I have not been a Ham that long but close. First licensed in 1977 = 33 years. But I had the “want to” for several years before that, just never could get that damn code practice in to go set for the test. My first Ham receiver was a National 300 “boat anchor”. They called a lot of the old radios such because they were heavy enough to anchor most boats. When I got really interested and started to really study for my tests, I bought a Heathkit SB104 and spent a lot of my time building it as I was also studying for the tests. I passed my test, used a borrowed transmitter to do a little CW (that thing had more chirps and burps than I could chase out) until I finished up the Heathkit. The first time I got it running all the old friends didn’t know who I was, cause it was clean and clear CW… what a relief. Shortly after I got that radio to work, I put in extra effort and studied up for the “Advanced “test and made my trip to Denver in June of the same year (1977) and passed in flying colors… I had not prepared for the Extra code but should have tried it anyway as the FCC Tech giving the test said he was sure I could pass it as I had passed the 13 WPM with no problems and ace’d the Advanced questions… I was just happy to get it done and didn’t push my luck but should have.
Anyway, still holding that Advanced license and thinking that I will study up and do that Extra some day now that the 20 WPM code is not required. I never really got over that Hump in code that makes your brain switch from letters to words? probably didn’t practice enough? – WD0AJG
At the age of fifteen, I obtained my first amateur radio license. I became interested in this hobby after visiting a neighbor’s home in the town where I grew up. Doug Manza had a complete “Ham” Shack in his house and I listened to him talk on his transceiver to other hams from around the world. I had a short wave radio that my dad had bought me and I was fascinated with this medium of communications.
Doug also introduced me to Morse code and I studied one whole summer listening to the code on a record at home. In those days, it was a requirement to learn the code which is a system of dots and dashes, in order to get a beginners license. Once I had mastered this, Doug ordered the written exam for me and I passed it and received my Novice Class license from the FCC. My call sign was WN1EYO.
To get on the air, I purchased a 75 watt HT-40 transmitter which was powerful enough to transmit for many miles on high frequency. I already had my S-120 Halicrafters receiver, so it was a matter of putting up my antenna and building my Morse code keyer. It wasn’t long before I was in operation. Code was received from all over North America and when atmospheric condition permitted, I could reach South America too. After a while, I had a whole wall of QSL cards from many hams that lived in several states and provinces.
Eventually, I wanted to talk on the radio so I purchased a Gonsett Communicator II which had frequencies for 2 meters and 6 meters. This is the same unit found in several of the civil defense shelters at that time. These were the only channels a Novice was allowed to transmit in voice and only a narrow part of the bandwidth which required certain crystals to be plugged in. This opened up a whole new world although I continued to use the Morse code at other times. I talked regularly with several different hams. My friend Burns had a teletypewriter in his shack and another by the name of Al, was blind. It amazed me that Al could take his radio completely apart and put it back together. He could also work on his car and play the piano. I visited several of the guys at their homes and went to ham meetings and get-togethers.
Later, I tested for a technician grade license and was then the owner of call sign WA1IZH. Amateur radio was a fun hobby for me. Some of the hams who advised me and supported me were Doug, Al McQuoid, Burns Getchell, Gene Merrithew and Roy MacLeod. These kind men influenced and encouraged me at my young age. I will always remember them. Later, I entered a career in electronics with my first job at Honeywell in Boston.
The equipment today is far more advanced from those early days of tube radios. Somehow, the challenge of building my own gear was fun and interesting back then. Some of my friends took up this hobby too. I attended gatherings from St Andrews, NB. to Swampscott, MA and met a lot of interesting people both in person and over the air waves.
John Sprague is an American currently working in the mideast. He enjoys writing and working on his websites in his free time. He has a new site at http://www.marketingkindreds.com His website has photos of the mideast and marketing articles as well as website analysis tools.
Author: John Sprague
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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