|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
eHam.net Survey
|
Survey Question
|
|
How old were you when you became a ham?
Posted: Dec 29, 2008
(3160 votes, 114 comments)
by KB3LAZ
|
|
Survey Results
|
|
12 or younger
|
5% (163)
|
|
13-18
|
36% (1140)
|
|
19-30
|
21% (658)
|
|
30-40
|
15% (484)
|
|
40-50
|
12% (387)
|
|
50-60
|
8% (246)
|
|
61 or older
|
3% (82)
|
|
|
|
Survey Comments
|
|
became ham
|
|
I became licensed when I was still in the womb. My mum and me use to send code back and forth through the tummy wall. Code rocks man.........and then I learned to talk so we just talk now.
Posted by
TIMEWILLTELL
on April 16, 2009
|
|
became ham
|
|
I became licensed when I was still in the womb. My mum and me use to send code back and forth through the tummy wall. Code rocks man.........and then I learned to talk so we just talk now.
Posted by
TIMEWILLTELL
on April 16, 2009
|
|
became ham
|
|
I became licensed when I was still in the womb. My mum and me use to send code back and forth through the tummy wall. Code rocks man.........and then I learned to talk so we just talk now.
Posted by
TIMEWILLTELL
on April 16, 2009
|
|
'Way back when...
|
I went from Novice to Tech to General when I was 16 in 1952. Ham radio since then has been an important part of my life, both on a personal and business level. In my formative years I got a lot of help from oldtimers such as W2VL, W2HAK, K2AC, and W2JZX, the last of whom taught me my 13 WPM code ability, or what passed for ability at the FCC back then. The greatest thing about ham radio is its diversity of areas of interest so that it really does have something for everyone. For the naysayers who believe that radio is a "dead/dying" art I recommend that they do a little digging into the public service that hams have always done and still do. I put in a few years of intensive effort doing just that it was truly a rewarding endeavor.
If by some chance one of the callsigns I listed above belongs to you I apologize. The people I knew years are all SKs now and some or all of the callsigns have been reissued.
Posted by
W2NJS
on April 10, 2009
|
|
Who, what, where???
|
I received my license in 1987. I was 22 yrs old then and although I wasn't new to radio, I didn't know much about amateur radio; aside from the information I read in the study guide. Over the years, 22 years to be exact, I have spoken to many interesting people, made some good friends, learned new crafts and increased my technical knowledge.
Posted by
KG4CLD
on March 3, 2009
|
|
Age
|
I was almost 50 before I got my licence although I was fully aware of and around HAM RADIO since about the age of 15. I truely regret not having gotten my ticket MUCH earlier. I credit my friend Dick VE3FAC with introducing me to HAM RADIO and Don VE3ESE with pushing me to get my ticket.
Bob VE3XNB
Posted by
VE3XNB
on February 27, 2009
|
|
Air Force
|
|
Wish I had taken a test right out of Radio Operators' school in the Air Force in Aug '55 just before my 20th birthday. However I waited until Jan '58 before I became a Ham at 22. Enjoyed ever since.
Posted by
W4EAT
on January 31, 2009
|
|
Wouldn't Trade a Minute
|
I got into Ham radio when I was 15 to work the satellites. Since then I have upgraded to General Class, work 160 meters through 1.2 GHz, and wouldn't trade a minute. My xyl is working on her license, my 20 year old brother is working on his first ticket up at Princeton, who knows, my daughter is 5 months old... maybe I should get her started. The only time I have been tempted to drop the hobby, is when I have traveled to a different city and can't raise anyone on 2m. It's a sad day when cbs have friendlier skys! In Ham Radio, however, you always find someone. Down here in Arkansas, I know that I can say "this is kc0eqq" on any of the CAUHF (central Arkansas UHF) repeaters and I will hear someone answer in moments. THAT is why I do this. I have always found that there are more Hams around then you think, and one more reason to connect. You never know... the guy who works on your AC (ka5vaq) or the guy who fixes you pneumatic controls (kc5ttl). The bottom line is... You NEVER know who is listening. There may be a ten year old with his dads shortwave receiver, or an 80 year old with a scanner. I am 25 and I love this stuff, I am not alone, in this age of gamers and the internet, I would rather listen to the chit-chat on 3810 KHz every evening then a music video, and I find tuning my home-brew long wire antenna more fascinating then the latest video game. It is true, it is harder to attract young blood these days, but maybe that is our fault, if each one of us took the time to get one young person hooked... took the time to be the elmer that each of us have looked up to at some point... we would have no problem. I mean no offense to anyone, I love the hobby and I hope to hear you all on the air.
73's kc0eqq Tomas
Posted by
KC0EQQ
on January 29, 2009
|
|
just getting started ...
|
I'm 51 and just getting started. I've been a technician and later an engineer (hardware and software) in the day job world ... it was always in my mind to "get into ham radio someday" and find a way to really enjoy some of the technology I had learned to make a living with. I finally decided that it was up to me when "someday" was going to occur. Now I've got my Tech license, am going for General shortly, and embarking on the "getting a station together" mission, to be followed by the "learn the code" mission shortly I hope.
My daughters were never too much into technology (if it didn't involve a web page or music), but I have three grandsons now and am hoping that after I get a station set up, I can get them interested.
I think there are a couple of reasons to be hopeful about another generation of would-be hams springing up. One of them is the growing awareness that the USA is not The World. Ham has a "world friendly" view that dovetails nicely with this emerging world consciousness.
Another thing that gives me hope is the rise of a new generation of gadget-makers. Magazines like "Make" that highlight just a few of the many do-it-yourself-because-you-can projects going out out there every day are a great window into this world of people who build "stuff", not just because they need it, or even because it's necessarily useful and practical, but because they can. And they are having fun doing it. Some of these gadgets are decidedly low-low-tech "do with what you got" widgets (not without merit); others tap into new and emerging technologies in an exciting and fresh way. I think hams have had this same approach since forever.
Hopefully, we can find ways to tap into this pioneering, world-conscious spirit of the rising generations. Not all of them are all about instant gratification. Who knows ... they might even give us a few new ideas ... :-)
Doug - KE7SEI
Posted by
KE7SEI
on January 28, 2009
|
|
just getting started ...
|
I'm 51 and just getting started. I've been a technician and later an engineer (hardware and software) in the day job world ... it was always in my mind to "get into ham radio someday" and find a way to really enjoy some of the technology I had learned to make a living with. I finally decided that it was up to me when "someday" was going to occur. Now I've got my Tech license, am going for General shortly, and embarking on the "getting a station together" mission, to be followed by the "learn the code" mission shortly I hope.
My daughters were never too much into technology (if it didn't involve a web page or music), but I have three grandsons now and am hoping that after I get a station set up, I can get them interested.
I think there are a couple of reasons to be hopeful about another generation of would-be hams springing up. One of them is the growing awareness that the USA is not The World. Ham has a "world friendly" view that dovetails nicely with this emerging world consciousness.
Another thing that gives me hope is the rise of a new generation of gadget-makers. Magazines like "Make" that highlight just a few of the many do-it-yourself-because-you-can projects going out out there every day are a great window into this world of people who build "stuff", not just because they need it, or even because it's necessarily useful and practical, but because they can. And they are having fun doing it. Some of these gadgets are decidedly low-low-tech "do with what you got" widgets (not without merit); others tap into new and emerging technologies in an exciting and fresh way. I think hams have had this same approach since forever.
Hopefully, we can find ways to tap into this pioneering, world-conscious spirit of the rising generations. Not all of them are all about instant gratification. Who knows ... they might even give us a few new ideas ... :-)
Doug - KE7SEI
Posted by
KE7SEI
on January 28, 2009
|
|
Today Kid's aren't interested in Amateur Radio
|
i was first licensed as WN2DZW at the end of 1962. I was 14. At the Age of 15 I got my general license and I became WB2DZW. In 1967 I got my advanced license but I had to wait unti 1980 to get my Extra Class license.I did not have to wait to change my call for my intials when the vanity call sign program began.
