N8SMC heard around the world

Let me tell you about my first experiences with Amateur Radio.

I started working for a company and my Boss was into Amateur Radio. He and I talked for a long time about it and I had always been kind of interested but never new how to get involved. So he talked me into getting my license. At that time, I had to take a written, and pass a 5 wpm code test to get a novice license. After I failed a couple of the code tests I finely figured it out and passed. I then took the written and passed. This was in 1991. I wanted to get a radio so I would be all set to operate when my license came so with the limited amount of money I had I went on line and found an old HW101 (Heath Kit). When I received it, it didn't work. I took it to a local electronic shop to get it fixed. After a almost two months in the shop I got it back in working order. I set it up and thought, now what am I going use for an antenna?? I thought well everyone talks about a long wire so I went into the garage and found a roll of steel fence wire. I took it into the back yard and not knowing what I was doing, I strung it from a tree in the corner of the yard and to a fence post at the other corner. I thought now how do I attach it to the radio! I had an Idea, I found a piece of coax and ran that from the Radio to the wire outside. I cut the wire and attached the lead of the coax to the left side of the wire and the braided mesh part to the other side. The whole thing didn't look that good. Remember I didn't know what I was doing I was guessing on the whole thing. I went scrounging around the garage and found a old PL259 connecter from my CB days and put that on the end of the coax in the house. I screwed it on to the radio. and turned it on. I had no idea were the standing wave was. But I did start picking up some stations. (In 1991 the propagation was at its peak and things were good in radio land).

I couldn't wait for my license to come in the mail. The next day to my surprise there it was! I was so happy I was now a licensed ham radio operator. I didn't want to transmit on the radio yet till I could figure out the standing wave so I went to Radio Shack and bought a Standing Wave meter. I took it home, hooked it up and found out the standing wave wasn't off by much. I scanned around on the 10 meter frequency and couldn't find anybody talking so I thought, Why not give a shout and give out my call sign for the first time ever.

I started speaking in the mike. I was shaking and real nervous, I yelled CQ,CQ,CQ this is kilo, bravo, 8, mike, uniform, gulf (KB8MUG) calling 10 meter and standing by.... I waited about a minute and someone came back to me and said in broken English KB8MUG This is Larry from Kiev Russia listening..... I was so excited that I never got his call sign. I just about had a heart attack . But I came back to him and had a nice chat about amateur radio. I've since upgraded to general class and my call sign now is N8SMC.

I've had many other contacts from all around the world, so my log book looks fairly decent. I was real happy with what I had, and how it worked. Maybe you had a great experience to. Write me and let me know what your first experience with ham radio was like.

73's N8SMC

n8smc@tcausley.com