We moved from Arvada CO to Tucson AZ in 2021. An archive of the Colorado station is here. This page describes the current station in AZ.
The call letters W6IWI were first used by Kauko Hallikainen in the 1930s (1933 license, 1937 ARRL membership). See the 1934, 1936, 1937, and 1938 Amateur Radio Callbook. The 1930s QSL card was similar to that shown above (I may still have one of the originals somewhere). By 1952, the call had been reassigned to Carson Donaldson in Inglewood CA. He held it through 1977. I acquired the call in 2016. Prior to that, I held the call WA6FDN, and prior to that, WN6FDN. The WA6FDN license was first granted in 1969, with WN6FDN in 1968. WA6FDN shows up in the Summer 1969 Callbook. In December 1969, I took the exam for the First Class Radiotelephone License with Radar Endorsement at the FCC office in San Francisco. That license was later replaced by the FCC with the General Radiotelephone Operator's License. NL7XM offers a great service. He has over 100 years of Radio Amateur Callbooks and will find the first appearance of your callsign in the Callbook. For a reasonable cost, he'll provide certified copies of these pages verifying that the callsign was held by the particular person on this date. This is what he sent me for WN6FDN and WA6FDN.
WN6FDN started with a Heathkit DX-60 transmitter and a National NC-300 receiver running CW on HF. WA6FDN used a Viking Ranger transmitter running AM, CW, and RTTY on HF. RTTY used a Teletype model 15 printer (also see a slow motion video of a model 15 in operationg), and a model 14 typing reperf and transmitter distributor. W6IWI now uses an SEA 245 with a Dentron Clipperton-L amplifier running RTTY, CW and SSB into a Zero Five 30 Foot Flagpole Antenna. VHF and UHF FM are covered with a Baofeng UV-5R and a Wouxun KG-UV-6X. The Wouxun KG-UV-6X normally drives a Diamond X50A vertical antenna at home. Mobile info is here.
The graph shows the MUF and OWF for the past two days. Drag right to see previous values. Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out. Right click to get back to the original view.
The table below shows recent contacts logged on qrz.com.
The table below is generated by a PHP script that pulls JSON data from the Reverse Beacon Network, parses it, calculates distance and bearing based on latitude and longitude, then shows data for the last 100 spots. Frequency changes greater than 1 kHz or time changes greater than 1 hour are shown in bold. The Rx links link to the QRZ page for the station. The SNR links link to a graph of signal to noise ratio versus time for that receiver, mode (CW or RTTY), and band (data limited to 100 spots from RBN)
The background color is green if the distance is greater than 3,000 miles. The Relative Distance column has a * for every 200 miles.
Time | Rx | Freq (kHz) | SNR | Mode | Speed | Rx Location | Distance and Bearing | Relative Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0354z 13 May | VE3NZ | 7052.0 | 19 dB | CW | 16 wpm | North York, ON | 3020 km (1876 miles) at 55.7 degrees | ********* |
0211z 13 May | NN3RP | 14083.9 | 10 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Washington, DC | 3129 km (1944 miles) at 66.6 degrees | ********* |
0210z 13 May | K9LC | 14083.9 | 16 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0210z 13 May | WE9V | 14083.8 | 21 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
0210z 13 May | WZ7I | 14083.9 | 24 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Pipersville, PA | 3304 km (2053 miles) at 63.8 degrees | ********** |
0210z 13 May | KE3BK | 14083.9 | 25 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mountain House, CA | 1149 km (714 miles) at 305.3 degrees | *** |
0210z 13 May | AC0C-1 | 14083.9 | 32 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0210z 13 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 35 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
2027z 11 May | KE3BK | 14083.9 | 13 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mountain House, CA | 1149 km (714 miles) at 305.3 degrees | *** |
2027z 11 May | K6FOD | 14083.9 | 11 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
2027z 11 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 24 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
1851z 11 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 24 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
1851z 11 May | KE3BK | 14083.9 | 12 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mountain House, CA | 1149 km (714 miles) at 305.3 degrees | *** |
1616z 11 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 19 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0455z 10 May | KH6LC | 7083.9 | 17 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Keaau, HI | 4652 km (2891 miles) at 264.3 degrees | ************** |
0455z 10 May | NN3RP | 7083.9 | 13 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Washington, DC | 3129 km (1944 miles) at 66.6 degrees | ********* |
0455z 10 May | K9LC | 7083.9 | 22 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0454z 10 May | WC2L | 7083.9 | 20 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Niskayuna, NY | 3434 km (2134 miles) at 59.4 degrees | ********** |
0454z 10 May | N2QT | 7083.9 | 20 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Forest, VA | 2924 km (1817 miles) at 69.9 degrees | ********* |
0454z 10 May | K6FOD | 7083.9 | 34 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
