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Issac D. 'Ike' Byars Mc Minnville, TN QCWA # 11317 Chapter 105 |
I. D. (Ike) Byars volunteered for the U.S. Navy in 1940 and received his class B amateur radio license in 1942. His first operating experience came in 1946 while still in the Navy stationed in the Philippine Islands. As the Aviation Chief Radioman in his squadron he was issued a SCR199 mobile field unit, which consisted of a BC-610, including an SX28 receiver. At that time the Philippines call prefix was KA, and Ike received the call KA2AG. After the war, in the late 40's, he received the call N6RBT as a Naval Reserve call from the Navy.
In 1951, while in charge of the Naval Radio Station in French Morocco, North Africa, he was licensed by the French Government as CN8ET. He has also been licensed as K8MKP and K3MKA. His civilian career has been in radio broadcasting.
He received his FCC first class license in 1950, and soon after his discharge from the Navy he started installing AM, FM and TV broadcast stations in many parts of the country. Since his retirement from broadcasting in 1987, he has been very active in all modes of Amateur Radio. His favorite is rebuilding and modifying old AM broadcast transmitters, especially Collins, which he has several on different bands. His other hobby is flying. He is a licensed pilot and flies both rotorcraft and fixed wing aircraft.
