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About KQ6ZZ

I think it all started back when I was about 11 years of age. My father brought home some kind of radio from work one day, and put it on the dinning room table. He hooked up an antenna to it, plugged it into the wall then turned it on. It was an old Johnson base station CB radio that had me entertained for hours just listening to the guy’s talking all day. Around the age of 13, our family bought a new home in Santa Ana, Ca. It was there that I saw just 2 streets over from where we lived, a huge 100 foot tower and a monster of an antenna on top. My best friend Scott (now N2PET) and I, went over to see the guy at the home. We got the tour of his station, all Collins gear, NICE! We asked him “How far can you talk?" He told us “All the way to Huntington Beach, Ca.”  Scott and I looked at each other and were a little confused. He then laughed, and said … “All the way around the earth, and back to Huntington Beach!" We were amazed! Scott & I stayed with 11 meters for a few years after that only because the solar cycle was still rolling really well in the 70’s and the DX was still allot of fun! I got married in 1978 and began to raise a family. I put radio aside for a while, only to pick it up again in 1979 when I started to drive truck for a living. Using the “CB” on the road was helpful at times, but I soon lost interest and gave up on 11 meters for good in 1982. In early 1986, I thought back to the day of meeting the guy that Scott & I had talked to as teenagers. I decided then, that I would go for my “Amateur Radio Operators” license. I stayed a "No Code Tech" for about 10 months, only to get badgered by some friends of mine that told me they needed at least one more “Amateur Extra” as a V.E.  in their group to do some test sessions to get new people licensed. So I was pushed all the way to the top through all 6 classifications learning 5, 13, and 20 wpm CW and became a VE for W5YI. In 1999, I met a guy named Don Petrone (then WD6EDW) and now K6DLP, who I started doing side jobs with on tower sites on the Southern California mountain tops climbing towers. In 2003, I went into partnership with Jim Crawford (K6KMW), and bought the Box Springs Repeater. Because of some major health issues, Jim soon backed out on our partnership. Jim is now a “Silent Key” as of May 28, 2009. He will be missed in the Ham community. To date, I still own the Box Springs Repeater, work as a “Tower Monkey” for Don Petrone (K6DLP). When I’m at home, I play on 2m, 220, 6m, 70cm, and HF. And since I gave up on the 11 meters back in 1985, I now use a dual bander in the truck while on the road at work where I have been a driver for Vons Grocery for 25 years.

Gary ---- KQ6ZZ

 

 

Control Operators

KB5TJJ - Mike Bires has been an amateur radio operator since 1991.  He obtained his license while stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. After playing CB with the good old boys of the south, he was shocked when a Ham pulled up to him and transmitted about 30 miles farther with an 18" antenna (repeater of course!).  Mike turned in his K40 and Wal-Mart special CB for some Ham gear and the rest is history. Mike prefers VHF/UHF communications. He has been a law enforcement officer for 17 years.

 

K6PCY - Mark Loper is waiting to write his bio.

 

 

 

 

Members


W3RXO - Dan Galligan is a self-made fitness guru and technology buff. He is known for his vast knowledge of technological wizardry, and fitness exercises. He invented the 12 ounce curl. Founder of the Hair Club of Southern California, he frequently flaunts his long mane on late night commercials for 1-900 numbers. A man who is desired by most women, and typically loathed by most men, out of jealousy, he is typically seen with at least 2 to 3, 20-something hotties on his arms. 
W3RXO is a humble sort, who had to be wrangled into providing a bio for this page. 
Although he has never been so crowned, he is the world's champion driver, of large commercial vehicles, and has been know to do-it-all, and do it better than anyone else in the trucking industry.
First licensed, as a ham, in 1908, his interest in radio was sparked by a personal relationship with Hiram Maxim, himself. He taught Thomas Edison how to harness the power of electricity, and helped improve upon Samuel Morse's original Morse code, making it what it is today, though he rarely speaks of these accomplishments.
W3RXO is typically the epitome of political correctness, and rarely invokes any topics of conversation which could be deemed controversial, by the Box Springs Police.



N7VFF - Mike Guest was first licensed in 1991. My first call sign was KD6ECL. I found out fast that working repeaters and six meters, was not my cup of tea. I pushed myself to upgrade and continued until I earned the Advanced Class license. My new call sign was KO6WQ. I failed my first 13 wpm cw test and was very disappointed because I wanted to work the world!!! With some help from my friends, we strung out a 40 meter inverted V dipole cut for the novice portion of the band and my goal was to work at least one contact every night after work. Within 5 months time, I had my worked all states on cw. I was very happy, and knew that I was ready for the 13wpm cw test. So …. I found a testing site, drove down early on a Saturday morning and passed the test first time …. 100%.  My main interest in amateur radio is, working DX. I still get the thrill of bustin’ through a pileup and making a contact with someone on the other side of the world.

My Career - I have been in the locksmith industry for 32 years, working for 3 of the largest locksmith suppliers in the United States. At one time, I even owned my own locksmith shop. I am presently working for a high school friend that has a multi million dollar lock shop in South Orange County. My job consists of writing estimates, contracts and proposal for property managers, and also City and State agencies.

My famous words in the morning!!!!

“I’m on my way to work, I don’t want to go to work, but I have too!”

Some of my hobbies consist of:

Fishing, Shotgun sports, Skeet, Trap and Sporting clays. And I also enjoy upland game bird hunting.

 

 

 

KG6YXW (Your X Wife), that phrase helped me learn my call sign. Crystal Loper. I married a ham Jan 1st, 2005 and I got my license just to prove that I could. Maybe I missed one question on the test. I don't know. Lee Bass (AE6HB) knows my score. He was one of the VE's when I took my test. I was shooting for 100% just to be a smart alec. Maybe I got 100% and Lee won't tell me, so I don't get a big head.
 
Mark wanted me to get my license so he could talk to me in the car, (or to show his ham friends what a cool wife he has.) Mark programmed my car radio with a few stations. I just push the talk button to talk. Sometimes I let the talk button get stuck on, so mark gave it a 30 sec auto time out. I don't care a thing about contacts or whatever, Mark's the only contact I need !!
 
Radio keeps Mark busy and out of my hair. Once we retire, I might want more attention, but now I am so busy with the kids and daycare, he would feel left out if he did not have the radio taking up most of his spare time. Thank you to all of you guys for keeping my hubby busy!!

 

 

 

N6EED - Terry Coker: I first became hooked by radio when I was 14 when I visited a classmate's house and he had a Hallicrafters shortwave receiver and a crystal controlled 40 meter CW xmtr. He had a novice amateur radio license. I was amazed to hear the international broadcasters on the receiver.  I just didn't have the discipline to learn the code at that time.  I was hooked on SWLing however. I remember listening to hams in AM on 40 meters complaining about hams getting involved in SSB. They called them traitorous "Donald Duckers"  and predicted the downfall of ham radio.
 
Finally got around to getting my Novice in 1980. A year later, I got my general at the FCC office in Long Beach. I Upgraded to a Amateur Extra about 5 years later.
 
Been in the law enforcement game for 36 years.  Thinking of retiring .... but nahhhh ... not yet.  Still enjoy the thrill of the hunt.