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Totally different experience than I had as a fourteen year old back in the sixties. I learned Morse code and theory on my own. Back then the novice license wa

by rmason 2y ago

Totally different experience than I had as a fourteen year old back in the sixties. I learned Morse code and theory on my own. Back then the novice license was only available through volunteer examiners. Now all licenses are taken with volunteer examiners. After passing I built my radio and launched my antenna which was a vertical. I was limited solely to code and low power but quickly had contact with hams around the world. Then to upgrade my license I had to have my dad drive me down to the FCC office in Detroit where I had an appointment. I still remember the glass lined room where I took the code test had a bit of an echo which made copying the code a little difficult but I passed the first time. My Dad treated me to a corned beef sandwich at the legendary Lefkowski's at Eastern market. Then I upgraded both my radio and launched a tower and a yagi. Did it all before I had a drivers license. Started a ham club at my high school which a half century later I am proud to report is still going strong.

CalRobert 2y ago
Loved this bit of personal history! And great the the club is still going. But... surely a ham sandwich would have suited the occasion? Edit: Just realized it may have been a Jewish deli which would clearly have precluded that option!
- CapitalistCartr 2y ago
  I think he means Lefkofsky’s, and if so, yeah, Jewish deli. They got bought out about 20 years ago.
  - rmason 2y ago
    You are correct, a Google search failed me sadly. I have had corned beef sandwiches around the world but LefKofsky's is still the best I ever experienced. Eastern Market was amazing in those days, you heard fifty different languages being spoken, the aisles were so crowded and it was Detroit at its peak of prosperity.
thenobsta 2y ago
Amazing! Thanks for sharing the your story. In the early 2000's my dad drove me a few hours up to St. Louis for my technician test. I had been listening to the hams on some tube receivers that my dad had and was studying the ARRL books. When I realized that I had grokked the content. I thought why not go for the test. We drove to the city. I took the technician exam and passed. After the test, I promptly went home to make a j-pole that we put on top of our tv antenna tower and connected to a handheld 2m radio my dad had. I was able to hit local repeaters and chat with local hams, but sadly never committed to Morse code and never got advanced licenses. So my communications stayed local. My grandpa was really delighted that I got my license -- he was thrilled about having 3 generations of hams in the family. Unfortunately, at the time, he was pretty old and had taken down his station so we didn't get to talk over the waves. These days I bring my baofeng out and my 7yo daughter and I will listen in on some conversations. She'll ask about where they're from and how we can hear them. I really delight in the questions.

by rmason 2y ago

CalRobert 2y ago

Loved this bit of personal history! And great the the club is still going. But... surely a ham sandwich would have suited the occasion? Edit: Just realized it may have been a Jewish deli which would clearly have precluded that option!

CapitalistCartr 2y ago
I think he means Lefkofsky’s, and if so, yeah, Jewish deli. They got bought out about 20 years ago.
- rmason 2y ago
  You are correct, a Google search failed me sadly. I have had corned beef sandwiches around the world but LefKofsky's is still the best I ever experienced. Eastern Market was amazing in those days, you heard fifty different languages being spoken, the aisles were so crowded and it was Detroit at its peak of prosperity.

thenobsta 2y ago

Amazing! Thanks for sharing the your story. In the early 2000's my dad drove me a few hours up to St. Louis for my technician test. I had been listening to the hams on some tube receivers that my dad had and was studying the ARRL books. When I realized that I had grokked the content. I thought why not go for the test. We drove to the city. I took the technician exam and passed. After the test, I promptly went home to make a j-pole that we put on top of our tv antenna tower and connected to a handheld 2m radio my dad had. I was able to hit local repeaters and chat with local hams, but sadly never committed to Morse code and never got advanced licenses. So my communications stayed local. My grandpa was really delighted that I got my license -- he was thrilled about having 3 generations of hams in the family. Unfortunately, at the time, he was pretty old and had taken down his station so we didn't get to talk over the waves. These days I bring my baofeng out and my 7yo daughter and I will listen in on some conversations. She'll ask about where they're from and how we can hear them. I really delight in the questions.