Welcome to Ham Spotlight
Read the uncensored story about Amateur Radio operators you may (or may not) know..
by Lory Whitehead,W3AX
I have long been thinking about ways to highlight some of the hams who have impressed me with their commitment to Amateur Radio. The idea of doing an exposé on those I know led me to the idea of writing a brief summary of the lives of hams who have excelled in various aspects of ham radio work.
Welcome to the Latest Amateur Radio
Edition of
Ham Spotlight
Tune in to the story about that Inventor and Master Craftsman Corey Brown, WB0RXQ!
This is the second article for the Ham Spotlight series. After exploring the subject of DXing with Scott, I knew I wanted to pursue some of the other aspects of what being a ham radio operator entails. I am continually impressed with the variety of backgrounds that are represented in the hams I have known, and their talents in taking this hobby to extraordinary heights. It was logical to investigate the topic of creating equipment for amateur radio as my next subject.
While interviewing Corey Brown about his expertise in antenna tuners, I recalled my first attempts to manufacture a simple crystal radio set when I was growing up in Florida. Remember the lead pencil “tuning” across the razor blade? While my first set did not produce any positive results, I persevered and eventually produced a working model where I finally heard some radio static! And for many of us, tinkering with our station equipment is one of the great benefits (and frustrations!) of being a ham. Follow me into the shack and the shop of Corey Brown, who has mastered the machinery and the design behind creating impressive roller inductor tuners.
All about Corey Brown, WB0RXQ
Corey Brown has been a ham since he was 15 years old, having gotten his Novice license in 1975 (Novice call sign WN0RXQ). He upgraded to General in 1976. As what often happens to many of us, Corey’s amateur radio hobby took a back seat during the years he was building a career and raising a family, but in 2018 he got licensed as an Amateur Extra operator. While he did not need to master CW at 20wpm in 2018, Corey recommends using the “head reading” technique to increase your CW speed (head reading is the ability to mentally decode Morse signals without writing them down by listening for complete words and phrases).
Corey’s High School Physics’ teacher, Robert Klawuhn (W0VIV), was the one who first inspired Corey to become a ham. Klawuhn sponsored the Broomfield, Colorado High School radio club (WA0FTM) and had a ham station set up in the back of the Physics classroom. As soon as Corey saw that equipment, he was hooked. When he was 16, his dad bought him a Collins S Line (https://collinsradio.org/cca-collins-historical-archives/the-equipment-of-collins-radio/the-grey-boxes/51s-1/) receiver and transmitter that are impressive pieces of equipment in his shack today. They are fully operational, and Corey does not plan to ever part with those sentimental pieces from his youth.
In addition to the radios in his shack, Corey has many DX awards that he has earned since getting back into ham radio after his retirement in 2020. The DX Century Club and the Worked All States awards reflect his work with FT8, CW, and various other modes. While Corey is on the net several times a week, his biggest interest now is the theory and science behind the equipment used in amateur radio. He shared his mathematical proof of how antenna tuners are based on wave theory at the Feb 2025 Hamcation conference in Orlando, dispelling the urban legend that tuners simply “fool your radio” into thinking it’s getting a 50 ohm load. You can watch his presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9SvM8kXwhE.
I asked Corey what his most significant contribution to amateur radio was, and he talked about his work with antenna tuners. Corey spends the better part of each day working in his shop and producing the finest made roller inductor tuner in America. He has state of the art equipment and makes every bit of the tuner from scratch. And he didn’t learn how to do this in shop class–he taught himself how to be a master machinist using U-tube videos! Today, Corey has a three year backlog of orders for his tuners and has written the software to create tuners without knobs that use “stepper” motors. If you are interested, you can learn more about those motors at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepper_motor.
When I asked Corey what he thought the importance of ham radio was today, he cited the most recent examples of emergency operations we practiced during the Hurricane Helene event in September 2024. Without our 2 meter and point to point communications’ systems, Western North Carolina would have been unable to communicate the many urgent needs as the multiple disasters occurred throughout our region. With extensive power outages, some responders were not able to follow the most extreme routes to reach those stranded by the storm without information provided by means other than cell phones and internet access. They definitely wanted someone with a 2 meter radio along whenever possible.
Corey feels that the cost of getting into ham radio today is not that much of a deterrent, as working equipment can be found at reasonable costs. Also, the technology has improved so much and the rise of AI will bring further enhancements. Plus, while the subject matter for becoming a ham is the same, the newer materials to study and the online resources make learning that material easier than ever. There is nothing stopping anyone with the interest from getting into amateur radio.
I did question Corey about the elimination of the CW requirement for ham licensing, and what impact that might have had on amateur radio. He agreed that removing that barrier would allow more people to get started in radio, but that CW is only one mode of many that are available for ham radio operators. In the past, there was more need for CW, especially in providing a ready pool of operators for military use, if needed. Today, there is not so much calling for CW operators to be available for the military, and not requiring it for amateurs is not likely to be an issue.
Corey’s bottom line about ham radio: it’s a life hobby, it expands your mind, and it’s so much fun! And it’s never too late to start, or to get back into, amateur radio.
Corey has a website featuring his craftsmanship. For information on some of Corey’s tuner creations, go to his website at: https://www.blueridgeamateurradio.com/roller-inductors.
What’s Next?
