learned Morse Code. While studying, I shoveled snow and cut lawns to earn money for my first station. I bought a Lafayette KT-320 Kit and a Knight-Kit T-60. With the help of my Dad, I put up a 40 Meter dipole at 35 feet. Ed Travis, W9ADO gave me the Novice test and in September, 1964 I was WN9NFO.

When I got my General in 1965, I wanted to get on 160 meters. I picked up an old Johnson Viking II and used a Drake 2B with a low frequency converter. The antenna was my old 40 Meter dipole with the coax feedline shorted out and fed through an adjustable coil. Worked like a vertical with a big top hat. I met my future wife, Joyce in high school and after college, we got married (1973). I have a B.S.E.E degree.

We moved to California in 1975. I purchased a new Yaesu FT-101E which was my home station and mobile station on our trips back to the Illinois area for family visits. We bought our house in Riverside in 1979 and we continue to live there today. My son, Rob is 31. My daughter Sandy is 26 and just recently got married to a really great guy, Victor. They purchased a house in Rancho Cucamonga which is about a 20 minute drive from here.

My wife took an interest in Ham Radio and got her Novice (KA6QYG) and then upgraded to Technician Plus. Her call today is W6ADE.

I am a life member of the ARRL and a member of the Riverside County Amateur Radio Assosiation. I am also the Secretary/Treasurer of the QCWA, (QCWA Chapter 177) and active in RACES. I am the RACES Deputy Chief - Administration for the Riverside County RACES Organization. On the local political scene, I am a City of Riverside Planning Commissioner. I operate all bands from 160 Meters to 440MHz. My favorite mode is CW.

In my current life, I am a retired Data Processing Manager for an IBM/UNIX shop. Prior to this, I worked as a Data Processing Manager for Security Pacific Bank and then Bank of America. Going back even further, I worked in various positions for Bell & Howell Co. in Indiana, Illinois and then California.

I like working DX and have picked up an interest in Contesting and mobile operating. I am currently trying my hand at SO2R contest operating.

I also enjoy powered Radio Control Airplane flying. I am Treasurer of the Corona Radio Control Club. I integrate these two hobbies by flying on the 6 meter R/C frequencies. Our R/C club also sponsors the California R/C Marathon in Baker California. We provide communications along a 50 mile course using 2 Meters.

If you hear me on, give me a call. I always enjoy talking to new friends and look forward to talking with old friends when I hear them on the air. Perhaps I will see some of you at the Dayton Hamvention. Interesting that while I lived in Illinois, I never attended Dayton. Now, living in California, I have attended Dayton the past 7 years! I love Ham Radio! 73