The AM Forum

Just wanted to let those that know Bill, W3DUQ that he is doing well.  Martha and I visited him this past Sunday afternoon and stayed with him for about an hour.  Same Bill, but just in a different setting.  Not much opportunity for radio in the nursing home but I took my 2M Handheld and was able to hit my 2M repeater very well.  Bill would frequently get on my repeater from time to time and expressed interest in getting back on it providing he still has his old 2M rig back at his house.  I have a 2M to HF link set up at my station, so he could be back on the "whats for dinner net" soon. 

Naturally, he sends his regards to all those that he knows on here.

Joe, W3GMS   

Thanks Joe, I was just thinking about him today.
Larry

Thanks for the report on Bill. Glad to hear he's doing well. Bill is one of the first voices I heard on AM almost 40 years ago. I will always remember his loud audio, creaky chair and interesting conversations.

Thank you for that, Joe. Bill is an original mind, and one of the most interesting people I've ever met. Tell him I said that! If he could get back on HF that would be beyond great. I am just getting back on the air myself.

73,

Kevin, WB4AIO.

Thanks for the news Joe.

Bill is one of a kind.

Well, I appreciate everyone's response.  I will certainly pass along all of your regards when we visit him the next time. 

Bill was one of the first AM signals I heard on 75M along with Harry, W3FDY.  I first heard Bill when he was living with his parents on Powell Lane in West Chester.  He always had a stellar signal with great audio.  Bill lead the pack when it came to technology by always experimenting with something new. 

Joe, GMS   

Tnx for the info, Joe.   Yep, Bill is one of a kind.

While he was on it seemed like the era would never end, but alas, it finally did.... [sigh]   He was a bundle of fun on 75M.

I first met Bill in 1972 when he told me he was running a mysterious contraption called an "upside-down" tube rig.
He was nice enuff to send me a hand-drawn schematic of his pair of 6DQ5s.  I built it up and got it on the air too.

Time just keeps going by.  It wud be cool if you linked him in from 2M to 75M, Joe.     A classic legend would be heard again.

T

Indeed. Since at least 1957!

Nice to hear how Uncle Willie is doing.  Miss hearing him on the radio. With the quality of YOUR station Joe, I wonder if a Skype-type connection to him thru your board might best bring him through the æther to us...

that would be really nice !

That is probably a much better way to go Paul.  I have designed my repeater to be very transparent from an audio perspective, but considering the audio quality of most 2M rigs, Skype would be the way to go.  Bill being very computer savvy would not mind talking into his AKG plugged into his laptop!   
I have never used Skype, but I think I can handle it!   I have plenty of spare channels on the Wheatstone/Audioarts board so it should be a no brainier.  Is Skype full duplex? 

Joe, GMS

Steve,
When I  went into the service, my parents got rid of all my early QSL cards including my beloved RCC wallpaper!  That is a great card for sure.  I remember Bill when he was using that gear.  Even back then, he sounded great!
Joe, GMS   

Bill is indeed one of a kind!  I remember very well when I first heard him with the "upside-down" tube circuit.  He built that into a Heathkit Apache transmitter.  He then used a very big linear to run some power!   The tube may have been from a vibration shaker table. Yep, likewise Bill sent me that circuit which I still have.  Then came the new audio mixer/driver amplifier with the built in GE "uni-level" circuit of which I have the schematic for.  He built that while working at Sonibond which was a firm that designed and built ultrasonic welding equipment.   That is where several of my CG-309 plate transformers came from.  I will never forget the HRO-60 receiver supplied with a 6" S meter courtesy of Bob Egans (sp)WA3EPA (sk).  Oh the stories could go on and on! 

Joe, GMS   

Joe,

Did you think to ask Bill why he never answers his phone...

He called me several months back, asking me to see if he could
retrieve his pass word here.  I called Jonny Novice about it and
he got back to me stating he reset it for Bill but when I attemped to
get back to him, the number was disconnected according to the
message I received on dialing.

I have tried the number assigned to him at the place he is residing
(I posted it here on AMFone some time back)and it just rings and
rings, never a pick-up so I just gave up months ago...

He has caller ID.

Yeah, thanks Steve   :P :D ;D