Hal
Mandery’s Radio License and Electronics History:
Hal was raised by his grandparents, his grandfather being a
telegrapher for the railroad. He exposed Hal to electronics
at an early age. Hal used to sit on his grandfather’s knee
when he listened to a shortwave radio. Hal was fascinated
by the glowing electron tubes, visible through the back of
the radio. Hal liked to hear the people talking as his
grandfather indulged in Short Wave Listening. His
grandfather taught Hal the American Morse Code for his Boy
Scout Merit Badge. It was supposed to be the International
Morse Code for the badge. The Boy Scout leader was a ham
and Hal saw his station. The kid who lived up the block from
Hal was four years older and got his novice license,
upgrading to technician as WA8IFU. Hal was in the eighth
grade and his friend helped him to study. Hal got his ham
license in 1966, earning the call WN8UOS. At this early
age, one year after being licensed as a radio amateur, Hal
earned his third class FCC commercial license. A year after
that he earned the second class commercial license.
Hal and his friend, Wade Davis, earned money at the Dayton
Hamfest in 1967 by making call sign badges. Hal earned a
little over a hundred dollars, enough to buy equipment to
set up his novice station. That station consisted of a
Hallicrafters SX-140, Heath Kit Twoer, Knight Kit T-60
transmitter. That was the same as Tim Miller’s, K9US,
beginning station. Hal wanted in amateur radio mainly for
the electronics.
An
electronics class was taught at his high school, allowing
only high school students to attend but the instructor
allowed Hal, who was in the eighth grade, to attend. There
were only three that could operate the ham station that was
available, Hal being one, and even the instructor didn’t
have a license.
In
1971 Hal entered the Air Force and in basic training he took
a by-pass test in communications which included the code.
He passed that and his first assignment was Scott Air Force
Base to operate the MARS Station there as AG3AA region 3 Net
Control. He was awe struck with the 100-foot towers and
dipoles stretched between them. The MARS Station had all
Collins gear around the room, four operating stations.
Since Hal was the only licensed ham, he was allowed in the
station any time he wanted, nights and weekends. The MARS
station also had a civilian call of K9AIR. Hal tried to get
that as a vanity call later but had to settle for his
present call, W8AIR.
He
was stationed at Elmendorf AFB for the remainder of his
enlistment. The HF equipment there could go to 10,000
watts. This station was in contact with military aircraft.
A phone gave a direct line to Anchorage Air Route Traffic
Control, an FAA facility and reported the aircraft
positions. This was 1972-1975. Since then Hal has worked
for various electronics companies, always being involved in
electronics.
Hal’s present station consists of a Ten Tec Orion for HF
operation. Although it has a built-in antenna tuner, Hal
also employs an external tuner. The antenna is a Step IR
vertical with 120 radials. He has a G5RV up forty feet that
runs north and south. For two meters he uses a Yaesu FT
7800. Hal plans to get active again and will concentrate on
CW. He likes rag chewing and has earned the certificate on
both CW and voice. That requires conversing with another
member of the rag chewers club for over an hour.
October Fox
Hunt: The Harris Team,
Keith/Ann, N9KH/K9NOT was the fox. Four hunters/teams
showed for the hunt. They were Mike, KF9NP, Ray, KB9LGS,
Larry, WA9FFZ, and the team of Mike King, KC9JIG, Rudy
KC9MHM and Robert, KC9KFW. The fox was located just beyond
the northeastern edge of Lawrence County into Monroe County
at Hillenberg Cemetery. The rules permit an excursion into
Monroe County in the area near the lake. Keith used 50
watts to start with to allow the hunters to get a bearing
before switching to the fox box. With the fox box being
used, two of the hunters were unable to pick up the signal.
Mike, KF9NP, was the only hunter to find the fox without
help. He logged 21.3 miles when he arrived at the fox den.
Near the two hour time limit, Keith told Larry, WA9FFZ,
where he was hiding. Larry was only a couple of miles
away. He was able to hear the signal in route to the
cemetery near Highway 446 and had driven 32 miles at that
point. The other hunters didn’t show and met the rest of
the hunters and fox at the eating place of Arby’s in
Bedford. The signal was doable since Mike, KF9NP, was able
to receive it the entire distance from the starting point.
His receiver, although from an older rig, proved superior in
its sensitivity to the other hunters’ gear. Mike will be
the fox in November and the hunt will begin at 4PM on
November 17th. The standings now in the dash to
fox hunting king is Keith/Ann, three victories, Mike W.
three victories, Larry two victories, Ray, one victory and
Tim W. one victory.
Newsletter - October
2007