K8SMC Amateur Radio Station Pictures over the years. (History)

Click on a picture to enlarge


Getting my first amateur license, (Novice KN8SMC) in January of 1960, I like most never thought of taking pictures every time one rebuilt their radio shack or moved.  My first radio station consisted of a Heathkit DX-20, Halcrafters S-38E and an 80 Meter folded dipole, equipment was setup in my bedroom on Pleasant Street in Jackson, MI. One year later I got my Technician, (K8SMC) and really got involved with six meter AM.  Moved to our basement with lots of different equipment, even built believe it or not a pair of 813s on six meters.  Before going into the Navy my last rig on six was a homemade plate modulated 4-400 driven with a LW-51.

While in the Navy I got my General and operated in Puerto Rico as KP4ATQ.  Picture (1) was at our club station in an abandoned control tower over looking the runway and mountains at Roosevelt Roads where I was stationed.  The station consisted of a HQ-170, HT-37 and 813's.  I owned a National NCX-3 but had very little time to use it as my parents had moved to Kennedy Street in Jackson while I was still in the Navy.

When I got out of the service in 1967 and now married, we bought a house on Fairview Drive SW of Jackson.  Equipment then was a Hallicrafters HT-37, SX-110, some dipoles and a homemade 15 meter 3 element beam.

One year later we moved to a new home on Viking Drive east of Jackson.  Picture (2) is of radio shack upstairs after I had been set up in the basement for awhile.  From this point on I'll skip the equipment info and antennas unless some description is necessary.  Keep in mind I've owned equipment from almost every manufacture except Collins and Signal One.  My antennas were too many to mention over the years, from big mono-band and tri-band beams to many years of monster quads.  (See Quad Antennas)

Picture (3) is first shack at Concord, MI at back of house in 1979, see picture (5).

   

Picture (4) was a temporary shack in den as the old shack became a pantry and bathroom at the back of the house.  Picture (6) is one photo I could find of the contest building converted from a 12 by 20 chicken coop in 1981.

   

In 1987 I moved back into the house so I didn't have to keep a wood stove going.  Pictures (7), (8) and (9) were of the now remodeled den, ham-shack in the front of the house.

   

In 1989 we moved to the present QTH here on Dalton Road and my first station was setup in the basement.  Pictures (10), (11) and (12) were of the shack in 1990.

   

Picture (13), upgrade of shack in 1991.  Picture (14) was 1993 upgrade with everything built in.  In 1998 my last of four children moved out and I wanted to try having my station on the main floor, Picture (15).

   

It only took about a year and my wife Mary said it was too much noise, so back to the basement where I plan to stay now.  Picture (16) 2006 was new added radio shack to the front of old which is now my workshop.  Later in 2006, (17), all amplifiers were moved out of the shack behind radio desk to eliminate noise and heat (18). 

   

By the end of 2007 I sold all the amplifiers and equipment, keeping only one IC-756PROII and other essential equipment.  The moneys all went into a brand new kitchen for my wife.

At the end of March I started my 2008 rebuild and picture 19 shows the shack back in operation on April 3rd, 2008.  In over 48 years of amateur radio I have rebuilt my shack on the average of once a year, probably more, but this I also feel is part of amateur radio.  Pic 20 was last update to incorporate  features to make my shack comfortable and easy to use chasing DX and rag chewing, also great high definition TV when the bands are dead.