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I thought I would make a thread just curious to see how people got into Amateur Radio.
I will start. I got a Shortwave receiver when I was 13. I loved that thing, I thought it was so cool to listen to all the stuff around the world. I would pick up hams and listen to them talk. I thought man I got to do this. It took me until I was 18 to find what I was looking for. I finally got a book and studied it and got some code tapes and stared to learn the code. I went in June of 1993 and passed my novice written test and then took the technician and passed it. I took the General and passed it. This was all the same day. Now back then they only gave tests every six months so I had already studied the novice and tech and got with still a couple of months to go bought the General book.
Ok then it was time for the code tests. When I took them they were old school around here no multiple choice. So I took the 5wpm and passed it with flying colors. Then I took the 13wpm and you were only allowed to miss 3, I missed four. So I left a tech+ and with a General test thing showing that I passed it and had one year to pass the 13wpm code.
So I left but kept right on studying. I got an advanced book and an extra book and read read read, and kept on with the code. I went back in November and well the rest is history. I have been an Extra class since then and had to pass the advanced and Extra written and 20 wpm code all fill in the blank. I also have had the same call-sign since then I could have changed to a 1x2 or 2x1 but loved the one I got so kept it.
So I have been going for 19 years. Also back then you had to wait for weeks and weeks to get your new license in the mail, no on-line stuff then. So I went to my first field day and was waiting on my ticket still.
I would like to hear from other hams and what your story is.
I will start. I got a Shortwave receiver when I was 13. I loved that thing, I thought it was so cool to listen to all the stuff around the world. I would pick up hams and listen to them talk. I thought man I got to do this. It took me until I was 18 to find what I was looking for. I finally got a book and studied it and got some code tapes and stared to learn the code. I went in June of 1993 and passed my novice written test and then took the technician and passed it. I took the General and passed it. This was all the same day. Now back then they only gave tests every six months so I had already studied the novice and tech and got with still a couple of months to go bought the General book.
Ok then it was time for the code tests. When I took them they were old school around here no multiple choice. So I took the 5wpm and passed it with flying colors. Then I took the 13wpm and you were only allowed to miss 3, I missed four. So I left a tech+ and with a General test thing showing that I passed it and had one year to pass the 13wpm code.
So I left but kept right on studying. I got an advanced book and an extra book and read read read, and kept on with the code. I went back in November and well the rest is history. I have been an Extra class since then and had to pass the advanced and Extra written and 20 wpm code all fill in the blank. I also have had the same call-sign since then I could have changed to a 1x2 or 2x1 but loved the one I got so kept it.
So I have been going for 19 years. Also back then you had to wait for weeks and weeks to get your new license in the mail, no on-line stuff then. So I went to my first field day and was waiting on my ticket still.
I would like to hear from other hams and what your story is.
15 Replies
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3503 views
I was interested in technology as a young kid.
My Dad worked at White Sands missile proving grounds in New Mexico when I was about 3.
By 4 or 5, we moved to Florida, where he worked at Cape Canaveral.
Ham radio was the only technical hobby I was exposed to, so I guess it was inevitable.
Several years in Vietnam were made easier with an electronics background.
Both in my communications job, and helping at the local MARS station.
I've had a ticket for about 40 years.
Of course, in the last 10-20, computers, cell phones, and satellites have been major distractions.
My Dad worked at White Sands missile proving grounds in New Mexico when I was about 3.
By 4 or 5, we moved to Florida, where he worked at Cape Canaveral.
Ham radio was the only technical hobby I was exposed to, so I guess it was inevitable.
Several years in Vietnam were made easier with an electronics background.
Both in my communications job, and helping at the local MARS station.
I've had a ticket for about 40 years.
Of course, in the last 10-20, computers, cell phones, and satellites have been major distractions.
I've had a ticket for about 40 years.
Of course, in the last 10-20, computers, cell phones, and satellites have been major distractions.
Boy ain't that the truth, but ya know I still fall back to my radio roots. I just fired up a yaesu FT-2200 I got at a Hamfest in the early 90's. I talked to a couple guys on the local repeater and then was fortunate that guys wants to send me a radio, he don't need....how about that.
one old story
Most of my jobs as technician, engineer, and later as a consultant have NOT been with communications companies.
(most were floppy- and hard-drive related, back when a hard drive was the size of a washing machine!)
But I did have one gig with X------x Radio, who's just 20 minutes away.
They wanted a computerized system to do quality control (QC) on production radios.
(think they came fully assembled from Japan)
They tuned up and sold a lot of commercial and marine radios in those days.
Engineering hired me to make the system, not Production.
Turned out, one guy was in charge of both production and quality.
And he had his own specs to determine if a radio shipped.
I took specifications off the data sheets and manuals.
There seemed to be some discrepency, and a whole lot of conflict-of-interest.