0454z 10 May | AC0C-1 | 7083.9 | 27 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0454z 10 May | W6YX | 7083.9 | 38 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0454z 10 May | VE7CC | 7083.9 | 17 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Maple Ridge, BC | 2120 km (1317 miles) at 336.1 degrees | ****** |
0454z 10 May | W1UE | 7083.9 | 22 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Marlborough, MA | 3619 km (2249 miles) at 60.5 degrees | *********** |
0454z 10 May | WE9V | 7083.8 | 27 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
0454z 10 May | W3RGA-2 | 7083.9 | 19 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0454z 10 May | W3RGA | 7083.9 | 27 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0454z 10 May | N6TV | 7083.9 | 33 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | San Jose, CA | 1141 km (708 miles) at 302.1 degrees | *** |
0454z 10 May | KO7SS | 7083.9 | 40 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mt. Lemmon, AZ | 23 km (14 miles) at 18.1 degrees | |
0442z 10 May | K9LC | 7083.9 | 17 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0442z 10 May | W3RGA | 7083.9 | 21 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0442z 10 May | WC2L | 7083.9 | 16 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Niskayuna, NY | 3434 km (2134 miles) at 59.4 degrees | ********** |
0441z 10 May | N6TV | 7083.9 | 25 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | San Jose, CA | 1141 km (708 miles) at 302.1 degrees | *** |
0441z 10 May | AC0C-1 | 7083.9 | 30 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0441z 10 May | K6FOD | 7083.9 | 31 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
0441z 10 May | W6YX | 7083.9 | 33 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0441z 10 May | KO7SS | 7083.9 | 35 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mt. Lemmon, AZ | 23 km (14 miles) at 18.1 degrees | |
0441z 10 May | W1UE | 7083.9 | 17 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Marlborough, MA | 3619 km (2249 miles) at 60.5 degrees | *********** |
0441z 10 May | WE9V | 7083.8 | 19 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
0441z 10 May | VE7CC | 7083.9 | 16 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Maple Ridge, BC | 2120 km (1317 miles) at 336.1 degrees | ****** |
0430z 10 May | WC2L | 7083.9 | 17 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Niskayuna, NY | 3434 km (2134 miles) at 59.4 degrees | ********** |
0430z 10 May | KH6LC | 7083.9 | 13 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Keaau, HI | 4652 km (2891 miles) at 264.3 degrees | ************** |
0430z 10 May | K9LC | 7083.9 | 16 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0430z 10 May | W3RGA-2 | 7083.9 | 15 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0430z 10 May | W1UE | 7083.9 | 19 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Marlborough, MA | 3619 km (2249 miles) at 60.5 degrees | *********** |
0430z 10 May | W3RGA | 7083.9 | 22 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0429z 10 May | VE7CC | 7083.9 | 15 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Maple Ridge, BC | 2120 km (1317 miles) at 336.1 degrees | ****** |
0429z 10 May | WE9V | 7083.8 | 21 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
0429z 10 May | K6FOD | 7083.9 | 35 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
0429z 10 May | W6YX | 7083.9 | 34 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0429z 10 May | AC0C-1 | 7083.9 | 24 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0429z 10 May | N6TV | 7083.9 | 25 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | San Jose, CA | 1141 km (708 miles) at 302.1 degrees | *** |
0429z 10 May | KO7SS | 7083.9 | 35 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Mt. Lemmon, AZ | 23 km (14 miles) at 18.1 degrees | |
0427z 10 May | W3RGA-2 | 14083.9 | 14 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0427z 10 May | K9LC | 14083.9 | 16 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0427z 10 May | W3RGA | 14083.9 | 12 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Sunbury, PA | 3176 km (1973 miles) at 62.6 degrees | ********* |
0426z 10 May | KH6LC | 14083.9 | 18 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Keaau, HI | 4652 km (2891 miles) at 264.3 degrees | ************** |
0426z 10 May | AC0C-1 | 14083.9 | 33 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0426z 10 May | WE9V | 14083.8 | 32 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
2301z 08 May | AC0C-1 | 14083.9 | 14 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
2301z 08 May | K9LC | 14083.9 | 20 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
2301z 08 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 29 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
2300z 08 May | WE9V | 14083.8 | 23 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
2120z 08 May | AC0C-1 | 14083.9 | 25 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
2120z 08 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 28 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
2120z 08 May | K6FOD | 14083.9 | 21 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
1644z 08 May | WV4P | 14083.9 | 13 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Savannah, TN | 2109 km (1310 miles) at 74.6 degrees | ****** |
1643z 08 May | WE9V | 14083.8 | 18 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
1643z 08 May | K9LC | 14083.9 | 22 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
1643z 08 May | W6YX | 14083.9 | 35 dB | RTTY | 45 bps | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0410z 08 May | N9CO | 7053.0 | 24 dB | CW | 15 wpm | Sycamore, IL | 2242 km (1393 miles) at 54.7 degrees | ****** |