I got married 15 years ago and now have two sons ages 12 and 10. I regret that they have no interest in Amateur Radio and my 10 year old is at times hostile to Amateur Radio.
I operate a lot of mobile on HF and VHF with a Yaesu FT857D and Atas 120 Antenna. If my 10 year old is in the car and I want to go on the radio he asks me not to. He can't understand why someone in this age of computers and cell phones needs to be on a radio. Sometimes I respect his wishes and other times he has to put up with me on the radio when he is in the car. He doesn't like it and threatens to cause unwanted qrm.
I am still the boys father so I have the upper hand except when my xyl is also in the car. She always takes the side of the kids and rather than get in an argument with the rest of the family when my wife and kids are also in the car with me I do not go on the radio. Most of the time my wife is in her own car and the kids usually drive with her.
The main point is that when I got started in Amateur Radio there were a lot of High School and later on College club stations where young people could learn and participate in Radio Amateur activities. My public high school had an active radio amateur club and station. Today there are very few high schools that have active radio amateur club stations and there are also very few college amateur radio stations that are active. It is more difficult for young people to be exposed to Amateur Radio today because of this lack of amateur radio clubs in our high schools and colleges.
It is very rare now that I speak to a young person under the age of 21 on the hf or vhf-uhf bands.In the age of the internet, instant messaging and cellphones there is little incentive for young people to have to study and take an exam to communicate with other people via Amateur Radio.
As a result most kids,like my own,are not interested in the hobby.
Without an influx of new people who are active Radio Amateurs,and especially young people, are hobby cannot grow and in the long run will deteriorate
How we can get kids interested in Amateur Radio as was in the past when I was a teenager , is a challenge that if not addressd can have averse affects on the future of the hobby
73-Alan-K2ACB
Posted by
K2ACB
on January 26, 2009
|
|
Beginning of it all
|
it was the mid 80's when the family took a trip to Arkansas where my war veteran cousin lived in Conway.
I couldn't sleep and went into the shack where he was on a rag chew with some of the locals. With a quiet knock, he welcomed me into the world of Ham Radio. The bug had bit and that's where it all started.
It was some years later during my freshman year in high school that I passed my Tech+ and began storm chasing in North Texas.
Fortunately, now that I have a son, the interest for the hobby is still in him despite the latest video games.
73's to all
Jeff - N5WFH
Posted by
N5WFH
on January 26, 2009
|
|
in 1993 in High School
|
|
I was in high school and got my lic. after my buddy (also in high school) got his and pushed be to get one. I actually had a ham radio before I was licensed, so I needed to pass the exam in order to start talking on it.
Posted by
N3PRZ
on January 25, 2009
|
|
Shjannon Aeradio
|
(SHANNON AERADIO HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR)
In 1960 I purchased from my local Scout Troop in Poplar East London an ex Government number 38 set. I set it up in our “front room” remember those? My mum wondered what it was that I had brought home. Like all good mum’s she ventured in to the room an hour or so later with tea and biscuits for her little Charles. When the door was opened she was met with me on the carpet and a long copper rod antenna protruding from the 38 set and bending on the ceiling. Seeing the rod bent in such a way caused her to almost shout at me. But ! all of a sudden in my headphones the immortal words “This is Shannon Aeradio” boomed out. That saved me from a moaning.
Over the following years my interest in amateur radio grew and when I was first licenced as G6UMM in 1982 I sent them a QSL card. It wasn’t until months later that I received not a qsl card but a brochure from one of the operators who had found my card. On it written “if your ever over here come and visit us”.
Having moved to Edinburgh last year I noticed that Ryanair flew to Shannon. In early October 2007 I was invited to visit Shannon Aeradio at Ballygirreen nr Ennis County Clare. This had been a long term wish of mine. I photographed some of the equipment and personnel all of which are ex Marine radio operators “with tales to tell”
Posted by
CHARLA
on January 25, 2009
|
|
KN8RAV@15yrs
|
|
The wonder and adventure of short wave radio bit me in 1958 when Kenny Bachaus/K8PAL made a short wave radio demonstration in the high school library with a HallyScratcher 101 and a wire thrown into a nearby tree. For the first time the world was only a knob away. I was hooked. Mom got me a spanky new National SW-54 short wave radio for my birthday that Fall. I got SWL/QSLs from almost every state and over 100 countries in about six months with a wire... you guessed it... in a tree outside my bedroom window! Kenny arranged for a General Class to administer my Novice Class in his hamshack. He had 100w AM and a Mosley Classic 33 on a 35' pole outside his shack window... and a dipole for 40m/80m! Within a year I had QSLs from every state but one as I recall and lotza DX ones too. My code speed was solid General Class so my Mom drove me down to the FCC office in Detroit, MI where I passed first time in October, 1959. I have been continuously licensed since and am Extra Class with 20wpm under my belt... passed First time taking BOTH Advanced & Extra at the same sitting getting a higher score on the Extra as I recall sitting in the FCC office in New York City. I am on my 7th call sign & WV4R is a keeper. 73 es God bless, murf/WV4R.
Posted by
WV4R
on January 24, 2009
|
|
Age 20
|
|
It was 1977, and I had my first electronics technician job. I had been an active shortwave listener in high school, and heard hams talking on 20 meters on my Hallicrafters S-38B . I was determined to get my ticket. Several years later, I got into a code and theory class at the local ham club and got my novice license. My first ham rig was a Heath DX60A transmitter and with matching VFO and receiver. Later, I had a HW-8 and had a ball with QRP on 15 meters. I bet you still can!
Posted by
AK4P
on January 23, 2009
|
|
xtal set
|
|
I put together a xtal set at age 10. Novice and general at age 15.
Posted by
N4BWV
on January 23, 2009
|
|
1988
|
i saw a field day news spot in sioux falls
s.d. and tested out to extra in two sessions
i finished it up at the wcra club by passing
the 20wpm with certificates from the league
and got one of the last 200 2x1's in the
nine call district
i urge all of you to save every scrap of
paper that you ever had from the fcc
i ended up fixing all the 19,20,21 series
for radio shack in the midwest... from
inception to the day they decided that
amateur radio wasn't important to the
suitbots at leshack
turns out neither was i or 20 other people
at 40-0637. they gave us 7k and 2 weeks
notice for 20-30 yrs of service
down here in west melbourne we just got off
a demo of the uv mode on the iss
many of us completed multiple qsos
and many are now interested in satellites
w4dbt had a qso with the mission commander
last nite
unfortunately, i will continue to have a
bitter memory of the fcc due to their lack
of ability to retain any record of my
general radiotelephone license
73 wm9v
hopefully they wont decide one day to
auction off part 97 and mysteriously lose
all their license records too
73
wm9v
Posted by
WM9V
on January 22, 2009
|
|
Yes, I remember....
|
It was 1967 and I was 18, more interested in radio than girls or cars.
My best friend lived right behind me and was also interested in radio. Both of our dads were hams, and my buddy told me "The radio equipment is there, we should take advantage of it". So, we strung an intercom system up between our bedrooms, and practiced morse code. My dad gave us the test, when we were ready, and we passed our novice exams, later our general, etc. What fun.
Posted by
WA7HDZ
on January 21, 2009
|
|
how old ??
|
|
Always inerested in ham radio,had several people try to help me with the code part till an M.D. me told me I'd never be able to learn code because of a childhood accident.I could not retain anything.via audio.Then the code was dropped and now I'm studying for my General license...
Posted by
KI4ROG
on January 20, 2009
|
|
|
2007, I was 33. My interested was stimulated by a
conversation with a HAM at a book store. 2 years later, and
I'm the president of our local club and I've met lots of great
people.
Posted by
VA6GSP
on January 20, 2009
|
|
The Code and Scouting
|
I was licensed in 1959 as KN4ZMV. I learned code by banging on a Eico code practice oscillator and listening to W1AW. I remember when Bob Webb, K4RIV and I were at a Sea Scout Jamboree and we entered the code competition. Flashing lights were used. Bob and I were on almost every night together and we both were proficient at CW at about 20 WPM. We were the last team in the competition. The fastest of the previous entrants was about 15 minutes to send the message from one end, then re-transmit it from the other end. We finished in about two minutes. We were immediately disqualified as the referees accused us of cheating. With our Scout Masters intervention and explanation, we were declared winners, but barred from future competitions because we were 'professionals'. Ha!
