What sparked your interest in ham radio?

[AgentCOPP1]

I was thinking the other day that all of us had to have some sort of event happen in our life that truly sparked our interest in ham radio, or at least that set forth the train that would lead us to become a ham.

For me, I had always had a sort of fascination with radios since I was very young, and whenever my family would go on road trips somewhere, I would bring my short wave Kaito receiver with me and just listen to the band with some headphones. I couldn't tell you what even sparked even the slightest of interest of listening to the radio, but there was a specific event that really set my imagination wandering.

A lot of nights I would just lay in my bed with the same Kaito receiver and try to hear the farthest stations that I could. One day I caught a very small signal of a Canadian time station (CHU) in Ottawa, Ontario. It transmits a series of different tones and ticks which tells you the current UTC time, then it self-identifies in both English and French. I was astounded that I could hear something so far away from me (living about 2 hours south of Chicago), and the fact that I could only hear the signal at night made me wonder "well, why?" Ever since then, I've had a real fascination with the idea that you can hear people from such a vast distance with just a simple (and inefficient) radio. I have this strange curiosity that I know when I get on the air that my voice is being repeated somewhere hundreds, maybe thousands of miles away to a place that I will probably never be. I just think it's so cool.

 

[AK9R]

I have been interested in electronics since high school. I remember playing around with stereo amps (my first stereo amp used a 12AX7A preamp tube and two 6?6 power amplifier tubes) and speakers in an effort to understand how they worked. I went to college to study electrical engineering, but was disappointed that the only career paths at that time seemed to be electrical power systems or digital electronics. I wasn't interested in either. My life took a different path and I never pursued a career in electronics.

I bought my first scanner around 1984. I wasn't even aware of amateur radio activities on VHF/UHF until I received a list of local frequencies from a scanner dealer. That got me listening to the local repeaters. I soon discovered severe weather nets and heard a voice I recognized. As it turned out, a former co-worker was a ham and was very involved in severe weather spotting. I made contact with him in 1989 or so and he sparked my interest in Skywarn. About the same time, there was an natural gas explosion in an apartment complex in town. I listened to the RACES net as local hams responded to help the public safety and relief agencies. That sparked my interest in amateur radio emergency communications. I finally got my license in 1991.

 

[K2KOH]

I always liked radio. When I was a kid growing up in Washington Heights in NYC, my parents bought me a multi band radio. I loved listening to FDNY and NYPD when they were on VHF. NYPD left for UHF, but I still had the FD. I got into shortwave as well. As I got older, I got into CB, and then start getting turned on to amateur radio. There was a gentleman who lived in my building in the Bronx named Jim, KA2NDD. He showed my his HF station and his HT. That was it for me. I took the Tech Test in 1991, and just a couple months later took the code test for HF privileges. I am now a general class, still enjoying radio, though being in a condo limits me.

 

[n4yek]

I started working at Ten Tec in 1989 (not there any longer), then Vice President W0LYM , Sid Kitrell, approached me and handed me a study guide. Worked my way all the way up to Extra and we remained friends until his death.

 

[Jimru]

Nice thread topic!

I was into AM DX at a young age, followed by shortwave and then VHF/UHF monitoring, but I always found listening to the hams as, frankly, kind of dull in comparison.

Then in 2002 I happened upon an ARES drill for the Red Cross in NYC and that I found very compelling, while tuning around the two meter band. I got my ticket the following year and was a member of Queens County, NY ARES by 2004.

I continued with them and became AEC of Queens County in 2010, stepping down last October when I knew I was moving to Cape Cod, MA.

Here in Cape Cod, I am active with the Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net. I find Emcomm fun and rewarding.

Now that I live in a house where I can put up at least some kind of HF antenna, I want to try my hand at DXing and other aspects of HF fun!

73 to all,
Jim KC2LMH

 

[robertmac]

Years ago, like in the late 40s, early 50s, I can remember spending nights at my grandparents place. They had a radio that had HF bands in it and as we lived too far from AM stations, I can remember listening to distant AM stations. Then, going to other bands, I heard amateurs on AM HF bands. I inherited this radio and listened through the 50s and 60s still listening to amateurs. During the early 60s, we bought a set of walkie talkies and not knowing they were CB, we used them for fishing and hunting. Then we found out we could get a license and install a CB radio in our house and vehicle with more range then the walkie talkies. Then I met an amateur radio operator who would show me his radios and I kind of fell in love with them. About that time, skip and truckers took over the CB air waves so I dropped out. Had to get an education, job and raise a family. So have started to get back into amateur radio, listening and looking at what all is involved. Still fascinated by the fact that with a radio, power supply and good antenna, can listen to people from around the world without having to be tied to a computer or phone.

