The Man Behind The Mic
Don Olejnik - W6KAT
In 1957 while in my junior year of high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin I earned my Novice license. My first call was KN9COX. The following year I upgraded to General Class and became K9COX.
After high school I graduated from an Electrical Tech school and went to work for what was then called the "AC Spark Plug" division of General Motors in Milwaukee. While there I worked on several Titan and Minuteman inertial guidance missile projects, first as an inspector in metrology, then later as gyroscope manufacturing foreman, and finally as a field service gyroscope instructor at the Newark Air Force Station in Newark, Ohio. During this time I tried to enlist in the US Air Force but was turned down because I was already married with two children. Although I have never been in the military, I honor and greatly respect and admire all those who have served our country!
In 1967 I was offered a job with Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a Quality Assurance Engineer. The only "catch" was that I'd be forced to move to California. I accepted the job without even asking what my assignment would be. My first three years with Collins were spent working on the Apollo moon mission. Although I was a licensed Ham Radio operator I never had an opportunity to work in the Ham Radio Division. By comparison, the Ham Radio division was tiny with only about 50 people compared to the 25,000 total employees at Collins.
A year after moving to California I was issued my existing call sign (W6KAT) by the FCC. This it is not a "vanity" call sign. I later upgraded to Advanced and finally to Extra Class.
In about 1972, Collins Radio was taken over by Rockwell International. I stayed on as a west coast representative for over twenty-five more years, working out of my home. I worked with and visited hundreds of military and commercial aircraft component suppliers during my career.
In the mid `70's my first marriage went sour and in 1981 Arla and I got married. We have lived in the city of Whittier, California, since then. Arla loves ham radio and one of the first things she did was to get her Novice license. She mastered the five WPM code requirement and has held the callsign, KC6AMD (...."Arla Married Don") ever since. Between the two of us we have five children and nineteen grandchildren.
Since retiring from Rockwell International in 1995, I have been fairly active in ham radio, mainly on 40 and 80 meters, and VHF/UHF. My antennas consist of a 137 foot long dipole at 50 feet, a 3 element beam for the high bands, plus numerous VHF & UHF beams and verticals. Rigs include an ICOM 756, a Yaesu FT-980 and a Collins KWM-2 for back up. Also when needed, I run a Heathkit HL-2200 or Henry Radio 2K Classic linear amplifier.
I belong to two local ham radio clubs as well as being the trustee of a repeater on the 220 MHz band. I am a member of the ARRL, the Los Angeles County DCS (RACES), and ARES. I am Vice President of the 220 Spectrum Management Association (220 SMA). I am also a member of the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association (WARFA) and of course, the RV Service Net.
I am relatively new to the RV Service Net. The log shows that my first formal check-in to the net was on 01-28-02 with KC6LNT, Oakie, as Net Control. A couple years ago Don DeGroot, KA6TGE, then the Net Manager, asked me to become one of the Net Controllers. I agreed to serve but limited myself to about twice per month. Then early this year (2005) Don resigned due to health reasons and asked me to become the rally "Wagon Master" and Bill, KD7S, to be "Net Manager." I agreed and assumed my duties at the fall rally at King City.
I have made a commitment to do the very best job as Wagon Master that I can. I am looking forward to seeing you all at future RV Service Net Rallies.
73, Don Olejnik, W6KAT