The Perfect Hobby

I've tried everything from stamp collecting to target shooting, and there's only one hobby I've always managed to keep interest in - where new things are always happening, many in real time. I ended up with a stamp collection anyway, from all the QSL cards that come in from around the world. Now if I could just figure out how to visit all those exotic places in person...

Doesn't matter where I am, what time of day it is or what the weather is like. I can always find some aspect of ham radio to help me escape the daily grind. With the Internet and gig's of free software to turn your computer into a global communications terminal, why sit around wasting time watching stupid sit-coms or playing video games? Why, with a little persistance and the right equipment, one can even talk directly with astronauts aboard the ISS (International Space Station), most of whom are ham operators too! A good friend of mine did it with very minimal, inexpensive gear.

It's sad that most kids grow up now without ever hearing a shortwave broadcast, fading in and out from some far away land. Most never tuned around on the AM broadcast band at night trying to catch a the call letters or city of an interesting station before it fades out. Of course, it's become more difficult to find anything other than sports and talk radio on the AM dial, but there's the occasional OTR (Old-Time Radio) program that's guaranteed to instantly transport anyone back in time.

I think it's even more exciting when you can talk back - that's what piqued my interest in getting an amateur radio license. The world literally shrinks as soon as you turn on the magic box. I remember one day answering a call from a Cuban station and only realized after we established contact that he didn't speak a word of English. With my elementary Spanish however, we were still able to have a short conversation. Political borders just don't exist with ham radio either - those radio signals have a way of going right over iron curtains, walls and barbed wire.

Not just for geeks any more

We've all heard about the old dude down the block that jams all the TV's in the neighborhood every time he fires up his ham gear. "Oh, ham operators? Aren't they a gardening club or something?" I've heard it all. Some folks believe amateur radio went the way of the vacum tube - virtually extinct. You might be surprised however to discover how many famous people have been hams, like Joe Walsh, Chet Atkins or Patty Loveless to name a few. Maybe you remember Walter Cronkite, Barry Goldwater or Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay. How about Garry Shandling, Marlin Brando, Priscilla Presley, the list goes on and on...

To learn more about ham radio, visit the Amateur Radio Relay League on line. You can find local clubs, classes and even a mentor - could be one of your neighbors.

Good luck, and thanks for visiting!