Contacting Us:

Tom McKee, K4ZAD
104 Water Leaf Lane
Cary, NC 27518-9728
(919) 851-2542

Main E-Mail
or make this: ( archivist-1 at imradioha dot org ) into a true e-mail address

If you have problems use the
Alternative E-Mail which is checked less frequently

Please e-mail to pre-arrange voice contacts via:
K4ZAD on 60M or Echolink or maczad on Skype

WAD-WAS-WAY-WBL-WCM-WFN-WGK-WJG-WLC-WMI --- WAD-WAS-WAY-WBL-WCM-WFN-WGK-WJG-WLC-WMI

About the Archivist/Webmaster

Photo of the Archivist at his SW receiver

I grew up around the Great Lakes (Alpena, MI and South Bend, IN) and have had a shortwave receiver since 1947. I also have a long-term and strong interest in the inland rivers, both the steamboat era and modern tow boating. As I remember, I started listening to the towboat radio traffic almost as soon as I got that first receiver (a Hallicrafters S-38), and to the great lakes traffic when I discovered it a few years later.

In the late 70's to mid 90's I had a Drake TR-7 transceiver with the Aux-7 board set up to receive WCM's 4, 6, 8 and 12 MHz channels. It carried the most traffic and was the strongest "tow" or "laker" station at my Virginia and NC locations. My current shortwave receiver is a Kenwood R-5000.

I am 70+, a Purdue EE grad., and have been retired from General Electric (mobile radio product design) for a number of years. I am an amateur radio operator (K4ZAD), but generally prefer listening (amateur and utility stations) to operating. When I am on the air it's usually on 60M or 17M. I am also the webmaster for The Fine Arts League of Cary and Swing-Sked - a listing of swing era music shows on the Internet. I currently reside near Raleigh NC which is, unfortunately, very far from the rivers

Tom McKee