N4LS Ham Radio Bio
Edward H. “Ned” Linch III

     I grew up in a small town in Georgia and my dad owned and operated a TV and Appliance store—a family business since the 1930s. I used to listen to some of the shortwave radios he had at the store. I was intrigued with Morse code and the ability for folks to talk around the world. Back then, to explore the world, the best place to look something up was in the World Book encyclopedia. The World Book had a very good write up on ham radio and it sparked an interest that continues today--30 years later. At a recent hamfest, I found a copy of my favorite magazine, the first edition of Ham Radio Horizons. I still remembered every article in that magazine because I must have read it thousand times. One of the articles was about DXing and I was intrigued by the magic of ham radio. Those articles were my “elmer” and motivated me to pursue my ticket. I soon started listening to hams on my shortwave receiver and learning the code. I took the Novice code test and passed with no problems when I was 14 years old. It took me a few months to pass the theory test. Back then, you had to actually understand the basic theory and without an “elmer” to teach me, I had to rely on complicated and boring theory books—books without pictures--hi hi. I finally passed the theory test and was soon on the air as a Novice with the call KA4AXS—a call I held until March 2006 when I was awarded a vanity call, N4LS.
 
     My first radio was a Heathkit SB-100 and simple dipole antennas made from speaker wire—abundant supply at my dad’s store. During my first year I Worked All States (WAS) on CW and started a good foundation for DXCC. I upgraded my antenna to a Hybrid Quad and had it mounted on the backside of the house so folks in the front could not see it. My mom even made me paint it green because she did not want to see a tacky antenna on the house. I continued to build my station and saved for and bought a Kenwood TS520SE. I still have both of these radios today and the Kenwood TS520SE is still used routinely—my favorite all time radio. It has continued to work and deliver despite all the high SWR antennas I’ve built—which by the way, are probably still up in those old Georgia pines.

     When I was 16 years old, I was thrilled to have been featured in the Novice Column of CQ Magazine. The Novice Column was a great source of information for new radio operators. Someone in the hobby today is overwhelmed with so much information on the internet, but back then, ham radio was simple and basic articles went a long way. 
 
     I continued to improve my radio theory knowledge and increase my code speed. I was awarded General class when I was 16. Getting on the phone bands opened more doors for DXing and soon I was staying up late at night to work rare DX. My folks could not understand why I’d get up at 2am to work a rare island in the south pacific, hi hi. DXing was a lot of work back especially without the internet spotting sites. After graduating high school, I continued in the hobby while at college. As a freshman in college, I was the only licensed ham on campus and I had my own office at the Samford University ham radio station in Birmingham, AL. The station had a 6 element Yagi and a new Kenwood TS830S and the station was located on the side of a mountain. I was in ham radio heaven! I had a great time my first year in college working DX and providing phone patches for missionaries in South America. While in college, I finally had enough QSL cards to get DXCC (#25,757).
 
     After college, I was commissioned as a 2Lt in the USAF and I was off to flight training. I chased my dreams in the Air Force and was blessed to fly both the F-111 and F-16. I continued to carry my ham radios with me as I moved around the world. I’ve held both UK and Korean call signs but just didn’t have the time to dedicate to the hobby. Occasionally, I’d operate airborne mobile from the F-111 with the HF radio. Unfortunately, the F-16 did not have an HF radio otherwise; I’d been on the air.


     I spent 13.5 years on active duty in the AF flying. In 1999 I separated from the AF and started flying F-16s for the Alabama Air National Guard and Delta Air Lines. As the story unfolds, after “911”, I went to war in Iraq with the Alabama guard and was furloughed from Delta. In 2003, I returned to active duty in the USAF as a Lt Colonel. I will retire from the AF in 2008! But, through the years, my ham equipment was in boxes until the Hurricane season of 2004 left me with a situation I thought I’d never encounter.
 

   After Hurricane Ivan, I had no ability to communicate and had no power—no cell phone, no telephone, no power, no air conditioner….. Things have changed since that hurricane season; I’ve purchased some new equipment to be better prepared for hurricanes. I bought a Yaesu 897 for portable ops, a couple of Honda generators (2000 w and 1000w), a Kenwood TS480SAT for the car and an Alpha Delta OCF-Dipole, a BuddiStick and an assortment of hamsticks for the car. I live in a neighborhood that does not allow antennas but I’ve managed to sneak an OCF-Dipole in the trees. I also completed the level one course for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). I upgraded to Extra class in May 2005.

     I’ve been really impressed with the Kenwood 480. After 3 months of getting the TS480SAT (my favorite modern day radio—I think the receiver is hot and beats the heck out of the 897 and the 706), I’ve worked over 105 countries from the car going to and from work despite being at the bottom of the sunspot cycle—in the old days, that took me years. I have 3 kids (16, 13 and 7) and I don’t have a lot of time at home to get on the air so operating mobile gives me the chance to rediscover my childhood hobby. I have a Toyota FJ Cruiser which is a 4 wheel drive SUV. This vehicle gives me the ability to operate anywhere with my radio equipment during emergencies/disasters. I’ve also discovered that one of the islands close to my QTH is on the “most wanted IOTA list”. I’ve enjoyed working pileups from NA-142—Santa Rosa/Okaloosa Island.

     I am now using the skills God has blessed me by combining ham radio and flying. For Field Day 2005, I flew my experimental aircraft to Dog Island, FL and set up my station. The only way to get to the remote island is by plane or boat. The runway is sand and grass and at times, can present some difficulties in landing. When I retire from the AF in 2008, I plan to fly part-time as a missionary bush pilot in Haiti. I definitely will have my ham gear wherever I go especially in remote areas of the world.

     I took my Yaesu 897 to Haiti on a mission trip in June 2006 and operated as HH4/N4LS. The Yaesu and the BuddiStick are a great combination for worldwide deployments. In Haiti, my goal was to celebrate 56 years of Christian radio in Haiti by promoting Radio 4VEH. I could only operate during my spare time so I only made 600 QSOs in 65 countries while on the air for approximately 13 hours.  Thank goodness for Pelican cases.  My radio survived the rough trip down there on a DC-3 and then a long truck ride on unimproved roads.   

     I’m now in my mid-40s but I still have the same heart of ham radio that I had when I was a kid. The fascination for CW continues today as well as the magic of keying the mic and being instantly heard on the other side of the world. It is even more interesting to talk to folks in countries that were once considered our enemy. Ham radio certainly bridges the political barriers and proves that most folks are generally good people around the world; it’s just the system of government and propaganda that distorts the truth.
 
     I still enjoy DXing and I’m up to 171 confirmed DXCC entities (Nov 2007) and 143 countries while mobile. My new goal is 5BDXCC so expect to see me more on 80 and 40 meters (75% comlete with 5BDXCC). I’m also only a few zones short of WAZ. Expect to see me on the air from my Toyota FJ Cruiser, my experimental RV-4 aircraft or other interesting places around the world. I’m sure I’ll be back in Haiti every year. I’ve made a lot of friends there and my heart goes out to the people of Haiti. Flying combat in Iraqi Freedom brought me to my knees and face-to-face with God, but Haiti absolutely broke my heart.