Dennis Merritt – W6UHQ

Like so many other Amateurs, my entry into ham radio was via the world of crystal radios. My father, a crusty old Air Force Sergeant, brought home a cigar box with a toilet roll coil, a 365MMF tuning cap and an old-fashioned encapsulated diode… a single earphone and I was good to go.  That was just the beginning at age 10. 

Moving around a lot, found us in Anchorage Alaska, where I was the proud owner of a Knight Kit Star Roamer, and was a full-fledged SWL. Moving to Minnesota, I linked up with high school friend Mike/WA0IFO now KK6YA, who was my Elmer, and in 1966 became WN0OOM.(Try that on CW). I was also WPE0EIO and WPE6GRZ, SWL Popular Electronics calls.   

Moving to Fairfield, CA. I became WN6UHQ, then WB6UHQ, eventually tiring of WB6 I shortened call to W6UHQ. 

While still in High School became WB6UHQ, technician. Enlisting in the Navy in 1967, where the Navy saw fit to make me a Radioman, imagine that! Got my General while in RM “A” school and was introduced to the “digital” world of Navy RATT (RTTY in ham terms). Since then, I have been addicted to everything digital, RTTY, Packet Radio, APRS, AMTOR, PSK31 and now FT8, Dabbled with SSTV and analog 440 TV. 

Have gone through a series of HF radios, Heath DX-40/National NC-57, Hallicrafters SR-160,  Gonset GSB-100, Heath HW-101, Heath SB-1400, Kenwood TS450S/AT, Kenwood TS2000S/AT and now ICOM IC-7300. Have used a Hygain DP-5BDQ for the entire 58 years I’ve been licensed. I’m on my 3d one!  A Hygain 14-AVQ and a Hygain 18-AVT for backup antennas.  And yet another series of VHF/UHF radios, Heath HW-202, IC2AT, Radio Shaft HTX-202, HTX-242, Primary handheld is Kenwood TH-D72. Still use Kenwood TS-2000 for VHF. 

Check into LARC simplex and duplex nets, Jefferson Noon Net, 145.05 Sunday Night Packet Net, and the Stanislaus County ARES SARA packet net on 144.91. Try to monitor LARC duplex. Always monitor 145.05 packet. 

ARRL Life Member, ARRL RCC, SKCC, 10-10 International Life member, PODXS 070, Feld Hell Club, Lodi ARC, FARCE – Friends and Amateur Radio Communications Enthusiasts. US NAVY RADIOMAN ASSOCATION, USNRMA. 

XYL, Pamela is KF6ZOY and one harmonic Dustin is KF6ZOX.  

Hope to see you on the bands.  

73. Dennis/W6UHQ