I've enjoyed CW all these years. Been a Marine CT and worked as a Merchant Marine radio officer. Still hold a 2nd class radio telegraph license. SSB is OK, but I sure like to hear the magic of Morse.
73, Jim, K4ZMV
Posted by
K4ZMV
on January 20, 2009
|
|
15 in 1962
|
From the comments it appears there are many of us who
got our licenses in the 60s. Learned code from the boy
scout book and a code practice record and lots of listening.
Built Heathkits, hung wire antennas and all that fun. Still
fun! Don't miss the tests from the FCC however....they were
tough. Original call was KN7RYG/K7RYG. Had a ham club in
high school and did homework on the air.
Posted by
K7FO
on January 19, 2009
|
|
What memories!
|
|
Wow: 37% of hams got their tickets at ages 13-18! I was thirteen (13) when I got my novice in '63 and back then, the novice was only good for a year (all-in-all, not a bad system), and I remember my mother taking me on the bus to the FCC Office in downtown LA (first time I heard the word mezzanine)to take the general test; I was 14, there were 25 people in the room when the secretary read the names of the four that had passed and mine was the last name she read. That old Howard 435 and AT1 was my novice rig and I still used the Howard when I got the general, pairing it w/ a DX-100 for another two years. Great survey! Thank you.
Posted by
WB6MYL
on January 19, 2009
|
|
Novice at 12, Extra at 15
|
I got my Novice ticket in 1955, when I was 12. I had only CW gear (Viking Adventurer and S-38C) so my speed rose fairly quickly. The General came six months later.
In those days you had to have at least two years' experience as a General (or Advanced) in order to be eligible to take the Extra exam. A high school friend, Paul, then K2PRP (present call unknown, if any), bet me 50 cents that he'd get his Extra before me. When summer vacation arrived, we went down to the FCC office together. He won. I passed the code but flunked the theory.
I wasn't about to go back to school a loser, so I waited the required 30 days, went back to FCC, and passed on the second try.
That Extra Class certificate from FCC, dated August 1958, still hangs proudly on my shack wall.
73,
Ray W2RS
Posted by
W2RS
on January 18, 2009
|
|
cb2ham
|
|
I was licensed at 12 for CB then waited 30 years to get my Ham ticket
Posted by
KC0YEF
on January 17, 2009
|
|
General in 1977
|
|
I got interested in ham radio from the standpoint of being into CB radio in the 70's as many of us from that era did. I got bitten by the bug after seeing a demo at a supermarket by a local radio club. I studied hard and took the Novice exam at age 13, proctored as it was then, by WA1UJU. I flunked it on Rules & Regs. I got mad and studied harder and went into Boston a few month's later, in 1977, and nailed the General ticket. I've been in and out a few times since then, this is my latest re-entry. I got my Advanced and then Extra on my 3rd re-entry, and after changing my call, got my old call back as a vanity a few years ago. Looking forward to Cycle 24!
Posted by
WB1HJS
on January 17, 2009
|
|
Licensed at 12 years old
|
|
My Papaw told me if I passed the Novice exam he would buy and assemble a Heathkit HW-16 for me. He wasn't in very good health and had a short spell of not feeling to well before he finished it. So, my Dad and I took it home and stayed up until about 1:00 or 2:00am finishing the assembly. Next morning we aligned it and I was on the air back in 1975.
Posted by
WD4LUR
on January 17, 2009
|
|
14 years old .. 1964
|
Licensed as WN2TLA in 1964. Back then, WWII surplus equipment was recent and high tech. Used ARC-5 and 522 transmitters. Then upgraded to a Lafayette Starflite 90 watt 6146 transmitter..a DX-60 clone. Used Hallicrafter SkyBuddy S19 receiver and a few other gems like a Philmore CR5 ( pathetic! ). I could write a book on the changes I have seen in Ham Radio in the last 45 years! How many Hams today actually had original spark gap operators for an elmer? They were still alive and well in 1964 and thought of the "new generation" of Hams as being very disappointing and unskilled. So, what changed there?
Jim K2TL
Posted by
K2TL
on January 17, 2009
|
|
Family Hobby I was 22YRS old
|
I was 22 yrs old when i got my ticket.it became a family hobby in just a year or so after that.There are 10 Of us in my family now with 1 (SK).There are more family members jumping aboard right now.WE WANT THE RECORD!!!!
HAHAHAHAHA!!
Mercer County,Pa Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
www.n3cdx.net
Posted by
N3CDX
on January 16, 2009
|
|
MeToo
|
I also got interested in Radio, during the CB craze Days. I found my greatest joy in speaking with folks as far away as possible. Then a friend of mine who was a Ham asked me "How would you like to be able to do that every time, on the Radio?" Well that was it...Ham Radio here I come, and I have never regretted it. I love DX... but my favorite DX is when I can make contact, without a pile up and get to know the other Ham operator.
God Bless and 73 Gud DX
8-)
Jerry
Posted by
N5JFJ
on January 16, 2009
|
|
Becoming a Ham
|
|
No good reason for taking so long as I had my Second Class Radio Telephone License since 1980 and didn't get my Ham ticket till 1987. When I got my commercial license you took the test at the FCC office with the Engineer in attendance and it took several HOURS for the test.
Posted by
N7NUC
on January 15, 2009
|
|
Older Ham
|
I was into the CB in the 70`s and was never into Ham until i became disabled and was surfing the net where i found several sites. thats when i became interested and took tests online for about 3 weeks at QRZ.com took the tech test in 2008 and am now studing for my general. I`ll be 63 in feb,09
Posted by
KE5PUZ
on January 15, 2009
|
|
why did i wait
|
I was into cb for years ever sence i was a teenager but not to talk i was interested in how it worked and was facinated how well it worked from mixer circuts to antennas i could spend hours reading building antennas repairing broken sets ..
then i found over the years no one showed any intrest in it at all just useing it for an outlet for there flustrations and to agravate other people for the sake of there amusment truly descusting profanity . and i was being told the ham bands are no better so i never bothered ..
then one day i had the capability to listen on 10 meters and found that wasent true at all so one day i got a chance to listen in on all of hf i was hooked almost 2 years ago i took my tech and general and passed aquired some equipment i was on the ait as kd8giu i worked 4 diffrent countrys in the first week i was so exided words couldent express it all with a dipole i built with some scrap wire i had in the garage ..
all along studying for my extra and passed now its ac8ac and with alot of elmering im not so nervice to talk now ..
now im onto learning code im not doing to bad me and my son cameron (7 year old)were learning together with the help from elmers and cd's ill stick with it im hopeing to get above 15 wpm thats the hurtle im at now i dont feel i earned my extra without 20wpm and lets face it code is probly the most fun modes you can use still today
well enough with the rambling thanks to everyone who has elmerd me and sorry for my bad spelling
73 from Matt AC8AC
Posted by
AC8AC
on January 14, 2009
|
|
Novice in 1967
|
|
I spent a really fun time with grade school classmates on CB radio during the 1960's. We all studied for our novice licenses and took our tests from a local ham in the fall of 1967. My ticket arrived in the mail on the day after Christmas with the call WN9WNQ. During the summer of 1968 I took my General exam at the Chicago FCC office. A 13 WPM code test of both sending and receiving was required and WA9WNQ was the result. While attending college in 1972 I passed both my Second Class commercial FCC license and the Advanced exam at th FCC office in Atlanta. Finally at a local radio club picnic a good friend of mine "shamed" me into taking my Extra Class exam and I have been KK9H ever since.
Posted by
KK9H
on January 14, 2009
|
|
Back in the 70s
|
I received my Novice license at the old age of 14 back in 1976. Back when you had to know things like CW and some pretty intense theory. I let my license lapse for a few years while I was in college, chasing girls and a career.
When I went back to take my tests it was a joke. 5 WPM CW test (even for Extra!) and the exams were sooooo much easier it was amazing.
