Amateur Radio Station WS7I
First licensed as WN5SED in 1967 while in high school in Clovis, NM. Mentor was K5TPU who was a active MARS member using RTTY. He was also active on Six Meters.This was also my first MARS operation as I was a member of the base support team of Air Force MARS station AGA6EY, Clovis AFB, NM. This station was "master NCS" for the Air Force Transcon system.
Had several other callsigns over the years as I moved around during high school and college. First rig was an old SCR 522 that we operated across town on 2 meters. Built a DX-60 while in high school and had a HQ-170A that I bought by working after school.
Was a Communications Center Specialist for the Army Security Agency and served in Vietnam. We used model 28's and RTTY. This included Tape relay, Autodin, as well as other classified activities. After serving in the ARMY I was in the Washington State Army National Guard. I was a Scout Platoon Leader in the 1/161st of the 81st Brigade.
Primarily a CW operator until I met Hal, WA7EGA and we started RTTY contesting in 1985 as a Multi-single team.
In 1987 Hal and I won the North American award for each RTTY contest held that year. Hal and I got our first World Title in BARTG that year and that lead to us getting invited to travel to the Galapagos Islands for the first CQWW RTTY contest where we "Won the World" as HD8CQ for our second world M/S title.
WA7EGA & KE7PN First World Title
During this period I became the National Award Manager along with my wife Betsy WV7Y for the RTTY Journal Awards program which predates all other RTTY awards to include the ARRL. This started a long association with Dale Sinner, W6IWO the RTTY Journal editor. I was the Software Columnist for the RTTY Journal from 1989 until 1992. In 1992 moved from software to hardware and was the hardware columnist until I turned that over to Mike Candy and started the "Clover Column" in 1993. I became the "Clover" author when that mode came out and that lead to an on-going relationship with Bill Henry and Hal Communications. Continued to beta test software for Hal Communications and Hal's high speed Clover Modems until Hal was sold.
Vice President and Director of the American Digital Radio Society when that society formed in 1992 and purchased the RTTY Journal until 1995 when the society split and part became the International Digital Radio Association. I served as the Marketing Director of the Digital Journal 1994 until April 1996.
Worked with many of the pioneers of digital radio. Bill Henry, Vic Poor, Jim Morrison, Hank Oredson, Steve Waterman, Ray Petit, Mike Lamb and others.
Hal and I had an idea one evening over a couple of slices of prime rib and a bottle of wine. We decided that we needed another RTTY contest. After a lot of work with Rush Drake then the NW Division ARRL director we created the RTTY Roundup Contest in January 1989. This contest has become one of the best RTTY contests. Since 2002 I have done the results of the contest as published in QST and on the web. 2013 was the Silver anniversary of the RTTY Roundup. That was enough!
In 1987 joined Ted HC5K, Roy KT1N, Hal WA7EGA and contested from the Galapagos Islands as HD8CQ. This was Betsy and my first DXpediton. We won the first CQWW RTTY contest.
In 1989 we returned to the Galapagos and operated as HD8EX again Multi-single. This second trip sort of burnt out Hal a bit on contesting it seems as he has rarely been seen on the air since. But last year I did talk him into an Icom 7410 and he can be found on 80 meters. Hal now a (SK)Silent Keyboard.
1990 saw WS7I spread his wings and make an attempt at some serious single operator events. Won the RTTY Roundup Single Operator High Power. Later in 1990 while operating HC5J I won the World title in CQWW RTTY using one keyboard to log on and another to send the RTTY exchanges due to a small software glitch. Was invited to W7XR and was part of the 10 meter team. This group included W7XR, W7TJ, K7SS, W7WA, K7IDX, K7IR, NN7L, W7AWA, KE7V, VE7NKI, W7UA and probably some I have forgotten. The record contines as M/M CQ SSB W7 today.
Returned to the Galapogos in 1993 and operated as HC8J Single Operator and winning my third world BARTG title. 1995 was an effort from P40JT where I was declared the winner, but where the contest director in CQWW RTTY was over-ruled by CQ and an after the deadline entry was accepted that edged me out--so I ended up second and a South American Winner.
1995 met Ron Stailey AB5KD now K5DJ and we became fast friends and did a large number of contests in the 90's from the Edwards Ranch in Texas, W5KFT. We won many RTTY World titles and set many records.
WS7I at the W5KFT Ranch
Ron and I created the WPX World-wide RTTY contest and with the sponsorship of the ADRS launched in it 1995.
We revolutionized results and plaques. Ron did the plaques and I did the awards for several years. We had the contest in February and the results were finalized and plaques issued at the then April Dayton Hamvention. This contest had several different sponsors and finally after it was well established CQ Magazine became a joint sponsor and later the sole sponsor.
Created records for CQWW RTTY, WPX RTTY, as well as NCJ records for many years. Compiled and submitted most of these to the WM5R/K5TR database.
During this period I bought the AK1A packetcluster software and started the first cluster in the Pacific Northwest. Linked on HF to W6GO, VE7CQD, later WU3V and others. Once linked to Salt Lake City for a long period of time over the packet network.
Politics lead to the formation about this time of EWARG, as
a political action group for HF Digital. We also created a large packet system which
at one point extended from Spokane to Baker City, Or; Boise, Idaho, Orfino, Id. Pasco, WA,
Yakima, WA, Pullman, WA. We had packet clusters in Boise, Baker City, Pasco, Spokane
and a network that stretched for many square miles. This was also heavily used by
ARES/RACES in several areas as a Emergency System that was dedicated and was always up but
the clusters could be turned off and the sysem used 100% for Encomm and 100% RF.
President of EWARG from its foundation until 2021.
RTTY Dxing and DXing also became passions. Received WAC, RTTY DXCC #157, RTTY WAZ #36 on 20 meters and in 2002 achieved the Number 1 Honor Roll in mixed. Finally got on the RTTY Honor roll in 2013. Five Band DXCC. Currently have 347 Digital.
Continue to run the WS7I-1 Packetcluster. Cluster has run continuously for over 30 years.
Author and columnist for Amateur Radio publications including CQ, CQ Almanac, QST, National Contest Journal, RTTY Journal, Pactor News.
Professionally was Vice President of Information Services and Networking (CIO) until retirement in 2010. Network and software Engineer. Company was active in 18 Western States and the Pacific.