0410z 08 May | AC0C-1 | 7053.0 | 31 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0409z 08 May | N6TV | 7053.0 | 21 dB | CW | 16 wpm | San Jose, CA | 1141 km (708 miles) at 302.1 degrees | *** |
0409z 08 May | K7MJG | 7053.0 | 10 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Phoenix, AZ | 162 km (100 miles) at 317.9 degrees | |
0409z 08 May | W2NAF | 7053.0 | 18 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Spring Brook, PA | 3272 km (2033 miles) at 61.8 degrees | ********** |
0409z 08 May | WE9V | 7053.0 | 23 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Bristol, WI | 2309 km (1435 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ******* |
0409z 08 May | W8WTS | 7053.0 | 20 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Chagrin Falls, OH | 2813 km (1747 miles) at 60.3 degrees | ******** |
0409z 08 May | VE6WZ | 7052.8 | 24 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Calgary, AB | 2196 km (1364 miles) at 353.4 degrees | ****** |
0409z 08 May | N0OI | 7053.0 | 17 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Perris, CA | 631 km (392 miles) at 287.9 degrees | * |
0409z 08 May | KO7SS | 7053.0 | 35 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Mt. Lemmon, AZ | 23 km (14 miles) at 18.1 degrees | |
0408z 08 May | W6YX | 7053.0 | 32 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Stanford, CA | 1182 km (734 miles) at 302.2 degrees | *** |
0407z 08 May | 3V8SS | 7052.0 | 10 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Hammam Sousse, Tunisia | 10393 km (6458 miles) at 44.6 degrees | ******************************** |
0407z 08 May | KV4TT | 7052.0 | 23 dB | CW | 17 wpm | North Myrtle Beach, SC | 2991 km (1858 miles) at 77.8 degrees | ********* |
0407z 08 May | WA7LNW | 7052.0 | 41 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Washington, UT | 595 km (369 miles) at 337.3 degrees | * |
0407z 08 May | K3PA-1 | 7039.0 | 7 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Tonganoxie, KS | 1626 km (1010 miles) at 57.4 degrees | ***** |
0407z 08 May | K1RA | 7052.0 | 27 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Warrenton, VA | 3063 km (1903 miles) at 67 degrees | ********* |
0407z 08 May | KM3T-3 | 7052.0 | 18 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Amherst, NH | 3617 km (2248 miles) at 59.6 degrees | *********** |
0407z 08 May | K2PO/7 | 7052.0 | 27 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Portland, OR | 1795 km (1115 miles) at 327.8 degrees | ***** |
0407z 08 May | W4KAZ | 7052.0 | 21 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Cary, NC | 2969 km (1845 miles) at 73.5 degrees | ********* |
0407z 08 May | W1NT-6 | 7052.0 | 21 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Newton, NH | 3665 km (2277 miles) at 59.6 degrees | *********** |
0407z 08 May | NG7M | 7052.0 | 19 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Syracuse, UT | 987 km (613 miles) at 354.3 degrees | *** |
0407z 08 May | KM3T | 7052.0 | 17 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Amherst, NH | 3617 km (2248 miles) at 59.6 degrees | *********** |
0407z 08 May | AC0C-1 | 7052.0 | 33 dB | CW | 17 wpm | Louisburg, KS | 1632 km (1014 miles) at 59.6 degrees | ***** |
0238z 08 May | K9LC | 7060.0 | 17 dB | CW | 15 wpm | Rockford, IL | 2227 km (1384 miles) at 53.7 degrees | ****** |
0238z 08 May | K6FOD | 7060.0 | 25 dB | CW | 15 wpm | South Pasadena, CA | 706 km (438 miles) at 289.1 degrees | ** |
0238z 08 May | KO7SS | 7060.0 | 37 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Mt. Lemmon, AZ | 23 km (14 miles) at 18.1 degrees | |
0238z 08 May | W8WWV | 7060.0 | 22 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Chesterland, OH | 2802 km (1741 miles) at 60 degrees | ******** |
0238z 08 May | NG7M | 7060.0 | 18 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Syracuse, UT | 987 km (613 miles) at 354.3 degrees | *** |
0238z 08 May | K5TR | 7060.0 | 30 dB | CW | 16 wpm | Austin, TX | 1215 km (755 miles) at 97.2 degrees | *** |
0238z 08 May | K9IMM | 7060.0 | 23 dB | CW | 15 wpm | Mount Horeb, WI | 2194 km (1363 miles) at 51.3 degrees | ****** |
The plot below shows a historic plot of W6IWI HF CW and RTTY activity.
Also see here for a graphical representation of all RBN data. There is also a
new version under development that shows similar graphs but also paths between
transmit and receive sites on a map.
NOTE: RBN only reports CQ or TEST. It does not report every QSO. Send one of the following (I use CW and RTTY) to generate RBN spots:
You can also use the form below to get a more detailed RBN report.
Operating PositionThe image at the right shows the operating position. Left to right, the following items are visible.
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RTTY CornerFor more on RTTY, see here.
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Test Equipment and Parts!Piles of stuff! Test equipment includes a digital oscilloscope, audio generator, audio THD analyser, audio voltmeter, FM modulation monitor (Belar FMM-2), antenna analyzer, regulated variable DC power supply, USB-based logic analyzer, etc. Below the desktop there are boxes of manuals to be scanned for Saving History From The Dumpster. |
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More Stuff!Shelves with more supplies, equipment I designed, a Houston Instrument DMP-29 plotter, Ampex reel to reel tape recorder, and a Webcor wire recorder. |
I will always send a QSL card on receiving one. Recently received QSL cards are here.
Calculations on RF Safety are located here.