Hack-A-Day had a piece on Cliff Stoll of "The Cuckoo's Egg" and "Silicon Snake Oil" fame. I read these books years ago. I included a quote from Cliff on page 45 of the SolderSmoke book (the quote seemed to foreshadow my aversion to SDR).
I didn't know that NOVA produced an hour-long program on Stoll's Cuckoo's Egg adventures. It is really good. Many of those involved play themselves in the video. Very cool. See above.
I checked Cliff's QRZ.com page. We wrote several years ago that Cliff has THE KNACK. Note below his preference for thermatrons and the affection for Heathkits. Diagnosis confirmed.
From QRZ.com:
Hi gang! This is Cliff Stoll, K7TA
Way back in the Jurassic, I was licensed as WN2PSX, in Buffalo NY. Got my general ticket around 1967 as WB2PSX, and helped build ham radio stations at Hutch-Tech high school, University/Buffalo, and University of Arizona. When I went to Tucson for grad school, I passed my extra ticket and snagged the call K7TA (back when this meant 20wpm cw). I held a first-class commercial ticket, which let me engineer at WBFO radio, but I don't know if commercial licenses even exist anymore.
I now live in Oakland California, and occasionally get on the cw lowbands with old heathkit gear ... just rebuilt my novice NC-270 receiver with filaments that glow in the dark. Gotta restring my 40 meter dipole that came down in a windstorm.
You can guess that I'm pretty much retired. Along the way, I've worked in FM radio, planetary physics, computing, writing, speaking, teaching, and math. Best way to reach me is through my website www.kleinbottle.com
Warm wishes to all -- 73's,
-Cliff
Info on Cliff's latest gig:
Great story. The original cyber sleuth. And a survivor. I hope he enjoys the hobby!
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