Bill Jaker with his ham radio station. Submitted photo
Antique Wireless Museum Staff Member Bill Jaker (WB8RAE) recently had to move into an assisted living facility in New Jersey due to health issues. This was a double blow for the active ham radio operator. The move from independent living in his own home to assisted living was difficult enough, but to lose his ability to continue as an active ham radio operator was crushing. Bill had been on many radio nets every day, talking with friends across the country and the world.
Help came with the support of Jaker’s sister, Bette Barr. Once Jaker was settled in his new living center, Antique Wireless Museum Curator Lynn Bisha (W2BSN), Curator Emeritus Bruce Roloson (W2BDR), Ned Asam (W2NED) and Dan Waterstraat (W2DEW) developed a new ham radio station for him at the Antique Wireless Museum in Bloomfield NY.
The new station uses Jaker’s Elecraft K3 ham gear, a new antenna, new Elecraft K3 RemoteRig boxes and the internet service available in his new room. Antique Wireless Association (AWA) member Bill Zukowski (N2YEG) of New Jersey took care of the final installation and Jaker was back on the ham bands. He is thrilled and could not be happier.
Antique Wireless Museum Director Robert Hobday of Mendon, NY says, “AWA wants to thanks Bill’s friends and fellow staff members for their thoughtfulness and their dedication to getting him back on the air. If you happen to contact Bill at WB2RAE on the air, say hello. He is a great guy and extremely knowledgeable about broadcast radio and television. Hopefully this will set a model for helping other ham operators who have to enter assisted living centers.”
The Antique Wireless Museum, established in 1952, is located at 6925 Route 5 in Bloomfield, New York 14469 just east of the Route 444 intersection. It is sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association, an educational, non-profit corporation chartered by the New York State Department of Education. The museum is open for tours Tuesdays 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturdays 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $10 for adults; children and teens are always free. For directions or more information, visit antiquewireless.org, call 585.257.5119 or visit facebook.com/antiquewirelessmuseum.
