The Queen Mary radio room W6RO is open and on the air. Visit https://queenmary.com for updates.
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- The Queen Mary in Long Beach
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- The W6RO Nate Brightman Radio Room
The Nate Brightman Wireless Room
Established in 1979, W6RO was the first permanent amateur radio station to be installed aboard a museum ship. This was the vision of founding manager Nate Brightman, K6OSC/SK, who went on to serve as station manager for 34 years until his recent retirement and passing. The Wireless Room is generally staffed every day from 9:00am to 5:00p.m. local time, volunteer availability permitting. We currently have some vacancies available, and local hams are invited to inquire about joining us as regular crew members. Also, visiting hams may be permitted to operate the station for a brief period (generally no more than an hour, at the discretion of the Control Operator on duty) and earn our Guest Operator certificate. Inquiries may be directed to David Akins, N6HHR at n6hhr@arrl.net.
For QSL information regarding W6RO, please see our page on QRZ.com: https://www.qrz.com/db/w6ro
The radio bug first bit David in high school when some of his friends introduced him to CB radio. He went on to earn his Novice and Technician amateur licenses during his service in the Air Force a few years later. Two meter packet radio caught his eye in the late 80’s and kept him absorbed for over a decade until it faded from popularity in the early 2000’s. A move to Long Beach brought W6RO, the Wireless Room aboard the Queen Mary to his attention, and he joined the crew in 1993. As older members of the Wireless Room crew retired, he took the job of QSL Officer in 2006, then Assistant Manager in 2009. He finally made the effort and earned his Extra license in 2012.
In 1967 when Nate read that the City of Long Beach planned to buy and bring the luxury liner, the Queen Mary, to its beautiful harbor as a tourist attraction, he thought, “How could we of ARALB make Amateur Radio part of the long voyage from England?” Nate initiated phone calls, paper work and official permission pleas galore to both countries. Finally, it happened: permission was granted and the ARALB club members supported a project to send club member Al Lee (W6KQI), to operate amateur radio aboard the ship for ARALB.
Watch A Video About The Queen Mary Radio Room
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