DArrell beckstrom K7IUI
From ham radio to antique clock repair to collectibles, Darrell K7IUI is a man of many talents. Not only does he support CCARC and participate in ARES, he also maintains a WIRES-X digital node in his shack.
Darrell's passion for radio started during his boyhood on a ranch near Belt, MT. He and a friend on a nearby place built Heath kits and transmitted CW to each other. In high school, they started a ham radio club with five members and a science teacher. He earned the Novice license in his junior year, which put the N in his call sign KN7IUI. When he passed the General in 1959, he dropped the N and has kept the K7IUI call sign ever since. Darrell’s first receiver was a Hammarlund 110C, and his first transmitter was a Heathkit DX-40, with a Knight kit VFO. He enjoyed working AM and CW in those days and was an early adopter of sideband. Before there was agreement on upper sideband and lower sideband, Darrell worked it all, including double sideband. The old-timers didn’t like sideband at first, but transmitting and receiving in SSB was a big step forward. Thanks to the Navy, where he served 4 years as an electrician, he saw China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Darrell also volunteered in the Navy MARS program. After four years, he came back to Montana to work for the state of Montana, beginning as a GVW officer and then patrolman with the Highway Patrol. During his time on the highway he usually carried 3 radios in his car: police radio, CB, and a 2-meter rig. Then he moved up the ranks and eventually rose to the position of Chief of Records and Driver Control, supervising 26 people. The Bureau maintained all driver license records, and suspended and revoked Montana driver licenses. Although Darrell continues to learn and adopt new modes such as FT-8, he still enjoys working with his J38 straight key. His shack and work bench have everything from the latest dual band handhelds to a 3-D printer to his Vibroplex electronic keyer. Darrell really likes radios and counts among his favorites a Yaesu FTM-100, which he uses as a radio for Fusion Wires-X node on 146.550; a Yaesu FTM-400 mobile; and a Kenwood TS-2000 with a Cushcraft MA6VA Vertical antenna and a Hustler 2m/70 cm Dual Band Vertical antenna. He uses handhelds for VHF and UHF in analog and digital modes. He says, “I use Ham Radio Deluxe for operating HF digital modes. I operate mostly PSK-31, and RTTY. On SSB I operate mostly on 20 through 6 meters - when they are open.” He retired in 2000, spending some time as assistant Clerk of Justice court, security officer at the state museum and Capital complex, and continues to give public tours of the Old Governor’s mansion and the Capitol building. September 2018 |
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Mementos of a varied career. Photo by Darrell
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Repairing clocks, especially cuckoo clocks, is Darrell's speciality.
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Vibroplex keyer
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