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N2NOV > ALL 26.10.17 05:03l 80 Lines 4597 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 87490_N2NOV
Read: GUEST
Subj: The Start of a Radio Hobby
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<GB7CIP<N2NOV
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We all have our own stories to tell of how we got started in the radio
hobby. Some had a relative who showed them the ropes, some had a friend
or coworker, some had a teacher who demonstrated ham radio in the class.
My path was more of a self-discovery of sorts and the innate curiosity
of a science/math geek who watched the original Star Trek from the first
night that it hit the airwaves at the age of 6 1/2.
I have always been interested in how things work. I read sci-fi, wanted
to be an astronaut as I was following the Apollo missions, watched shows
and movies that highlighted science (remember Mr. Wizard?). In 1973 I
graduated from the 8th grade and my parents asked what I wanted. I said
a radio and off we went to the local department store where I got an AM
pocket radio from Panasonic in white plastic. I listened to the local
stations, heard far-away stations creep in at night and discovered how
I can increase the signal sensitivity by placing the radio near the pipe
carrying electric wires to the Con Ed meter outside my parents' house.
I wanted to learn more about how all this worked. I went to the library
which was a few blocks from my house. After perusing some books in the
621 section (Dewey Decimal System), I came across this big 600 page book
and borrowed it for 4 weeks. I read through it, copying the charts and
schematics into my notebook. When it came time to return it, I asked
the librarian if I could renew it for another 4 weeks. She said that no
one else checked it out, so it was fine. The book was the Amateur Radio
Handbook of 1972.
During high school, I branched out to the FM band, shortwave and tunable
radios and kits that would allow me to listen to planes and VHF or UHF
public service frequencies. I built low power AM and FM band broadcast
kits and drew up plans for my own professional AM broadcasting station
and sound studio based on technical books and journals I got a hold of.
In other words, I dove in and read everything I could. I also scrimped
and saved up lunch money or yard work money to buy things at Radio Shack
while also scrounging for TV tubes on trash night or a tossed portable
shortwave radio (slime green color) that got me Radio Canada! Through
the 80s I taught myself Basic and assembler computer programming. I had
my own satellite TV sales and installation business on the weekends.
Reading, experimenting, building, repairing are all one thing - DOING!
There was no such thing as the internet, Youtube videos, cellphones, or
RadioReference and Wikipedia. The local public library, school library,
paperback books at Radio Shack and Lafayette Electronics, magazines at
the local newsstand were all that I had. There were no friends nearby
to learn from or with, who knew electronics like this. No relatives or
neighbors to ask questions of.
When someone tells me that they are amazed at my breadth and depth of
knowledge of electronics and radio hobby that I love so much, I don't
think it was anything special. My focus over the past 25 years has been
to teach and put these skills to use in the EmComm arena. I started off
with the public service events, added simulations and drills and then
helped out with the Red Cross and NYC OEM in the mid-90s. All this was
before 9/11 and everything after 9/11 has been to have a more sense of
urgency to get others on the same page. I don't have a college degree
in electronics. My parents did not give me any money for what I wanted
and needed to further my self-education. I did what anyone who has had
a desire to achieve something that interested them, I kept on going even
if other things could have derailed me in the process.
It does not matter how someone started in this field of endeavor. It
could be via CB, FRS, scanners, shortwave or any related area. What
counts is that we welcome them in, help them to understand more, add
more avenues to experience what is out there and then include them in
the various activities that we do to help them to become a better radio
communicator and a resource in times of need for themselves and their
community.
A credit card company asks, "what's in your wallet". I ask "what's in
your radio toolbox bag of tricks". It's time to learn more and to teach
more to those coming along after us.
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