If you enjoyed this biographical sketch of Corey Brown, let us know. I have lots of other areas of the amateur radio hobby that I want to spotlight in future articles. Things like CW work, emergency operations and service to ARRL. Don’t try to avoid my call, as I am serious about wanting to know your story!
Lory Whitehead W3AX
It was easy to choose Scott Douglass as my first subject, and his passion for DXing was a logical way to talk about one of the key activities associated with being a ham. He agreed to be interviewed (twice!) for this article and was most cooperative in sharing his story. I hope you enjoy Scott’s reflections on his many years in Amateur Radio.
All about Scott Douglass, K2SD
Scott Douglass has been a ham for 71 years, having gotten his Novice license in 1954. For that first license he had to learn Morse code (CW) at the rate of 5 words per minute (wpm), and was limited mainly to CW bands. His first call sign was WN0WER.
At that time a ham operator had to remain a Novice for a year and then was expected to take the Technician/General exam. The General exam required CW at 13 wpm and gave the operator almost complete privileges on the amateur bands. Scott got his General license in 1955. It would be another 20 years before he earned his Advanced (CW at 20 wpm) and finally Extra rating in 1975 at the FCC office in New York City.
Some of you may enjoy learning more about the history of amateur radio licensing, which began in 1912 and was interrupted by both World Wars. Check out Wikipedia for more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_licensing_in_the_United_States.
Scott began his foray into the world of amateur radio with the building of a crystal radio set when he was a 10 year old Cub Scout in Newton, KS. He was able to hear a Wichita AM station and was instantly hooked on radio. He also built his first kit around that time–a Philmore regenerative short-wave receiver. When he heard someone calling CQ, CQ New Caledonia, W0CPY, he didn’t know what was going on, but was told to check the library for a book that listed call signs.
From that source, Scott learned that W0CPY was the local Fire Chief who lived down the block from him! There was an active club of about 30 hams in Newton, KS, and Scott used their Instructograph machine to learn CW (the Instructograph was a paper tape-based machine and you can learn more about this nifty device at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructograph). He listened to the local amateurs during the summer of his 11th year and met the ham who became his “Elmer”, Myron Scott (Scotty), W0VTT. Scotty died 30 years ago, but another ham now has that call sign, and Scott hopes to meet him someday.
Those who know Scott know that he is on the radio every day and on nets at least once a week. His first passion in amateur radio is DXing, which he has done most of his life. He continues to talk to hams around the world and has received numerous awards for his contesting work. I have been around Scott while he is in the contest mode, and I was barely able to record the CW contacts he made so rapidly. Phenomenal!
I asked Scott to reflect on what he thought was important in ham radio today. He feels the new technology and the digital revolution allow us to make contacts around the world and to copy signals well below our “human hearing” level. He has also noticed a resurgence of interest in CW, especially among some younger hams. While new equipment can be expensive, it gives you a great “bang for your buck”, and you can also find plenty of used radio equipment that is affordable. Kit building is Scott’s 2nd passion, and there are still kits to be built (check out the QRP Labs site at https://qrp–labs.com).
Scott recognizes that eliminating the CW requirement in ham radio licenses opens up the hobby to more people. And, in his own words “ham radio is a diverse group of people using all the equipment and technology to build relationships with others”. In his lifetime, he has met all types of hams, from some who were homeless to those who were CEOs of industry. Ham radio has brought them all together and is a way of life for Scott and others like him.
When queried as to his most significant contributions to amateur radio, Scott focused on his work with Charlotte area clubs from 1979 to 1996. During that period he served in the Volunteer Examiner (VE) program and helped hundreds of new hams get into the hobby. Also in Charlotte, he was part of a contest team led by N4ZC who had multiple towers at his home and kept the hams going for 48 hours during a contest where they won third place in the worldwide competition!
Scott is a founding member of the Carolina DX Association, which has an international membership of almost 300 people and is centered in the Charlotte area. He is a life member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and a member of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT).
Scott’s many honors for DX work include the DX Century Club award, which he earned under his
General call sign, W2FPG, in March 1974. In July 1985 he earned his most coveted award, the ARRL 5BDXCC, which required contact with 100 countries (verified by QSL cards in those days) on each of the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Scott has now qualified for the 8BDXCC, which adds 30, 17 and 12 meter bands to be worked.
Additional awards include the DXCC Challenge, which Scott received in Nov 2019 for working at least 1000 DXCC band countries (he has now worked 1700 of those!); the ARRL QRP DXCC (which requires working 100 countries at or below 5 watts power); and the prestigious ARRL DXCC Honor Roll for hams with confirmed contacts in at least 331 (out of 340 possible) countries. Scott currently has worked 337 countries. You can learn more about DX awards at https://www.arrl.org/dxcc–award–information.
Many thanks to Scott Douglass, K2SD, for his inexhaustible work as a DXer and for his contributions to promoting the amateur radio hobby that is such a huge part of his life. It was both a pleasure and an education working with Scott in preparing this ar?cle.
What’s Next?
If you enjoyed this biographical sketch of Scott Douglass, let us know. I would like to spotlight hams who focus in other areas of the amateur radio hobby in the future. I’m thinking of those who excel in CW work, emergency operations, technical expertise, and service to other hams. If you get a call from me, do not run, do not hide, as I am determined to hear your story!
Lory Whitehead W3AX