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AD5CQ George W. Fletcher Houston, TX QCWA # 38386 Chapter(s): 51, 184 & 27 |
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My amateur radio mentor was W5EYJ who was also a member at my church. I suppose my Dad asked him to show me amateur radio. He did and I liked it. I got my Novice license and started using CW at 75 watts on an EICO-720 Transmitter. It was not too long after that I had a Drake R4 receiver. My Dad helped me put up a 30-foot inverted V antenna on top of the house. I remember seeing my final output tube plate glow orange. Now I know why. I had no tuner and only a small SWR meter to try and .tune. the antenna to the transmitter. The coax was terminated directly to the antenna so there was probably a lot of signal flowing down the outside of the coax. That was 1965. I have learned a lot since then. A short time later I went to the Federal Building in downtown Houston, Texas to take my test for a General license. I had to go by myself because I don.t think parents could be in the exam room. I achieved my Extra license sometime around 1995.
I spent most of my career working at the Johnson Space Center as a System Safety Engineer. I was president of the Clear Lake Amateur Radio club and twice earned the ham of the year award. I have achieved DXCC and Worked All States. I have been an ARES volunteer for many years, and served as Emergency Coordinator for eleven years. During Hurricane Harvey I went to the Harris County EOC (Transtar) for a six hour shift in the radio room. I was not able to leave for four days because it was impossible to get back to my house. When I finally did leave I still needed a high water vehicle to take me up to my house. I am also a volunteer examiner helping new amateur radio enthusiasts to earn their license.
My home station operates on solar power. I have one 195 watt solar panel on the back patio and two 50Ah deep cycle batteries. This works rather well for most of my operating activities.
I enjoy building antennas and have built many loop antennas for almost every band.
--George Fletcher, AD5CQ
December 26, 2020