How Many Amateur Radio Enthusiasts Are Here?

Me, but I am only one.

I earned my Tech at 13, but never could get my code to up to General class. Still the knowledge gained from understanding the theory and building the gear sure helped with my engineering and computer science degrees and everything afterwards.

There is no longer any code requirement. I think that may have been a factor in my not going for the license when I was a teen. I agree that the knowledge learned is for a lifetime, and extremely valuable. At "Field Day" this year, one of the older mentors trained some scouts so that they could receive their Radio Badge.

I believe the FCC dropped the fee for vanity license numbers also.

Thanks for the feedback!

Add me to your list.

73

clyde

kk4ywi

G'day Mike, I haven't been on air for many years but am still a licensed amateur.

Rod, Australia (Victoria) VK3KBR. Would love to get back on air but have no HF gear anymore. I started on the building of the Pic-a-Star digital HF radio, but contracted both Osteo and Rheumatoid arthritis almost as soon as I started.

Now unable to work with the SMD components which comprise all of the parts in this project. I did put out a call for help to build this project, received plenty of sympathy but no real offers to do the job.

I did, of course, offer to pay for the job but to no avail.

Hope there are plenty of replies to your query.

Regards,

Rod VK3KBR

Both of my parents (WA6FKX and -FKW) and one of my brothers (K6OLL) (all now silent keys) had licenses, but Like RAMC, the Morse code prevented me from even trying. I probably could have passed 5W/min, but I had no interest in such slow communication. Even a 110 baud acoustic modem was better than 5WPM. By the time I became aware that the code requirement had been dropped, computers and cellphones had removed virtually all of the motivation.

re: "...motivation removed...."

Agreeing with suresh & NSS, below, you should re-watch:

Independence Day http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116629/

and regain your motivation!

From where *I* sit, we are nearer day-by-day to "ITEOTWAWKI"!

I, for one, would "get-into" a SW forum, for the help to be derived...

<wink> ... cannot insert icons via the iPhone, here.

KKD6KVH tech since 1992 or so still licensed but not active.

KI4AFC

Logging in.

Now a days technology is very much advanced, so very few people go for Ham Radio. It was very useful during war times. We have e-mails, Skyep, Whats ap etc.

And what happens when your phone line goes down?

Well, when all else fails...

Joe WB9SBD HERE

KI6DCB here, son of W6IBP (SK) and W6IBR (SK); son-in-law of W6RRZ (still active in New Mexico).

I have always had an interest, have been around a number of nice radio shacks and had a number of friends that were highly motivated.

I have never moved past the CB spectrum.

HA5YAR since 1969

73,

op. Laci

I got my tech license in 2013 since I had found out that the code part had been dropped. Just couldn't get anywhere with code. With in two months of Tech license, I had my Extra. My wife got her Tech at the same time and went on to get her General. Since we got sequencial call signs, I am not going to change mine.

Jim KB1TOW

Liz KB1TOX

Terry- WBØVQP here. Got my novice as a Junior in High School. Have been an Extra since 1994. Been a ARRL-VE almost as long.

I got my General Class Commercial in 1984. Despite working full-time in Law enforcement for 28 years, I also worked part-time in the two way radio business.

Had a 3rd class Commercial with Broadcast Endorsement in High School, and worked for a little while for a 1000 watt AM station. I've built and maintained a 911 Center, and work on virtually everything that crosses my path it sometimes seems. Took a 2 year Electronics Tech School program in high school, and completed 1 year of college before turning to law enforcement.

Hung up my badge and gun 8 years ago and have worked on computers and technology since then.

You will find that there are many of us. I got my novice at age 10 (1957) but didn't have the math to go on. Got Conditional (General) in 1963 and let it lapse. It is amazing how females can distract a guy. Then many years later my younger sister got her Novice. I couldn't have that so in 1986 in May I got Novice... in June General, and in July Extra. I have had it ever since.

I come from a hamming family... My Dad was W7IMZ... my Mom WB7OXK... and I mentioned my sister KA7WWE. She is married to KF7KE... and my wife NL7NI... Our most recent acquisitions are son-in-law KF5ZTZ and daughter KG5DWB.

What's HAM RADIO?? I don't know a thing about it HI HI Oh the stories I could tell...

73 Y'all

Bill NW7L (Also an ARRL & W5YI VE).

ti8jlh since 2001 is here.

Add another one.

K7IQ from Everett Wa.

KD4KFD Technician w/code. Passed the General written exam, but never completed the code portion. This was back when it was still required. Don't know if it counts nowadays. Haven't been on air in years. I just keep my license current, in case I ever get the notion, again.

Alien language?cant understand anything. XJRK, YKLF.....

Gang's all here! Got Novice in '57, Tech later on,WB6YBF. Relocated to Holland and was PA9RZ (equivalent to Gen class in USA). Helped with radio relay for phone calls from guys in Viet Nam, and served in Navy Beach Jumper Unit 1 during that time. 73's to all!

Just starting out, Tech level. Taking suggestions for setting up first station- no hardware yet.

Saw Contact at age 8 and haven't looked back from aero/astronautics since. 1 year into first aero job, buddies at work found a HAMM business card on a public board and joked that I'd probably like a strange hobby like that. Quoted,"CQ, this is W9GFO, do you copy?" back to them, and 2 months later became KK6MFA.

Congrats on obtaining your license! You may want to post your question regarding radio equipment recommendations in a new thread.

My first radio was a 4 watt dual band, (VHF/UHF), HT, (Handheld Transceiver). 2nd purchase was a magnet mount mobile antenna, 6db gain. I can easily reach repeaters over 40 miles away.

Don't forget to attend Ham Radio Club meetings, ham fests, swap meets, etc. While you can manually enter channel info, the software and cables make everything better. Find out what equipment local Hams use, and they will probably be glad to share the programs they have installed. That is the reason I won't suggest any brand name. 73

Welcome to a great hobby!! You will find that (for the most part) Hams are great people.

I have been designing and selling antennas for the last 25 or so years, and my philosophy has been that anyone with a call has a net 30 account. I have only had one individual in all those years who forgot to pay me. He was extremely helpful to other hams so I didn't bother to pursue him on the antenna. I would say that one bad sale in 25 years gives a good indication of the honesty of hams.

My best friend taught electronics in a Jr. college until he retired. He and I have given several EXTRA license classes over the years which were fun.

73s fer now

Bill NW7L

Thank you for all of the excellent replies! I did join the CR4 user group "Hobbies/Ham Radio". 73's.