 

[WB4CS]

Great topic! Mine is a long story, but it's one I'd like to share...

I was 13 years old and at Boy Scout summer camp. During that week we had to choose what 4 merit badge classes we would work on. Radio Merit Badge was being offered and I thought that might be interesting.

During the merit badge class, we built a long wire antenna and a dipole antenna for HF. We all got to help string the antenna up in the air between a few trees and put the ends on the coax. When we were done the instructor powered up an old Kenwood HF radio and tuned across the band. We listened to shortwave stations from around the world and I was amazed. It blew me away that with that simple wire we built, we were able to pick up radio stations from around the world. Keep in mind this was 1993, before the internet was something in every household.

When I returned from summer camp I told my parents how excited I was about the shortwave radio and I how bad I wanted one. Later that year for Christmas, my parents got me a Radio Shack portable shortwave radio and a desktop HF/VHF receiver. I built and tested several long wire antennas and spent many hours tuning up and down the bands.

Sometime in early 1994 I was tuning across the VHF band and came across a group of guys talking. They were having some really interesting conversation about computers, networking, and the internet, which was still something of a new idea at the time. Over the next few weeks I kept coming back to that frequency (145.110) and listening to more and more interesting technical conversations. I really wanted to get on there and talk too! I had no idea that it was Amateur Radio, and had never even heard of such a thing.

Finally one day, one of the guys on the frequency asked another guy to give him a phone call and he gave his phone number out. I wrote it down and waited a few hours. I finally called the guy up and nervously explained that I had been listening to them on my radio and wanted to know how I could get on the radio too. He explained Amateur Radio and how to get licensed.

I had my folks take me to Radio Shack and I picked up the Gordon West study manual. I spent weeks reading over the Novice and Technician question pools. In August of 1994 at the Huntsville Hamfest I passed the Novice written exam, but missed the Technician exam by just a few questions. I didn’t give up though! Instead, I brushed up more on the Tech exam and began learning 5 WPM code. I figured if I missed the Tech again, if I could pass the code I would at least become a Novice ham.

In October of that year I took the Technician test again and the 5 WPM code. I passed both and became a Tech Plus. I was an excited 14 year old kid! I received my first call sign in January of 1995 and almost immediately started studying to upgrade. For you newer hams, back then we really did have to wait three months to get our license in the mail before we could get on the air, talk about a long three months! Throughout 1995 I took and passed the General, 13 WPM, Advanced, Extra, and 20 WPM tests. I’m not sure of the exact date I received my Extra Class but it was either late 1995 or early 1996.

Nearly 20 years later, and I still love and enjoy this hobby just as much as I did when I was a kid.

 

[rapidcharger]

I was born with the ham radio gene.
Nothing more, nothing less.
As I have hypothesized in other threads, those with the ham radio gene will become hams at some point, it's just a matter of exposure. Like crabgrass seeds laying dormant in your soil, just waiting for the ideal conditions to germinate.
I was interested in radio long before I knew that ham radio offered local bands but for me that exposure was listening to hams on a scanner on a local repeater. One of them gave their phone number over the air and I called them. (That wasn't considered stalking in those days) He was helpful and told me what study guides to get and where to go take the exam. This was pre internet (

) so it wasn't like I could just google it or watch hundreds of hours of youtube videos showing me what was possible.
What prompted me to buy a scanner at the age of 12 or 13? The ham gene. That's the only explanation I have. I don't think I even knew what there was to listen to on a scanner.

 

[kayn1n32008]

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Field day when I was about 12, got my Basic in 1993 at15, and am now 20 years in. Always had an interest, bu field day kick started me.

 

[WB4CS]

Rapid... that's funny that we both found out how to get licensed by calling hams that gave their numbers out over the air. You're right, back then it wasn't thought of as "stalking" and I don't think people were as worried about identity theft and privacy as they are now.

I know I have personally hesitated on giving out my phone number on the air because I know people are listening, and the last thing I was is someone prank calling me. However, I do freely give out on the air the email address I use for amateur radio. It's not my main email address that's tied into my bank accounts, this one is solely for emailing hams. So who knows, maybe one day I'll get an email from a scanner listener asking about ham radio. Doubtful though, thanks to the wide availability of the internet.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

What got me interested was receiving a very old (tube type) shortwave receiver from an uncle when my family and I went for a visit. this is when I was a teenager back in the mid 70's. It was down in his basement collecting dust, so just out of curiosity I plugged it in just to see if it would work. It did. Found some speaker wire and made a makeshift antenna. Even though the antenna was just hanging out of a window, I was able to hear quite a lot of different stuff. When my uncle saw how much I was enjoying it, he let me take it home with me. Hearing all those faraway countries and hams, I wanted to get my license and join in on the fun. However, I was never able to master the code, so eventually I gave up on the idea and sort of lost interest in SWL'ing.

