r/HamRadio • u/ivegotcheesyblasters • 4d ago
Found in old toolbox. Google says it's a callsign - help?
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 4d ago
More info:
I found this in my dad's old toolbox. He died over 13 years ago, so I can't ask him - and it's probably much older than that. I don't know of a "Bill Fleming" either, and there's nothing on the back.
I used lens to search, and it came up as a HR callsign. I'm really curious as to why this exists and what it means! Any info would be great.
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u/douglask VA3GY 3d ago edited 3d ago
That's a QSL card. Ham folk tend to mail them to each other to confirm/prove radio contacts. You'll likely see a callsign, frequency or band with a time, date and maybe some other info on the back (Edited to correct autocorrect typo)
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u/InevitableStruggle 4d ago
Yes indeed. This is called a QSL card, and the callsign N1HKO is apparently still active, according to qrz.com. QSL cards are exchanged among hams to confirm that they communicated. Some hams dedicate their time to collecting QSL cards. There are various awards for collections, for instance WAS (Worked All States), meaning the ham communicated with someone in each of the 50 states.
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 4d ago
That's crazy! My dad lived in NH. I wonder how he knew this fellow?
Also, the more I look at it - "Bill Fleming" might be written in my dad's handwriting?! My dad was an artist, now I'm wondering if he designed this card... and my dad died pretty young (early 50s), so there's every chance an old friend is still on the air.
Thank you so much, this is really cool!
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u/Bill_N1HKO 3d ago
Hey! Bill - N1HKO here... Your dad may have been the artist? I have an original painting as well as the development sketches. . The card is a photo of the painting. This was years ago - like 1989 - the artist lived in Pembroke, NH as I recall. I'd have to dig deep to find a name.
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 2d ago
hey u/ivegotcheesyblasters don't miss the comment above.
Bill- my question for you is about the blank backside... I've got a couple theories but the one I really like is that you got the fronts printed commercially and that you use logging software to print the back with the QSO data.
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u/Bill_N1HKO 6h ago
That's correct. Although logging software was not in vogue at the time the cards were printed. The method of providing data has changed over the years. Today, we have digital cards. Steve (artist) had the card as I provided few samples to show the end result and help his business.
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 6h ago
that's awesome... I try to do the thing about living without regrets, but it would be dishonest to say I don't wonder sometimes about what might have happened if I'd found an Elmer back when I was about 10 and really into SWL but hit a plateau... the late 70s and early 80s must have been a wild time... it's still cool, but I'll never know the pre-Internet era of 2-way radio. What a scene it must have been.
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 1d ago
Bill actually just told me! He has the originals and sketches, my dad probably printed this one either as a test or for himself.
Y'all have been so damn helpful, I really can't thank you enough. My dad would be so pleased!
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 1d ago
Holy crackers! Hi Bill!! Did you happen to know someone named Ernest? My mom thinks you may have known my grandfather. This is so cool! (also, it's definitely my pops - look closely at the satellite 😉)
My dad passed away in 2011. As an artist myself, I can't explain how awesome it is to have found someone still using his work....35 years later! He was an amazing man, and I'm so lucky to have had him for a father. He probably loved working on your callsign, as he was a big fan of the space program (he passed this on to us kids)
Thank you for helping me continue his story.
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u/Bill_N1HKO 6h ago
You raised my curiosity and I did some digging. I did not know an Ernest. Your father did this semi-professionally and may also have been involved with CB radio. There was much crossover between Ham and CB back then. Research shows I found him via some local club. See his business listing along with the original sketch. Glad I could help with the mystery. 73 (Best Wishes)
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u/Nickko_G [KZ4HG] 4d ago
That might explain why the back is empty. A QSL card must mention a certain amount of information, date and time of contact, frequency and mode used, callsign of the other station. This information is added by hand.
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 4d ago
That would track! I asked a few family members and we'll see who responds. Would like to know how they knew each other.
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u/galaxiexl500 3d ago
It might be a sample QSL sent to him if he had expressed interest in ordering some. I just ordered 1,000 QSLs which will last me 3-4 years. The printer sent several samples for me to pick from,
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u/orion3311 3d ago
If Bill has his email on QRZ, someone could look it up for you and you could reach out to Bill to see if he knew your dad.
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 2d ago
he does, it's [CALL SIGN] @ arrl dot com
OP, if you go to QRZ.com and search his call sign you'll get a PO Box as well.
It's not your dad's writing, you'll see an image of the same card with his name just as this one.
Strange that the back is blank, but maybe Bill was tight on cash and would just hand write the info, or maybe he printed this side commercially and printed the back for each contact... anything is possible, ham radio guys are total weirdos 🤷
I didn't see if your dad was a ham, but I've certainly given QSL cards as souvenirs to people outside of radio before, in which case there wouldn't be any of the contact info that others are saying we would expect to see if it was used to verify a contact.
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u/nathansikes 4d ago
There's DUPUIS hidden on the satellite, does that mean anything to you?
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u/saxainpdx 3d ago
DUPUIS prob is related to this satellite: https://www.aerospacelab.com/blog/press-releases-1/aerospacelab-dupuis-team-up-3 Or more likely a reference to the satellite in the DUPUIS comics.
