# SDMB Amateur Radio Operators Unite! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914 "2002-06-01T18:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/1 "2002-06-01T18:10:24Z")
Any amateur radio operators on this board? Yes, I know it’s a geeky archaic hobby, but I love it! My truck gets more than it’s share of glances as I have 6 antennas on a Ford Bronco II, and I use them all! In my mind, Internet chat has nothing over building your own antenna, tuning around until you find the perfect place on the dial, calling and receiving an answer from a ham operator in Lithuania or some other country, then exchanging cards with them for your personal record book. _That’s_ a challenge, not going into a NetMeeting room and clicking on someone’s name. Check in and tell me if you’re going to be operating this year’s Field Day or not! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/2 "2002-06-01T23:00:34Z")
**KF4OWJ** checking in, although I must be honest and admit that it’s been about 5 years since I last picked up a morse key. It is a very fun hobby and I’ll probably be picking it back up again real soon just to teach my two sons, aged 5 and 10, about it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/3 "2002-06-02T05:27:57Z")
Here’s a mercy bump for you HAMs. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/4 "2002-06-02T06:38:58Z")
KC2IBN checking in… Yes this is sad. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/5 "2002-06-02T07:12:29Z")
Sad, no. Fun, yes. [Check this site out for great articles about amateur radio](http://www.qrz.com) Oh yes, and by the way, I forgot my call, sorry… Ric W7WWB 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/6 "2002-06-02T08:07:59Z")
W class… that’s up there, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/7 "2002-06-02T18:07:26Z")
General class, licensed since 1982… I guess I’m old :eek: Ric ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/8 "2002-06-02T18:59:01Z")
**KC2HNX** here, but I don’t spend nearly as much time on the airwaves as I’d like… ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/9 "2002-06-02T19:13:13Z")
I am a lame no-code tech and I don’t even have a rig any more, but I just had my license renewed (and name and address changed…OOPS). The whole “no rig” thing sorta precludes any Field Day activities. KD4OSU, though. And I’m GOING to upgrade my license one of these days…probably when the kids are old enough that I can HAVE radio equipment again. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/10 "2002-06-02T19:17:00Z")
Hey - you have a license. You went through the testing. Nothing lame about that. And before you pull any no-code excuses, I JUST got my General. So I only passed the 5WPM code test. That makes me an ALMOST no code. Glad to have you in the club, **Hamadryad** ---
**Author:** ![LIONsob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/76d3ee/32.png) [@LIONsob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LIONsob)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/11 "2002-06-02T19:19:24Z")
73’s DE KC5LNN Peace LIONsob ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/12 "2002-06-02T23:08:38Z")
My dad used to be a ham, and I wanted to be one too, but teenage life got in the way and dad hasn’t been interested for a while. Does anyone know where I could get more information on what I need to do to become a ham myself ? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/13 "2002-06-02T23:15:50Z")
**Dragongirl** , here are a few links for you: [QRZ](http://www.qrz.com) [American Radio Relay League](http://www.arrl.org) [Youthtech Ham Radio Page](http://www.youthtech.com/hamradio/) And you can e-mail me if you’d like more information, also! Ric 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/14 "2002-06-03T01:03:04Z")
\*\* ve5kis\*\* checking in from the Canadian contingent…73’s to everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/15 "2002-06-03T03:08:08Z")
KB9TXR. No code tech . Want to learn code someday, mostly, I monitor 2 meters and 440 in the car to kill time on the long commute. Anyone in Chicago? 73 B. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/16 "2002-06-03T11:52:01Z")
You can probably guess my callsign. Not very active tho. Brian ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/17 "2002-06-03T12:14:33Z")
Not a ham, but I worked in the frequency control industry most of my life. Do any of you guys still use crystal-controlled sets? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/18 "2002-06-03T19:49:01Z")
LOL some still use crystal controlled sets - but most of the current equipment has VFO tuning both TX and RX. Heck, I can control TX and RX seperately on my Kenwood rig. And yes, I’ll be working Field Day from my home this year, decided that I deserved a year working the contest in comfort instead of out on a dusty mountaintop somewhere. Thanks to all who responded! Keep the posts coming! Ric W7WWB ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/19 "2002-06-03T23:14:54Z")
I’m not a ham, but my dad was just about born with a Morse key in his hand. He’s sucked my mom and sister into it, but I managed to escape. 🆒 My parents’ basement looks like Radio Shack exploded. Do any of you folks make up mnemonics for your call letters? \<\\> Oh yeah, one more thing on preview – My dad got a letter last fall from a guy who apparently had been over to see my dad’s sister when Dad was a teenager, got a glimpse into my dad’s bedroom/ham shack, and was hooked. My dad got him started in amateur radio all those years ago (Dad’s 63), and this guy tracked him down on the Internet and wrote him a letter. When the letter arrived, my folks were RV-snowbirding near where the guy lives. I forwarded it to them, and they visited at his house for a week and had a great time. Pretty neat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/20 "2002-06-04T03:05:53Z")
And then there are guys like me, wishing they _had_ a license. . . ☹ I’ve got an EE degree. Anyone got any suggestions on how to just get a kit together to _just listen_ to all the fun? Tripler Wishing to get into the art someday . . . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914.md?page=2)