The dumbification of America continues...
What is happening to us is sad.
Posted by
W0RER
on January 11, 2009
|
|
K5IX
|
|
I am one of those hams to waited until well into my 30's to get my ticket. I was going to take the test in the early 60's but what with little league baseball and the like I never went. My freind Gary WA5NCX tried to talk me into going with him to the Houston,Tx. FCC testing center...but I was just too "busy" with other things...After high school I went into the military. During my last couple years before retirement I told the XYL that I was going to lock myself in my room until I learned the Morse Code... after 2 hours I came out and had it down pat.. I was so upset with myself for putting it off for so long.. licensed at age 35..been a ham now for over 20 years.. 73 CHUCK K5IX
Posted by
K5IX
on January 10, 2009
|
|
Teacher
|
Believe it or not I learned code in the 6th grade. My teacher was a retired officer in the Air Force. He was in charge of the communications group for an entire fighter wing. He thought it was an important challenge that we learn code. I remember the girls in the class hated it!! Some of they guys did to, but I loved it. This was not voluntary, he made everyone in my class learn it and we were quized on it!
I already was very familiar with Ham Radio from my late Grandfather W9YFI. Problem was I never took the novice test until I was out of high school, went straight to Tech. That is one regret I do have in life, waiting so long to get licensed...Oh well, we can't change the past, but I can enjoy the present. My kids have shown great interest in Ham radio...I try my best to keep it interesting to them!
AB9SO
Posted by
AB9SO
on January 10, 2009
|
|
|
I'd messed around with radio since I was in grade school, starting with a catwhisker crystal set in Cub Scouts and moving up to CB in high school. A schoolmate's dad was a ham with lots of Drake gear and wires draped all around his house. I didn't get my ticket until much later when a guy I knew talked me into studying for his General upgrade with him. We both passed first try, me minus the code (sorry). I found out later he'd infected me with a horrible virus resulting in an overabundance of radio equipment...
For the next generation: How much fun is the internet when your connection disappears? Ham radio works by itself...
Posted by
N7TRZ
on January 10, 2009
|
|
Ham Radio "Perceptions"
|
Until after grade school I knew nothing about Ham Radio and didn't know it even existed.
I was born in December of 1958, and sometime around the early 70's, or whenever Wards (Maybe Montgomery Wards at the time) was selling a 10-band radio called "Wards Airline," I received one brand new.
I listened to what I knew as SW or Shortwave bands and hadn't realized at the time that I was listening to Ham Radio, but I also was listening to SW Broadcast radio stations, plus the commercial airlines as I could hear them giving pilots permission to cross the ocean and I think one of the frequencies was somewhere around 3485 Khz maybe, plus I think I can recall listening to the military a time or two.
Anyway, I wasn't aware at that time that I could have gotten a Ham Radio license myself, and could have been talking to the people I was hearing on the Wards Airline, which by the way my brother dropped when he was going downstairs into the basement so the case was broken.
The Wards Airline still worked, for a while, but it quit after a while.
I, unlike the other person who stated he didn't like to use CB in the 70's, something to that affect anyway, those were my favorite CB Radio years, the 70's that is. Those were better days than today as far as CB Radio goes, as back then you needed to know Parts 95, 97 and 99 of the FCC Rules And Regulations, and once 1973 came along, I got my first CB radio, a Realistic Navaho that was owned by Dad, a 23-channel AM only, as you needed a license to operate CB and you also needed to be 18 years of age, so I operated under Dad's CB Radio license Call of KYL-3485, then, in 1976 when I turned 18, I got KAVL-3098 as my CB Radio call sign. When my best friend's Mom got her call, before I met him, it was $20.00 for a CB Radio license, then when Dad got his call, so my brother and I could operate under his call, the cost was $4.00, and by the time I got my call, they were refunding anyone's money if they sent money in, and the license was free, but you still needed a license.
I used Realistic Navaho's, Cobra 138's and 148's, and a couple of others, this was after meeting my best friend, in 1975 when in 10th grade, my Sophomore year, and we spoke on CB Radio, then in 1976 we had a science teacher who introduced us to Ham Radio and had set up a station in the high school but we got out of high school, in 1977, my Senior year or 12th grade when I was 18, before we could get our license and I went into the Army.
I studied electronics in the Army and I also ended up moving to Florida from Wisconsin here in 1981.
It wasn't until I moved back to Wisconsin, in 1983, when I found out that my best friend had gotten his Ham Radio license, but I didn't go for mine until 1986, then I used his gear sometimes until I got my first HF rig in 1987 which was a Drake TR-4, which I liked and had until around 2000 when I stopped being a Ham.
I liked Ham Radio and it was interesting and intriguing at first, almost daunting or almost scared to get on the air by myself as once I got someone on the air I didn't know what to say, but from 1988 to 1995, those were my "fun years" in Amateur Radio, but once 1995 to 2000 came along, those years were a "struggle" for me.
Almost every time I got on the air I needed to explain myself, I needed to defend myself, and I even had people "pirating" my call sign, especially on Packet Radio and this was causing problems for me, so when September 2000 came along it was the "last straw" for me and I decided to electronically file for license cancellation and asked different online callbooks to remove my listing.
So I knew about Ham Radio around 1976 or so, when I was 17, got interested in it in 1976 and started to study for the license in 1977, but forgot about doing anything about it until about 10 years later, in 1986 when I was 27 years old, then in 2000, when I was almost 42 years old I quit Ham Radio and I'm 50 years old now.
Posted by
KA9WDX
on January 10, 2009
|
|
what were your perceptions???
|
I'm interst in knowing from those who were licensed past their age 30's, had they heard of ham radio before then and if so (or not so) what was your perception before knowing more about ham radio. Did you think it was CB? A closed club?
Posted by
WX1MAN
on January 10, 2009
|
|
what were your perceptions???
|
I'm interst in knowing from those who were licensed past their age 30's, had they heard of ham radio before then and if so (or not so) what was your perception before knowing more about ham radio. Did you think it was CB? A closed club?
Posted by
WX1MAN
on January 10, 2009
|
|
girls and cars..........
|
I first got my taste of ham radio when I was 13 and just entered high school. The radio club was in the history class room and the teacher taught history and radio theory. As much as I loved the radios and helped put the antennas up; cars, work ( I worked after school every day ) and later, girls took precedence. I never gave up and got my license after I married and had three kids. That was over 40 years ago and it is still fun!
Frank
Posted by
KL7IPV
on January 8, 2009
|
|
Age I became a ham
|
In 1966 I entered the 10 grade class for Electronics here in York Pa at the Voc. Tech School. Jim Strauss, K3JFL, our teacher told us we will receive a C grade for the year, regardless of anything else we do, if we get a Ham Ticket. Well 8 of us got the tickets and I did learn a thing or two, like running a kilowatt on 6 meters AM and interfering on Channel 2 in Baltimore Md. Outside of the class room we learned how to hot wire a 1963 Alpine Tiger to go to the malt shop at lunch !!!! Isn't that considered " electronic training" ?
Posted by
WA3HDQ
on January 8, 2009
|
|
Ham Virus
|
My first exposure to ham radio was in August 1973. W3HIH, Dr.Gibbs told me about 10 meters and how much he liked it. It went straight to my head, and so did he. He was doing brain surgery back then, he did his Magic on me and ham radio was on my mind, as I was familiar with 11 meters and that was not for me. Age ,19, I took my novice exam from the W3SL club. Tech, general, advanced tickets by treking to the FCC office in Philadelphia while attending college took the 3rd and 2nd class commercial test also. Am currently an Extra, but one person I never forget is Martin Gibbs every August 3rd. Its been over 30 years of radio and have enjoyed it very much.
73,
Tom
kb3hg
Posted by
KB3HG
on January 6, 2009
|
|
Age when licensed
|
I learned about ham radio in late 1969 while working in the former Canal Zone.
Studied during 1970 until we came to USA on vacation. Sat for exam in FCC office in Washington, D.C.. After receiving license, applied for & received KZ5JM and onto contesting and chasing DX.
