Hi, my name Is Ron. I became interes ted in becoming a ham radio operator in the fall of 1976 when my YL read an article in the local paper about classes to become a novice. Only about 3 people showed up to join the class he told us to go home and he would notify us if classes started up in the spring of 1978. We had a bad blizzard in February of 1978, he had given us literature and study material from the ARRL, with no tv, or electricity, with just a CB attached to an all windowweather screen for antenna, I began to read all the material he had given us. Included were 2 code tapes and with a battery operated cassette recorder I started to study the code. School opened that spring.

I took the classes and got my novice call, just before I turned 30,on June 3, 1978. I built a Heathkit-HW101 and PS - 23. When I received my ticket I went on the air with an all-band doublet 80-10 meters. About 2 months later I joined the Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Assoc. There I met ham radio operators, joined in field day operations, and they helped me in the technical parts and pushed me into upgrading to tech, however, I decided to go for general instead.

After a couple attempts while my wife was pregnant with our daughter I finally got my general ticket, on February 2, 1981. I received my ticket,went on 10 meters and made my first voice contact. In June of 1981 for my birthday, my YL gave me the Heathkit SB221 amplifier to build.

Two years later, in January of 1983, while we were building our own home, I would study at night and I received my advanced ticket on January 7, 1983. I was now on 20 meters, with a 20 meter beam, at 75 feet. It was a Cushcraft A4S, 4 element beam.I experimented with different wire antennas, a Delta loop was first, and a long wire vertical. Have not yet upgraded to extra but will probably now that I am retired. I am a self-taught electronics person, built all my first equipment with Heathkit. . I have built tri-banders, and ground mounted verticals. I have worked all the countries in the world except Biscayne Island, because we had to move. We now live in a small residential area and have put up the Cushcraft R7000+(a 10-80 meter vertical) which I am now having fun with. Rig is an icom pro2, driving Ameritron AL-811H. The yr. is 2011/oct. 21,i now hv. a icom 7800 a 200 watt transmitter,ant is a mosley mini33-a-warc beam up 40 ft. 73's chu on the air.Ron