K0IP, ham radio k0ip, hs6ade, pa9vw, n7ij, k0ij, wb7sdr, w0tm, k0gy, w4dl, w4ov, Takhli, w6zsl, mccoy afb, Cam Rahn Bay,  PMEL,  hy-gain, dn32

I am John Wilson KØIP . (KØ Idaho Potato). I am from Shawnee Kansas, born 1947.  I have been interested in radio since I was in grade school, I loved to tune around on my aunt's old 40's upright radio, out on the back porch. What a kick, VOA or maybe Radio Moscow softly floating in and out of the noise. You might remember, back in the 50's when life was simple,  being there on a warm summer evening ----,    out there on the porch with that old  radio.  Back when even AM broadcast band DXing was fun.  They spoke English & played rock & roll on AM. (I forgot, for you young guys,  there were few FM stations back then., Life was tough, no FM no Stereo, car radios were AM with one speaker,  oh'  the pain .  :-)  I got one of those Popular Electronics SWL calls WPEØANT..

WNØDYU 1962, Hallicrafters HT-40 & S-85 a 40 & 80 meter dipole, and a few crystals

I've been an active Amateur for 48 years. Excluding the time I was in Vietnam  
Sorry, no hamming from that war zone, however,  during my 6 years in the USAF , 
I was stationed at some great places. Being a HAM , I got to know some great HAMS,
many became life long friends..

I worked in the PMEL  Precision Measurement Equipment Lab, we repaired and calibrated test equipment.
I was stationed at,
McCoy AFB, it's now Orlando international airport.. (MCO)
Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand (HS6ADE) see picture below
Cam Rahn Bay -  Vietnam
Edwards AFB Ca. 
AFCENT (NATO) southern part of The Netherlands (PA9VW) see picture below
Life in the Air Force was a great time, and a great learning experience. 

After getting discharged,  I stayed and worked in Holland for Elektor Publishers for about 2 years. 
I was on the English Editorial Staff.  OH' my poor High School English teacher is still rolling around in her grave.
Uitgeversmaatschappij Elektuur B.V. Beek ZL The Nederland's.   http://www.elektuur.nl/

I've been busy with the Pocatello Amateur Radio Club  since 1979 when I was transferred to Idaho by the
Union Pacific Railroad. I worked in the communications department. I was hired by K Ø I J,
mainly because as a young ham I had a Model 15 Teletype in my bedroom, I had some idea how it worked.
I was hired to repair data equipment, back then the Railroad still used some Model 28, 35 & 37  Teletype machines. But
times were changing fast and those old Teletypes didn't stay around long.   I still have two Model 28's  in my shack. they still works TOO.
I retired from the Union Pacific  Aug 2007, with 30 years of service.

Pocatello Idaho's been my home since 1979. That year I met my wife Pat on Christmas eve at WB7SDR's QTH.  We
had a daughter,,, Jennifer, she's all grown up now, Married, and we have two grandson's. Jennifer graduated from ISU in 2007,
she hopes to take graduate courses, someday. Her husband Dustin goes to ISU. That's Idaho State University, here in Pocatello. 

In 1999 I changed my call to KØIP . I operate a lot on 6 meters (DN32) and like a good contests,
any contest where Idaho is a multiplier. OK I admit, I like being the DX !!!!  
contests like ARRL 10 Meter, June ARRL VHF,    I enjoy putting Idaho on the map. 
 
I was sorry to see the end of the CW requirement, 
I never was a good CW operator, and seldom used it,
but it's part of Ham Radio, and it should be required. 
When it (CW)  went away, it was a sad day for Ham Radio , really it's the day Ham Radio changed forever.
I don't care what the ARRL says, it wasn't a good day!..

208-251-6441, or email k0ip((at))ida.net

Here's some pictures of me, doing mostly "Hammy" things,   NO CB here....    I hope you enjoy the Pics. --  if you want,,  Click'em to make'm  bigger

HS6ADE, Thailand 1970,  with my first Collins, a KWM-1. WØTM Gary Yantis , got the radio at Associated Radio, Overland Park. My dad APO mailed it to me , it arrived and I was on the air, June 2 to July 16. That's about 6 weeks, I worked over 800 stations on SSB & CW.   WOW, what pile-ups,,  If  I had been more industrious I could have worked 8000.  Then an unexpected twist,  I  was transferred to the RVN, and that ended the hamming!