Now retired since Sept. 2008 after selling Comtek Systems. Jim K4SQR (ex: KZ5JM-KZ0DX-HP1XRK)
Posted by
K4SQR
on January 6, 2009
|
|
19 and in College
|
I got my first taste of amateur radio while I was in Junior High School. I received an old Emerson U5A receiver from a neighbor and listened in on the Gray Hair Network on 160m. Unfortunately, my father was against my becoming an amateur because his boss's son was one and had a lot of money tied up in a massive antenna and a lot of equipment.
I got my technician ticket while I was in my second year at Wentworth Institute W1PTC while studying for my Associates Degree. That was in 1972. My father dropped his objection to my amateur hobby when he saw my first antenna and radio and what it cost me. It was a halo on 6 mtrs followed by a full sized dipole both only about 5' off the ground and a Lafayette HA-460 running 20W. He was amazed when I made a contact into Ohio or Michigan using 20W on AM.
I have had the pleasure of achieving all the major steps in my career including WAS, WAC, WPX, and DXCC. Now I'm an Amateur Extra and I work exclusively QRP.
Ken - AE1X
Posted by
AE1X
on January 5, 2009
|
|
1977
|
|
Was stationed at Norton AFB, the communications squadron was running a novice class. The FCC was talking about doing away with the conditional license and there were a lot of people thinking that they would be "retested" and needed brushing up on their theory. I remember the code exam well! A paragraph out of Playboy magazine. Anyway my ticket WD6FVS arrived two months later. The following week I went to Los Angeles and passed Technician. Stayed there till 1999 and in 2006 upgraded to Extra Class. Now a VE.
Posted by
AG0A
on January 5, 2009
|
|
A ham at 13
|
|
When I was in 5th grade I was interested in electronics but knew nothing about ham radio until my teacher, Mr. Westover (Fair Haven Elementary School) told me about it. I was around 10-11. I then learned Morse code for Boy Scouts, read up on ham radio,and at age 13 in 1963 I became WN2GJH. Got on the air with an Eico 723 and an untuned, unmatched unmeasured hunk of wire and a KNIFE SWITCH to switch between xmit & rcve. Worked well on 7040kc. A year later I got my General and WB2NVY. Code at speed was tough, but I wanted to be a ham badly enough so I did what I needed to do. I figure if you're motivated enough to be a ham, you'll find a way to do whatever the licensing requires.
Posted by
WB2NVY
on January 5, 2009
|
|
Ham Radio - a life time adventure
|
|
I was only 8 when I was exposed to ham radio for the first time by my uncle W7UK. It was not until I was 15 that I needed to complete my Communications Merit Badge that I found W7DID and his lovely wife W7DIF they took me under their wing and started me on the road as kn7ecs. I have now been a ham for 52 years and along the way had a great career as a Civil Engineer with several patents and numerious articles relating to highways and electronics. All of this was possible because a couple of hams took an interest in a young man who had an interest in electronics technology... I owe my Elmers a lot.
Posted by
NQ7I
on January 4, 2009
|
|
Jamboree-on-the-air 1974
|
I get the "disease" after my participantion as a young boy scout during Jamboree-on-the-air with CT1FL in Tomar Town. After that nothing was the same, i became Member RadioScouting at Portuguese Catholic Corp Scout as a SWL CT0783. In 1982 I get my first License as Category "E". JOTA's still great for promoting Amateur radio. To Recognize I try to be part every year trying to get NEW Enthusiahsts to Hobby !
Thanks for Jamboree-on-the air an also CT1FL,CT1LV, CT1OT .
73s Marq/CT1BWW
Posted by
CT1BWW
on January 4, 2009
|
|
8-9 Years Old
|
|
I was eight when I started Studying, Got My license a couple weeks after my ninth birthday. Upgraded to general and loved it ever since.
Posted by
KB1NOW
on January 4, 2009
|
|
NN2X
|
I was very interested when I was 11, however, did not have a chance to be exposed, (Only once when I was 11!), by a fellow called Jack, K2JFJ..
I also struggled with the code, but managed to pass the 13, and 20..I am happy I did so!
Launched my career, Satellite communications!
Posted by
NN2X
on January 4, 2009
|
|
Novice at 13, Extra at 15
|
Novice at 13yrs old in 1978, General shortly after.
Extra at 15yrs old (1980)
73,
Jim N9WW (ex KJ9A)
Posted by
N9WW
on January 4, 2009
|
|
I was sixty when I became a ham.
|
I have not had much interest in becoming a ham in recent years. The code test always stopped me and I was never much interested in DXing. In November, 2007, a fellow co-worker, who is a ham (AB4FJ), got me interested in taking the technician's test after explaining to me that the code test was no longer necessary for any of the license classes. He is also active with A.R.E.S. and suggested I might want to participate with local ham volunteers, if I could get my license. I took the Technician test, and as a lark, also took the General test and passed both of them. In May, 2008, I got my Extra ticket. When Frostfest came around in February, 2008, I went and bought an Yaesu FT-897D from Austin Radio. I setup that radio with a MFJ-974HB tuner, a hundred feet of ladder wire and a 120 foot doublet 25 feet off the ground, plus a 6 meter loop and a 2 meter quarter wave whip up thirty feet. I am still using that configuration successfully today, even though I have not made very many DX contacts. I have had many great QSOs with fellow hams up and down the East coast and West to Michigan, Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota. I am most active on 80, 2 and 6 meters in the work I do as part of A.R.E.S., ARCA and with other ham groups that work in community service. I have not had as much fun as I am having now, at least not since I worked on and operated radios and other electronic gear in the military back in seventies.
73,
Bill - KJ4ASH
A.R.E.S. AEC for Henrico County, Virginia
Posted by
KJ4ASH
on January 4, 2009
|
|
Accidental Ham
|
|
When I was a little boy, I wasn't aware of Amateur Radio. But, my mother took us to one of their friend's houses. Standing on the front porch and looking up, I remember thinking how beautiful and interesting "all of those wires in the trees looked". But we never talked about them. Years later, I was in High School and was given a box of assorted books. Among them was a 1963 edition of the Handbook and also a Boy Scout handbook. I loved looking at all of the gear and the old fashioned ads. The equipment looked big and complicated. I made a practice oscillator and practiced code from the back of the scout handbook, until my dad could no longer stand the noise. I asked around my high school until I found a gentleman who agreed to administer the novice test and soon I became WN5IEG. I went on to the Navy and then became an engineer. Still hamming after all of these years, as is my YL.
Posted by
N1YE
on January 4, 2009
|
|
Accidental Ham
|
|
When I was a little boy, I wasn't aware of Amateur Radio. But, my mother took us to one of their friend's houses. Standing on the front porch and looking up, I remember thinking how beautiful and interesting "all of those wires in the trees looked". But we never talked about them. Years later, I was in High School and was given a box of assorted books. Among them was a 1963 edition of the Handbook and also a Boy Scout handbook. I loved looking at all of the gear and the old fashioned ads. The equipment looked big and complicated. I made a practice oscillator and practiced code from the back of the scout handbook, until my dad could no longer stand the noise. I asked around my high school until I found a gentleman who agreed to administer the novice test and soon I became WN5IEG. I went on to the Navy and then became an engineer. Still hamming after all of these years, as is my YL.
Posted by
N1YE
on January 4, 2009
|
|
Code was hard for me
|
Licensed in 1965 as a Tech and Novice both at same time. Code was hard for me, I almost gave up. Was happy and proud to be a Tech, now have Extra but consider myself a "tech" anyway. Love 6 meters, love soldering, buildig, etc. Operating is way down the list. Ham radio lead directly to my life's work- radioman. Will have that put on my gravestone. Radioman.
George > K0FF
Posted by
K0FF
on January 3, 2009
|
|
Code was hard for me
|
Licensed in 1965 as a Tech and Novice both at same time. Code was hard for me, I almost gave up. Was happy and proud to be a Tech, now have Extra but consider myself a "tech" anyway. Love 6 meters, love soldering, buildig, etc. Operating is way down the list. Ham radio lead directly to my life's work- radioman. Will have that put on my gravestone. Radioman.
