Jim McCook, W6YA

The other day I got a message through the e-mail that the next gathering of Southern California hams - The 2003 Summer Bash - on Sunday, August 24th will be at Jim's (W6YA) place. I won't be there, as well as the overwhelming majority of visitors to this website. But then again, it is a good reason to present Jim, and his place, for a broader audience.

I remember W6YA from the 90's as the early bird of West Coast openings, he would be the first one to call and he'd put out one of the strongest signals. He appeared in many major contests, as well.

I met Jim W6YA for the first time in 2000 during the March meeting of San Diego DX Club. A few days later I was invited for lunch by Ed W6KUT. Surprise, surprise ! - Jim was also there.

A month later I bumped into him at the Visalia DX Convention of 2000.

During the past three years whenever I was operating portable from some DX spots, Jim used to find me pretty quickly on different bands. His good timing in the pile up and stronger than average signal made it easy for me to pick his callsign. I recall once Rick N6ND, who has 200ft towers and numerous antennas, called me right after Jim. N6ND's signals were strong of course, but Jim's were stronger.

Last year I met Jim again, this time in Finland during the WRTC Games. He was not participating, just socializing. The crowd there was so huge that I met him only once or twice.

So far all the above pictures are connected with food or drink Is something wrong with me ? Do I only have desire to take pictures when I see food or drink ? When I was in Southern California again this year, I phoned Jim and asked him for a permission to see his antennas and his shack but I declined his offer of having a dinner together. Just to see for myself if I can take pictures unrelated to food or drink.

When I approached his home in Leucadia, between Oceanside and San Diego, and I only saw one antenna tower, my first thought was that the address was wrong. I expected a few towers with stacks of yagis...

But then I saw a car parked in front of the house and felt almost convinced that this was the place I was looking for..

The radio shack is spacious, modern and well equipped, but without fancy gadgets.

Jim's favourite mode is left-handed-CW but he is an excellent operator on SSB as well.

Jim is 62 years old today, dentist is his profession. He's been a ham for almost 50 years, the previous callsign was K6GLC. You might have worked him under other callsigns as well. 1972 - KC6SZ from Truk Island, 1974 - VP2GLC, 8P6GA, 1989 - S79YA, 1991 - 5W1YA, W6YA/KH8, ZK2XD, 1993 - 3D2YA, 1994 - YJ0AAY, 1996 - KC6YA from Palau, 2000 - OK8YA. His guest operations are numerous, the listing is long and probably would not be complete. This year he visited Slovenia, S5 in May.

His other hobbies are diving and photography. I was honestly impressed by his pictures of submarine life.

Jim is a typical example of active, vigouros, high-quality Californian amateur radio operators. A very succesful DX'er, DXpedtioner, contester, technician and a hard-working person. He belongs to the Southern California Contest Club (http://sccc.contesting.com/) and San Diego DX Club (http://www.qsl.net/sddxc/index.html). I heard some rumours that the Southern California Contest Club might have to find a new President this fall. I would not be surprised if Jim W6YA got elected.

Henryk Kotowski SM0JHF

all photographs copyright

August 14, 2003

Someone asked me why I don't write about "celebrities". Well, I prefer to write about people I meet. And those who do interesting things and do it well. However, my next story will be about The Queen Elizabeth II of England. There are rumours that she is an amateur radio operator. My story will be entirely based on rumours, hearsay, gossip and stolen pictures.