W6PFW

Ted was first licensed as KN1YKZ/K1YKZ in 1962. He took the Novice and Technician exams (including the 5 WPM code test) from K1RHP (SK) and passed both.

This was not the best thing to do as he immediately got on the 6 meter band and never even used his Novice HF privileges. He made two CW contacts and that was the end of his HF operation for many years.

At that time he lived in Walpole, Mass. His first station consisted of a Multi-Elmac AF-68 transmitted, a PMR-8 receiver and an eleven element 6 meter yagi turned by TV antenna rotator. He also had a “Sixer” mounted in his car as a mobile station. 6 meters was truly a “magic band” in the 60’s

He worked all of the east coast, a good part of the mid-west, and even England and France!

During this time he was given a Heathkit “Shawnee” to build which he finally completed about 1965. He still has it but it has not been on the air for at least 50 years.

He moved to California in 1970 and got his present call W6PFW in conformance with FCC rules that required that call signs conform to the FCC zone where the licensee lived. He finally got his General after the FCC dropped the code requirements.

He never considered himself a CW operator although he was able to copy about 10 WPM. In the 70’s he was very active in Navy MARS operating RTTY and handling some phone patches as NNN0UPU.

His original Teletype machine was a Kleinschmidt with a separate tape perforator. Later he was issued a Model 19 with an integral tape unit. Really modern! The receiver was an R-392 feeding the TTY converter and the transmitter was a crystal controlled unit on 4.005 Kc.

His antenna systems have been wire dipoles for 80 and 40 meters and a TA-33 for 10, 15 and 20 meters.

Unfortunately he lost all his support trees so now can only support a NVIS 40 meter antenna at about 20’ in the center. That’s in addition to the TA-33 which is now frozen pointing SW.

He cannot do much about the antenna situation so he just lives with what he has although he does miss 75 meter capability.

Currently he has two operating positions; the primary is in the garage with both a Kenwood TS-570 and a Collins KWM-2 either of which can drive a Collins 30L1 amplifier.

The secondary is a ICOM 706 located in the house that he currently uses connected to the 40 meter antenna. The reason for this is a long story but let’s just say he can at least get on 40 meters.

He really enjoys the friendships made on the CMN and looks forward to Saturday mornings!