I had a novice license in the mid 1960s but was drafted into the army. When I got back out I began a career as a professional musician (lounge organist) so between my full time employment, musical employment and spending time with my horse as a horseman I had little time for ham radio. I am now getting close to my year of retirement and so I decided to renew my interest in the amateur radio hobby of which through the internet I learned is alive, vibrant and well. BTW one big influence that caused me to decide to get back into ham radio is the movie “Contact”. That movie is amongst my very favorite movies. I think all ham radio operators should see that movie.
[..YouTube..] Hi HD7100
You will find that licensing now days is VERY easy , especially in the US.
The ARRL has , how can we say politely , ‘simplified’ testing standards.
Regards
gregW:-) OH2FFY
[..YouTube..] Boy does this bring back memories!
[..YouTube..] Thanks Greg. I plan to work on having my general license by this coming fall or sooner. It will be a little while before I can get to setting up my station but I plan to put up a three band dipole. I have to build the bench and such as well. If all goes well I will try to prepare for the extra license through the following winter. I am going to try my hand at CW again. I didn’t do all that well with copying code when I was young maybe it will be harder now that I am old. I will see. Gary
[..YouTube..] I tend to live in the past with many things. Resurrecting this stuff is an example. I hope to have fun with it at any road. Gary
[..YouTube..] Interesting video!
I earned my Novice class amateur radio license back in 1967 and was assigned the call sign WN7IOK.
My first transmitter as a novice was a Haliicrafters HT-40 transmitter and the receiver an old Hallicrafters S-38B. I really loved the old Hallicrafters equipment! I wish you all the best in your re-entry into the amateur radio hobby and hope to work you someday on HF!
By the way I am trying to learn how to play piano and organ on a Yamaha keyboard!
73, Bill, KI7F
[..YouTube..] Thank you very kindly Bill. I often feel that I left a big part of myself behind when I walked away from ham radio. I didn’t leave it behind for any other reason than I just didn’t have the time nor the place for it. Now that I am nearing retirement and am no longer a professional musician, I am happy to get back to it. I hope you are gettin a lot of enjoyment from learning music. Music has always been and still is my second love. My first love is horses. 73 Gary
[..YouTube..] Gary, thanks for the video. Glad that you are coming back to the hobby. Keep us posted on your tech. Being a past builder, you may enjoy the Soldersmoke podcast, google to find it, Randy
[..YouTube..] Thanks for the reply Randy. I hope to be able to take both the Technician and General test sometime this year before fall. Over the next winter I will be studying for the Extra license. Holding a General or Extra license is where I “should” have been right now if I would not have left ham radio behind so many years ago. I really am excited about the reunion with the hobby and videos such as yours help give me a boost. ’73′ Gary
[..YouTube..] Im learning from the same books to try for my first license. I hope to get it my general license before the end of summer.
[..YouTube..] Than spectacular teams of radio!!! Congratulations!!!
73 DX de LU1WGO
[..YouTube..] Gary,
Stumbled across your vid. Glad I did.
Way to go, my friend. Hope you do well. I’m pretty much in the same situation…age 63 and will be taking the tech and general exams in about 10 days or so, but have never ben a Ham. Still haven’t gotten a transceiver, but that’ll come. BTW…seems I recall seing that Swan unit on ebay while scouting around for a Heathkit HW-101.
I’m subscribing to see how you make out. Good luck.
Regards,
John
[..YouTube..] @joernone Thank John. For the most I have now and then regretted leaving ham radio behind. I have pursued and stuck to all of the other interests I have had since my childhood so returning to ham radio puts me where I think I should be. Good luck on your test. I have my license but only took the tech test for now. I plan on the general later this year. ’73′ KC9RUB Gary
[..YouTube..] Can you please tell me were you got those manuals? I really want to get my license but the number of books to choose from make my head spin.
[..YouTube..] @FelixTheHouseFreak The ARRL license guides came from Amazon. There are also very excellent web sites for helping with ham radio licenses. Just do a google search for “ham radio license guide” and a plethora of sites will come up. Ham radio is not only alive and well, it has never been better. Gary
[..YouTube..] The old Swan looks beautiful
[..YouTube..] @teamfab I agree. I bought one brand new in 1968 but never pursued getting my general licens and left the hobby behind then. I sold the Swan for considerable less than I paid for it. The on I have now kind of goes along with my “reunion”. I hope to get the general privileges sometime this summer and have my new station in operation by no later than the fall season. Thanks for looking. ’73′ KC9RUB Gary
[..YouTube..] Gary this is a very good video you sound a bit like me only I have just recently taken my foundation test two years ago followed six months later by the intermediate test.
At the ripe old age of 44 Im now chasing the full licence and thus fullfilling a childhood dream of being a radio amatuer . I wish you the best of luck with your walk back into ham radio and I hope to meet you sometime on the hf bands kind regards
Adrian 2E0TEN Oxfordshire UK
[..YouTube..] Welcome back into the fold, and since you have a computer too, you’ll soon discover some of the amazing modes you can very easily work by interfacing a radio to it. The swan rig and the old SX42 are classics, and you can still have hours of fun with your homebrew cw tx.
73 de Perry G0IFI
[..YouTube..] @G0IFI Thank you Perry;
I was at the Milwaukee MRC Field day event on Saturday. I had a great time going from tent to tent. I was especially fascinated with the sattelite tent. Thanks for watching. Gary
[..YouTube..] ….WELCOME BACK !! Nicely done – nice to see someone interested in running the old metal..I have most all of my original equipment ( IE EICO , HAMMARLUND ,JOHNSON 7 3 de
jim WA1WMG
[..YouTube..] @wa1wmgjim Thank you Jim. I still have to get my antennas up yet but I am moving along. I have lots of other projects here that occupy my time for now. 73. Gary KC9RUB