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Dipping my toe back into Ham Radio. I got my first license when I was in high school. It was 1978 and the height of the CB craze. My dad and I got our licenses at the same time. Back then the popular path to ham radio started with AM CB radio, then progressed to SSB CB and then to a technician license. I never went past Tech back then because I couldn't get over the 13 WPM code requirement. My dad however went on to get his advanced ticket. It is possible that some of the more senior fellows here might remember my dad, Dallas, KB9VZ from Bedford, IN. He was quite active on 2m and 40m for awhile from the 80's through late 90's. Dad is still with us, but his ham days are past. Dementia and immobility have taken their toll. We are trying very hard to take care of him at home for this last chapter of his life.
My interest in ham radio never died completely but it waned enough for me let my license expire and then completely lose it by blowing through the grace period. But in 2015 I took the exam and got my technician ticket again and because I was able to provide documentation of prior licensure (from the ARRL callbook) I was grandfathered into a general class ticket!!
So, armed with a new ticket I ordered a Baofeng radio to get back on the air. Except - I didn't do it - get back on the air that is. Other than dad and I contacting each other on 146.52 and talking with my old friend Dewey - WD9DKO, I just never got back on the air. Mic-fright... maybe. It was also because I had no antenna setup and that required more effort and money than I had available. Recently we added onto our garage and it has been kinda morphing into a man-cave type of setup. So this afternoon I climbed up into garage rafters and planted a mag mount antenna on an old unused TV ceiling mount to serve as a ground plane and I made a contact. It was Russ - N9DHX. He was very welcoming and told me about this web site. So here I am reintroducing myself to the ham world.
Back in the day my favorite thing was 2m SSB (remember I was only technician). I used dad's setup back then. He had an Icom IC211 all mode 2m and a 11 element yogi atop a 60 foot tower. I got a kick out of listening for the tiny little signals late at night and then working the beam around until I was able to make a good contact. Is 2m SSB still a thing nowadays?
Well, that is enough intro and reminiscing for now. Maybe we'll meet on the air if my little setup works well enough.
73's KD9CZL - Jan
Bedford, IN
