My First Experiences With Two-Way Radio
1976 - The CB Radio Craze
In Spring of 1976, at the age of 15 years old, and with the guidance and help of my Dad, I started out in Citizens Band (CB) radio. At the time, there were licenses and callsigns. Mine (or I should say, my Dad's) was KNA-8808. Pictured is that first license. The first CB radio we had was a Kraco Super-Deluxel mobile 23-channel AM rig (below), purchased at K-Mart, that we used in my Dad's car. Later, I picked up a Realistic Navaho "base" station and an Avanti Astro-Plane (pictured below).
That year, I made many friends on "AM". With this rig, I used a D-104 microphone like the one pictured right. My Dad used an Astatic D104M mobile mic like this on a Cobra 134.
In those days, CB was at its height of popularity, and pop songs were even written about it. Later that year, I graduated into SSB, and picked up a Cobra 139 AM/SSB with a Turner Super Sidekick microphone.
Later on in the year, I got interested in using amateur radio equipment on the CB bands as well as chasing DX. Although this was very illegal, according to FCC Part 97 of the CB regulations, everyone was doing it, so I joined the fray. I picked up a Siltronix 1011D, known by the owners as a "Silly". This transceiver, made for 10 meter hams, was made by a subsidiary of Swan Electronics. This radio had two bands; 10 meters & 11 meters, and had a single 8950 tube as the final amp, putting out about 200W PEP. The 11 meter band in this rig was meant for receiving only, but enterprising CBers were converting them left and right to transmit on 11 meters. This was a pretty simple procedure. When I bought mine, the mod was already done. The year ended with my interest in working SSB "skip" or DX on the increase.
I was active for about two and a half years, while in high school in Rhode Island. In 1978, after an unfortunate run-in with the FCC, I decided to leave CB radio and began to study for my amateur radio license.
1977 - Delving Into DX
Here is a picture of me at my 11 meter station on November 9, 1977 (my birthday). My station included the Siltronix 1011D, a Shure 444 microphone, a Mattco model 711 frequency counter, and a Siltronix SWR-3DX SWR/Watt meter.
That whole year was 99.9% SSB for me at the time, and my home frequency was 27.395, or channel 39. We had an affinity for joining dozens of SSB clubs, receiving membership #s which were used as identification. I even started a couple of clubs, such as "Endeavor" (see Endeavor 1 on the cards) and "RHF" (which stood for "Rhode Island HF") and folks would come to me to be issued a number. Here are some of my QSL cards that I had made up with several of those #s printed on them. The classic and one of the first SSB numbers to be used were "Whiskey" numbers. Each state had its own number, so R.I. was 13W ###. My # was 13W 380.
Many folks went from operating in the illegal frequency ranges (27.405 on up) to getting their amateur radio license. One such friend was my substitute high school bus driver, Robert Osbourne, WB1ALC. His CB handle was "Crazy Fisherman". He went on to get his ham ticket in 1978. In 2019, I decided to put together a replica of my old Siltronix 1011D station (below).
1978 - Pushing My Luck
I continued my chasing of DX on the 11 Meter Band. Here is a photo of me taken on January 2, 1978 with the Siltronix station.
On February 6-8, 1978, a paralyzing blizzard left 2'-4' of snow in the area, as indicated in the above local newspaper headline. I was not off the air, however; my antenna survived the Great Blizzard of '78. I continued using the Siltronix 1011D, working many states and countries.
Hunting for international as well as national DX, I worked many European DXers using "Earth" #s. I worked these fellows in March and April 1978 respectively. Back then, the international DXers on 11 meters used "Echo" #s, which stood for "Earth DX International". They issued #s similar to the "Whiskey" #s in the states, with a number & letter combo prefix. My # was 2E950-RI. On April 16, 1978, however, one week after the contact confirmed on the QSL above, my luck with "Uncle Charlie (aka FCC) ran out, and three enforcement agents knocked on the door. They checked my 1011D, and cited me for seven (7) violations. (1) Communciating with stations over 150 miles away (Odessa TX), (2) Failure to identify by call sign (I used Trans American 549), (3) Using frequencies not authorized (27.145) , (4) Using power over 4 watts . (5) Using a non-type-accepted transmitter, (6) Using non-crystal-controlled transmitter, & (7) Having a transmitter capable of transmitting on unauthorized frequency ranges. Ironically, I was not using the traditional "freeband" frequencies above Channel 40, but actually in between CB channels. My total forfeiture (or should I say my father's) for these infractions was $325.00. Despite letters of request to reduce or eliminate the fine, the FCC would not budge, and my Dad paid the fine.
I am not proud of this little piece of my radio history, but it did spur me to study for my Novice class Amateur Radio license later that year, which I subsequently passed. I sold the Siltronix 1011D, and purchased a President Washington 40 channel CB, completely legal. Here is a picture of the President Washington, now made by Uniden (pictured below).
A CB friend of mine (also a ham), Nelson Hayward, WB1CRR, was an Elmer to me, and encouraged me this year to obtain my Novice Class Amateur Radio License. His QSLs - both CB and Ham - are below.
I graduated from high school in June 1978. In the last 2 months of 1978, a friend, KA1BVL, administered the Novice class written test and 5 WPM code test, and I passed with flying colors. I was on my way to the wonderful world of amateur radio and legal DX chasing.
On December 15, 1978, I applied to the ARRL and received a Certificate of Code Proficiency for receiving 15 words per minute (below.) Also below is a picture of me taken in December 1978.
