My name is Bill Taylor, and I'm operator of amateur radio station K8TBW.
My first callsign was K5JLK. I have been a amateur radio operator since January 1953. The callsigns K5JLK and K8TBW were issued to me by The Federal Communications Commision.
My favorite modes of communicating are : AMTOR, CLOVER, PACTOR, and VHF PACKET. Over the years I have used other modes including: CW, SSB, RTTY., and now PSK31.
I've made many QSO's over the years with "ham radio" operators all over the world. I have exchanged QSL cards and have many in my shack. Besides collecting QSL cards, I also have collected stamps. I've had the opportunity to personally meet many hams and become friends with them. One from Belgium (ON4VS)has visited my shack several times. Ham Radio became my "Dream Hobby"and I invested lots of time and money into it. But I was rewarded many times over. I discovered that everyday was a learning experience for me. I built some of my own "Rigs", a Full-size 4-element 20 Meter Beam, 70Ft windmill Tower, and 60Ft. Crank-up Tower. I also built many linear amplifiers. I was QSL Manager for: DJ5JI, ON4TC, ON4VS, SM6AYC, YJ8TT, and ZS6BAD.
My XYL Gerry (who became a Silent-key Nov.1, 2007) and I have (3) grown "kids" (Bill Jr., Sherry, and Cathy). We have (5) Grand-children (Jason , Eric , Ashley, Chris , and Ryan ) and 8 Great-Grand children.
I am 78 years old, and I retired in 1991 from Autolite spark plug plant in Fostoria, Ohio after working there 30 years.
I now live in Fremont, Ohio (Sandusky county) which is located approx 55 miles
South East of Toledo, 120 miles West of Cleveland, 100 miles North of Dayton.
The following achevements have been made by Ham Radio K8TBW:
- DXCC - Total Countries - 199
- WAS - Worked All States - SSB/RTTY
- WAC - Worked All Continents - SSB/RTTY
- WAZ - Worked All Zones - SSB/RTTY
Photo image of my QSL CARD
Click here for the Top of Web Page.
Click Here to see my QSL Card at WRL HAM Station on front cover of Radio & TV News Feb 1958.
