VE6HQ

Don has pursued a lifelong interest in science and engineering beginning as a youth in western Canada. He received his first amateur radio license at the age of 15 while attending high school in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Don continued this interest and graduated from the University of Alberta receiving a Bachelor Science in Electrical Engineering. During the last 41 years he has worked in the Energy Exploration industry in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Far East. His technical area of interest lead to publications of nuclear magnetic resonance applied to reservoir characterization. He was granted numerous US patents for developments of wireline pressure core technology. Don Westacott strongly considers training and technology transfer as an important part of his role within the E&P industry. Don accepted a role as guest lecturer at the Colorado School of Mines providing instruction to a new generation of petroleum engineering students. Don was honored to be the Distinguish Speaker at the Harvard University Energy Panel Arab Conference. During 2020, Don received the prestigious Hart Energy Innovators Award. I was first amateur radio license was in 1967 as VE6ANW, a year later achieved the advanced certification as VE6RI. I initially pursued 20-meter DX working using the Drake R4B / T4XB / L4B equipment and a 3 element Yagi/Uda antenna at 70 feet. Soon after, I became interested in weak signal UHF propagation. Constructing of a "home brew" 70 cm radio system complete with 4CX250 linear amplifier based upon a novel resonant coaxial cavity design was completed. Three hundred (300) kilometer daily communications using over the horizon tropospheric scatter was achieved between his Edmonton QTH and VE6JX located in Calgary, Alberta. After more than 50 years have passed, I have rejoined the amateur radio ranks and currently active on 20 meters and VHF / UHF bands. I was granted the KI5KGX call as a extra class USA amateur operator. Subsequently, we moved to Canada and I reinstated by Canadian amateur radio certificate and requested my current call VE6HQ. Don and his wife Marilyn enjoy the success of their sons Matthew and Andrew. During 2021, I presented a webinar on Time and Frequency, which may be found at : VOD Player (qsotodayhamexpo.com)