Dar,
W9HZC is one of the instructors for the Friday night kit building
workshop where you will have the opportunity to learn from the experts
as you assemble a PIC based memory keyer.Kit Building Workshop
Darwin (Dar) Piatt, W9HZC
Dar,
W9HZC is one of the instructors for the Friday night kit building
workshop where you will have the opportunity to learn from the experts
as you assemble a PIC based memory keyer.
Biography:
W9HZC, Darwin is a Vietnam Veteran and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1984 after serving for 23 years. During his tour in the Air Force he was an Airborne Radio and Radar Electronics Technician for 10 years and a Maintenance Systems Analyst (Statistician) for the remaining time. He has served in Japan, The Philippines, Thailand, England, Viet Nam and several bases here in the United States. He served one assignment at Chanute Air Force Base in Ill as an Air Force Training Instructor, teaching Introduction to Statistics, Advanced Statistics and MMICS (Maintenance Management Information and Control Systems) and earned the rating of Master Instructor. While in the Air Force, he taught College Math and Basic Electronics for Texas College and Computer programming for Embry Riddle University.Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1984, Dar worked at Mutual of Omaha as a Programmer/Analyst developing and writing Life Insurance programs to run on the PC.
He left Mutual after 3 years and went to work for Gateway Electronics Institute where he served as a Computer Programming Instructor and as the Director of the Programming Department and later became the Director of the Gateway Electronics Lincoln School.
After leaving Gateway, Dar worked for McCallie Associates as a contractor at First National Bank of Omaha and was asked to stay on at First National after the McCallie contract was completed.
At First National, Dar started as a
LAN Engineer in the Desk Top Support department for 4 years then
transferred to the Human Resources/Training Department where he
worked as the Learning Technologies Manager. Darwin designed and
developed Computer Based Training (CBT) and Web Based Training (WBT)
for products and services developed within the bank. Dar also
developed and maintained the very first HR/Training Intranet Web
site. At present, Dar works for First National's, Enterprise
Technology Division as a Business Analyst.
Dar taught Continuing Education courses
for the Millard School District for nearly 10 years and for
Metropolitan Community College for a couple years. He now teaches for
the Computer and Office Technology Department at Metro.
Dar’s career in HAM Radio started during his military service. He would fix or repair both HF and VHF/UHF equipment used in Air Force aircraft. During frequent maintenance test which required on the air radio checks with maintenance facilities all over the world, he would hear HAM’s talking on different bands as he tuned the military equipment from band to band. He bought a really nice short wave receiver and kept listening at home. After a few years he decided these guys (and gals) were having way too much fun for him not to go after a license. At the local Lafayette Radio store he started up a conversation with a local HAM and the rest is history.
Dar runs High power sometimes (100 Watts) and QRP (5 watts on CW, 10 Watts on Voice) most of the time. He says building is fun, talking on it after it is build is terrific..!! His real introduction to QRP was from his Military buddy, Richard Arland, K7SZ. Darwin and Richard were among some of the first HAM’s to contact W5LFL on the shuttle in 1983 while stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England. Richard was G5CSU and Dar was G5CNP.
Darwin’s call sign is a Vanity call that was held by his grandfather (Ben Elliott) in the early 30’s and 40’s.
Dar
has been married to Tricia, who he met on a blind date, for close to 30 years
now and between them have accumulated 8 children. Cesar, Robin, Chelsea, Randy,
Mike, Patrick, Jennifer, and Zachary. The total grand children is up to 8 with
2 more on the way and there are 2 Great Grandchildren so far.