W7EKB Kenneth G. 'Ken' Gordon Moscow, ID QCWA # 37254

Born on April 23, 1942, in Kalispell, Montana, and moved to Missoula, Montana by 1948.

Lived there until 1978. First licensed as WN7EKB in 1956 while I was still 13 years old. My first transmitter was a DX-35 and my first receiver was an AR-3. During my entire Novice year, I was only able to work two stations: a local and a W6 due to the fact that the BFO in my AR-3 didn't work. After I got my Conditional, I upgraded to a free Hallicrafters S-41G found abandoned in a basement. Finally, my Mother took pity on me and bought me a BC-348 from one of my Elmers, which I subsequently traded for a brand new RCA RAL-7 which is an HF TRF receiver with a regenerative detector, covering from 300 KHz through 23 MHz. I used that for the next 12 years. It is my favorite receiver, and possibly the finest HF TRF receiver ever designed.

I earned my Conditional Class in 1957 or 1958, and my Amateur Extra in about 1962. The same day I took the General, Advanced, and Extra, I also took the tests for the First Class Radiotelephone, and 2nd Class Radio Telegraph and passed them all. I have since allowed the two commercial licenses to lapse.

I became very active in traffic handling, especially on NTS, eventually becoming NCS on PAN, and took one or more TCC skeds.

I was also very active in AFMARS, and handled many 'phone patches for the troops in Vietnam and Thailand as an AFMARS operator/station for a couple of years. I used a modified SB-100 as the exciter, and a modified BC-610 with a 304TL in the final as my linear amp, feeding a Hygain TH-3 at 100 feet.

I attended Montana State University at Bozeman, Montana, and U. of M. at Missoula, Montana majoring in Physics and Math.

After 1978, moved first to St. Mary's, Kansas, where I met and married my Wife, then we moved to Moscow, Idaho in 1981 and have been here ever since. We have 5 children, three of whom are hams.

I am now retired from the position of Electronic Instrument Specialist, Sr. at the University of Idaho's, College of Science as of April 30, 2010.

I like Boat Anchors and old-time circuits. See my web page at http://www.w7ekb.com/

Visit the Glowbugs web site, now permanently at http://www.w7ekb.com/glowbugs/

I have regained much of my old NTS skill levels, but am finding that the rheumatoid arthritis with which I am afflicted does effect my keying. I use an ancient (1936) McElroy "MacKey", and although I have tried to use a Bencher paddle and Heathkit HD-1410 keyer, I have not had much luck with them.

I bought a Kenwood TS-940SAT some time ago, and was given another one more recently. I have retired most of the older gear to backup status. I recently bought a Heathkit SB-220 and have relegated my two Heathkit SB-200 amps to backup-status also.I am still modifying both SB-200s for full-QSK, and one of them for a pair of 4CX250Bs since good 572Bs were getting almost impossible to find until RF Parts Co. began to market good ones. I also use a Heathkit DX-35, Heathkit VF-1, and a much-modified Hammarlund HQ-110C at times, two Heathkit HW-16s, and various QRP rigs, including an SMK-1 which was given to me. I also am sending code practice on the 80 meter band to help out locals. Transmitter is a SuperTuna-2 on 3579.545 kHz, and the antenna is a low, end-fed wire.

I am very active in NTS, and use CW, SSB, and Digital modes. I also meet 2 TCC skeds, and am NCS on WAN once a week.

For digital work, my present modem is an upgraded PK-232-MBX and I use PACTOR I for my NTSD duties. I can pass traffic and can QSO in most digital modes. I am also using WINMOR, and am finding it be valuable. Even so, CW is still my very most favorite mode.

I am also a member of the 600 Meter Research Group which operates on the old 600 meter (500 Khz) band. See WD2XSH in QRZ.com.

I had to take my prototype 55' foot tall 80/40 vertical down some time ago due to construction of an addition to our home. To replace it, I have come up with a "Vertical Vee" with one of the two 132' legs connected to the top of our 110' tall Grand Fir tree in the back-yard and the other leg fastened near ground below the tree. The antenna is fed with 600 ohm ladder-line through a home-brew balanced-coupler and I am very pleased with the antenna's performance.

I am now using both eQSL and LoTW, and have uploaded all my old logs. I will also QSL direct, or via the Bureau. I have up-to-date envelopes at the 7th QSL bureau.

December 31, 2016