Hello, I got my start with amateur radio first, as
a cadet the civil air patrol in the early to mid-50’s with
a radio and call “Blue-dog 264”. In 1957, I was first
licensed as a Technician, 1977, as General, 1978, as Advanced
1979, and Extra 2007, that should have been a good day, but was
the worst day of my life. (my wife, Jeannie, past away in her
sleep, that night.)
My wife, Jeannie Soyars Nixon and I were married 50
years, we met early in Reidsville high school, and after graduation
in 1956 we were married we have one child, Wendy, she is married
and lives next door to me. At this time she has no children.
My main hobby has always been amateur radio, next
would be flying, in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I
held a student pilot permit, total hours app. 100 hours, with
25 hours solo, (PIC) checked out on Cessna 150 & 152, also
Cherokee 140, total instructors 5, passed private pilot written
twice, missed one cross country and the check ride, because rental
airplanes were no longer available at Shiloh airport. I also played
golf while employed with Burlington Ind. (The Reidsville Drapery
Plant from 1956 to 1994) my best score was about 90, I also like
Boating, not much of a fisherman. Another hobby is gardening,
I raise Vegetables for several deer, a ground hog an many raccoons
.
I like amateur radio because of the people, they are
great friends and willing to help and show others how to make
or do new things. I like the club meetings, socials, and annual
events like our swapfest, fieldday, and public service events.
I like to know how to use all modes of communications available
to hams, however nets and just plain ragchew are my favorites.
My first DX contact was Sweden (SM7ZM) on 6 meters
AM. C W is my least used mode of ham radio. I like to build dipoles
and rework old tv-antennas into 6 meter beams.
Tower is 30 foot Rohn plus 15 feet of mast, antennas
3 element beam for 10,15,20 meters (Mosley TA 33 jr.) 2/440 meter
Jetstream (JTB1) Rotor CDE Ham-III. Dipoles (160 and SPI-RO-D-52
trap 80/40 meters)