George > K0FF
Posted by
K0FF
on January 3, 2009
|
|
Not sure
|
|
I went to novice classes in 73, I think, and got the novice. I know I upgraded to tech in 75 for sure. I was maybe 14 when I was licensed I think, but then the years don't add up. Let me look for a old logbook..Mmm can't find my novice logbook right now, and where are those novice QSL cards? Dang. Must be QCWA material, I cannot remember anything. But radio was sure alot more exciting then..as I remember...
Posted by
W8AAZ
on January 3, 2009
|
|
|
Even though I'm not on the air too often, I was first licensed back in '02 at the age of 23. Listening to the 2 meter bands was fun, but, I then got the urge to upgrade to my general class license. Because of where I live, unfortunately, I haven't been on the air (HF) for well over one year now. I miss listening and participating on the HF bands!
Happy New Year to all!
Dave
KB1JCU
Posted by
KB1JCU
on January 3, 2009
|
|
!960 got my first ticket
|
|
I was 14 years old. Just made the 5 WPM and made Novice with the help of several elmers. License expired after one year and was relicensed as a Tech which lasted until 1988 when I got my General. A couple years later got the Advanced. Now sitting on the fence to upgrade one more time... perhaps when I am out of un-retirement and re-retire.
Posted by
K9YEQ
on January 3, 2009
|
|
Age was 16
|
|
First ticket was at 16 in high school, novice class, got a second novice in college,but had to let it go. finally got current call after i got a job and had worked a few years. graduated from college in 1970. current call will never be changed as i like it too much! especially the phonetics. KA9MJE... MARY JANES EASY! If you went to college in the late 60s you know what i mean. (no, i did not partake because i made a promise.)
Posted by
KA9MJE
on January 3, 2009
|
|
|
Novice at 15 in '81. General and Advanced in '82 and '83. Extra in '85, well before I was twenty. Commercial ticket in '87.
It's been quite a ride ever since!
73.
Posted by
NL7W
on January 2, 2009
|
|
1967 age 13
|
Novice at age 13, fall 1967
Technician at age 14, early summer 1968
Advanced at age 14, late summer 1968
Extra at age 16, late summer 1970.
All but the Novice at the Philadelphia FCC office. The delay between Advanced and Extra was due to a requirement back then; you needed at least two years as a Conditional, General or Advanced before you could even try the Extra.
Doesn't seem like 42 years.
Posted by
N2EY
on January 2, 2009
|
|
Just a pup
|
Got a late start at 40 (1991) got my novice ticket (KB2MMO) and remained a novice and worked the than novice CW bands until I upgraded to Tech and than General in 2007.(now K2MMO)
Still mostly CW but go on SSB for DX.After all these years still enjoying the hobby.
Posted by
K2MMO
on January 2, 2009
|
|
Ham, Interrupted
|
I was introduced to ham radio in 1969, got my CB radio license in 1970, but then couldn't pass the code test for my Amateur license and got side-tracked by a brunette... so I got my Tech and General licenses within a month of each other in 2008. So I took a slight detour from the normal path - I'm here and loving it!
Posted by
N4LEC
on January 1, 2009
|
|
Been ham since 2001
|
I got into ham radio since 2001 at age of 36 and 5 years later upgraded to general and still haming.
73
Jackie
KG4ORX
Tullahoma Tenn
WWW.KG4ORX.COM
Posted by
N4MJG
on January 1, 2009
|
|
Age 14
|
Like WA8MEA, I taught myself code by listening to WCC, WSL and NSS at age 14 - before I ever heard about ham radio. If I heard a letter that I didn't know, I wrote down the dots and dashes and looked it up. A friend showed me his ham station and suggested that I get a license. That was 58 years ago, and I'm still 99.99% on CW.
73, Jim W4YA
Posted by
W4YA
on January 1, 2009
|
|
1979
|
Passed the test at age 13 in 1979, got the license a couple of months later. Every day after school I remember running home from school looking in the mail box! Passed Extra at age 16 and received KS7O. At 42, still enjoy the hobby, and really like DX'ing and Contesting. About 95% CW here.
73's Bryan W5MX
Posted by
W5MX
on January 1, 2009
|
|
13
|
I passed my tech at age 13 in October. Upgraded to General
and passed my 5 WPM CW test the same day. Exactly one
year later, I sat for my Extra exam and passed with flying
colors. Today I am 16, and I still love the hobby 3 years later.
Posted by
W4MJA
on January 1, 2009
|
|
June 1971
|
I took the traditional path back in the late 60s/early 70s. A cousin was an SWL and he built a Knight Kit Star Roamer. At our grandparents' house in the country we'd string a wire in the trees and listen to the propaganda broadcasts at night. This got me interested in the radio hobby and in the summer of 1968 I began medium wave DXing. That Christmas I got a Hallicrafters S-120 and three years later my Novice license, WN2BSU. Always enjoyed CW (music background) and still use it almost exclusively on HF (close to 300 countries confirmed). Got my Extra as a high-school senior in January 1975 and my current call in 1977. Went into engineering, didn't like it and pursued my dream of being a sportscaster, which I still do part-time. For me, there's nothing like being in the booth at a stadium or arena. Ham radio is still fun after all these years. It's really many hobbies within the hobby.
Bob N2SU
Posted by
N2SU
on January 1, 2009
|
|
14 yrs old
|
|
i had a "handheld" CB/brick used to listen on when i was around 9 then my dad bought me a fisher stereo that had SW bands on it. one day when i was 10 (1983) i heard WA1HLR (timtron) bombing in on the 75 meter (AM) band. thought he was quite crazy and i wanted to get on there to talk to him but needed a license, finally talked to some guys on CB that knew what this was, pointed me in right direction. found the ham radio store and got some books 4 years later. found a VE exam and ended up cramming for the novice written and learned 5WPM in 5 days. passed the novice just after i turned 14 (1987). call sign was KA1QYX at the time. got the tech then general in 88 and finally got on 75M AM where i'm sometimes found.
Posted by
N1GCT
on December 31, 2008
|
|
First Licensed
|
14 years old in 1956, in November. Took 2 months for the FCC to get a ticket into the mail. KN1AVE - good for a year - upgrade or loose it. It keeps getting more interesting with the sound card modes but morse code is still the primary mode. So many choices so little time!
73 and some sanity in 2009!
Gene - K1AVE
Posted by
K1AVE
on December 31, 2008
|
|
|
I was 16(one month from my 17th birthday), it was 2004. I see we are adding our story to this but I dont want to take up the whole page, lol. So check out this link if you so desire. http://m3jzt.proboards82.com/index.cgi?board=discution&action=display&thread=820&page=2
73 de kb3laz
Posted by
KB3LAZ
on December 31, 2008
|
|
1964
|
Became WN3BCQ in June 1964 at age 15. Became WA3BCQ three months later. Led to a great engineering career. Now retired, but still active and enjoying the hobby.
Phil - AD5X
Posted by
AD5X
on December 31, 2008
|
|
Foundation for an engineering career
|
I caught the bug listening to our junior high school radio room coming out of our 7th grade (1965) Shop class, and took the after school radio class in 8th grade getting my Novice in May 66. My parents were agricultural oriented and never really heard of ham radio but were supportive as an option for my future - my mom wanted me to go to college (either to be a doctor or preacher ... not sure about engineering). Having the technical background from upgrading to General and then Advanced within the next 2 years of high school and pulling in many friends to the hobby as well during the scientific focused time when were were landing on the moon gave me the incentive to pursue electrical engineering.
