KJ5HNZ.com

In the summer of 2024, I had time. I was in a groove at work and work was changing somewhat and things were running like a well oiled machine. The kids were younger and didn't have as many social responsibilities. So, I did what any ADD riddled, unmedicated 49 year old who has a room full of hobbies would do. I set my sights on ham radio.

Ham radio was something I'd wanted to do for years. As a huge weather nerd, I knew that hams often communicated during emergencies and natural disasters. I never acted on it because of the technology we had at our disposal. I'd briefly looked at radios through the years, but hadn't pursued the hobby aggressively.

I started seeing ads for these little Baofeng ham radios. I picked up two, then I started Google-Fu'ing frequencies, ham radio, licensing, etc. I watched YouTube videos, I found HamStudy. I found out that GMRS existed and allowed me to transmit on specific frequencies. WSEB258 was assigned in July 2024. I learned how to program my radio, somewhat. I "upgraded" my HT from the Baofeng UV-17R's to the Radtel RT-470x. I was listening in to the local repeaters, I caught a couple of nets over the summer. I listened to how they talked. All the while I was studying.

I used HamStudy and just kept taking prep tests over and over as I learned. I listened to guides on YouTube while I walked. In August of 2024, I took and passed my Technician's exam online. I was officially a ham, granted KJ5HNZ. I made my first contact after "officially" listening in on the nets. KN5GRK, Mr. Herman Campbell (RIP) was my first contact. After the Tuesday night SkyWARN net closed down, I keyed up, called CQ and Mr. Herman replied. He officially welcomed me to the area on the next night's net. Mr. Herman passed last year but he was a driving force in the ham world down here.

August came and went, I dabbled here and there through September, but when October hit, I was jammed up at work to the point that all of my focus went into that. Ham had to fall by the wayside. The Baofengs went in the drawer. The Radtel stayed out but off. Occasionally I would turn it on but the only activity was really during the weekly nets. Participation dropped for me. For the next two years, I'd only pop on during hurricane season. I wasn't active.

Then in July 2026, my youngest son asked me about my ham radios so I pulled them out. And I remembered my GMRS license. I remember I'd upgraded my antennas to Nagoya NA771 so I put those on. I grabbed on, tuned to a GMRS frequency and then had my son go outside and we tested. We also tested distance later; he was at home, outside and I was about 2.25 miles away via roads and 1.3 miles as the crow flies. We were coming in loud and clear. And then it happened. I bought a cheap Anytone AT-778UVII that came with a 2m antenna. I bought a mount for my fascia and got it mounted over 12 ft in the air. The radio is mounted on my shelf above my desk.

I've truly forgotten most of what I learned, and I'm slowly getting it back. I do plan to start studying for my General license and then move up to Amateur Extra. I've got time, but it definitely is a hobby for me now that my son is interested in it as well.

See you out on the waves.

73 | KJ5HNZ