Long Time Net Has No Check-Ins; NCS Undeterred

By WBØRUR, on the scene

PARSIPPANY, Pennsylvania — Rutherford County “ham radio” operator Thomas Von Funcktoven has served as net control station of the “Arizona AU-1 Transmitter Collector’s Net” since February of 1984. To date, he’s had no check-ins. Not a single one.

“We meet every other Saturday at 1300GMT on 14.287 MHz,” says the retired chicken farmer, stretching out his suspenders emblazoned with images of a Rhode Island Red.

“I’ve been on the air with that net since the winter of ’84, just like clockwork.”

Von Funcktoven’s net honors the memory of the Arizona AU-1 transmitter and the “Add-A-Piece” transmitter kit, which people didn’t understand back in 1937 and – three decades later – still don’t comprehend.

“The idea of the “Add-A Piece” program was to build your transmitter piece-by-piece. You bought this piece and then you bought that piece. Several times. Of course, it wouldn’t actually transmit until you bought the last piece, which could mean years and years of hording war ration coupons and saving your grocery change in your pocketbook.”

His HF net gives collectors of the obscure transmitter a chance to return the vintage vacuum tube radios to the air, swap stories about operating the units and share tips for renovation. The trouble is there are no other units left in existence except the one in Von Funcktoven’s shack.

“I didn’t think this thing through on the front end,” says the befuddled ham. “I just assumed there MUST be others out there. But I’m in too deep now. I’m committed. I can’t cancel the net after 30 years!”

Von Funcketoven says he held out hope for the first 10 years that another Arizona AU-1 would turn up in a barn or chicken coop or an old warehouse and be put back onto the air.

“Oh, it’ll be grand!” he exclaims. “We’ll share terrific stories.”

So far, it hasn’t happened. Until then, net control keeps a stiff upper lip and dreams of the day he has a check-in. Just one.

If you are in the Parsippany area, feel free to stop by Von Funcketoven’s shack for a bottle of New Coke and a Caramello bar. Look for the Edsel in the driveway and ring the doorbell.

### hamhijinks.com

 photo credit: cimoc via photopin cc