Survey Comments
poor question
i think this was a very poor question. to me, the answer should have been "No tech background" and all the response should have been. i got licensed at 13, 1971, so there were no training possible. now in my 60s, i have some training: computers, military, and the obvious training from studying for my licenses.
Posted by
WB0EYA on 2021-03-20
Built a one transistor solar AM receiver for the broadcast band.
Boy's Life magazine, encyclopedia, and popular electronics helped out.
Posted by
KA2SSX on 2021-03-20
please advise me on 2 questions
1 i have drake tr4 and drake tr4c both been well taken care of but need repair. i also have heathkit 1400 which is identicle to yaesu 747 and yaesu ft 902 dm i love all 4 radios can some one repair all of them even if it is differant shops and technicians would be ok. 2nd question can some one help me with all this new SDR radio say stuff as where you find the stations on the internet and is it costly to get in to and say advise me on all the ins and outs thank you so much. i have always been an electronic and computers enthusiast love them alll im a n avid shortwave listner and Ham radio listner love cw started into all this in 1966 and building olsen computers and layfette kits eico heath kits im a musician sa electronix is in that to so much but i would to git my 4 rigs back up and going and learn about this SDR radio technology. John Remley Hunt 136 Remley Cr Hazlehurst GA 31539 Call sign W4MTE 73.s
Posted by
W4MTE on 2021-03-20
Merchant Marine and Industry
Merchant Marine Officer for a few years, then Mechanical Maintenance Technician in the industry. Had to pass Marine HF SSB and VHF exam from French Telecom Authority as an international requirement. Mesmerized by CW from radio-room. Always longed to become radio-amateur.
Oliver
Posted by
PU2OZT on 2021-03-19
Military trained radio op
Trained in 1969 at Fort Dix, NJ as a 05B20 radio operator. CW and voice. First licensed in 2000, never forgot the CW and passed the first time.
Posted by
W3BUG on 2021-03-18
High School Training
My high school actually had an electronics course that preceeded my training I received at Devry University
Posted by
N2AYM on 2021-03-18
Military Trained
I entered the Army as an 05B and was initially trained at Ft Gordon, GA in 1982. I received code and advanced HF training at Ft Bragg in 1983 and served as an 05B2S (later 18E). It really didn't take me too long to get back up to speed on code after a 27 year break from it.
Posted by
W4CIR on 2021-03-18
Several Fit
Electronics Technology college degree
Computer hobbyist since 1978
45 years military technical training development, last 15 years of that specifically computer networking and satellite communications.
Posted by
AJ6SD on 2021-03-17
Radio ROCKS,73's Jimi* kb3wge.
Radio ROCKS,73's Jimi* kb3wge.
Posted by
KB3WGE on 2021-03-17
JRC NRD-535D
Received a JC NRD-535D from KD5UVV and it came in perfect shape. KD5UVV is definitely a GOOD SELLER.
Posted by
KZ5I on 2021-03-17
JRC NRD-535D
Received a JC NRD-535D from KD5UVV and it came in perfect shape. KD5UVV is definitely a GOOD SELLER.
Posted by
KZ5I on 2021-03-17
JRC NRD-535D
Received a JC NRD-535D from KD5UVV and it came in perfect shape. KD5UVV is definitely a GOOD SELLER.
Posted by
KZ5I on 2021-03-17
SWL to the Army to Ham radio
I started out as an SWL at about 12 years old.
Joined the Army in 1981 as an HF RTTY op with Morse code qualification.
Got my ham ticket in 1987 while I was still on active duty.
Posted by
KG5UN on 2021-03-16
SWL and a neighbor Elmer got me started
I always liked to build crystal radios as a kid and loved to listen to the shortwave bands. One night in 1959 we heard a ham over our TV (21Mhz IF). We tracked the call to our neighbor, who after installing a filter or two, proceeded to teach me code and theory. 6 months later I was a novice. He became a family friend and was in my wedding party. I stayed in the technical side of things for my work and retired in 2000. Still hammering away and loving ham radio after 60 years or more!
Posted by
W2FBS on 2021-03-16
Many selections
Long-term Silicon Valley engineering career. SWL, CB-radio, Scanner Buff, TV, AM/FM-DX
Posted by
KB6QXM on 2021-03-15
Background
My father was a radio and tv repair guy and ham and CB operator. In my youth I was not really interested. As time went on I wound up working for a CATV coaxial and hardline manufacturer as a quality control guy. Got a CB and occasionally got on the air. Then at my next employer I met a guy who was a ham. We started talking..I got licensed. Been enjoying the hobby ever since.
Posted by
KF5HWG on 2021-03-14
High School Electronics
I started high school during the "space race" of the late 1960s, so having a technically educated society was "in" back then. Many high schools had a "tech" stream of subjects to take. (I guess now its called STEM). I had 4 years of electronics and mechanical training that gave me a solid foundation that ended up in a rewarding career in telecom product development.
Posted by
VE3WGO on 2021-03-14
KISS
I spent 30 years in IT, and now retired. I have no interest in digital modes, and use a computer for logging and social media mostly. All CW here, and my interest lies in making person-to-person communication, I like knowing there’s a live human on the other end, not a computer. But I have nothing but respect for those who have developed digital modes, who design excellent spotting programs, who maintain the RBN, do so much to push the envelope and are enjoying amateur radio their way.
