WA5AMB de KJ4ECE

Amateur radio was one of my dad's favorite hobbies. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you ask), he didn't get a lot of opportunity to use his radio over the last few years. With a lot of help from the Smith Chart Amateur Radio Society (K4OO), a ham radio club near our home, we got his HF tranceiver setup and an antenna strung in the trees in the backyard several months before he passed away. He wasn't able to transmit, but he did like to sit in there and listen as we tuned through the bands listening for other hams talking. I have a great deal of appreciation for Dad's fellow hams, Frank (W4FAL) and Bob (K4HA), who helped set up the HF rig and antenna. Frank also came to my dad's memorial service and spoke with my family.

Last weekend I took the technician level exam to get my own amateur radio license. I had been interested in the hobby when I was much younger. Dad would take me to the SWBTS station to watch and listen as he contacted people and had conversations through so much static I wondered how he knew there was anyone there at all. Now that we have his radio set up I thought it would be a good time to get my own license and see what I can do. I know I can't use many of the HF frequencies yet, but I'm half-way through the general class exam book already (the next license level that opens up more of the HF bands). Dad had an Amateur Extra class license (third and highest class) and I hope to get there eventually, too.

I think it will be a fun hobby even if I don't spend an immense amount of time with it. Sunshine is a school teacher and it may be fun to get some of her students interested in contacting people overseas by radio. There are even opportunities to talk to the astronauts on the ISS (with equipment I don't have yet, but it is possible). That is sure to be of interest to her science classes. There are also opportunities to help out in emergency situations when relief agencies need help with communications. I think that would be a good thing for church groups to get involved with as a way to serve the community.

In any case, I have my ham radio license now. Mom says that Dad would be proud of me. I look forward to sharing in something that he enjoyed so much. There is the opportunity for me to change my call sign to match his, but I'm not sure if that's what I'm going to do. I go back and forth and can't decide what I want to do about that.

I don't have to decide today so I won't. For now...

KJ4ECE clear.