Hi from KJ4DIY
Hi my name is Howard and my wife’s name is Carol and we have 7
Children and 9 Grandchildren. I’m 64 and this has been a dream of mine
for a long time to join the ranks of The Amateur Radio Service. I’m
looking to learn all I can about Ham Radio I have been a Shortwave and
Scanner Listener for many years but I have always wanted to be an
Amateur Radio Operator. I’m a relatively new only 4 months old in the
hobby.

I enjoyed a piece on the ARRL website about childhood memories of
Shortwave and Amateur Radio. The story brought back fond memories of
my childhood.
My first radio was from Allied Radio in Chicago, Illinois the name of
it was Ocean Hopper It came in kit form I remember the pleasure of
putting it together.
In later years I purchased a Radio Shack DX 160 I still have it and it
works only had to replace the panel lamps once.
I also bought an ICOM R75 Comm. Rec. and used a long wire antenna of
about 250 ft. with a MFJ-956 Pre-Selector/Antenna Tuner.
I had dreamed of getting my Amateur ticket for many years but I had a
hard time trying to learn Morse code.
I was at a local Amateur Radio Store “AES” and Jim Stout W9QC a
salesman there suggested I get my ticket seeing how there was no code
test anymore.
The rest is history as they say.
Just recently I passed my Extra test did all three of the tests in 2 ½
months got 100% on all.
At the age of 64 I’m putting together my first station I have an ICOM
718, MFJ 949E antenna tuner and a G5RV dipole antenna.
I also have an ICOM T7H dual band HT.
I just recently applied for accreditation as a VE with W5YI-VEC and
ARRL-VEC.
My W5YI-VEC accreditation will becoming in the mail soon.
I hope to have many opportunities to QSO with people all over the
world some day
73’s