KI7YHU

KI7YHU

K7CWC

 Yes, that gob of letters is a new identity for me. It may change, more on that later.

Kilo India 7 Yankee Hotel Uniform  Kilo 7 Charlie Whisky Charlie is my new Amateur Radio operator (and station) callsign. I’ve been studying for the Technician level Ham license for a while now. The Tech is the lowest of the 3 current amateur license levels. Each license level, from Technician to General to Amateur Extra has an increasing set of privileges as well as increasing detailed tests needed to qualify.

I looked around for a nearby Ham club that also supported giving the exams. I found one in Woodinville that was having a meeting last Saturday, so off I went. The meeting was interesting, about 50 people there, all pretty friendly. As we were waiting for the meeting to start, a few of the folks there introduced themselves. As we chatted and I indicated my interests and that I wished to take the technician exam, they encouraged me to take the next level too, the General operator. I protested that I had just studied the Tech topics, but they pushed that with my background and interests, that I should take both levels.

 So, after the meeting, I signed up for the Tech exam, and took my place at the table. The process was more strict that I remembered for even school major tests. The rules require 3 certified examiners to be present, and each test sheet has to be independently graded, and signed by all 3 examiners. You’re only allowed pencils, pens and a simple calculator to be on the table. The calculator is allowed to convert some test questions like current and voltage determination using Ohm’s law, or converting radio frequency to wavelength and back. You never outgrow the need for math!

 I go through the test, all multiple choice, and when finished, give the answer sheet to one of the examiners. She asked if I wanted to do the next level test. Knowing that if I failed it, I could take it again on another day, I nervously agreed. This was a much harder test, with some exacting questions on FCC rules and other topics that was beyond my knowledge of radio. During the time I was taking that General level test, the examiner came by and quietly showed me the results from my tech level test. 100%! That helped me as I knew regardless of the General test, I would get a license.

With much less confidence I turned in the General answer sheet, and waited. And waited. Finally she came by and asked how I think I did? I honestly answered that I didn’t have much confidence for that level. She paused, smiled and showed me that I passed ! Not by much mind you, but I passed.
For my own peace of mind, I’ll study that level until I effortlessly can pass with high scores on the available practice tests so I KNOW the material I squeaked by on.

What does all this mean for your favorite Dad? Well, it gives me another hobby along with Astronomy, Camping and just being lazy. It’s a complementary activity to the others. It allows me to learn in depth in an areas I had an interest in, and I think it’s going to be fun to reach around the planet to say hi to folks.

 With the General license, I have privileges beyond the VHF/UHF (Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency or line of sight) radio bands that the Tech level is limited to. I can use bands that bounce off the ionosphere to talk across the country, hemisphere, and around the world.

 Slowing down, there are some challenges to that, especially where we live now. At the old house I could have erected a tower and no one would have had a reason to object. (Hummm, well your Mom may have had a say, but there was no actual ‘restriction’ that would have applied). Here in the compound, it is a bit trickier. I think I can get the rather short VHF/UHF antenna put up on the shed with out too much danger of being called out by the compound rule force.

However, the HF (High Frequency/Long Distance) requires a longer antenna, by quite a bit. So I may have to employ a bit of stealth to pull that off. Plans are being formulated. Stay tuned. (See, radio talk already, stay ‘tuned’!) You may even be able to take part! Wouldn't that be fun.

On the callsign. The KI7YHU is perfectly legal today. I can use that and it identifies me as a legal Amateur radio operator. I also have the ability to request a ‘Vanity’ callsign, in the same nature as a personal license plate. It doesn’t have an extra fee, so I’m trying for one of those. I’ll update your in a few weeks if that worked out.

 Hey, I have to say that I'm pretty proud of all this. It was a big smile day to know that I passed 2 levels of a pretty demanding exam process.

 Dad