KG4KGW
I was first licensed on November 2nd
of 2000 and upgraded to General at the next testing session. I was granted
my General class ticket February 1st of 2001. I've no idea why I waited so
long to move on to the Extra Class but finally did on February 14th of 2007.
Most of the last decade has been spent on CW in the 20 and 40 meter bands
with the occasional phone conversation on any given band that took to my
interest.
It has been an uphill battle trying to get my family involved in the great
fraternity known as "Ham" Radio. My oldest son, who at the time I'm
writing this is 16, showed varied interest for a short time but for the most
part has decided that its just a hobby for the rapidly dying off senior
citizens that grew up without cable or telephone in every home. This seems
to
be the trend with the younger generation who enjoy instant gratification of
power when they hit the switch and knowing that they can text one another
until they get blisters on the ends of their fingertips. All hope isn't lost
yet as I have a younger son who turned 3 back in November and seems to have
a great deal of interest in the radio already.
My beginnings in radio didn't start with my first ticket but many years
earlier listening to the local hams talk on the 11 meter band. They could
often be found there trying to get the guys interested in getting licensed.
KE4FMK, Lance, who sold me my first HT along with a host of others who's
names fail me now spent countless hours working to elmer us into the hobby.
N4ZMP, Orin Kanzigg helped me to learn the code and pass my General exam. We
still talk now and again when I hear him on 20 meters. Many nights were
spent with Orin and Bill White sending endless streams of dots and dashes.
In a lot of ways the challenge is gone since there are no more higher levels to reach in amateur radio. I've since turned my interests toward working different modes and helping others excel in the radio art. I'm slowly beginning to understand why so many of the old guys were so smart when it came to schematics and radio theory. In the days that they came into the hobby most of the equipment you owned was built by the aspiring radio operator himself. The Elmers of the day would teach them from assembly all the way to what made that circuit work and why. The older I get it seems the more interested in that aspect of radio I become.
My 3 year old at the helm of the
FT-847. I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't get hooked on video games!
In recent months my XYL (that's wife in ham radio lingo) has started asking me what it takes to get her ticket. Who knows perhaps all these years of asking her to get her license is going to pay off sometime soon.
I hope to update this page as time allows. Time will tell how that one is going to end! 73
*NEW* Take a look at my twin 813 tube amplifier project - The 813 Amplifier Project Page
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