Needless to say , rejecting out-of-spec radios made me pretty unpopular there!
One of the few jobs where my Ham background really paid off!
That was 20 years ago, and no way represents current practices.
Most of my jobs as technician, engineer, and later as a consultant have NOT been with communications companies.
(most were floppy- and hard-drive related, back when a hard drive was the size of a washing machine!)
But I did have one gig with X------x Radio, who's just 20 minutes away.
They wanted a computerized system to do quality control (QC) on production radios.
(think they came fully assembled from Japan)
They tuned up and sold a lot of commercial and marine radios in those days.
Engineering hired me to make the system, not Production.
Turned out, one guy was in charge of both production and quality.
And he had his own specs to determine if a radio shipped.
I took specifications off the data sheets and manuals.
There seemed to be some discrepency, and a whole lot of conflict-of-interest.
Needless to say , rejecting out-of-spec radios made me pretty unpopular there!
One of the few jobs where my Ham background really paid off!
That was 20 years ago, and no way represents current practices.
What serendipity. If you want to buy some superior quality trunked mobile radios, let me know!
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Direct YouTube Link - Apple Intelligence: Siri AI Revolutionizes Your Devices! #shorts
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Direct YouTube Link - Tech News Weekly 441
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2 views
Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
0 Replies
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8 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
We have a Breakfast and Dinner thread so...
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
5389 Replies
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334596 views
Pork shoulder, refried beans, cheddar and chopped green chile burrito with a pint of pale ale.
Its nice being able to have a pint with lunch during the week or whenever. I've been enjoying the retired life.
Its nice being able to have a pint with lunch during the week or whenever. I've been enjoying the retired life.
Congrats! I love retirement, no wake ups, no e-mails...Pork shoulder, refried beans, cheddar and chopped green chile burrito with a pint of pale ale.
Its nice being able to have a pint with lunch during the week or whenever. I've been enjoying the retired life.
View attachment 191651
Leftovers for lunch, bacon wrapped salmon fillet from Saturday and a KFC thigh from Friday, Tea.
New low power station has been granted by the FCC and the new call leter is K33OB-D on RF ch. 33.
Will run at 15 KW ERP, this one runs from the Westside same location as KWPL-LD a HC2 owned station.
It's going to be aimed at eastern part of Albuquerque, so it's tightly focused beam pattern.
This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time.
Will run at 15 KW ERP, this one runs from the Westside same location as KWPL-LD a HC2 owned station.
It's going to be aimed at eastern part of Albuquerque, so it's tightly focused beam pattern.
This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time.
10 Replies
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152 views
Yeah, there are some diginets like Heartland, Retro, The Family Channel diginetworks that we already have here in this market and we don't need duplicates, but bring the new diginets on like the Rev'n, Karate Acton movies, different kind of music videos on the new station. 
Yeah, there are some diginets like Heartland, Retro, The Family Channel diginetworks that we already have here in this market and we don't need duplicates, but bring the new diginets like Revn, Karate Acton movies, different kind of music videos on the new station.
I watch MovieSphere Gold channel a lot. Many recent movies on that digitnet
Yes that's a good channel MovieSphere, only thing is the missing CC on it. 
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Direct YouTube Link - I Found Free Money in the Tech House
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4 views
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Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
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Direct YouTube Link - Hollywood Faces the AI Tipping Point with Robert Tercek
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2 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
6 Replies
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90 views
However, when I make a change (tried to add the Columbian pack for $2 so I could generate my bill) and there is a new line - it says "Access for TV" - whereas previously that line item was not there. I hope they aren't charging $5.00 for the initial TV now...
Possibly. In theory, $9 of the base pack has a rental fee built in. But now is this $5 a chance to get a little more? I don't know for sure. According to chat, it is a glitch and will be resolved in a timely manner, but we shall see. Part of my thinks there is a going to be a new charge, whether it is now or this fall. Here in Illinois, the law requires we are given 30 days notice of any fee changes, but I have not been given anything.
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With the 1st Quarter Report just released, Dish lost another 180,000, now at 4.84 Million.
Sling now at 1.79 million subscribers, down approximately 190,000.
For comparison, YouTube TV now has about double the subscribers of Dish and Sling combined.
cordcuttersnews.com
Sling now at 1.79 million subscribers, down approximately 190,000.
For comparison, YouTube TV now has about double the subscribers of Dish and Sling combined.
DISH & Sling TV Lost Over 366,000 TV Subscribers In Just 3 Months | Cord Cutters News
EchoStar Corporation, the owner of the DISH Network satellite television service and the Sling TV streaming platform, continued to experience steep declines in its pay-television customer base during the first three months of 2026. The company reported a net loss of approximately 366,000 pay-TV...
cordcuttersnews.com
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3427 views
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