W4MY – Nerfd.net – RF News & Info

Episode 536 – Marty Young – W4MY

Marty Young, W4MY, is a lifelong amateur radio operator whose 50-year journey began with a simple shortwave receiver as a child and grew into a deep passion for CW operation, homebrewing, and portable radio in the outdoors. From building his first Heathkit HW-16 as a teenager to leading roles in clubs, contesting, and Parks on the Air, Marty represents the classic self-taught ham who never stopped learning. His story reflects persistence, curiosity, and a hands-on approach to radio that has carried him from the early days of Morse code and QSL cards to modern portable operations and mentoring new operators today.

Show Notes

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People

Marty Young, W4MY — North Carolina amateur operator, POTA activator, and NCQP chair — https://www.qrz.com/db/W4MY
Eric Guth, 4Z1UG — Israeli amateur operator and QSO Today podcast host — https://www.qrz.com/db/4Z1UG
Fin Gold, NC4FG — North Carolina amateur operator active in Raleigh-area club leadership — https://www.qcwa.org/nc4fg-36980.htm

Places

Jupiter, Florida — Marty’s hometown and early amateur-radio starting point — https://www.jupiter.fl.us/
Orlando, Florida — City where Marty attended college and operated actively — https://www.orlando.gov/Home
Raleigh, North Carolina — Area tied to Marty’s club and contest activity — https://raleighnc.gov/

Organizations, Events & Publications

ARRL — National association for amateur radio in the United States — https://www.arrl.org/
QST — Monthly ARRL journal covering equipment, projects, and amateur-radio news — https://www.arrl.org/qst
Parks on the Air — Portable operating program from qualifying public parks — https://parksontheair.com/
ARRL Field Day — Annual on-the-air operating and emergency-preparedness event — https://www.arrl.org/field-day
North Carolina QSO Party — State QSO party focused on contacts with North Carolina stations — https://ncqsoparty.org/
Maritime Mobile Service Network — Long-running HF net serving maritime mobile stations — https://www.mmsn.org/

Equipment

Heathkit HW-16 — Novice HF transceiver kit used for Marty’s first station — https://www.rigpix.com/heathkit/hw16.htm
Heathkit HW-101 — Hybrid HF transceiver kit Marty later built and used — https://www.rigpix.com/heathkit/hw101.htm
Heathkit HW-8 — QRP CW transceiver Marty restored for possible retro POTA use — https://www.rigpix.com/heathkit/hw8.htm
Elecraft K2 — HF transceiver Marty used for portable operation — https://elecraft.com/products/k2-the-classic-hf-transceiver-full-kit
Yaesu FTDX10 — HF/50 MHz SDR transceiver Marty uses for Field Day and POTA — https://www.yaesu.com/product-detail.aspx?CatName=HF+Transceivers%2FAmplifiers&Model=FTDX10
Hallicrafters twin set — Classic Hallicrafters transmitter/receiver station Marty saw at his Elmer’s shack — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallicrafters
Henry linear amplifier — RF power amplifier Marty recalled in Bill Asbury’s station — https://henryradio.com/

Modes & Bands

CW — Morse-code operating mode central to Marty’s amateur-radio life — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_wave
RTTY — Text-based digital mode Marty used during his active years — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletype
Single-sideband modulation — Voice mode discussed as part of modern amateur radio — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-sideband_modulation
PSK Reporter — Digital-mode reception reporting tool mentioned in propagation discussion — https://pskreporter.info/

Antennas

Dipole antenna — Basic wire antenna Marty built from Heathkit instructions — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna
SteppIR — Amateur-antenna manufacturer referenced in Marty’s portable antenna discussion — https://consumer.steppir.com/
CrankIR — Portable vertical antenna system Marty referenced as a performance benchmark — https://consumer.steppir.com/media_category/crankir/
Inverted V antenna — Wire antenna Eric said he uses from Israel — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna#Inverted-V_antenna

Certificates & Licenses

Amateur Radio Service — U.S. amateur licensing service discussed throughout Marty’s licensing story — https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service
Commercial Radio Operator License Program — FCC commercial operator credentials Marty earned for technical work — https://www.fcc.gov/commercial-radio-operator-license-program

Companies & Institutions

Pratt & Whitney — Aerospace manufacturer where James Duke worked as an electronics technician — https://www.rtx.com/en/prattwhitney
University of Central Florida — University Marty attended for electrical engineering in Orlando — https://www.ucf.edu/
Martin Marietta — Aerospace company where Marty worked after college — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Marietta

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