42
been a ham for 26 years
been a BA nut for about 22 years


wrote in message
oups.com...
Just a question that has been rattling around in the gourd. What age
group are B/A enthusiast-type folks here on the Net? I know we have the
folks from when they (the B/A's) were the most active (and I'm talking
SX11 here), but I wonder if there's a large following of Boomers that
picked up on it too. I only say this because I don't see as many
30's-40's-50's people at the Hamfests and other gatherings as I see my
elders (Gentlemen, all). So the question bubbles up outta the tar? How
old are the folks on rec.radio.amateur.boatanchor?
rgds, Mark S.

Greetings! I am 51. I got the bug at about 15 years of age. Wanted to
become a ham in 1970, but the prices scared me off. Got my ticket in
Feb. 2000. First radio, 1925 Splitdorff picked up for $3.00, and I
still have it. Have a great week! Jon in South Carolina.

Well,

I'm 61

Novice License 1955

General License 1956

Extra Class Permit 2003

You were a general at age 10?

"Litzendraht" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well,

I'm 61

Novice License 1955

General License 1956

Extra Class Permit 2003

Fred, I was a General at 11, a couple of weeks before my 12th birthday.

John

Litzendraht wrote:

Fred, I was a General at 11, a couple of weeks before my 12th birthday.

John

75 Learning to fix radios at 11. Carrer in electronics. Ham ticket 1959.
John K3OPC

I'm 53 in 3 weeks. Is there a pattern here??

wrote:
Just a question that has been rattling around in the gourd. What age
group are B/A enthusiast-type folks here on the Net?

52. Got interested in elctronics in 5th grade, 1964-65. When I moved to
a new house a neighbor gave me (now long gone) two ARRL handbooks from
the 40's and 50's but was not a ham. I read those until they fell apart.

Never could learn the code and went into computers instead.

In 1993 I earned a no-code tech. I tried everything that I could even to
the point of talking a cpo on the train to work and talking to myself
in morse code. But I never could copy enough to pass.

I asked the local VEs and then the ARRL VEC about taking a sending (only)
test and they refused without a doctor's note. I then found out about Code
Quick and learned to copy in about 2 months.

I got as far as the 13wpm test and then had to stop taking tests in
preperation for moving here. When I left the states in 1996, I was able
to copy about 35wpm. But could never get above about 10wpm with a
straight key. I've never been able to "get it" with a bug or a keyer, my
brain is not wired to think in letters.

The U.S. advanced was good enough for an Israeli extra license. I had
not used it in years and have recently gone back on the air.

Radios are rare here so there is no chance of building a boat anchor collection.
Each transmitter must be on your license and an import permit is needed for
them.

What I do have is usefull and still works well, a Drake TR-5, Ten-Tec
Triton IV digital, Argonaut 509, and a "modern" rig, a Kenwood TS-430s.

73.

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

I'm 59, got my novice in 1960, "CONDITIONAL" in 1961, extra in 1995. Still
have my DX-100 and SX-71, white face.

--
Regards,
Gary...WZ1M
wrote in message
oups.com...
Just a question that has been rattling around in the gourd. What age
group are B/A enthusiast-type folks here on the Net? I know we have the
folks from when they (the B/A's) were the most active (and I'm talking
SX11 here), but I wonder if there's a large following of Boomers that
picked up on it too. I only say this because I don't see as many
30's-40's-50's people at the Hamfests and other gatherings as I see my
elders (Gentlemen, all). So the question bubbles up outta the tar? How
old are the folks on rec.radio.amateur.boatanchor?
rgds, Mark S.

Interesting thread.

I just turned 47 last week. Got my Novice in July 1977 while in
College at Delaware Tech (club call sign was WB3CSM; long since
defunct). Upgraded to General and then Advanced within just a
few months. Finally got around to the Extra in 1990. Got the
vanity call in 1996. Always a CW operator, not much fone. Been
a fan of tube gear and of QRP ever since the beginning. I can't
recall a time when I didn't have some of each kicking around the
shack. Not a collector; more of a dabbler. I buy 'em, fix 'em
up, make a QSO or two, then sell 'em. My fun is in the repair
and restoration, I guess.

Looking back over my nearly 29 years of hamming, the majority of
folks at hamfests have been made up of two groups: old timers and
very-newcomers. Still that way today. I think the mainstream
hams do more of their shopping on eBay and the 1-800 numbers.

73,
Dean K5DH (formerly WB3JBG, KA5JVU, KC5NG)


In article .com,
says...

Just a question that has been rattling around in the gourd. What age
group are B/A enthusiast-type folks here on the Net? I know we have the
folks from when they (the B/A's) were the most active (and I'm talking
SX11 here), but I wonder if there's a large following of Boomers that
picked up on it too. I only say this because I don't see as many
30's-40's-50's people at the Hamfests and other gatherings as I see my
elders (Gentlemen, all). So the question bubbles up outta the tar? How
old are the folks on rec.radio.amateur.boatanchor?
rgds, Mark S.