Amateur Radio

I became interested in the hobby of Amateur Radio when I was in school, testing for my Novice class license in 1964. I discovered girls, and let the radio sport expire until a radio station engineer played the Central Ohio Severe Weather Net for me- I was hooked. I got my General Class license as N8BHL in 1979. I was only interested in two meters (a localized frequency with repeaters and mobile stations) until a hurricane came through the southern states. I listened to the National Hurricane Net on 20 meters, and got hooked on the “low bands” working distances and meeting hams all over the world. In 1982, I passed the morse code at 20 words per minute, and scored the Extra Class License- the highest ranking available. 

After some years, a move and other changes, I lost interest in the low bands, and my antennas sat in a a pile for 20 years. When several hams at my workplace got together to form a ham radio club, my interest rekindled, and I started putting together a station.

So far, I have put my old Yaesu FT-102 radio back on the desk, after world-renown FT-102 expert  Mal Eiselman went through and made it sing again. I’ve added other equipment including the latest digital transmission modes, and  I put a radio room in the upstairs. I have a tower and several antennas. I would like to plant small aluminum stakes and watch them grow into more towers, but I’m not sure Momma would approve. I have a couple radios in my truck.

I am using some new computerized forms of communication- where we talk computer-to-computer. I have also renewed my interest in emergency communications, having completed levels 1 and 2 of the American Radio Relay League’s Emergency Communications courses. I use a Force 12 C4S antenna that directs my signal and makes it much stronger.

There is so much to do in this hobby, and I’m sure there’ll be more and more to learn as I go along. If you’re a ham- hope to meet you on the air.

Along with Tim, K8TBN, I bought and remodeled an RV trailer named “Canned Ham” (Click for the photo gallery), turning it into a mobile communications center for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Delaware County. I serve as Emergency Coordinator for the county. 

73

Stan