Hello!

I was talking to a fellow Sysop in another Echo aboutt Ham Radio. He told me a brief history about why it's called "Ham" Radio, I thought it was pretty interesting!

I've had a few friends over the years that where Ham Radio Operators, but I never REALLY knew what it was, or what you even do on it.

I'd like to hear some history and personal comments about it, I'm really curious!
Regards,
KrUpTiOn
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Charles,

I'd like to hear some history and personal comments about it, I'm really CS>curious!

I got into it originally for Skywarn Severe Weather operations in
1991, when the FCC removed the Morse Code requirement (5 wpm exam) for
the Technician Class license.

In 2000, the FCC reduced the Morse Code Requirement to just 5 WPM for
the Technician Plus (Technician with 5 wpm code exam credit), the
General, and the Amateur Extra (it was originally 13 WPM for the General
and Advanced, and 20 WPM for Amateur Extra). In 2007, the FCC removed
the Morse Code requirement altogether. People are learning the Morse
Code now because they WANT to...and NOT because they HAVE to.

The funniest story I heard on that (I likely have posted this in other echoes) was these 4 hams sitting around a restaurant table in Annapolis, Maryland...telling each other dirty jokes in CW (it stands for
"Continuous Wave", another name of Morse Code). This drop dead gorgeous, curvaceous female, walked up to them, and admonished the group "You boys
need to watch your language. I teach CW at the Naval Academy across the street", and walked out!! They were as red as tomatoes!! <BG>

Three months after my wife died (2 months after the FCC dropped the
Morse Code requirement) in 2007, I decided for grins, to try to upgrade,
and become a Volunteer Examiner, to give and grade the exams. I signed
up with Ham Test Online (www.hamradiolicenseexam.com), and studied 2
hours a day for 2 weeks on each one. I went from Technician to General
in 14 days...and from General to Amateur Extra 13 days later. It was THE
BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT in amateur radio.

For more information on what I've done in ham radio, go to www.qrz.com
and search for WX1DER -- unless you're logged in, you won't see my
personal information, but you can read the biography.

Daryl, WX1DER

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11-24-18 16:21 Daryl Stout wrote to CHARLES STEPHENSON about A Little History Lesson
Howdy! Daryl,

@MSGID: <5BFA1FDE.1947.amtradio@capitolcityonline.net>
@REPLY: <5BF8F857.1945.amtradio@capitolcityonline.net>
Charles,

I'd like to hear some history and personal comments about it, I'm really
curious!

I got into it originally for Skywarn Severe Weather operations in
1991, when the FCC removed the Morse Code requirement (5 wpm exam) for
the Technician Class license.

In 2000, the FCC reduced the Morse Code Requirement to just 5 WPM for the Technician Plus (Technician with 5 wpm code exam credit), the
General, and the Amateur Extra (it was originally 13 WPM for the
General and Advanced, and 20 WPM for Amateur Extra). In 2007, the FCC removed the Morse Code requirement altogether. People are learning the Morse Code now because they WANT to...and NOT because they HAVE to.

I've seen You mention "People are learning the Morse Code now because they
WANT to...and NOT because they HAVE to" before and I was wondering where
You read about that?

I don't have a subscription to QST and haven't went to the Library to read
it for many years.

I like reading the Amateur Radio Newsline that You and Others post in
Amateur Radio BBS Echos to learn what is happening in/to Ham Radio.

I appreciate when Other Hams write about things they know about in BBS
echos too.

I could listen to the ARRL CW Bulletins like I use to do, but I can read
them in a Ham Echo the next day.





... !neercs eht fo kcab eht morf skool enilgat a woh si sihT
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Re: A Little History Lesson
By: Daryl Stout to CHARLES STEPHENSON on Sat Nov 24 2018 04:21 pm

Charles,

I got into it originally for Skywarn Severe Weather operations in
1991, when the FCC removed the Morse Code requirement (5 wpm exam) for
the Technician Class license.

In 2000, the FCC reduced the Morse Code Requirement to just 5 WPM for
the Technician Plus (Technician with 5 wpm code exam credit), the
General, and the Amateur Extra (it was originally 13 WPM for the General and Advanced, and 20 WPM for Amateur Extra). In 2007, the FCC removed
the Morse Code requirement altogether. People are learning the Morse
Code now because they WANT to...and NOT because they HAVE to.

The funniest story I heard on that (I likely have posted this in other echoes) was these 4 hams sitting around a restaurant table in Annapolis, Maryland...telling each other dirty jokes in CW (it stands for
"Continuous Wave", another name of Morse Code). This drop dead gorgeous, curvaceous female, walked up to them, and admonished the group "You boys need to watch your language. I teach CW at the Naval Academy across the street", and walked out!! They were as red as tomatoes!! <BG>

Wow... Thanks for the info! I'm def. gonna log on and read more about it. I've only seen maybe 2 rigs in my life and was rather confussed by just looking at it. At the time I had other things on my hobby list, but I've always wondered about HAM radio.

Thank you!
Regards,
KrUpTiOn
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Howdy! Daryl,

Hi, Ed...

I've seen You mention "People are learning the Morse Code now because they EV>WANT to...and NOT because they HAVE to" before and I was wondering where EV>You read about that?

That's the impression I get. Right around the time when the FCC
removed the CW requirement completely for U.S. ham radio licenses,
Vibroplex, who makes nice CW keyers, literally had their phones "ringing
off the wall" every day for a month. They couldn't keep up with the
demand, and hams were finding out "how much fun CW actually was".

I don't have a subscription to QST and haven't went to the Library to read EV>it for many years.

I read very little in QST. I look at the Happenings column, the
Hamfests section, information from the ARRL/VEC, and the Silent Keys
page. Otherwise, I skip over most of the articles...because the
technical and electronic stuff was never my forte'.

I like reading the Amateur Radio Newsline that You and Others post in EV>Amateur Radio BBS Echos to learn what is happening in/to Ham Radio.

In reading some of the stories, where hams get busted for doing stupid things, I have to really wonder if they were these who, when the brains
were passed out, they thought "trains" was said, and they missed
theirs!!

I appreciate when Other Hams write about things they know about in BBS EV>echos too.

I found an old presentation I did at a local hamfest over 6 years ago,
called "You're Licensed...Now What??". I couldn't believe how out of
date it was now!!

For the most part, my travel days outside of central Arkansas are
over. However, if I can get some money from this "Miller Trust" in the
spring, after paying the personal property taxes and income taxes for my
Mom, myself, and my brother...I am hoping to do one final big trip to a hamfest. However, it's not guaranteed...I won't know until March if I
can do it, but I may not be able to do it at all.

I could listen to the ARRL CW Bulletins like I use to do, but I can
read them in a Ham Echo the next day.

With the nervous system damage I've got from 2 lightning strikes, I
was never able to copy CW well. I did take a 5 wpm test for grins years
ago, but failed it. It's a moot point now, though.

... !neercs eht fo kcab eht morf skool enilgat a woh si sihT

I thought I'd have to clean my glasses, or the computer off, for a
minute there. :P

Daryl

===
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Charles,

Wow... Thanks for the info! I'm def. gonna log on and read more about it. I' CS>only seen maybe 2 rigs in my life and was rather confussed by just looking a CS>it. At the time I had other things on my hobby list, but I've always wondere CS>about HAM radio.

A lot has changed since I was first licensed over 27 years ago. But,
I've made so many new friends...locally, around the country, and around
the world. And, at some of the yearly events, known as "hamfests", you
can meet the people you've talked to on the radio. The funny part is
that the mental image you made of them is NOT AT ALL what they look like
in person. <G>

Daryl

===
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