K1KA

Episode 410 – Dave Mackey – K1KA

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Dave Mackey, K1KA, like many amateurs of his generation, was influenced by broadcast radio, broadcast hosts like Jean Shephard, and the magic of radio in the late 50’s and 60’s.  Dave went on to work with companies like Multitone, Microwave Associates, and Cushcraft before spending a generation in his own manufacturing company.  Amateur radio played a serious role in Dave’s career choices and personal successes.  K1KA tells his story in this QSO Today.

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Our Listener Sponsors

This list is the total amounts contributed as sponsorships and/or donations since Episode 1 in July 2014.  Only those who agreed to be publicly recognized are on the list below.  This list does not include “Buy Me A Coffee” donations.
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Hometown: Elizabeth NJ

First License:  WN2TMD,  Age 12, 1956

Articles: 
With Radio Amateurs, Brother Team is Active, 1957, by Carl W. Erbacher W2EKU

Sand, Wind Plague Radio Contestants – Pose Test for Little “Emergency” Station – Bill Smith, Cape Code Standard-Times, 1968

First Station:
QST Novice Transmitter with 807 Final
Hallicrafters S-38 Receiver
Heathkit DX-40 Transmitter

Current Rig: 
Elecraft K3S HF Transceiver
Elecraft KPA-1000 Amplifier
Icom IC706 All Mode Tranceiver
FlexRadio FLEX5000 HF SDR Transceive

Favorite Operating Mode: whatever works best for getting the contact

K1KA Family Members:
Wife Sandy – W1SPM. (WB2URY, WB1HCG)
Brother Keith – W4LDP (W2FDL)
Sister in law Renda N4LPM (SK)
Father Joe – WB2CSI (SK)
Father in law Charlie – K2TSD (SK)
Mother in law Pearl – WB2YZU (SK)

TERMS
Vintage Transistor Radio Kit 
CK722 Transistor
Vintage Philco Tabletop Radio
Popular Electronics Magazine
Junior High School Electric Shop
Crystal Radio
WOR New York City
Jean Shepherd Radio Host
Civil Defense
Gonset Communicator 2 Meter AM
ARRL Field Day
Newton County Amateur Radio Club
Union County Amateur Radio Club
Tropospheric Inversion
VHF Handbook, by William Orr, W6SAI
Radio Shack TRS-80 Computer
Cushcraft
Port of London
College Physics Major
Radio Astronomer
Rutgers, Marketing MBA
ABC Network Summer Student Internship
Vintage Video Tape Machine
ABC Wild World of Sports
Radio Paging System – Multi-tone Electronics
Motorola Wide Area Paging History
Microwave Associates
STL – Studio to Transmitter Link
Fred Collins W1FC
Foursquare Antenna 80 Meters
EME History First Contact 1960
Sam Harris W1BU
1296 EME to W6HB
Microwave Associates Gunplexer, 10 GHz 
Microwave Associates Contest Club
ARRL AdHock VHF Committee Historical
What is an Amateur Radio Sprint Contest – 2 to 3 hours on each band on successive nights
Maidenhead Grid System
F-Layer Reflections
Meteor Scatter
PSK-31 Digital Mode
Icom IC-7300 HF Transceiver
Meteor Scatter on 6 and 2 meters
National Traffic System

Greatest challenge facing amateur radio now: how to be more relevant. 

Excited most by: DMR, Digital Modes and  to get to learn something about it.  Time is a precious commodity.  We have the opportunity to become more relevant in the World – the potential of digital communications.

Advice to new or returning hams: find a club and it may not be the first club you find, support the National Organizations, and subscribe to ham radio magazines. 

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Elecraft K3S HF Transceiver
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Elecraft KPA-1000 1500 Watt Amplifier
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Icom IC-706 MK2 HF/VHF/UHF All Mode Transceiver
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FlexRadio FLEX-5000A HF SDR Transceiver

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