Comments on: Field Day 2009: Stuart Makes His First Contact http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/ My personal adventures in amateur radio Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:22:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chuck Broadwell http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-318360 Chuck Broadwell Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:59:20 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-318360 As a CW only type for 49 years (and a few years older than Stuart) I had the distinct pleasure of being his 9th qso 3 days after Dan got him set up with the station at home. Stuart is indeed a CW natural, and he recognized and corrected his keying errors 100%, far better than many old timers in that respect! He also carried on a good conversation, not the usual boiler plate you hear way too often. As a CW only type for 49 years (and a few years older than Stuart) I had the distinct pleasure of being his 9th qso 3 days after Dan got him set up with the station at home.

Stuart is indeed a CW natural, and he recognized and corrected his keying errors 100%, far better than many old timers in that respect! He also carried on a good conversation, not the usual boiler plate you hear way too often.

]]> By: Brian, W9IND http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-314477 Brian, W9IND Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:24:00 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-314477 Stuart is officially an OM! His brand-new callsign -- for now, at least -- is KD8LWR (although he plans to request the vanity call of K8WTM). What a great story. Congratulations to Stuart on joining the fraternity. As I've told him in an e-mail ... as a ham, he already has a great number of friends that he can rely on for everything from answering questions to helping him raise an antenna. I've already invited him and his mom to our special event station, W9IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club). Doesn't look like he'll make it in time for our third and final event of the year (end of August), but he may at least get a chance to visit our Indianapolis Comm Center and try his luck with our 100- to 200-foot antennas. Let's make a point of supporting him and other kids who represent the future of our hobby. 73, Brian, W9IND Stuart is officially an OM! His brand-new callsign — for now, at least — is KD8LWR (although he plans to request the vanity call of K8WTM).

What a great story. Congratulations to Stuart on joining the fraternity.

As I’ve told him in an e-mail … as a ham, he already has a great number of friends that he can rely on for everything from answering questions to helping him raise an antenna.

I’ve already invited him and his mom to our special event station, W9IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club). Doesn’t look like he’ll make it in time for our third and final event of the year (end of August), but he may at least get a chance to visit our Indianapolis Comm Center and try his luck with our 100- to 200-foot antennas.

Let’s make a point of supporting him and other kids who represent the future of our hobby.

73,
Brian, W9IND

]]> By: Stuart http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-314406 Stuart Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:32:46 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-314406 Dear all the posts from the blog, I have more good news -- I got my call sign! It is KD8LWR! I can't wait to QSO all of you hams when I get my HF radio! 73 de KD8LWR Dear all the posts from the blog,

I have more good news — I got my call sign! It is KD8LWR! I can’t wait to QSO all of you hams when I get my HF radio!

73 de KD8LWR

]]> By: Stuart http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-314114 Stuart Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:17:31 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-314114 Dear all the posts from the blog, I have good news -- I passed my test, so I can contact you all!!! I can't wait to set up an HF station and contact you!!! 73 and hope to QSO you on 40m or something, Stuart, hoping to get my call by Wednesday. Dear all the posts from the blog,

I have good news — I passed my test, so I can contact you all!!! I can’t wait to set up an HF station and contact you!!!

73 and hope to QSO you on 40m or something,

Stuart, hoping to get my call by Wednesday.

]]> By: Stuart http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-313427 Stuart Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:11:14 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-313427 Since my vanity call of N8WTM has been already taken, I have decided to pick K8WTM. 73! Since my vanity call of N8WTM has been already taken, I have decided to pick K8WTM.

73!

]]> By: Stuart http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-310881 Stuart Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:11:10 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-310881 When I got home from camp, I was so excited to see all these posts to the story on the blog. Field Day was one of the most exciting things of my life! KB6NU and everyone I met were so nice and showed me so many things that I've been dying to see! I had so much fun sending CW via a paddle! K2ZR sent me my first QSL card, and some other cool cards too! I can't wait to do this more often, but first I have to take the Tech test for my license. I hope I pass! I'll study! I love ham radio! I've learned everything I know about it online. I've been teaching myself morse code. As soon as I can get my license and a call sign (my vanity is N8WTM if I can get it), I hope to contact you all! 73s to everyone, Stuart --... ...-- / -.. . / ... - ..- .- .-. - / -. ---.. .-- - -- -..-. ...- .- -. .. - -.-- / ...-.- / . . When I got home from camp, I was so excited to see all these posts to the story on the blog.

Field Day was one of the most exciting things of my life! KB6NU and everyone I met were so nice and showed me so many things that I’ve been dying to see! I had so much fun sending CW via a paddle! K2ZR sent me my first QSL card, and some other cool cards too! I can’t wait to do this more often, but first I have to take the Tech test for my license. I hope I pass! I’ll study!

I love ham radio! I’ve learned everything I know about it online. I’ve been teaching myself morse code. As soon as I can get my license and a call sign (my vanity is N8WTM if I can get it), I hope to contact you all!

73s to everyone,

Stuart

–… …– / -.. . / … – ..- .- .-. – / -. —.. .– – — -..-. …- .- -. .. – -.– / …-.- / . .

