  First licensed in 1966 as WN4EAB with
the help of early "Elmer" Wade H. McKay WA4TFI, I did not have any real ham gear
starting out. I obtained an ARC-5 receiver and Wade loaned
me a Globe Scout 65A transmitter and some novice band crystals. I rode my bicycle
the one mile to his house and brought the transmitter back in the bike basket. I
made a dipole from primary wire salvaged from a discarded ignition coil (and later learned
about soft vs. hard drawn copper). I later bought a used Hallicrafters S-120, but kept
modifying and using the ARC-5 into my General phase. My first QSO was with Mike
Huntoon WN4SEK, a local friend about the same age. It was a shaky QSO, but I began
working distant stations and caught on quickly. The only phone QSO as a novice (yes,
it was allowed on 2 meters at that time) was on a converted Motorola 41V taxicab FM unit
at the local hamfest. I should acknowledge a few others who nurtured my entry into
the hobby, including W4OGG, K4WWQ, W4GFI, W4GEF, W4KHM, and others who I will add as I
recall the specifics.
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N4MW Novice Station