KI5VPO

I am a new amatuer (licensed in June), and I got into radio originally when I was looking for a set of walkie-talkies that would actually work. Because of my love for reading and information, I did as much research as I could on license-free radios. I came up with FRS radio, and therefore bought myself two Midland LXT600s. I used them often on hikes with my family, and they performed well, even surviving some real hard bounces on enchanted rock, which is a large mountain of granite in Central Texas. Then, this year in March, I was speaking with a family friend who is an amateur, and he introduced me to the whole concept of amateur radio, and getting a license. I was quite intrigued, and went home and researched amateur radio. The very notion of the FCC banging at my door scared me just a wee bit, and so I decided I would get a license. Besides, there's nothing like having just one more thing that you can flex on your classmates...

By the reccomendation of the friend, I purchased All Ham And No Spam and began studying hard. Practically every free moment I got was spent studying the answers. When I felt ready, I scheduled an exam with GLAARG, and the next day I was on the zoom. With a 30/35 score, I was ecstatic and anxious for my call to appear in the FCC database. The next three days were filled with me constantly asking people around my high school to check if my callsign had appeared yet. On June second, I finally got my wish. I wrote down "KI5VPO" on a tissue nearby, and ran to grab the infamous uv-5r I had brought, thanking the gentleman who had assisted me profusely. That night, I was lucky enough to have my first contact become N5ZUA, and I just kept rolling. Constant operating driving my classmates, teachers, and family crazy!

In addition to the Baofeng, I was also borrowing an iCOM ID-51a from the friend, and I programmed all the repeaters that I could connect to into it. From there, I bought a Baofeng uv-82HP, which advertised 8 watts, but I think it's probably about 6 - but I don't really know. All I know is that it connects to the repeaters, and that's what matters, right?

I usually hang out on the WIN system during breaks, and I check into the Alaska Morning Net often as well. Sometimes class goes overtime though, and I get on the radio too late to check in.

Anyway, I hope to get a General license soon, after which I will continue to use 2 meters and 70 centimeters, because I can't afford a $3,000 dollar rig, and I'm not sure that my dad will let me put up any crazy antennas on our house.

73,

Aytan S. Lieberman