I can't really say when I got interested or introduced to HAM radio. I know there were people in the Ward (L.D.S. congregation) that I grew up in who were license HAMs. I know that by the time I was in sixth grade I wanted to be one. I knew they could talk to people around the world and had these huge antenna's and radios. Yeah, just the dreams of a kid.

Fast forward to 2002. I find out some friends of mine got their Tech tickets. I decided it was time to follow through on my dreams. I started taking the practice exams available on various websites. Sure, I memorized the questions and the answers, I even figured out what some of the concepts they tested for meant and learned. I decided though, I wanted more than that. So, I went and bought the study guides by WB6NOA (Gordon West). It gave me a place to start.

I remembered my dream of accomplishing all the license classes, preferably all at once. Things were not going to well in my life, so I decided I would set a goal to do that and accomplish it... just to add some sunshine to my life. One individual discouraged me and said many may make fun of me (egg head, etc.). I consulted many General and Extra Class licensees who I knew. They told me to go for it, so I did.

I took the Tech license examination in about 4 minutes and passed with not one wrong. I then took the General examination in about 8 minutes and passed with one wrong (probably the frequency allocation question, though I don't know). I then took the Extra examination... I don't know how long it took. I got 8 wrong. Then I found out that the test I took was based on the question pool that expired 20 days or so before. So, I failed in my goal. I was originally licensed as General Class KG6MKO. A week later, I went to a testing session at the American Red Cross in Anaheim (I believe), California. I passed with 7 wrong. I got my new ticket as AE6HR. Everyone loves to point out that it is "Amateur Extra 6 Ham Radio." I think I will stick with the International Phonetic Alphabet.

A special thank you to all of those who wrote material (specific for HAMs or not), provided testing locations, and were the VE teams who helped me out. I really appreciate it.

A week or two later, I hate my first HT, a Kenwood TH-F6A, and started to operate on repeaters in southern California. I have yet to get an HF radio, though I am working on it. Unfortunately, I had to move. I moved back to Maine where it seems that 2m, 220, and 440 are all but dead. I haven't had much experience with the radio in the last 6 months. It is nearly February 2003 now. I hope to be moving back west soon as well as getting an HF rig. I then plan on experimenting and playing about quite a bit more.

So, hopefully it won't be too long before you may hear me calling CQ as AE6HR on HF bands.

I am currently involved in:

• Being an ARRL/VEC VE (need to join a team)
• Researching POW and Fox Hole radio receivers or transceivers in WWI, WWII, etc.
• 2-meter/440 repeater QSOs in Utah
• Helping family and friends learn and get licensed.

I plan on doing the following soon:

• Build a home-brew 80m-6m HF rig based on radio by OZ2CPU.
• ARES/RACES
• ARRL Continuing Education classes
• Rag-chewing
• DX
• Collect QSL cards.
• Try out satellite modes.
• Experiment with antenna ideas that I have.
• Check out HAM clubs, see if I want to join.
• Use the ticket for service, however and whenever legal and possible.