ONAIR
Member
Posts: 1631
|
 |
« on: December 04, 2011, 11:28:26 PM » |
|
I remember way back in the day (1960s), Popular Electronics magazine issued WPE call signs to readers who were SWLs. Did anyone else get (or still remember) them?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
K0OD
Member
Posts: 2165
|
|
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2011, 09:14:52 AM » |
|
I never had one but they were a brilliant marketing idea by Popular Electronics Magazine. I think you'll still find a few SWLs online signing posts with their old WPE-type call letters with great fondness. They were similar to the SWL calls officially issued by some European countries then. I understand that they also confer transmitting authority on one or two fixed channels on 20 meters.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
ONAIR
Member
Posts: 1631
|
|
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2011, 09:18:44 AM » |
|
I never had one but they were a brilliant marketing idea by Popular Electronics Magazine. I think you'll still find a few SWLs online signing posts with their old WPE-type call letters with great fondness. They were similar to the SWL calls officially issued by some European countries then. I understand that they also confer transmitting authority on one or two fixed channels on 20 meters. Interesting. I just did a search on Google for WPE call signs, and found a number of very interesting websites! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
WA2ONH
Member
Posts: 155
|
|
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2011, 07:09:56 PM » |
|
Back in January 1960 Popular Electronics issued me WPE2CJJ and by
August, 1960 the FCC issued a Novice Ticket for WV2ONH
Well, at age 13, when I found out that I could transmit with a
ham license ... and the rest was history! (and so much fun!)
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 21, 2012, 05:07:56 PM by WA2ONH »
|
Logged
|
73 de WA2ONH ...Charlie
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello one and all. Is it you I used to know? Can't you hear me call, on this old ham radio?"
SONG: King of the World - GROUP: Steely Dan
|
|
|
K5WLR
Member
Posts: 55
|
|
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 06:35:07 PM » |
|
WPE4KKE  K5WLR |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
KS2G
Member
Posts: 263
|
|
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 06:39:38 PM » |
|
WPE2GAT
Wasn't a ham back then.
Got a photo of my shack into the May, 1967 edition of the magazine.
73,
Mel - KS2G
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
SWMAN
Member
Posts: 447
|
 |
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 07:42:32 PM » |
|
I wasn't a ham back 20 years ago when I got the call KTX5JE.
Lots of SWL ing back then. I had QSL cards from all over the world. 73 Jim W5JJG
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
ONAIR
Member
Posts: 1631
|
|
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2011, 12:38:29 AM » |
|
WPE2GAT
Wasn't a ham back then.
Got a photo of my shack into the May, 1967 edition of the magazine.
73,
Mel - KS2G
Nice! Are old issues of the magazine archived online? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
KI4ZCF
Member
Posts: 2
|
|
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 09:15:42 AM » |
|
Yes I had a Popular Electronics call sign...WPE6BPV and now I am KI4ZCF....I dont know why I can still remember that old callsign..I wish I still had the certificate...I understand that Pop Comm is thinking about issuing WPE call signs again..I wish I could still get my old call back with a WPE4 instead of a WPE6....73 de KI4ZCF....
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
WB9CTP
Member
Posts: 0
|
|
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2011, 03:50:04 PM » |
|
Yes ! I was (and, I guess, still am) WPE0CKG. I was proud of that call
as a young kid in IOWA. Within a year or two, I got my ham ticket WN0GJL
and later WA0GJL.
Thanks,
Ron Ross
WB9CTP
Bloomington, Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
KS2G
Member
Posts: 263
|
|
« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2011, 04:33:10 PM » |
|
[/quote] Nice! Are old issues of the magazine archived online?
[/quote]
I'm not aware of any on-line archive.
A friend who picked-up a bunch of old copies at a flea market happened to acquire the issue in whihc the picture of my listening shack appeared, so I have a scan of it.
Looking for a place to frame and display it among all my contest certificates.
73,
Mel - KS2G
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
W5GNB
Member
Posts: 402
|
|
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2011, 04:13:43 PM » |
|
I was (and still am) WPE5DTK. I still have my "License" and it is in perfect condtion, just like the day I got it in the mail HIHI!!!
Gary - W5GNB
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
KB0XR
Member
Posts: 24
|
|
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2011, 07:36:08 AM » |
|
WPE0BO waaay back when. I saved my certificate but it got lost in my last move. I also was contributor to the shortwave editor Hank Bennett W2PNA and still have a thank you post card from him dated Jan 3-1960.
KB0XR Bob in Minnesota
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
AJ8MH
|
|
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2011, 08:15:53 PM » |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