Some years later, I got interested in scanning by listening to the scanner my best friend's dad had. Did that off and on for a lot of years before I got really serious back in 2007. Hearing the local guys on 2 meter and 70cm got me interested again in getting my license. Since there was no code requirement by that time, passing the exam was a breeze and I've been licensed since 2008.

Currently studying for the General exam, and hope to take (and pass) that sometime this summer.

 

[N9JCQ]

My mom had a Zenith 600 Transoceanic that she got back in the mid 1950s. My brothers and I got into listening to shortwave on it. I remember too that in the mid 60s AM was still pretty big on the Amateur band. I would listen to 40 and 80 meter hams on AM.
Our neighbor was a ham as well and I would gape in awe at his Drake 4 line spread across a table in his shack. On Sunday mornings, he'd fire up the 4 Line and talk with his brother in Capetown SA on 15 Meters clear as like a phone call. I was hooked. That led to a stint in 11 meters in the very early 70s until the CB thing went crazy and I couldn't stand all the crap I heard.

Jump to the mid 80s and I decided to get my license. I sat for my Tech and General on the same day. The first rig I bought? why a drake B-line of course. I even had an accidental QSO with my old neighbor on 15 after they had moved to AZ. I told him he was my inspiration into the hobby. Unfortunately he is SK now.

 

[pjtnascar]

Growing up watching The Dukes of Hazzard and Smoky and the Bandit, I always wanted to get into CB radio. When I got my driver's license, I added a CB radio to the car and one in the house. That was in the late 90's. Part of what seems like a natural outgrowth of CB, I got my first scanner. I programmed many repeaters in that radio and listened to the hams. My dad's cousins were hams, and one of them tried to get me into it at the time. The FCC had just dropped the code requirement which always kept me away from amateur radio. Girls, work, and other things kept me busy for a while, and the expense of setting up a station at the time put amateur radio out of my mind. I finally made the commitment to myself to get my license two years ago. The amateur radio bug was always there, it just took the right circumstances to bring it out.

 

[k3cfc]

My wife and i were into c.b. and had a good time with talking skip and the like. but when all the filthy language and the noise toys and the like showed up we just gave it up. hence amateur radio. unfortunately she was too sick to get her ticket and now she is in the great radio station in the sky.

K3CFC

 

[AC2OY]

First police scanners then CB in the 70's. I suppose it was always there but the ability to talk to people all over the world is what I really would like to do!

 

[NW7OR]

My uncle....see the picture and story here: NW7OR - Callsign Lookup by QRZ.COM

 

[gaburbano]

Emergency Services..

I was always into electronics.. Working for EMS since 1987, we always carried scanners. I monitored all the bands then came across ham radio operators chatting. One day at a huge fire, I ran across a fellow, who had portable radio. He asked me what scanner I had, I asked him what radio he had. He started to tell me about ham radio, and I started to listen to the freqs he hung out on. Pretty soon I bought the materials for getting my ticket, and showed up to the club VE session took the test. Purchased my first radio and got on the air, talking with him a few other guys all the time. That was it I was hooked. Since I spent most of my time on the road, its always great having a few people to chat. Soon after I took my general exam, after the hard time in dealing with code. Passed it, and bought a Heathkit which I loved, although it took some work to get it working properly.

Been hooked since then. Love radio, love talking to most of the people. Still listen to scanners

george

 

[W8RMH]

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Weather spotting and disaster comms but both turned out to be a joke so I am back to just scanning.

 

[k7ltc]

I suppose it was listening to CW on my shortwave radio when I was a kid. That got me thinking about radios and what made it all work. Then it was a desire to learn more about radio than what the Army taught me. Once I had my license, I wished I had gotten it ten years earlier.

 

[mrstangblb]

In the early '70s my Aunt had a multi band radio that she listened to AM and FM on, and I borrowed it once to listen. It included the shortwave bands, so I would run up and down the dial wondering what secret code messages were passed back and forth!

Later we had a 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix with a stock AM/FM/CB radio, and I was in hog heaven. I can still remember our license call letters :KBLX 8439.

I have always enjoyed communications (I guess the Lord instilled that in me - I am the Communications / IT Specialist at the church), and I go in the morning for my Tech license. Praying that I pass so I can move on to General and Extra, and I will see you guys on 2m next week!

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Barry

Jeremiah 29:11-13 / John 3:16