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Ham Radio

Learning Morse Code in Boy Scouts for the Signaling Merit Badge, the instructor said I should try for a Ham Radio License.

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That was the start of a ham radio hobby and I received my license in 1963.

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I actually built my first radio set, a crystal radio receiver, to listen to Brooklyn Dodger games broadcasts on our local Brooklyn radio station when I was six.

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Since then, have participated in many different radio activities, CW, SSB, EME, VHF, UHF, etc. for years. One accomplishment, or rather a habit, is the participation in the annual Field Day contest; I haven't missed one, sometimes just a few contacts from home and at other times a full-blown 23A club outing.

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I then went on to upgrade to Advanced Class and also First Class Commercial FCC licenses. I recently, March 2016, upgraded to Extra and also now serve as an ARRL Volunteer Examiner.

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June 2016, it was mobile operation from my sailboat, Summerwine. I have put up a few antennas (picture at right). Looks like I did pretty well, finishing 12th.

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New addition: an FT 857D. Now I have higher power capability when I need it. Still love the FT817, but the 857 has a CW filter too, so it will back up the 817.

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Winter Field day 2019 was two outdoor contacts then the rest of the 59 indoors with QRP, a temporary vertical and a 2 element 40M wire beam.

April 2021 saw the addition of an FTDX-10.

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Did pretty well in the NYQSO Party with my 5 watts!

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