by Larry Mahlberg

Created on: April 02, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I first started ham radio at the age of 14. I was in a family of shortwave radio listeners, but none of them had ever gotten into the ham radio hobby until I did. In 1978, I received my Novice ham radio license with the call letters WD0GPX. At the time I received my license, Novices were restricted to using Morse Code. So I used this mode to "talk" to people all over the world on various shortwave bands.

To get into the hobby when I did so, I had to pass a Morse Code test at 5 words per minute, and a basic electronic theory exam, which also included some of the basic laws pertaining to amateur radio as well. Morse code is seemingly becoming obsolete, and recently has been removed as a requirement for getting the license. However, it is a great way to communicate, especially when other forms of communicaton are not as effective due to weather or other types of interference.

I upgraded to General in about 4 months, in June 1978. At that time, it was necessary to pass a slightly more advanced electronic theory and law exam pertaining to the hobby, as well as a Morse code test at 13 wpm.

I kept the same call sign of WD0GPX for my first five years as a General. When I renewed my license in 1983, I got the call N0EOB.

I had this call for 7 years. In July 1990, I upgraded to Advanced class, which again required a more advanced theory and law exam, and the Morse code test at 13 wpm. The advantages to this upgrade were more frequency space on various bands, mostly on the Radiotelephone bands, or more commonly referred to as "voice" communications. I got the call KF0FC at that time.

Finally in July 1991, I upgraded to the Extra class license, which is the highest class license one can achieve in the hobby. I was issued the call AA0BY, and have had that call ever since.

I got into this hobby because it allows a person to communicate all over the world via shortwave radio. I will write more about the specifics of ham radio in another article. I encourage people to check out the ARRL website or do a google search entitled, "Amateur Radio" and you'll be surprised at what you will find.

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