Posted on 07/06/2008 9:19:40 AM PDT by mylife
Posted on Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 A boy's passport to the world
Six-year-old Cameron Hasson's world just got a little larger.
The amateur radio license he recently earned puts him in touch with folks from all over.
He's a bona fide “ham” – probably the youngest in North Carolina and maybe the U.S., according to his instructor, Joe Hullender with the Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Club.
All that talk going on out in radio land – endless conversations about the weather and gas prices and whatever – Cameron takes it all in.
The world has opened up. He feels more connected. And he also feels closer to his parents: Eric, a computer consultant, and Beverly, a physical therapist at Gaston Memorial Hospital. Studying in the same class, they all earned their amateur radio licenses together.
Ham radio, like fishing, is something I've always admired, but never had much luck with.
Eric Hasson, 46, got the radio bug as a kid in St. Louis. It came from his dad, Jack, who was into citizens band radio during the CB craze of the 1970s – the “Smokey and the Bandit” days.
Eric decided to study for his ham license, but the FCC's requirement of testing for proficiency in Morse code was a brick wall for him.
His interest in electronics and computers grew as visions of being an amateur radio operator faded.
Until the brick wall collapsed. In late 2006, the FCC did away with the Morse code requirement and Hasson started thinking about ham radio again.
The idea kicked around in his mind for a while. Then, in March, he enrolled in a six-week class sponsored by the Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Club. On the first day, Hasson asked Hullender if a 6-year-old could learn the material. The answer was yes. Hasson asked Cameron if he'd like to try for a license. Cameron was game.
Two-way radio had already captured his imagination. He had a CB, a General Mobile Service and Dick Tracy-style Family Radio Service, complete with a Tracy wrist radio.
These radio services, which didn't require a license, gave his son a little more freedom, Eric Hasson said. His parents could check on him when he was out of sight and feel a greater sense of security.
When her husband and son signed up for the class, Beverly Hasson decided she'd join them.
The radio class was held at the Gaston County Police Community Room. Ages ranged from 6 to 76.
The final exam had 35 multiple choice questions; to pass, you had to get 26 right.
Cameron wanted a technician class license – the beginner's level. Hullender remembers his youngest student as “kind of quiet and serious.”
A kid, maybe, but one who was really into the subject.
Every night at home, Cameron was tutored by his dad. They did research together on the computer. They waded through technical material.
“It was hard,” Cameron recalled.
Test day rolled around. Eric Hasson wasn't sure his son would pass.
But he did.
Cameron wants to go up another notch and get a general radio license. He's a smart kid and will probably make it. But even if he doesn't, he's learned about focus and hard work and family togetherness. At 6, he's way ahead of the game.
Hamming is fun. Morse code is hard to learn, but I know it. (great grandfather was a telegraph operator for the New Haven Railroad.)
Hamming is better then the net. Just check out ARRL (American Radio Relay League) events someday.
people still use morse though its been retired. Its still very effective.
I laff that we act like Morse is some antiquity. Texting is one step from morse (ascii) and the world is gaga over that L0L
So true... So true...I love to Ham.
Its like FR. You meet like minded folks
/johnny
Wow. The test must have been dumbed down a lot since the 60s-70s for a six-year old to pass.
Its a technicians license I think it allows the kid to run on trunk radios.
I’m not up on all of it myself. I could have gotten a license years ago when you had to know theory and all that.
Its mostly protocol now a days to get started.
Still. I think its very cool that this kid is studying at such a young age.
Tranciever? for 29 bucks? Nuh uh... L0L
Reciever? yeah
Still. Its amazing what you can build on the cheap
Amazing. All you Hams.
Usually this stuff is met with indifference. Good to see you all out there.
I’m just SWLing
No, it’s not just a receiver..it transmits and receives.
Here is the link to it.
http://smallwonderlabs.com/Rockmite.htm
Vey cool!
I really like the 40 meter band I just love to listen people gabbing and Its cool when Italy comes in like next door.
Hearing folks from all over just bitchin about Obama is a hoot!
I think I have heard ONE HAM that was in Obamas camp L0L
I’m better at semaphore than Morse so I dont listen to the CW stuff. Is there a good free program for Rtty?
I’ve been out of this for a long time
“I think I have heard ONE HAM that was in Obamas camp L0L”
Most Hams are pretty intelligent so that is the explanation :-)
RTTY software- You will likely find something here http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=freeware+rtty+program&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=100&lr=lang_en&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images
/johnny
/johnny
/johnny
Thanks
/johnny
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