I became a ham radio operator while I was a teenager. As a high school junior I took a morning off from school and went to the FCC to take my Advanced Class license test. It was one of my most stress-filled days of my life! I was shaking so much I had trouble passing the Morse Code test.
As it turns out the headquarters for ham radio’s largest organization, the American Radio Relay League, is here in Connecticut. Visiting the league is like visiting a shrine… well it is to me. I was there earlier today.
The ARRL has asked me to host a video they’re producing. My pleasure.
Meanwhile while I was there I sat down in the league’s station, W1AW, and with their amazing array of equipment and spoke to Tony in Gent, Belgium… in Morse.
I’m not sure what it is, but there’s a certain sense of accomplishment to ‘work’ another station using paddles and a keyer.
I’m out of practice, but it was fun. Click below for a little video of my keyer technique.
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