Posted by
KD1JT on 2021-03-13
KISS
I spent 30 years in IT, and now retired. I have no interest in digital modes, and use a computer for logging and social media mostly. All CW here, and my interest lies in making person-to-person communication, I like knowing there’s a live human on the other end, not a computer. But I have nothing but respect for those who have developed digital modes, who design excellent spotting programs, who maintain the RBN, do so much to push the envelope and are enjoying amateur radio their way.
Posted by
KD1JT on 2021-03-13
What, if any, tech-related background before a ham?
I was a swl at 7, got started in electronics at 10, bootlegged AM on 80m at 12, got a BSEE and got my ticket AE at 50. Wish I would have done it 25 years sooner.
Posted by
KC9YAV on 2021-03-13
Radio and TV Repair
I was working after school in a radio/tv repair shop. My cousin got me interested in ham radio. After I got my ham license, two coworkers in the TV shop got interested and got licensed. We all had a technical background so the written test wasn't a big problem - the code test was the big slow down in those days (1959, 1960).
Posted by
AA4PB on 2021-03-12
All Telecom Work
It fit like a glove. I was trained on telecommunications equipment and moving to ham radio was a no brainer!
Posted by Eric Caldwell on 2021-03-11Tech. Background???
Who needs it??? Just kidding.....
I was lucky. I had a mentor (non-ham). I still remember him sitting in the kitchen with his little notebook teaching me the Ohms law and I was only eight at the time. In my first two years of high school I was fixing Tv's for people for extra cash. My third year I was taking a two year electronics class that I complete in the first two months
Posted by
KB5ZSM on 2021-03-11
Training - Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement radio training.
Posted by
K7KGW on 2021-03-11
Had no electronic or tech skills....
I was registering for my last semester at a community college before moving on to a 4 year school when I saw that the electronics dept offered a 2 semester hour course in amateur radio. I was the only guy in there who didn't know that Ohms law is not in the constitution. Course was taught by a guy with a MSEE. Wow it was pretty intense but glad I did it! Was able to get my Advanced by studying my course material when it was time to upgrade from my WN0 call.
Posted by
WB0FDJ on 2021-03-11
No single answer really
Worked in commercial radio/TV but not super technical more operations but used to pay attention to the engineers and ask questions. Most of my employment was related to broadcasting or electronics. I worked after school for an electronics parts distributor /retailer. Also was an avid BCB DX’er, SWL, and CB’er before I became a Ham. Code was a barrier became a coddles Tech in ’93 and later got General with 5 wpm code it was hard but the sense of accomplishment was great!
Posted by
W4DXL on 2021-03-10
From Jr High on
2 years Vocational Electronics in high school, Radio, TV digital electronics. Career job training USAF, TRW, Tektronix, Xerox and Apple.
Posted by
KJ7FIQ on 2021-03-10
air force
Military training important. Washing out of radio school mean't a less desirable way of passing a 4-year hitch.
Posted by
F8WBD on 2021-03-09
Philosophy degree
My undergraduate degree was in philosophy. That helped me grasp some electronic concepts and helped me pass the Extra level with 100% accuracy on the first try.
Posted by
K4EZD on 2021-03-08
Almost Mil
Almost military, but a back injury gave me an honorable medical discharge before any active duty in the PA Army National Guard. I enlisted in communications but didn't see any of it. Early enlisted while a high school senior with parental consent but only did the weekend drills for 10 months before the injury.
Posted by
K9DWB on 2021-03-07
None of the response options fit me
I had no tech background then, but have plenty now. It’s Amateur Radio that led me here.
Posted by
K5XS on 2021-03-07
I was a baby!
Well, schoolboy, anyway... There were no computers - at least not to mere mortals. So scope for any of the answers above was effectively zero. I went on to do a degree in Electronic Engineering, but I've never used it for anything professional - almost all the work in electronics was exported to the far east soon after I graduated!
Posted by
G8FXC on 2021-03-07
Studied Chemistry, Law, bussiness.
Studied Chemistry, Law and business, Shade tree mechanic for 5 vehicles, 1948 Plymouth to performance engine build.
Posted by
N8QVK on 2021-03-07
Tech Background
No sure about it being a tech background, started SWLing in the early 1960s using a Government Surplus BC-348R - I was in elementary school in Independence, MO. Started doing Broadcast Listening in the mid 1960s after the family moved to Colorado. Got my first Ham Ticket in January 1968. Wow What a Ride!
Posted by
WA0TML on 2021-03-07
several options actually
Well I was on CB's in the '60's, '70's and into the '80's and had scanners and shortwave radio's. Then came the Timex Sinclair and the Commodore Vic 20's and 64. I was writing Basic programs that had three dimensional array's that the university professors couldn't follow.
Posted by
KW5KW on 2021-03-07
2 options fit - picked military
Spent 3 years pursuing a EE degree in college, then 6 years as an avionics tech in Uncle Sam's navy.
Posted by
N8EHW on 2021-03-07