The Whole D***, um, Ham Family

This blog is a compilation of past and present blogs regarding our Whole Ham Family in order to submit it to local Ham Radio newsletter.

My husband abruptly took all 3 ham radio tests this year all on the same day, 02/25/07, to the dismay and then the amazement of the test certifiers. He passed his Technician, General, and Extra Ham Radio license. He received his call sign on 03/07/07 AF6BA.

He got his dad in Greeley, CO, to take the test on 03/10/07 and helped his dad buy a ham radio. On 03/20/07 he got his call sign KC0ZZU. He got his General license on 4/14/07. He is planning to get his Extra license.

Mark received his vanity sign 04/30/07 AE6TT.

Mark's been bugging me that I need at least the beginning license for our future sailing the world *gulp*.

I wasn't interested until it came up that we were motivating our grandson to learn something new with the carrot of our buying him and his dad each a handheld ham radio. Inspiring my kids and grandkids to learn something new, finding interests in common especially with long distance kids grandkids (they're in MN) are a way to motivate me. I volunteered to get my license.

I was intimidated, but between the book



Technician Class by Gordon West

Book includes all possible questions and answers for the Element 2 FCC amateur radio license exam, plus Gordon's answer explanations; list of examiners; ham radio operating tips, and more.

Mark gave me, and the free online test

view link

taken many many times, marking the book with the questions I was getting wrong, coming up with my own little tricks to remembering the answers, I felt comfortable taking the test.

The volunteer was dismayed I hadn't taken their class. I assured her I wouldn't have a problem, I'd studied the book. She was dismayed that I must have read the book word for word unlike their all day class that provides the shortcuts to learning and remembering. I assured her I didn't read the book word for word.

The test was given, I was the first one finished. There were only about 3 women. There were about 60 men.

Sitting in the waiting room for the results, a volunteer came out and announced my name. He looked at me, "You got a 100%!" The men looked at me in amazement, and whooped and hollered along with me.

I was happy, relieved, surprised, proud. I called all our family that day, 4/21/07. On 05/4/07 I received my call sign KI6JLO. That night I attended my first PAARA meeting, and I was in their next newsletter as a new Ham. I joined ARRL.

My son-in-law Craig Wenstrand from MN said, "You're setting the bar awfully high." *grin* They were sweating their test now.

My husband bought me my handheld ham radio.



Product Name:  A - Amateur Transceiver Handheld 144/440 SMA

I decided I just might be able to pass the General Ham Radio test. I took it on 05/19/2007 and passed. They didn't tell me what my score was.

I got my vanity sign on 05/26/07 W6RHJ - That's Whiskey Six Red Head Jokes to you. I am Mark's XYL (that's Ham Radio slang for ex young lady - as in "his wife").

***My daughter-in-law, two grandkids, and my stepdaughter will be here 10/12/07 taking their tests, so I'll take my extra test then.

We created my QSL card.



We then offered the deal of a handheld ham radio to more extended family members.

My son-in-law passed his Technician test in Brainerd, MN, on 05/10/07. We shipped him his handheld ham radio.

My father-in-law's girlfriend passed her Technician test in CO on 05/12/07. Cathy passed her General test on 06/16/07.

They both received their call signs on 05/22/07. Their call signs are only two letters off. *six degrees of separation*. Craig is KD0ASF. Cathy is KD0ASH.

My 12 year old grandson took the test 2xs on the same day as his dad, and missed passing the test by 1 question each time. There are 35 questions on the test and you have to get 25 right. It turned out to be fortuitous that he didn't pass the test. Now his mother was willing to take the test, and they'd be traveling to Bloomington, MN, to take their test.

They both passed on May 26, 2007.

My husband was very proud to be our son-in-law's first QSO.

QSL, or QSL card, is the confirmation of a QSO (a radio contact) between two radio amateurs. "QSL" is a Q code, which means "I confirm contact with you."



My husband built a portable balcony railing mounted antenna stand that holds a 22 ft vertical antenna to receive and transmit HF.



A week later my husband and I traveled to MN with their handheld ham radios.

The day we arrived 2 children's books about ham radios arrived from Amazon for my 7 and 9yo grandkids.

Radio Rescue

Countdown



7yo Serra and 9yo CJ Wenstrand 



12yo Brian Wenstrand. 

We went to the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club as a family.







While in MN, we went (MN Trip Blog) pontoon boating on Gull Lake just outside of Brainerd, MN, and Mark had packed an FT-897 HF Ham Radio and a BUDDI-pole HF antenna. We were listening to England. Now Craig, Tara, and Brian are motivated to get their General Ham Radio license, and planning to take it on 06/23/07 (they were sick, planning to take it later date).





On 06/05/07, our 15th blind date anniversary, and our 11th wedding anniversary, my eldest daughter and my grandson received their licenses. Tara KD0AVK. Brian KD0AVJ. *six degrees of separation*

so we had him call his dad at work (who did have his ham radio on)



and that afternoon Brian was teaching himself Morse Code, and practicing it with Grandpa Mark.



Later during our stay in MN, Brian got in a conversation with a local Brainerd Ham who happened to have seen us at the Ham Radio Club. Brian learned that 73 is Ham Radio code "best wishes."



MN Family in Brainerd MN Newspaper 6/27/07 view link

These family members are currently studying for their Technician test...
My daughter-in-law Tanya and two of my grandkids ages 10 and 15 in Washington, Utah.***Traveling from Utah to visit us 10/12/07 and all 3 will be taking the test

My 21yo stepson in Thousand Oaks, CA, is taking his test 06/10/07. ***HE PASSED***06/20/07 KI6KNT
My mother-in-law and her husband now traveling 24/7 in their RV.

My 16yo stepdaughter in Paso Robles, CA will be studying for her license this summer.***She passed her test 8/11/07. Will be taking General test 10/12/07 when she's here.

These family members are swamped with work and school, but plan to get their licenses soon...
My 22yo daughter and her boyfriend in Gardena, CA.*NOW AGREED TO STUDY AND TAKE TEST*

We still have hopes these family members will choose to pursue their license.
My 32yo son in Las Vegas, NV.
My 19yo daughter and her boyfriend in Paso Robles, CA

We ultimately hope to have 18 "family" members who have their licenses.

Mark and I are in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) classes. Their goal is to have every citizen trained. Their recommendation is every citizen get their ham radio license.

We're doing our part. And now we're working on getting family members trained in CERT.

First Blog @ Getting Ham Radio License

Second Blog @ Getting Ham Radio License

Radio is Like a Very Long Cat, Yank My Tail about getting my license 

First Blog @ CERT

Second Blog @ CERT