My name is Kyle, and I’m an amateur radio operator, also known as a ham. I’ve been interested in ham radio ever since I was a young boy, but other interests took priority. After graduating from high school, I went on a mission for my church, went to college, fell in love, married, and have created four children (my wife did most of the work).
I love teaching my kids and they love asking questions. One of my kids recently asked questions about radio and how it works. In the process of teaching about radio and radio waves, I mentioned ham radio and the very little bit of information about the subject I knew. I mentioned to my offspring that I’ve always wanted to become a licensed ham. I was then asked the golden question, “Well, why don’t you become licensed?”
My kid had me. I had a bunch of excuses I was about to give, but my wife and I strive to teach our children not to come up with excuses, but instead work to accomplish worthwhile goals. So that’s what I did.
I need to backup in the story for a moment. Four years after high school, I became substantially sight impaired due to retinal detachment. Although I have some limited vision, I refer to myself as being blind (mostly because it’s easier than saying “visually impaired,” but also because “visually impaired” sounds too PC).
Because of my blindness, I needed to find a way to study. My wife’s cousin, KB7QLT, is blind and has been a ham ever since he was a kid, so I figured he would be a good source for info. He directed me to HandiHam.org. Boy, what a great set of tools there. And a great support staff. Pat Tice, WA0TDA, instructed me via audio lectures and answered many of my questions. He has been an invaluable boon.
Two weeks after signing up with HandiHam.org, I went to a testing session, and passed both the Technician class and General class tests. 10 months later, after studying for a month, I passed the Extra class exam. Huzzah!
I currently only have 2 meter and 70 centimeter radios, a Yaesu FT-2900 and FT-60R, and a handful of Baofeng UV-5R’s, but so far, I am loving the world of ham radio. I can’t wait until I have an HF radio.
My other interests include wood working, gardening, history, writing, the outdoors, reading, politics, and having fun with my wife and kids.
I operate several other websites, some personal for my family connections, and some political, and some for small businesses. If you want to know these political websites, please email me, but be forewarned, you will know my politics if you visit these sites. If you disagree with my politics, don’t feel like you can’t read my ham radio stuff, or communicate with me. I’m really a nice guy and don’t hold ill-will to anyone, even if we disagree on politics. After all, we have so many other things that can connect us, like ham radio.
73,
Kyle, W7KBX
Hi Kyle,
I too am a new ham (KC1AID). I will be trying for my General ticket soon. Anyway, your post about repeaters struck a chord. The whole “repeater” thing is a new to me. I’m 58 years old, and my only prior connection to ham radio is that my next door neighbor (when I was a kid) was a ham and had erected a huge ham antenna on a cement slab that he poured for that purpose. I am generally pretty technical, and insatiably curious, so one thing led to another and I literally got my Tech ticket today (Aug 8th, 2013).
I don’t have an answer for your repeater question, but I have similar questions. Most revolve around how ham radio might be used after a general break down of society. This takes us into the realm of politics and economics, and you did invite readers to look at your political websites (please respond to my email address with a URL or two). My guess is that you lean libertarian or anarchist (huge apologies if I misread you – and if I did – no big deal).
It seems to me that the repeater “network” will probably degrade in various ways should there be martial law, economic collapse or some other calamity. FCC rules on ham usage will like become unenforceable. Ham custom and etiquette will become more important than ever as those who are comfortable around radio become focal points in communities.
Even if nothing bad happens in my lifetime (based on family genetics, I will probably make it to 90), learning new things and being prepared will always go hand in hand for me. So, for now ham radio is my new obsession. Getting the equipment and learning how to use it may come in handy down the road (whether or not there is still an FCC to monitor us).
Thank you for your blog. I will bookmark it an check it occasionally.
Welcome to the wonderful world of ham radio. Thanks for reading, and good luck with working towards your general ticket.
I too have wondered how repeaters and other areas of ham radio would function under a prolonged disaster or breakdown of society. Hopefully it will never happen, but me being an Eagle Scout, I can’t help but try to be prepared.
Recently, for a local emergency prep net, the repeater that we usually use, was inoperable due to a lightning strike. We had been trained well, and knew to use a certain frequency, 146.58 on simplex, as backup. It worked flawlessly. The net controler took his mobile rig to a high hill next to the valley, and everyone was able to check in. If he had had a hard time receiving a check-in, there is no doubt that someone else in the net could have relayed the checkin. I learned that simplex actually works quite well.
I’ll email you links to my other sites.
73
You have a lot of questions about clubs, repeaters, repeater lists. Maybe I can help you with answers.
By the way the ARRL personally contacted me for permission to use my repeater lists in their repeater book printed each year. Also my info comes directly from the repeater owners as well as the local repeater coordinator. I’ve been building, writing, and tweeking these lists back to the days of packet, before the internet existed (approximately 44 years). Back to the days when we didn’t have any repeaters here.
Best Regards
Jake Gier NF7T
DX Chaser and contester.
Webmaster for the Lewis and Clark ARC
Current President of the Lewis and Clark ARC
EPC #20969
Feld Hell … FH #2185
PODXS 070 … #1439
Ten-Ten #76814
Have been an active ham in the Treasure Valley since 1961