My favorite contests is the ARRL June VHF.. In Idaho its not always a tropical  paradise. In 2002 I almost froze __  NOT GOOD.. Just cold, and LOTS of wind !  What I won't  do for a few extra contacts ! I must be nuts!  June in Idaho at 9000' is typically not a warm place.. 2007 we used mother nature to keep the beer cold,  that's W4OV standing guard..	In 2003 things were perfect, (it was warm) and the propagation gods were good to us, we  worked 400+ stations. on 6, 2, 432. Weather was great, Loved every minute of it.. For almost 30 years Mel N7IJ and I join forces for the VHF contest.. Mel and I have been lighting up 6 meters for a long time. Mel Lives in DN44.

Here's my shack a few years ago, its always evolving, always cluttered with projects and stuff,    if your looking for 'clean & tidy' better look elsewhere.	my back yard,,  Hey I like antenna's  !!!  Not the highest tower in the world, got to try to keep the neighbors sort'a happy..   I have a Hy-Gain TH7-DXX and a 64DX for 6 meters, some dipoles,     I use a 40 year old Six meter vertical for FM, a DI-6 that  KØGY and I bought in the 60's. It still works great. ote: the Hi-tower is gone, sold.  and the DI-6 is gone too.  Out of the picture is a 50'  Rohn 25G with a 204BA..  (see bottom of page)

Play'n the fool,,--   Cam Rahn Bay,  Viet Nam --                   I couldn't transmit, but did some SWLing.	1970 -- doing my job at the Cam Rahn Bay  PMEL !  I mostly worked on  TACAN simulators, including the AN-ARM22 . I calibrated and repaired  hundreds of them!  It seemed like millions,  it's a 4 piece heavy beast !!

a few of my oldies,	Working on my friends tower, Ashton Idaho , Teton mountains in the background..   N 7 I J     DN44

Collins anyone ??     me and W6ZSL (sk)  Lancaster CA     1972?	My first S-Line, purchased at Henry Radio in Anaheim while I was stationed at Edwards AFB.  it's now the property of ON8PO.

I have a single engine fixed wing license,  which unfortunately, I haven't used for years	finally.... I made it to the Yacht Club,  Not in a Yacht, but in a car.                         St Croix USVI.  me and NP2B -- Ham Radio USVI

I  do a bit of SCUBA diving, here's me (left)  and W4OV diving from W4DL's boat, off the south Florida coast.	Speaking of W4DL, he was the best man at my wedding, (1981)   He's into Drake radios..

The Really Olden' days   HI HI	Secondary use of tower    ~1997

My antennas as of Oct 2009,   204BA,  TH7DXX, 64DX, dipole 40/80

Here are a few pictures of my family,     click the pictures to make them BIGGER
 

LtoR      John     Dustin   Ethan     Jennifer  Levi             Pat	My YL  Pat Wilson working on a 204BA.     Sometimes there is snow in Idaho
My Mother (Clena Wilson)  in Shawnee Kansas, and her twin brother Wilson Fremont Jones Jr. He was mostly blind at birth, and lived with our family , he was an avid AM broadcast listener/DXer,  that's part of the reason I'm interested in radio.  Their 90th Birthday was July 2009.. Clena is a DAR member, She live here entire live in Shawnee Kansas and is proud of it.   My Sister Beth Marie (Wilson) Hobbs (sk) My mother and Ethan Jennifer Marie (Wilson) Call. Idaho State Graduation.	mothers side	Fathers side,
	Great Grandfather  (Kansas) John Wilson Jones,  was Sheriff of Johnson County (1895 to ~1901). Then he was a County commissioner for 12 years. He was a farmer and auctioneer. He was responsible for one of the most modern roads in Johnson County, which follows what is now  Southwest Blvd from KC, to Johnson Drive in Merriam, to Nieman road in Shawnee, south to 75th street,  west to Quivira Road, south  through Lenexa city center and on to Olathe, the road was made of brick.	Grandfather Harry Ross Wilson MD. Army WW1, stationed Camp Funston Kansas. The center of the 1918 FLU epidemic.  I'm Sure you have seen the famous picture of a big room full of cots, with sick GI's. He was there !
	Grandfather Wilson Fremont Jones Sr. Navy WW1 This is FJ, see Central Radio Assn BELOW	My Father Charles Francis Wilson  (sk) Navy WW2 Worked at Movie-Mite after WW2, then was a postman for 30 years.
		John Charles Wilson That's me leaving for NATO
Do you have any information about the Central Radio ASSN PLEASE contact me !    click to enlarge.	click to enlarge
This Document is dated 1916, his call   FJ   ,  that's 11 years before the FRC (now FCC)  was formed  by the US government to regulate radio transmissions.	click to make this readable.       This was my grandfather !
One other possible interest, my Fathers Brother (sk) invented the Movie Mite Projectors.  Link for more info about Movie Mite