Yeah it's been a while, but thought I'd update with a quick post that W4MMQ is active again for the first time in over 4 years, I've acquired the call sign so KE4GAI is no more. I haven't had any equipment for some time but recently picked up a cheap 2m/70cm portable, and made my first contact with KA4CID one morning.
I struggled for a while on whether to apply for the license, several years after granddad's passing. Then I remembered a conversation we had back in the 90's I believe, when vanity call signs came out. He told me about it and that even though call signs used to just go back in the pool after someone passed, but with the new rule change, a relative had first access to get it, as long as they had the same or higher rating. I'm also pretty sure this was one of the reasons I took the Advanced exam since that's what granddad had. I'd have probably sat for the Extra back then had it not been for the 21WPM code! Ha ha. I knew I didn't want a W4 call sign to just go into the pool so I filled out the paperwork and am now the holder of W4MMQ.
Maybe I'll be able to get on HF again, but for now I'm pretty happy that the call is back on the air. Miss you granddaddy.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A.R.C.S Key Klix Article
This month the Amateur Radio Club of Savannah honored W4MMQ in their monthly newsletter, you can read it at Key Klix. It's neat to see some of the old pictures there. Thanks to Andy, WD4AFY and A.R.C.S.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
On air comfort
Today was the first day that I felt a little more relaxed on the air. Between not signing on in years and the events of the last 7 days it's just been hard to even put together a thought and have it come out of the throat without choking up.
For as long as I can remember I've heard my granddaddy talk on the radio, there are pictures of me as a baby sitting in an orange chair holding the microphone, and even though I haven't heard him say it in a while in person or on the air, I can still hear his voice saying "W4MMQ" but the way he said it the "W" was drawn out a little bit so it came out like "Duuuuubleyou-4-MMQ." Today I got to hear his voice again from someone that bought a radio from him last year and it was recorded on there. I'm bad with remembering names anyway much less being extra scatterbrained this week so I apologize but I would love to know who that is and the call. All of you guys have known each other for so long and know each others voice on the air and call signs and I didn't think to write it down at the time, the mind hasn't been as quick this week. But even though I had a few tears hearing it, I also had a smile on my face, THANK YOU.
For as long as I can remember I've heard my granddaddy talk on the radio, there are pictures of me as a baby sitting in an orange chair holding the microphone, and even though I haven't heard him say it in a while in person or on the air, I can still hear his voice saying "W4MMQ" but the way he said it the "W" was drawn out a little bit so it came out like "Duuuuubleyou-4-MMQ." Today I got to hear his voice again from someone that bought a radio from him last year and it was recorded on there. I'm bad with remembering names anyway much less being extra scatterbrained this week so I apologize but I would love to know who that is and the call. All of you guys have known each other for so long and know each others voice on the air and call signs and I didn't think to write it down at the time, the mind hasn't been as quick this week. But even though I had a few tears hearing it, I also had a smile on my face, THANK YOU.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The day after
This past week was the hardest thing I've ever been through. Yesterday I told my granddaddy goodbye. I told him that I washed his truck on Saturday for him, it was pretty muddy still from going down to his last big project a new tower in Bryan county. He always hated a dirty car, we used to wash cars on Saturdays after he signed off the net in the mornings when I was younger. I also promised him I'd take care of his equipment until we found out what would become of everything. You will all be glad to know that even though the voice is silent, the station has not been.
I know the word has already started to spread about this site here, that's the good thing about the amateur community, you only have to tell something to one or two and before you can tell the third he's coming to tell you about it. I do want you all to know that this blogger account is NOT the final resting place for the site. I have also purchased the domain, www.W4MMQ.com, which currently redirects to here, but in the near future I intend on having a real website up.
The website is something I've actually thought about doing for quite some time and I'm sorry that I've waited this long to do it. I wasn't certain if granddad would use it much but I always thought it would be a great way for him to share some of his knowledge with all of us. Teaching is something that I know he enjoyed and I wish I had a fraction of his radio knowledge and knew some of the history he did and thought that if he could get it online it would be a great way to share some of that with us all.
If there are any pictures, articles, stories, etc that you have that relate to W4MMQ please get them to me as you can. We can make this a community effort between us all and hopefully do it justice.
I know the word has already started to spread about this site here, that's the good thing about the amateur community, you only have to tell something to one or two and before you can tell the third he's coming to tell you about it. I do want you all to know that this blogger account is NOT the final resting place for the site. I have also purchased the domain, www.W4MMQ.com, which currently redirects to here, but in the near future I intend on having a real website up.
The website is something I've actually thought about doing for quite some time and I'm sorry that I've waited this long to do it. I wasn't certain if granddad would use it much but I always thought it would be a great way for him to share some of his knowledge with all of us. Teaching is something that I know he enjoyed and I wish I had a fraction of his radio knowledge and knew some of the history he did and thought that if he could get it online it would be a great way to share some of that with us all.
If there are any pictures, articles, stories, etc that you have that relate to W4MMQ please get them to me as you can. We can make this a community effort between us all and hopefully do it justice.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Edgar Bigbie Obituary - Savannah Morning News
Edgar F. Bigbie - RICHMOND HILL - Edgar F. Bigbie, 83, of Richmond Hill, died Wednesday, April 15, 2009. He was born in Columbus, GA and lived in Savannah since 1944. He was an Electrical Engineer. He retired as President of Bigbie Electronics, Inc. in 1991, and was President of T-B Com, Inc. and Vice-President of Advance Communication and Electronics, Inc. He was Electronics Administrator for the City of Savannah for 20 years. He installed the first radios in the Fire Department and the Department of Public Works and installed the first UHF radio system and dispatch consoles in the Police Department in 1960. He was Vice-President of Engineering of Lewis Broadcasting from 1970 to 1978 when he purchased Savannah Communications. He was a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and was past President of the Savannah Chapter of IEEE. An avid Ham Radio Operator since 1946, a member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) since 1972, and a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) since 1946. He was also a member of First Baptist Church of Richmond Hill. Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Lucille Bigbie; a son, James Bigbie and a grand-daughter, Patricia Michelle Bigbie, and is survived by two sons, Ronald Bigbie and wife Lynn Bigbie, and Donald Bigbie; three grandchildren, Marc William Bigbie and wife Kriss Bigbie, Hollie Gatewood and husband Chad Gatewood, and Jennifer Keener and Husband George Keener; seven great-grandchildren, Marc William Bigbie Jr., Kellie Bigbie, Erin and Alyssa Deloach, Abigail and Nicholas Keener, and Hayden Gatewood; four brothers, Donnie R. Bigbie, Charlie Bigbie, Samuel Bigbie, and Abner Bigbie; one sister, Evelyn Peeples. Visitation: 6-8 PM, Saturday at Fairhaven Funeral Home. Funeral Services: 2 PM Sunday in the Chapel of Fairhaven Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Wasson officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Remembrances: Building Fund, First Baptist church at Richmond Hill, P.O. Box 1390, Richmond Hill, GA 31324. Fairhaven Funeral Home & Crematory 2794 US Highway 80 West Garden City, GA 31408 912-964-2862 www.fairhavenfuneralhome.net Savannah Morning News April 17, 2009
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