IOTA NA010    CQ Zone 5    ITU Zone 9    LOC: FN96vd

I was 11 years old when I first met George Crowell, VE1AL, in 1957. George was 61 years of age then and was well-established in the local ham radio community. He was responsible for mentoring several of my friends to get on the air like VE1GW (SK) (ex-VE1UC, VE1MI and VE1CH), VE1BMC (ex-VE1NT) and VE3MQW (ex-VE1PB) plus a few others who are no longer active.

George was always impressed that my name and initials had led me to his doorstep, not to see his model railroad setup, but to see his ham radio station. After he became a Silent Key in 1969, I was able to change my call, in 1970, from VE1JN to VE1AL. Now I have turned 65 years but there are no youngsters knocking on my door asking to see my ham radio station. To me, this is very sad. Radio and its endless possibilities for communications no longer holds fascination in this new technological world.

From 1974 through 1987 I operated VE3FRA and edited several DX publications, including the bi-weekly VE3FRA DX Report and the Canadian DX Association's monthly news magazine, Long Skip.

In the summer of 1988 I went to CY9DXX (St. Paul Is.) and the following summer to CY0DXX (Sable Is.). I've also activated quite a few Canadian special prefixes and am especially proud of VA1S, VF1L and CG1B all of which were active in the 90s.

As of Nov. 1, 2011, I am still using the ICOM IC-761 (100W) that I purchased after breaking it in from CY9DXX in 1988. I also have a Collins 30L-1 (500W) that I seldom use and a Kenwood TL-922 that I'm getting ready to put on the air. My antennas on my tiny city property consist of a HyGain Explorer 14 triband yagi at 15m, inverted vees for 80, 40 and 30M, the driven element from a Cushcraft A3WS fixed E/W for 17 & 12M plus a GAP Titan 80-10M vertical that amazingly on occasion, hears signals better than the other antennas. My dream is to be able to afford a country estate with many more antennas and another operation from North Korea.

VE1AL (and all of the other calls I have operated in Canada) now has confirmed 339 of the 340 current DXCC countries active. Only P5 is left to be worked on the current DXCC List. Overall, I have 358/358 DXCC, including deleted countries.

Although I don't put in the same effort I did years ago, I also participate in many major CW and a few SSB contests each year. Otherwise, probably 95% of my on-air time is listening.

My VE1AL QSL for IOTA NA010 is yours if you wish it. Please send direct with US $2.00 or 1 valid IRC with a SAE or a SASE with proper CANADIAN postage for return to your country. If you wish a QSL via the bureau, please send yours that way. However, QSLs for CY9DXX, CY0DXX, FW0DD (1980), VE1DXX/FP, VE3AII/SU, VE6CBJ/SU, ZK2DD, ZK2DJ or ZK2YL (ZK2s in 1979 only) and for CF1AL, CG1B, CJ1AL, CK1AL, VC3FRA, VE3FRA, VF1L, XL1AL and XN3FRA, MUST be sent direct with correct return Canadian postage: US$2.00 or 1 current IRC and a SAE.

At the beginning of every month I upload my previous month's log to LoTW, Club Log and to eQSL. If I need your card, my policy is that I will send to you directly with proper postage and SAE or SASE.

If we have worked, thanks for the QSO. If we have not, perhaps we'll meet one day.

Counter begins on September 8, 2009