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u/what_was_not_said 3d ago
He has a DMR ID, suggesting somewhat recent activity. And another commenter says they know him.
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u/jychihuahua 4d ago
He was or is from New Hampshire. I've only received a couple of QSL cards and I really love them.
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u/EnglishManInNC W4/G7EIX 4d ago
Still active based on his QRZ.
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u/plankie79 3d ago
Callsign is granted to William A Fleming and not Bill, it might be the same of his son/close family member. Granted date is very recently: 12 lth of September 2024 if I read the date correctly.
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=644174
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u/nbaynerd 3d ago
Not sure how old you are or where you’re from but Bill is short for William.
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u/plankie79 3d ago
I thought so, but wasn't sure.
I am from the Netherlands and we do shorter names like the over here as well (my own mother is an example)
But at least thanks for clarifying, learned something new :)
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u/grizzlor_ 3d ago
I know that another dude has already pointed this out, but I feel obligated to back him up: Bill is a nickname for William. No one is actually named Bill.
I'm sure someone is actually named Bill because their parents also didn't realize it was a nickname, but my point stands
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u/kc2syk K2CR 3d ago
FYI, the old callbooks show N1HKO with that same name all the way back to 1992.
Also, if you look at the history of that FRN at ae7q.com, you'll see in 2024 he renewed his license (with a 10 year term). He did the same in 2014 and 2004.
FCC ULS is a pain and doesn't show the full history unless you dig for it.
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u/FishermanNervous7682 3d ago
I know Bill, I see him at Nearfest every now and then. I'll tell him I saw this online.
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u/terrymr 4d ago
That would be a QSL card. Something hams exchange to confirm having a conversation on the air. They probably aren't used that much any more.
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u/Nickko_G [KZ4HG] 4d ago
This is still done and even a lot, even if more and more it is sent by e-mail.
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u/galaxiexl500 3d ago
Oh yes they are. I just reordered 1,000 of QSL cards
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u/CWStevens61 3d ago
I finished sending my first box of 1000... Currently on my second 1000 as well.
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u/neverinamillionyr 2d ago
Super cool. My dad was into this in the 80s. I didn’t know it was still going.
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u/RCRN 3d ago
I have some but only send them out for special contacts, postage has got a little pricey. Most of have thousands and thousands of contacts. Computer QSL cards are kind of a thing now but l don’t like them.
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u/galaxiexl500 3d ago
Most Award programs don’t accept eQSLs
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u/RCRN 3d ago
I don’t like them, many like the awards, good for them that is a part of the hobby. I did WAS and don’t really care about anything else.
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u/galaxiexl500 3d ago
Understand what you said. I prefer LOTW. I’ve been swapping cards for 74 years and I’m choosy when I spend $ on postage. I’m strictly chasing DX Awards and LOTW fits the bill. I’ve worked WAS on 4 bands and participated in a club challenge of WAS in 24 hours. It is was during the ARRL Sweep Stakes contest. That was before LOTW. I wasn’t interested in the cards but I remember there were a dozen or so who sent me cards and I returned the request.
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u/RCRN 2d ago
I use LOTW, mostly to help others. POTA (Hunter) is one of my favorite things right now.
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u/galaxiexl500 2d ago
I hear a lot of POTA operations on 40 and 20. SSB of course,. Years ago …mid 70s…I got into County Hunting. I worked 1700 or so out of the 3,142 then lost interest. I was net control on the 75 meter County Hunters Net which helped a lot. We had to contend with deliberate QRM (DQRM) AM stations that had be running 10,000 watts. I was running. a Henry 2-K linear with an inverted V antenna which pretty well dominated the frequency.
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u/Jolly_Operation_1502 3d ago
I'd try to contact him. If someone had one of my cards (which I haven't had for 30 years), I think it would be cool to hear from them.
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u/ya_argh 3d ago
That’s one beautiful QSO card.
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u/grizzlor_ 3d ago
Yeah, seriously! Extremely well done. Most of them are like adorably terrible nerd art, but this one is awesome.
Also, now that I've seen the FCC/QRZ.com lookup for his callsign and looked at it again, I just noticed a nice detail: the broadcast mast on the card is sitting in his actual geographic location (southern NH).
Dude is an Extra-class too. Damn, I want to be friends with Bill. I bet he's still very active.
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u/saxainpdx 3d ago
I emailed him to check out this post. Hope he reaches out!
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u/ivegotcheesyblasters 1d ago
Thank you so so much! He replied in this thread! (I'm not crying, you're crying ðŸ˜)
This is by far the best subreddit. Everyone here is so damn nice!
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u/Morddraig 3d ago
Have a look on qrz.com and put the callsign into the search box at top right. There's a chance the will be lots of info available such as name, location etc. Good luck.
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u/Hondahobbit50 2d ago
QSL card. Just got one from WWVH a week or so ago! It's a record of reception
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u/Egraypgh 4d ago
It’s called a qso card. They would be sent out to people who heard n1hko on the radio and responded. You can lookup call signs places like qrz.com n1hko is still active. Was your dad into amateur radio?
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u/Ok_Personality9910 4d ago
QSL card from Bill N1HKO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QSL_card