Ham Radio Mafia On Prowl
PETALUMA, Calif. – An area man returned home after running errands and made a strange discovery: the corroded chassis of a Hallicrafters SX-101 receiver had been placed in his bed.
Rob Smithson, 402 Main Street, believes it’s the work of the notorious Ham Radio Mafia. The group – well known on the East Coast for their hamfest “street brawls” – is dedicated to exacting revenge on those they see as operating ‘carelessly and with abandon.’
“The SX-101 was a fine dual conversion receiver in its day,” says Smithson. “Well, maybe the VFO drifted some, but that was really just until it warmed up. It’s plain disconcerting to find one in my bed, though.”
Smithson, a retired plumber, has been an amateur radio operator since 1979. “Last night, I accidentally tuned up my Alpha on the air. I thought I flipped over to the dummy load, but guess I was still connected to the dipole. I QRM’d the Roundtable Net pretty bad on 80 meters. Pardon the phrase, but I think they’re ‘sending me a signal’,” he states flatly.
For now, Smithson says he’ll keep a wary eye on the antenna switch and consider rebuilding the vintage receiver.
By WBØRUR, on the scene