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Bill McFarlen, WA5VGI

I was first licensed at the age of 13 in 1952 as WN8KJC. My first rig was a single 6L6 crystal controlled oscillator and a 2-tube receiver connected to a 80 meter dipole. Eight months later, I passed my General exam and upgraded my station to a Harvey Wells Bandmaster Senior and a used National HRO-50 using money I earned at a local grocery store. I added a 20 meter dipole and 10 meter ground plane to my antenna collection. I was also lucky enough to have access to my Elmer's station, Jay, W8EGE. His station included a HRO receiver, Collins 32V-2, an amplifier using a pair of Eimac 250THs, and a full size 2 element 20 meter yagi. It wasn't long before the DX bug bit me and I was staying up late at night and getting up early in the mornings to work DX. I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1963 and moved to California. In 1968 I moved to Oklahoma where I got my present call. In 1976 I moved back to California where I stayed until retirement in 1996. From 1963 to 1984 I was not very active as I did not have a home station. In 1984 I decided to get back on the air from my home in Thousand Oaks. I put together a station around Collins gear that I had collected and used dipole antennas strung from pine trees on my property. From 1984 to retirement in 1996 I confirmed 313 DXCC entities using my General license and wire antennas.

When I retired in 1996 my wife Linda and I were very fortunate to find a 21 acre property on a ridge line 6 miles west of Atascadero. It was a joy to graduate from wire antennas to yagis. I also recognized that if I was going to have any hope of making top of the honor roll I would have to upgrade which I did several years later to Extra Class. Being a CW buff the 20 wpm CW test was no problem. I became good friends with Tom, N6BT who owned Force-12 Antennas and ended up with 2 towers which house yagi antennas on 80-10 meters including the WARC bands. I also have coil-loaded, 62 ft high vertical, with elevated and ground radials for 160 meters. The current station includes a new K-3, several Kenwood transceivers, 2 Henery amplifiers and a QRO amplifier. I am hoping to get my 6 meter beam up sometime in the next couple of months.

I am very active on the radio with most of my time chasing DX. Thanks to the Glorioso expedition I made Top of the Honor Roll this year. Last year I finished up my county hunting effort and received Worked All USA Counties # 1182 for confirming 3,077 US counties. I have 5BWAZ, 5BDXCC, and 5BWAS awards. I participate in the DXCC Challenge program and have 2,555 band countries confirmed. I spent alot of time the past 3 years on 160 meters and now have 182/184 countires on topband. I enjoy participating in contests to look for new band countires, CQ zones, and prefixes. One of my favorite pastimes is working the 80 meter LP on winter mornings with fellow club member W6UC who has worked over 300 countires on 80 meters. I still have 30 to go.

I am blessed with a wonderful wife who supports this crazy hobby and a neighbors who are "ham friendly". My dog Sunshine and my cats Buddy and Sparky are frequent visitors to my ham shack. Life has been good to me. I am proud to be a member of our outstanding club and be able to rub elbows with some of the best DX'ers in California. 73 and Good DX, Bill - WA5VGI

 

From the photo above you probably get a good idea of why Bill's band totals stack up so impressively!

 

WA5VGI DXCC Band Totals Band Worked Confirmed 160M 184 180 80M 273 273 40M 310 309 30M 295 293 20M 338 337 17M 310 310 15M 326 325 12M 266 262 10M 286 284

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Contact:

Charles McConnell, W6DPD
1658 W. Mesa Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711
Email: W6MEL