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 Previous: Surfin': Get Help Digging Up DX |  Next: Prospective Amateur Radio Volunteers Being Asked to Coordinate |
By Norm Fuscaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
September 5, 2004
During the cold war Ray Knuth worked for the US Air Force SS as a radio operator. His main duty was to copy Morse code messages from enemy transmitters and other surveillance radio work. As a CW intercept operator he became familiar with all aspects of radio and used his skills to serve his country throughout the Viet Nam war.
 KB8ZYY Ray Knuth |
But it wasn't until 34 years later that Ray earned his ham radio license and got the callsign KB8ZYY. Since then he has mentored several hams in his home and helped them develop the skills needed to pass their Morse code exams and upgrade their licenses. Ray says "With a General ticket you get full privileges and can do anything in ham radio. It's worth the effort."
Ray says that lifestyles and careers can impede one's activity in Amateur Radio. "A lot of folks can't find the time to study for the test. But you have to want it to get it." After his military service Ray became a police officer and eventually rose to the rank of Police Chief so he thoroughly understands time demands. Strangely, it was Ray's career that led him to Amateur Radio. After retiring from police work he was working as a private investigator. One day while waiting for an individual to show up at a location, a pick up truck matching the description of the one he was waiting for pulled into the parking lot. When the driver got out of the truck Ray knew that it wasn't the fellow he was waiting for but the two got to talking. The driver turned out to be Ray Gasiewicz, WA8JOI (SK), and it was he that urged Ray to put his CW skills to work and get his ham radio license.
The two became very good friends
and Ray says that 'JOI helped him quite a bit.
Although he had a thorough understanding of radio Ray never held a
soldering iron until he became a ham.
"In the Air Force, if something breaks we push a button and someone else
fixes it.", he said. Ray credits his friend
as being his Elmer. Unfortunately
WA8JOI became a silent key this year but Ray remembers his friend everyday and
thanks him for introducing him to Amateur Radio. Since then he has returned the favor many times and has had over
twenty successful students pass their exams because of his tutelage.
 WA8JOI Ray Gasiewicz (SK) |
Sitting at his station with his Vibroplex bug, Ray passes some 300 to 400 pieces of traffic each month. He tells his students that this is the best way to increase you CW skills. According to Ray, the bump and run type QSO doesn't give you the practice that you need to become proficient. Ray is active in the Iosco County Amateur Radio Enthusiasts Club and spends a lot of his time working with emergency preparedness agencies. The club has helped set up a station at the local firehouse but finds it difficult to get operators. Ray feels that more hams need to be helping the new operator to learn proper procedure for handling messages in times of emergency.
 ARRL is committed to support Affiliated Clubs in their efforts to mentor new hams. [Full Story] |
Ham radio is not all serious
business for Ray. He likes to contest and in 1995 he placed first in Michigan
in the ARRL November CW Sweepstakes. He
enjoys CW rag chewing as well. Along
with ham radio Ray also enjoys knife collecting and fishing. He and his wife like to collect antiques and
when they built an addition on the house that was to be for antiques and then
later a whirlpool, Ray decided that it be best used as a ham shack. Ray is always looking for good operators and
is a member of FISTS CW club (#2046).
Look for him on the air.
| Previous: Surfin': Get Help Digging Up DX | Next: Prospective Amateur Radio Volunteers Being Asked to Coordinate |
