Clark L. Stewart

W8TN

Clark L. Stewart
Hurricane, WV

QCWA # 27535
Chapter 30

I began my ham career with a Novice license (WN8OQJ) in 1964 while a junior in high school. I built my first transmitter from an ARRL Handbook design but the design was flawed and when powered up for the first time, I let the smoke out! I upgraded the next year to Technician (WA8UUY) and about 4-1/2 years later to Advanced. In 1977 I upgraded to Extra and changed my call to W8TN.

I've operated as W8TN/6Y5, ZF2EK, W8TN/VP9, XX9TN and as a member of the 1985 FOØX Clipperton DX.pedition making over 1,000 QSO's from each of those locations. In September 2012 I operated as a member of the Swains Island (NH8S) DX'pedition.

My operating awards include DXCC Honor Roll - Mixed 356/339 (need P5 to have them all) and Phone Honor Roll, 5BDXCC, 10-Band DXCC, DXCC Challenge (2,331+), WAZ, Geritol 75-M W.A.S. (No. 300), 6-M W.A.S., VUCC on 6-M and the first 6-M DXCC in West Virginia. I have also worked DX on VHF/UHF including meteor scatter (SSB & WSJT) and CW Moon-Bounce (EME) on 2-M and 432 MHz. One of my biggest thrills was being the Technical Coordinator for the Kanawha School of Davisville, WV, for their SAREX communication with the Space Shuttle in 1994. I am a Life Member of both ARRL and AMSAT, a member of the A-1 Operators Club, and President of the West Virginia DX Association (http://wvdxa.blogspot.com/).

In addition to operating I have enjoyed just about everything in ham radio from contesting, to building equipment/antennas, to QRP, to satellites, to software/computers, to Field Day, to mobile HF & VHF, to the latest digital modes. Over the years I have been an Elmer to several budding hams and that, for me, is the most fulfilling aspect of ham radio.

You can see my Blog here (http://w8tn.blogspot.com/).

Currently my equipment includes an Elecraft K-3, microKEYER II, RadioSport RS60CF Headset (see above photo) and an SPE Expert 2K-FA amp. Antennas are a 4-L SteppIR, 40-M Wire Vertical, Inverted-V's for 30-M and 17-M, plus a 160-M Inverted-L and 80-M wire vertical.

May 16, 2015