Just wondering - kind of OT

I am kind of curious if anyone else
registered on this forum has an
amateur radio license.

KC9FAC

I don't have a license, but I've recently been interested.
Got a copy of EMFRD and have been inspired to build
a direct-conversion receiver, Manhattan style.
All sorts of fun.

>I am kind of curious if anyone else
>registered on this forum has an
>amateur radio license.
>
>KC9FAC

Since about 1955. Started out as K0DTD, then moved to Alabama and had to change, so went to W4NSW. When we had the short opportunity to pick our own number, I opted for my initials and got N4LN. I kept it, even though I moved out of the district (rules change again) and am still current with it today.

Started in 1977 (?) as WD5GMK in Mississippi. About 1979 changed to KF5R. Still have that call, but live in Alabama.

Herman Green - KF5R

I've been a licensed radio amateur since 1979, my sophmore year in high school as KA8FTK. 2 years later I passed the advanced class test. At that time I received my current call sign, N8CAH.

About 2 or 3 years ago they were changing the licensing requirements for the Extra class license. So I boned up on the code and regulations. I earned my Extra class license with the 20 WPM element the last week that it was a requirement.

Jim Amos N8CAH

>I've been a licensed radio amateur since 1979, my sophmore
>year in high school as KA8FTK. 2 years later I passed the
>advanced class test. At that time I received my current
>call sign, N8CAH.
>
>About 2 or 3 years ago they were changing the licensing
>requirements for the Extra class license. So I boned up on
>the code and regulations. I earned my Extra class license
>with the 20 WPM element the last week that it was a
>requirement.
>
>Jim Amos N8CAH

Say, just wondering, what are the current requirements for General Class ticket? I have two older brothers that are Generals - K9LHP and N9ASL. Thanks.

Joe - KBC6800 (CB)

I was first licensed KL7IOX, in 1973 while living in Alaska. I upgraded to Advanced in 1976, and by coincidence, the FCC had just announced a new set of blocks for call signs the day before. On a whim, I requested my new callsign from the new numbers.

As it turned out, I was issued the first one in the block assigned to Advanced class, AL7AA. I still hold this callsign, even though I've moved several times, living in Wisconsin, a short 2 year spell in California, and now in Utah.

I've considered asking the AMA if they still allow licensed Amatuer's the option of having their AMA number to be the same as their call sign.

Floyd Carter is probably one of the longest licensed on this forum.

>Say, just wondering, what are the current requirements for
>General Class ticket? I have two older brothers that are
>Generals - K9LHP and N9ASL. Thanks.
>
>Joe - KBC6800 (CB)

Joe, Since I have not kept up with the requirements, I can't answer that question for you. Until someone else jumps in, you could do a google search for ARRL. (Amatuer Radio Relay League). Surfing through the site you'll likely find answers to a lot of Radio related questions.

Speaking of related, I believe Hiram Percy Maxim, was a man who was very involved in the early days of both Radio and Model Aircraft. Seems like a cross over between these two interest areas goes way back.

The reqirements are a lot less than what they used to be. You used to actually have to be able to read code. Now you take a multiple guess test after listening to the code portion. And the ARRL, under the new international agreements, is even now proposing a code free license in the HF bands, which is a complete reversal from years past.

I started out as a novice in high school, and then a few months later got my general which gave me all privileges. (K0DTD-"Dead Tired Dog") Then the ARRL got the wild idea that they could lure more people in by increasing requirements and set up classes of General, Advanced, and Extra Class. Since I was now losing privileges, I took the test and passed the Extra Class. Again you had to know code in those days.

I also started working as a bench man in a radio/TV repair shop when I was a junior in high school. By boss had the contract to do the repair on the police and highway patrol radios at that time which required a 2nd class commercial license. So I decided to get mine, too, at that time, but went ahead and got my first class ticket while I was at it. That was a four hour test, consisting of three elements at the time. You had to pass one before moving on to take the next, and so on. Ten percent of the test included drawing diagrams, (yes, drawing the diagrams) and one of the questions was to draw the complete schematic diagram for an FM transmitter. I did. Of course, this was before transisters (now I am dating myself).

Today they have condensed all this into a lower class license with much less stringent requirements.

I grew up in the days when color TV was just starting. In those days we had to actually converge the picture--do multiple adjustments to get all of the red and blue and green dots to fall on top of one another, or the picture looked awful. Kind of like a lot of our engines of today. You couldn't really run them out of the box. Back then picture tubes had a much shorter life span and we actually replaced them. Nowadays a picture tube costs the repair man (his cost) more than it costs to buy a new TV set. But then, what do I know about economics. A new battery for our cordless phone cost $10-$12 even at WalMart. I bought two new phones for $5.00 on sale including the battery. Throw the phone away. I just need the battery.

Oh, on the ARRL thing, try this link: http://www.arrl.org/

This doesn't really count, but my Dad's been an amature since around 1954, K8AOJ, I can still remember him calling "CQ, CQ, CQ, this is K8AOJ, K8AOJ, King number 8, America, Ohio, Japan" sitting in his little 8x10 shack behind the house. I learned the code back then, but while he was interested in models amd radio, the airplanes got my near undivided attention.

K6BSU here. General Class in 1952, Extra Class in 1955.

I should have mentioned: If you operate R/C with a ham license, you never have to wait for a clear frequency, and you will never be shot down by some idiot turning his transmitter on at the field.

My R/C transmitters all operate at 53.3 MHz on the 6 Meter ham band.

I have operated as a "ham" continuously since 1952. I was chief op. at KL7AIR (Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage), KL7FAG (Naknek AFB, Alaska) and K6FDR at March AFB, Riverside. My ham rig is right here next to the computer. All HF radios, including a KW SSB transmitter.

Floyd, were those MARS stations? I remember the MARS unit on the USS Lexington CVA-16, but don't remember the call sign. The ships was NBGV/Spartan. Two of the Signalmen were HAMS, along with 12 Radiomen. CW was awkward for me after using visual morse for three years.

Since you ask.... I got a Technician's License - KF6CSZ about 8 years ago... in order to use the Ham channels for radio control. Well, here in San Diego there are so many amateurs that the ham frequencies are as busy as the non-ham channels! You still have to wait a little bit...

My Dad was an active amateur (K6NSY), but I never had the interest in learning the code and was bitten pretty hard by the modeling bug instead.
Nick Vanmatre

A buddy in KY back in the 60s was K4WMI -

K4-Whisky-Martini-Intoxication - Wonder whatever happened to Rick . . .

For some reason, I recall "W7BMK". Only I can't remember who it belonged to. I'll ask my brother. Both older bro's were interested mostly in electronics, while I got the balsa bug. Steve

Advanced Class WB7AUF use Winlink while on Sailboat in Mexico

>I am kind of curious if anyone else
>registered on this forum has an
>amateur radio license.
>
>KC9FAC

I'm W6ZSL. One more of my hobbies...