tairving Loc: Magnolia, Texas USA

I hate to hear you giving up on the hobby and hope you can find a way to continue. I am in a lull, not many contacts for the last year or more, and waiting for the sunspots to pick up.

73,
N5SI

SonyBug

And I almost got my ham license for a singular reason. My dad had W9IBB since it was issued. When he died, my brother took it over. Well, he died and it came up for renewal this year. I would have taken it and by the time it expired, it would have been in the family for 100 years. and would have probably been the only one in the same family for 100 years. But, sadly, I was too lazy to do any studying and even with an electronics background, I could not pass the test without study. Oh well. I have enough to entertain me with other stuff.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Yep, we are just past the bottom of the sunspot cycle now, and I hope to live to see the next peak, so I’ve rebuilt my satellite setup and spending time on the birds. I still work 20 and a little 40, but 10 and 15 are pretty much dead. The thing about ham radio is it will be there when you get back to it. I had a decade+ long lull in my 20s and early 30s, but one day about 40 years ago, I saw a used Collins 75A4 for sale in the local paper (back when there were classified ads), and pretty soon I was back on the air again.

Despite the reports of it’s demise, ham radio is not dead or dying. There are about 3/4 million hams in the US, and there are more licensed hams today than any time in history. In terms of percentage of the US population, the number peaked around 2000 at .243%, hit a low of .221% in 2010, and is back to .234% last year according to the FCC. The thing is, ham radio is about more than just communication, it’s a framework to explore all areas of electronics, from computers to microwaves, and we live in a world where being an electronic/computer “nerd” is no longer “uncool”.

73,
K4CKB

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

What about working with a Buddipole or similar? Not as good as an antenna up a tower but not bad. 73 W5DAJ

https://www.buddipole.com/antennas.html

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

That's really sad. Has it been issued to someone else yet? I got my favorite uncle's call when it became available. It only takes a week or so of applied studying to get a basic license. Go for it and keep the call in the family if it's still available.

mikedent Loc: Florida

there’s an HRO or similar store in the Orlando area
They have a store in Atlanta, none in FL. I just checked their HRO website. Too bad, I'd love to see their store!

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Just curious; how much are you asking for your 706 & which version are you selling?

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

The store in Orlando is AES. https://www.facebook.com/AESOrlando/

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Haven't been active for some time - often miss it.
Really enjoyed Field Days when I was pres of Woodbridge Wireless and we were running 14 stations.
WA4OMG

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

That call is still active in your brother’s name. It expired 10/23/2019, BUT it cannot be assigned to anyone else for a 2 year grace period, so you have until 10/23/2021 to become licensed and request it as a “vanity” call sign, AND you get preference over others as a close relative of the active owner. So GO FOR IT - don’t let that call sign leave the family! You can check status and apply for vanity call signs on the FCC ULS license search function online. You probably already know most of the electronics and just need to study the FCC rules - there is no longer a Morse code requirement. Just get a license manual and take the test (the question pool is published). Your closest local amateur radio club can find you an examination site. Here in Raleigh for example, our club conducts the tests on a regular monthly basis.

73,
K4CKB

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I misspoke - it’s not HRO, it’s Amateur Radio Electronics (AES), and they have a store on Commonwealth Ave. in Orlando - been there for decades.

mikedent Loc: Florida

"The store in Orlando is AES. https://www.facebook.com/AESOrlando/"
Thanks! It seems that HRO bought out this store in 2016 but I think they are still using the original name.

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

good radio..i have one....been a ham since 1970.....all i have now are a couple of wire antennas,no tower, but they work ok..wish i could get 'em up higher, but my climbing days are over....

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I feel your pain. In 2011 , I attempted to construct a tower for a Ham station and the costs and regs were prohibitive for me , financially and I had to scrap the plans. If you wanna-play, you gonna-pay.

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

I was in the Alexandria Radio club for years before moving to FL also. We are visiting our daughter in New Bern NC and I'm going to a radio club meeting here tonight.
73
Gene, N4JEE