Walt Hoppe , KC8J

CWops# 2085, from San Diego , CA , USA.---->View on Google maps

My interest in amateur radio started when my Uncle John let me use his Hallicrafters S38-E receiver to listen to shortwave broadcasts. My father’s friend, Gus, K8WPD, helped me to learn Morse code and enough theory and regulations to pass the Novice and Technician tests in June 1963. I received the call signs WN8KBU and WA8KBU. I increased my code speed and eventually got my General and Advanced tickets. I won a scholarship to The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey for high school and ham radio was put on hold for a few years. I went to Case Western Reserve University and majored in electrical engineering. While at Case I subjected my future wife, Christine, to listening while I communicated with other hams using CW while using Case’s club station, W8EDU. Christine married me in spite of this.

After graduation from Case, I worked as an electrical engineer at a number of large corporations in the Cleveland, Ohio area for the next 42 years. Along the way, Christine and I had a daughter named Lynne. Lynne is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a Naval Aviator and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego. I am extremely proud of her and all that she has accomplished.

Unfortunately, the extra activity in my work and personal life meant that ham radio had to be put on hold again until my retirement. In late 2015 I retired as an electrical engineer and became interested in ham radio again in early 2017. After passing my Amateur Extra test, I started to put together a station. My station is rather modest consisting of an IC-7300 and an FT-891, several paddles an LDG Z100Plus antenna tuner and an 88-foot long end fed wire antenna. I read about the CWOps and signed up for the CWA Level 2 course starting in January 2018 taught by Bill Perkins KC4D. Bill encouraged me to practice with Morse Runner and RufzXP to increase my Morse code speed.

I want to thank Bill KC4D for nominating me for membership in the CWOps. I also want to thank Bo K4WW, Howie N4AF, and Paul K1SEC for sponsoring me for membership in the CWOps. I am very proud to be member #2085 in the CWOps and I will continue to try to improve my CW speed, head copying ability and operating technique. I am signed up to take the CWA Level 3 class starting in September 2018.

One of my other hobbies is making, solving and collecting mechanical puzzles. Also, I am an amateur machinist and enjoy machining working live steam locomotives in the 1.5-inch = 1-foot scale.

I am a Life Senior Member of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and SKCC #16912.

This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.

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