Oldest Ham Radio Operator in U.S. Dies at 103

The American Radio Relay League ^ | 04 June 2004 | awextra@arrl.org

[Denver Ditdat]

What an amazing century this gentleman lived through!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

BTTT

[Denver Ditdat]

Ham Radio Ping List

Please Freepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.

[LibLieSlayer]

--... ...--
- . -..-

LLS

[Bogey78O]

Too bad Broadband over Power Lines will mess up the hobby.

[Graybeard58]

I have been mildly curious about ham radio and have wondered if it might be something I would like to get into.

What's the allure? How much shoud I expect to pay as a beginner to get involved in the hobby?

Just curious - Thanks

[Denver Ditdat]

BPL sure has the potential to ruin HF if it goes into widespread use. I'd miss good old traditional DXing and ragchewing, but VHF and up should be fine. I've been intrigued by the various hamsats for years but never really done much about getting active there. BPL might change that.

[TomServo]

I've got so much gear I was willed when my Dad died, I've often thought of firing it up. But I just can't seem to do it. Dad would kill me if he knew I was fooling around with it.

[Libertina]

LOL

[Bedford Forrest]

Returning to Texas in the late 1920s, he established a well-drilling, windmill and water supply firm, Burdick & Burdick, which remains in the family.

I don't know when the water well outfits got rotary rigs, but that looks like his pedigree includes 20 or 30 years of wrassling cable drilling rigs and making it pay. A Real American, salt of the earth, had a fine ride and earned every day of it. I need three or four more of these to get that Parcells post out of my mind.

[scott7278]

I'm with you...that seems like something I would like to do. I guess the licensing thing makes me hesitate.

[Skywarner]

The testing is fairly easy now as the basic morse code requirement has been dropped for the entry level testing. The cost of getting on the air is really up to you. Like any hobby, it depends on how serious you get into it. I've seen kids get their license and get on the air with less than $100. Then, I've also seen stations that rivaled commerical broadcasters costing tens of thousands. It also depends on your focus - do you want to get involved with emergency communications and public events, do you want to go digital, do you want to just chat on the air a bit, etc.

Check out www.arrl.net and www.qrz.com for some good background info.

[sangoo]

I'm with you...that seems like something I would like to do. I guess the licensing thing makes me hesitate...

Don't worry about it, it's actually pretty easy. My son got his technician license when he just turned nine, and got his Extra license at 13. You don't really have to understand all of the stuff, just enough to pass the test. There are computer programs that make it pretty easy....easy enough that I could earn my General license anyway.

[scott7278]

Thanks for the information...like I've said before, I've always been interested in trying it. I've been told that I have a voice made for radio, and I've been toying with the idea of possibly applying to a local radio station (I know I can do it).

So I guess this could be an alternative?

[Skywarner]

Defintely! I use to work with an amateur radio operator who later got a job at a local radio station.

[pops88]

All the info you need to study for the tests is available online. I used both the online matterial and some of the books available. I paid $6 to take the test. There are also a number of excellent computer programs for learning code that make it fun. If you have a club in your area, you can contact them and get an "Elmer" which is an experienced Ham who'll help you. Best wishes!
KH7ZD

[kayak]

What an incredible life. May he rest in peace!

[asgardshill]

Solemn, silent key bump.

[scott7278]

I did a Google search and found Q Codes that worked like 10-Codes. Is that basically what you're talking about?

[Dick Vomer]