01/02/2004 | AK9F From left, Will K9FO, Howard AK9F, Jerry WB9Z, Don K9NR and Carl K9CS. This group has been teamed on 160 meters for over 20 years and consistently places in the top ten. The 2003 effort resulted in 1,353 Q's, 78 US/VE sections and 25 countries for a total of 291,696 points.


This year, we used the call AK9F to celebrate Howard's 50th year in amateur radio. First licensed in 1953 at 12 years old in Iowa, Howard was WNYC, then a short time later, upgraded to General and WYC.


The station transmits from a 160 foot series fed vertical tower with 120 quarter wave radials and receives with numerous Beverage and pennant antennas. WB9Z is located in the middle of the midwest's "Black Hole" on Jerry's farm near Crescent City, Illinois and is a member of the Society of Midwest Contesters. -- AK9F