Now 42 years later that career is near done but I do credit this "hobby" for a lot and I plan to "play" in some aspect of it as long as I can. 73s fm SE MN
Posted by
K0VH
on December 31, 2008
|
|
1981 and a suportive Dad
|
I got interested in SWL (around 4th grade) when I saw in a Sears Catalog (of all things) a radio that let you listen to the world. I told my Dad I wanted one for Christmas. We farmed and that summer he paid me 2 dollars a day, then that fall we went radio shoping. This would of been around 1972. He found me the best radio that my money would buy then he strung a long long wire in the yard, thru the trees for me. We had a 5 acre yard so I had quite the long wire antenna. The radio had a BFO so I could tune SSB and I would listen to Hams talking. I didn't know any hams in the rual area where I lived but I knew I wanted to be a ham. My first year of college I went to the local college so I could live at home and the local club had a demo staion set up in the mall. I took the novice class and worked harder on the farm and Dad paid me a bit more so I could afford a new radio. He wanted me to have a new one that we knew would work. I got my novice and he helped me again put up some dipoles and a cb antenna that I used on 10m. The next year I upgraded to General and I bought a used tribander. We were building new hay sheds with old telephone poles and Dad managed to find a 65 footer that he thought would be perfect for me. He helped me install the pole with an extension pipe that put my TA-33 at over 70 feet, and in the front yard to boot since that was where my bedroom was. We had built a new house that year and as he would show off the new house my room was the first one he showed, where I talked to the world from! My Dad isn't a ham, never had an intrest in being one, but his support, time, and his mechanical abilities (plus being on a farm it's easy rasing up a 65 foot pole when you have a tractor mounted post hole digger, and two tractors with loaders to do all the work) but his support and encouragement I'll always appreciate.
Scott AK9I, ex KA0LUE, AL7II
Posted by
AL7II
on December 31, 2008
|
|
How old?
|
|
Old enough to know better--but I did it anyway!! ;-)
Posted by
K1CJS
on December 31, 2008
|
|
Thanks to a friend...
|
|
Thanks to a friend and a fellow letter carrier I worked with at the Postal Service, I became very interested in amateur radio. I had always had an interest in electronics and in shortwave radio in particular. My friend peaked my curiosity about his amateur radio hobby when he started telling me about all of the far away exotic places he had spoken to through his simple radio! Interestingly enough,although I was over 50 at the time, I became hooked on the excitement and interest he obviously had for amateur radio and I too became a ham.
Posted by
KC8TBY
on December 31, 2008
|
|
1983
|
|
Took my novice test about one month before my 27th birthday "1983"
Posted by
KA5ROW
on December 30, 2008
|
|
interested much earlier
|
I first got into ham radio in 1953 in my first year of high school. But at that time I also discovered cars, girls and the need to have a job. Ham radio was put aside until later after I stated my family and found time for a hobby.
That was 1966. Been at it ever since.
73,
Frank
Posted by
KL7IPV
on December 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
Novice at age 8, but then inactive until getting a general 16 years later.
Posted by
K0DCH
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Novice 1959
|
Noivce 1959 age 14,General 1961, Advanced 1967, Extra 1978, W0ZD since 1978
Ex: K3JCC, K3jCC/4, W0GGC, W0GGC/9 G5BEF, DL4DN, DL4DN/LX, GW5BEF, W0ZD/1
Posted by
W0ZD
on December 30, 2008
|
|
1963 for me......
|
The magic started when I first listened to a neighbors (WN4QLS) S-38 receiver. I taught myself the code, hit the license manual and got my Novice while in JR High School. (1963)
General - Advanced - Extra in 1977 (AA4XR)
Now, 45 years later, I'm living in LAOS and am still very active on the air as XW1B.
Despite advances in technology, and all the changes in nearly a half century on the air, the magic of ham radio is still very real to me. Perhaps I'm one of the lucky ones........
Posted by
XW1B
on December 30, 2008
|
|
1965 for me too!
|
It was the "hi-Tech" hobby then. No computers, no cellphones. I still enjoy my radios, tho the hobby has really changed. I am usually always listening, just don't talk as much, but do when I have something to say.
It like any other hobby out there, as you will only get back what you put into it.
73 Happy New Year!
de W4LGH - Alan
Posted by
W4LGH
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Got the ticket
|
I got my ticket Feb 1, 1965. The first 20 or so years were super fun. Now I don't own an HF rig, and probably won't again unless I have a change of heart. I have a 2 meter repeater and sometimes I wonder why. With the coming of the cell phone and laptop, radio is about a worthless mode for anything but fun.
I know I will get blasted by the "cell phone will be out, the internet won't work" I don't buy into that.
Ham Radio is nothing more than a hobby, and those that enjoy it have my blessing. I know their enthusiasm, but they will never know mine.
Posted by
W0DLR
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Age I became a ham
|
I was 19 when I passed my novice test. Since morse code wasn't hard for me...musical background, I really had to study for the theory part. I enjoyed working with tube type radios of that era and home-made antennas.
Mike-WD5CCW
Posted by
WD5CCW
on December 30, 2008
|
|
RACES
|
|
I had been a shortwave listener for years and a friend of mine asked if I would like to transmit too. WOULD I??? He took me to a RACES meeting, I joined, and I worked as W3PYF/21X (mobile). I was 16 years old and had a Gonset Communicator and ground plane antenna on the roof of my 1956 Chevy in 1962 during our drills. I became KN3VKI a few months later.
Posted by
AD4IE
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Licened when...?
|
1950 as a sophomore in High School. Was sent
W6KPI by the FCC held that call until moving
out here in 1991; then got AH6NB. Went on to
KH7M with the Vanity program in 1996, Fall.
But have gone back, and again via Vanity, got
back my original call. CW only first many years,
but got into phone after SSB had been
around for awhile. Still enjoy, but very little with
CW these days. Hands no longer
that steady, oh well.
Posted by
W6KPI
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Scoutmaster was a Ham
|
In 1957 my scoutmaster set up a field day rig on my very first camp out as a young Boy Scout. I was hooked...Became a SWL and 6 months later became KN5ZKQ. I was 11 years old and could talk to Japan on the radio!! Less than a year later became K5ZKQ.
Fifty-One years later I've earned my extra class and as my wife refers to us as "just another old fart who enjoys talking to someone on the radio." Well, she' right but I wouldn't trade the fun I've had being a Ham for anything.
73 Bob
Posted by
K5ZKQ
on December 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
41 WHEN i GOT MY TECH AFTER KIDS AND HAD THE TIME WISH I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT SOONER BUT ENJOY IT NOW KC9ACX
Posted by
KC9ACX
on December 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
I discovered amateur radio in 1966 at the age of 10 while visiting my older cousin who had his novice license (WN2YZO.) Spent the next six years struggling to learn code and theory while I did a bit of SWL'ing and AM BCB DX'ing. Finally passed my General in 1972 at the age of 15 (turned 16 before my ticket arrived) and have never looked back!
Posted by
K5FO
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Hobby Lobby
|
My interest in Ham Radio is the result of
some VERY bright people i had the privilege
to pal around with.
Now, some 40 years later, it's still the
electronics, projects and Hobby Lobby discussions that keep me interested.
The smell of soldering still excites me.
My projects are relatively simple but still
give me a thrill (even if they don't work - which is often).
The younger generation has all those fantastic video and computer games.
Still, i think they really missed out on something wonderful if they have never played with electronics or radio and got together with like minded propeller-heads.
My $0.02.
Posted by
KC2QBK
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Starting Age
|
Mid-teens, 1965 for me. Learned to cpy cw on an old ARC-5 set, quickly graduated to an almost-new HQ-180 paid for by mowing lawns, added a DX-40 when the ticket came. WN4BVS. Wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
-73-
W4SK
Posted by
W4SK
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Father was Ham
|
My father became a ham when he was 16, so when I was 13 he wanted me to get my ticket and started teaching me morse. Learned the code but was interested in other things then.
Finally got around to it when I was 50, and now regret all the years of fun I missed out on and the friends I would have now if I had not been so ignorant
Thanks Pop, wish I had listened to you more years ago.
Posted by
W5QDF
on December 30, 2008
|
|
AGE ?
|
|
Got my tech at age 63, Gen at age 67, & am studying for extra now at age 68, have TT Century 21 with keyer & a wire in the trees, CW only for me - no computer hook ups !
Posted by
KC8YLJ
on December 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
Starting learning code at age 44, after getting a No-Code ticket in '96. Dyslexia and a bad HF hearing loss made it tough at first. Had problems getting over 10 wpm, but things got better after that. I got over many humps, and 11 years later can run 40+ wpm if I need to. I enjoy ragchews around 30 wpm. All it took was desire and hard work. It helped that I have musical abilities, but it's been a labor of love.
