N5OT

Mark Beckwith, N5OT,  grew up in Southern California, befriended by amateur radio’s most famous television producer, Dave Bell, W6AQ, who was his amateur radio mentor in the 1970s.  Dave opened a lot of doors to Mark, allowing Mark to build up his contesting and DX on-the-air skills. Mark was a professional opera singer for over 30 years, leading to some interesting conversation both on and off the QSO Today microphone.  N5OT is my QSO Today.

ometown: Pasadena, California

First License: Dec 1971  WN6OTU  Age 13

First Contact:  Bill Allbrant, K7JYE (now K6CU)  

First Rig: 
Johnson Viking Adventurer Transmitter
Morrow MBR5 Receiver 

Current Rigs: 
2 X Icom IC-746 Pro HF Transceiver
2 X Kenwood TS-930 HF Transceiver 

Terms
Shortwave Listening
Dave Bell W6AQ
Model Railroad Hobby
Heathkit DX-40 Transmitter
Hallicrafters HQ-170 Receiver
Vibrator Power Supply
Dave Bell, W6AQ,  World’s Best Hobby  Acknowledgement. 
Dave Bell, Film: This is Ham Radio, from the ARRL 
Henry Radio 2K Amplifiers
ARRL Field Day
Pasadena Radio Club, W6KA
CalTech Amateur Radio Club W6UE
Astronomy
Opera A LaCarte – Gilbert and Sullivan
Mikado character: Koko
Mikado,  Gilbert and Sullivan Opera
Gianni Schicchi by Puccini
Empire Lyric Players, Colorado, Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company
ARRL International DX Contest
WRTC 2014 in Boston on North America Team 9
Mike Wetzel, W9RE
Southern California Contest Club (SCCC)
Peter Grillo, W6RTP
Robert Roaney, K6RR
Darrell Bevan, N6DX 
Don Wallace, W6AM
Caribbean Contesting Consortium, PJ2T  
ABC Islands
Curacao Island
Coral Cliff Hotel, Chet Brandon, Curacao
John Thompson, W1BIH (SK)
Cheech and Chong, “Daves not here”
SO2R – Single Operator Two Receiver
CW Ops
CW Academy
3830Scores.com
Ham Radio Boot Camp

Advice to new or returning hams: Enjoy the magic of radio.