]]> By: Tony VK3JED http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-310240 Tony VK3JED Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:36:36 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-310240 Fantastic story. I wish Stuart all the best in getting his ham ticket, and Dan, congratulations in being the perfect Elmer. I listening to hams in the late 1980s, using a borrowed scanner for VHF/UHF and cobbling 2 shortwave radios together to I could resolve SSB on HF. Unfortunately, by the time I had found out about ham radio and got to studying, I was already in university, which helped my theory, but didn't do wonders for CW practice. The only benefit CW got was that I was able to write my own Morse practice program (I had no other choice to get practice in), and pass the 5WPM exams. I did work towards the full 10 WPM Morse (as it was here at the time), got the send, missed the receive, and never got another chance to have a shot at the 10WPM. Despite that, I have dabbled with CW from time to time, including on satellites. I am another who can (at least with a straight key - bugs will probably always present a challenge for me) send with either hand, and others can't tell which hand I'm using. I still have to get my receive up to a decent speed, when I have the time. Anyway, for Stuart, you have a long and exciting ride ahead. Ham radio is a lot of fun, whatever aspects you choose to participate in, and there's a lot of fun and friendships to be had. Most of my longer standing friends are hams, as are most of the people I chat to on the Internet on a regular basis. Guess that says something about the hobby. For me, it's been 20 years so far, and I still feel as though the fun's just started! :) Fantastic story. I wish Stuart all the best in getting his ham ticket, and Dan, congratulations in being the perfect Elmer. I listening to hams in the late 1980s, using a borrowed scanner for VHF/UHF and cobbling 2 shortwave radios together to I could resolve SSB on HF. Unfortunately, by the time I had found out about ham radio and got to studying, I was already in university, which helped my theory, but didn’t do wonders for CW practice. The only benefit CW got was that I was able to write my own Morse practice program (I had no other choice to get practice in), and pass the 5WPM exams. I did work towards the full 10 WPM Morse (as it was here at the time), got the send, missed the receive, and never got another chance to have a shot at the 10WPM.

Despite that, I have dabbled with CW from time to time, including on satellites. I am another who can (at least with a straight key – bugs will probably always present a challenge for me) send with either hand, and others can’t tell which hand I’m using. I still have to get my receive up to a decent speed, when I have the time.

Anyway, for Stuart, you have a long and exciting ride ahead. Ham radio is a lot of fun, whatever aspects you choose to participate in, and there’s a lot of fun and friendships to be had. Most of my longer standing friends are hams, as are most of the people I chat to on the Internet on a regular basis. Guess that says something about the hobby. For me, it’s been 20 years so far, and I still feel as though the fun’s just started! :)

]]> By: Leo http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-309549 Leo Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:16:40 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-309549 Great story!! I can still vividly remember taking the 13 WPM General code test and I even managed to copy the Extra 20WPM that was being given to all taking the EXTRA class code test while I was taking the written exam!! I still have my AMECO 33 1/2 record that I used to practice for my code exam. I would like to work this great young Ham to be in the future...on CW of course! Great job! 73 WA6LOS Great story!! I can still vividly remember taking the 13 WPM General code test and I even managed to copy the Extra 20WPM that was being given to all taking the EXTRA class code test while I was taking the written exam!! I still have my AMECO 33 1/2 record that I used to practice for my code exam.

I would like to work this great young Ham to be in the future…on CW of course! Great job!

73
WA6LOS

]]> By: Jim W4YA http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-309538 Jim W4YA Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:26:19 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-309538 The guy who suggested that Stuart first use a hand key and then a bug forgot to tell him that he shouldn't send with both hands, keep his speed below 8 WPM, stay away from contests, don't get the Extra ticket, and forget about CW because SSB is much more exciting. He also forgot that at age 13 you can do just about anything!!! Way to go, Stuart!!! 73, Jim W4YA The guy who suggested that Stuart first use a hand key and then a bug forgot to tell him that he shouldn’t send with both hands, keep his speed below 8 WPM, stay away from contests, don’t get the Extra ticket, and forget about CW because SSB is much more exciting. He also forgot that at age 13 you can do just about anything!!!

Way to go, Stuart!!!

73,
Jim W4YA

]]> By: Susan Carlson http://kb6nu.com/field-day-2009-stuart-makes-his-first-contact/comment-page-1/#comment-309535 Susan Carlson Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:33:33 +0000 http://kb6nu.com/?p=1935#comment-309535 One more post from Stuart's mom (not only am I not a ham - Stuart did tell me how to type "hi" - I've never posted to a blog before now). I just had to tell everyone how overwhelmed we've been reading these comments, and I cannot wait to share them all with Stuart when he gets home and let him post his own impressions. He's a unique kid who found and pursued ham radio and morse code all on his own and with great intensity. When Stuart's younger brother and I were sitting outside the area where he was talking to Dan and the other hams about their equipment etc, his brother looked at me and said, "Mom, finally someone who understands him!" Justin (his brother) read all these posts and said, "It makes me feel fuzzy inside." I look forward to the day when he is licensed and can communicate with you all via morse code and ham, but nearly as much as I know he does. One more post from Stuart’s mom (not only am I not a ham – Stuart did tell me how to type “hi” – I’ve never posted to a blog before now). I just had to tell everyone how overwhelmed we’ve been reading these comments, and I cannot wait to share them all with Stuart when he gets home and let him post his own impressions. He’s a unique kid who found and pursued ham radio and morse code all on his own and with great intensity. When Stuart’s younger brother and I were sitting outside the area where he was talking to Dan and the other hams about their equipment etc, his brother looked at me and said, “Mom, finally someone who understands him!” Justin (his brother) read all these posts and said, “It makes me feel fuzzy inside.” I look forward to the day when he is licensed and can communicate with you all via morse code and ham, but nearly as much as I know he does.

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