Amateur Radio Station
How I got started in the hobby of HAM Radio
I’ve been an Amateur Radio Operator since I was 13 years old. While attending Sebring Boy Scout Camp in the summer of 1961, I was introduced to the hobby by one of the camp counselors, Steve Fried, WA4AMC. Steve taught Morse Code to the campers who were studying for their First Class badge and demonstrated the hobby to the scouts via his HAM station, set up at the camp to send radiograms home to the parents of the campers. I was determined to get my own HAM license, so the next summer I had studied the ARRL license manual and Steve gave me the Novice examination. I have enjoyed this hobby ever since!
Sebring Boy Scout Camp + My First Station

 

 

This is a photo of me and Steve Fried at the Boy Scout camp and my first HAM station.

ORIGIN OF THE NICK NAME OF
"HAM" RADIO

HAM Radio is an interesting nickname for people who engage in the hobby known also as Amateur Radio. It's origin comes from the early days of radio--before the Federal Communications Commission, (FCC) was formed. Early radio experimenters were not licensed and had no assigned call signs, like modern HAMS. One of the original stations operating from Harvard, used the call letters H-A-M which stood for the first letters of each of the surnames of the operators; Albert Hyman, Bob Almy, and Peggie Murray. When proposed federal legislation threatened to destroy Amateur Radio Hyman went to
Washington to testify and defend his station “HAM.” As a result the word “HAM” came to mean a radio hobbyist, licensed by the FCC in the Amateur Radio Service.

HAM Radio operators have developed ways to communicate not only on the original frequencies alloted to them by the FCC but on new frequencies acquired over the years. HAMS were prime inventors of different modes of communcation in common use today. They continue to develop new forms of communicating. Cellular telephones are a HAM invention, along with many other commonly used communications devices.


Personal HAM Radio History
August 28, 1962 Novice Class license, call sign: WN4JOM
August 22, 1963 Upgraded to Technician Class and became WA4PWF
August 17, 1964 Upgraded to General Class
January 1, 1977 Upgraded to Advanced Class
October 31, 1978 Upgraded to Amateur Extra Class

On November 4, 1995 I changed my call sign to the present one, W4GJ, which was formerly held by the late Walt Kinney of Miami. Over the years I have taught HAM radio to others and carried on the tradition Steve taught me way back in 1961. Some of my dearest friends I met through HAM radio and I try to help others get into the hobby whenever I can. I have also held Amateur Radio licenses in Germany and France. Both of these licenses were issued as reciprocal licenses through the Deutsche Bendespost and the Telecommunications des Reseaux Exterieurs.

I am also the trustee of Santa Fe Community College Amateur Radio Society's [SFARS] HAM station, K4EAC.

I am the QSL manager for YS1EJ, Juan Molina in El Salvador. For information about receiving a QSL card from JuanCHECK HERE


Awards, Certificates, and Achievements
DXCC-CW #2143 - QCWA Membership #20,913 - W1AW's 40 WPM Code Proficiency Certificate - W6OWP's 60 WPM Code Proficiency Certificate - WAC - WAS #19,100 - A1-Operator's Club - Bicentennial WAS #2735- AMSAT Member # 4476- RCC - BPL - OES


Station Equipment
Ten Tec Omni VI-Plus Model 564 transceiver
Ten Tec Model 962 power supply
Ten Tec Model 238 antenna tuner
Ten Tec Model 422 "Centurion" linear amplifier
Ten Tec Model 1220 2-meter FM transceiver
Ten Tec Model 1260 6-Meter FM transceiver
Icom 471-A 430 MHz All Mode transceiver
DX4WIN logging program and keyboard
Antennas/Towers
50-foot Rohn 25G, Hazer 4, Force 12 XR-5, an 80/40 Inverted Vee
and a Diamond V200A 6M/2M/70CM Triband vertical
Rhombic Loop antenna for 160 Meters

MY [Electronic] QSL CARD

Send me E-Mail at: w4gj@juno.com

This page last updated on November 1, 2002.

WITHOUT C.W., IT'S JUST C.B.!