Posted by
N5XM
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Police Crusier & the tapes
|
I began listening to shortwave and getting QSL reports in 1979....then went to 11 Meters but once the novelity wore off, not much fun. Idiots. Tried learning the code from a vinyl LP..no good.... I memorized the record.
Then when I became a P.O. two years later on the mid night patrol where NOTHING happened. I bought the ARRL tapes on a whim that there WAS hope. Every night in the crusier around 2AM when the sidewalks were rolled in, I listened to the tapes for hours...then I got good a sounding out street signs..all in two weeks...I then saw an ad in the paper of the Wellesley Am. Radio Society (MA) having a class.
Four weeks after buying the tapes, the first class began. The classroom instructor jokingly asked during the 2nd week of class if anyone was ready for the code test. I slowly put my hand up while sitting in the back of the room and everyone snickered & laughed but me & thought I was a joker. So to be made an example of being a wise guy, they gave me the test right there and and then in front of everyone..... passed the 5WPM the first time (5WPM wasn't hard). Shock set in the class. I then got a nice round of hardy applause while the instructor shook his head in disbelief (I never told him about my tape listening). Ironically I even remember when my ticket, KA1OAW, arrived. It was the sad day of the 1st shuttle diaster in which Christa McAllife was killed. Next thing you know, They asked ME to be an instuctor for the next class..I accepted.
Do I remember learning the code? A true story? YOU BET!
Posted by
NG1I
on December 30, 2008
|
|
Ham license
|
I was 29!! back in '78...had been an SWL
since i was 13.... the code kept me from
getting the license and First Class with the
Boy Scouts but now i run 99% code and love
it!!
Posted by
N5IVZ
on December 30, 2008
|
|
wow, has it been ...
|
... 30 years already? It sure went fast.
I was 17 when I finally got my ticket although I had started seven years before that. I actually got a hand-typed letter from the FCC (which I still have) when I was 10 that "encouraged" me to get a ham license and learn about radio and electronics ... in a more, um, controlled environment. Apparently some neighbor had had enough with the TVI my experiments were causing. The FCC letter ended with a single sentence with perhaps the most influential and understated words of my life:
"We are enclosing some information about amateur radio in which you may become interested."
Age? Heck, I'm older than the new president!
Steve KZ1X/4
Posted by
KZ1X
on December 30, 2008
|
|
How old?
|
Went from SWLing and CB in the mid to late 60's. I was 14 years old in 1969 when I learned the Morse Code in 2 weeks and took my first Novice Test in 1970. Since I was not working at the time and did not have a lot of money available for equipment I let my license lapse. I had to wait a year before I could apply for my Novice license again. I became a Novice again in 1972 (WN9SES)and this time I had 2 years to upgrade to Tech or better. It now been 36 years of the greatest fun on earth.
Dave NT9E
Posted by
NT9E
on December 29, 2008
|
|
Hangin' around...
|
I was interested in SWLing and ham radio when I was a kid. My best friend was a ham (his year-older neighbor was his Elmer) but I never got around to getting a license. I was even a member of a ham radio-oriented Explorer Post in high school. (NONE of us got our licenses, though...too much time spent on Senior Girl Scout troop joint-activities, I guess.) In college I studied Radio-TV from the production/direction end (rather than the engineering end) and for a while had a "breadboarded" transistor AM transmitter that could be heard down either wing of the dorm--although only as far as the firewalls <G>.
When I graduated at ~22 my first job was selling advertising for an "easy listening" FM station. There I met Mark, the program manager (mid-20s), whose father was a ham. The father's club was developing ham radio classes to bring some younger blood into the club. Mark had also been "hanging around" ham radio all his life but had never gotten a license. He told me, "If we don't do this now, we'll never find the time later." So, we both joined the class, and met frequently at his apartment after work to practice sending code to each other. (Thanks go to Mark's wife, who kept their kid busy and held dinner until we were done!) To make a long story short, we both passed. I got my General the next year, and Advanced the year after that. (That's where I've stuck--family, work, and being a "bear of little brain" having kept me from learning the Extra theory...plus, when I first took those three exams, most of the theory was about TUBE circuits!)
Ted, WB8VNV (WN8VNV 1975)
Posted by
WB8VNV
on December 29, 2008
|
|
How old??
|
I was 31 when I took and passed my Novice exam. Amateur radio still holds the same interest for me it did back then. There have been some lulls in my operating times but when I get back on the air, it is still lots of fun. I just began year 19 as a license holder. Hoping for many more!!!
73
Posted by
AE5RC
on December 29, 2008
|
|
K7PEH said:
|
K7PEH said:
I learned code by the age of 9 (year 1956) when I could copy 5 wpm.
-------------------------------------------
Funny you bring this up. I had learned code at the age of ten and was copying it all over the shortwave spectrum. From "marker" stations like WLO and NSS to bulletins via W1AW.
I was one of those that took to code like some folks take to music. However, theory was tough for me at that age.
Bill - WA8MEA
Posted by
WA8MEA
on December 29, 2008
|
|
36 Years ago today!
|
|
My Novice license was issued 36 years ago today. I still love to turn on the radio and just see who I can talk to. There are still lots of challenges to explore. I got into satellites a few years ago. The next big thing will be to make a moonbounce contact. Lots of digital modes to try out yet. It never gets boring.
Posted by
W4DAS
on December 29, 2008
|
|
Age I became a Ham
|
|
I actually started listening to shortwave in grade school when a neighbor gave me an old Atwater Kent (sp?). I took it home and hooked up a wire hanger to the back and presto I was listening to the BBC. For a kid around 8-9 years old in a small town it was simply MAGIC! I met several hams over the years before actually getting my license and they were all encouraging and helpful. Gary KB0NUX
Posted by
KB0NUX
on December 29, 2008
|
|
Year and Age --- a wide spectrum
|
I learned code by the age of 9 (year 1956) when I could
copy 5 wpm. I think my mom expected me to have my
ham license that year. But, it was not until the summer of
1966 that I took my Novice test at the age of 18 with the
call sign of WN7ECQ. I really goofed off a lot.
I never upgraded, college got in the way.
In 2004 at the age of 56 (after college, marriage, children,
career, grandchildren) I became a ham again when I
passed my Technician and General, a few months later
passing my Extra. Assigned call sign, KD7ZVB but I soon
changed to vanity of my initials: K7PEH.
Posted by
K7PEH
on December 29, 2008
|
|
1992
|
1992, I was 26. Late bloomer, I guess.
73
Dan
--
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana.
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
Posted by
K9ZF
on December 29, 2008
|
|
|
"But I won't tell my age "now.""
Really only a problem for the mathematically challenged ;-)
Posted by
N3OX
on December 29, 2008
|
|
|
"It was 1970 and I was a mere 14...."
1995, slightly before my 16th birthday.
Posted by
N3OX
on December 29, 2008
|
|
|
I'm in the majority!
I was 13, but turned 14 two months later. That was in 1965.
But I won't tell my age "now."
;-)
Posted by
WB2WIK
on December 29, 2008
|
|
A better question....
|
A better question, or perhaps a second part to the question, what YEAR did you become a ham??
It was 1970 and I was a mere 14....
NONE of my five sons has shown the SLIGHTEST interest in ham radio. And in a way, I can see why. I was snoozing on the couch Christmas Day and woke up to my son racing other kids/game players with his Wii. These people were on every corner of the planet! My other son has one of the X-Box 360's and wanders around the house with his wireless headset, talking to other friends/gamers from the far corners of the Earth.
Now I have a theory: the generation which will follow the "gamers" won't think this is so cool and will give ham radio a try....IF it has enough bells and whistles to challenge their techno minds.
Bill - WA8MEA
Posted by
WA8MEA
on December 29, 2008
|
|
|
|
So, the next question: "How old do you ACT, now that you are a ham?"
Posted by
WR8Y
on December 29, 2008
|
|
To post a comment, you must be logged in.
If you are not a member, become one now!
|
|
|
Welcome to the Survey Page.