From the Newsletter history archives...
Vintage Equipment
From the January '87 Newsletter (entitled "Ham Radio News & Views", it was reported that the Rogers Family gained a daughter on December21, 1986. Ruby's son, Bryan, WD4HDX, joined in holy matrimony with Dana Sigmon, N4OVG, of Hickory. Bryan had just graduated from NC State (May) with a double major (mathematics & physics) while Dana was still at UNC-Charlotte double-majoring in mathematics & computer science. Dana had received her Technician license just prior to the wedding (it was rumored that Bryan saw to it that she got her ham license before they got married, perhaps as a "condition" to the marriage. Hi Hi.). With Dana as the latest addition to the family, she brought the total to six that were ticketed hams in the family. (Bryan & Dana currently reside just outside Kansas City, Kansas - Ed).
(Each month, a brief spotlight will appear here on equipment you may have seen at hamfest swap tables.
From the looks of it, you can readily see where the Heathkit "Twoer" got its nickname...the "Benton Harbor Lunchbox". Selling at about $49.95 in the early to mid-1960's, the Twoer was a two-evening project to do the point-to-point wiring (no little circuit boards here!). Although a pre-wired model could be purchased for a few dollars more, this little kit was a joy to put together. It was just a matter of unpacking, identifying the various parts, and then, using the excellent step-by-step kit instruction book, to wind up with a neat little 2-meter AM base-station rig that you could boast "I built it!". Critical parts, such as the oscillator module, were pre-built. Alignment was a snap and you were on the air the second night (first night, if you were ambitious and a speedy solderer). The receiver was of the super-regenerative type and when operating normally, presented you with a steady "hiss" unless you were tuned in to a station during a contact. Due to its rated power (5 watts in, 3 watts out), a 2-meter beam was almost mandatory. During skip conditions, though, many states were worked on units such as these! For a "conversation piece", you can expect to find one (variable condition) for about $50. at hamfests. (Units were also available in 6-meter & 10-meter models (the HW-29A - "Sixer" and the HW-19 - "Tener". -Ed)
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Each month, one of our regular LARC members (alphabetical order) is profiled in this section. Several member and club-officer profiles have appeared in past issues.
Station photo not available
Spotlight on Robert Reid, WR4UNC
Robert was born in Catawba County in the city of Hickory on December 7, 1969. In the early years, he attended Dudley Shoals Elementary (1975), Granite Falls Middle School, and June 1988 found him graduating from South Caldwell High. Continuing his education, Robert is currently attending Caldwell Community College seeking his Associate Degree in Emergency Preparedness Technology and he expects to graduate very shortly. His early employment included: 911 Telecommunications (Catawba, Forsythe, & Caldwell Counties) and Deputy Sheriff for Caldwell County (1991-2004). His current position, since April 2004, as
Assistant
of Emergency Management keeps him hopping. He married the former Ms. Cheryl Barnes in 1996 and they have two children (Aaron, age 3 and Emma, Age 17 months). Introduced to Ham Radio by Pat Crump, KE4VJH, Robert obtained his first Technician call KE4WNM, and later...WR4UNC, a vanity call standing for "We are for UNC". Robert's present interest is Public Service... but a General ticket will allow him to pursue a growing interest of working the HF bands.
Heathkit HW-30
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