KZ4LY

I gave up on amateur radio in junior high school. I couldn't reach even 4WPM morse code, which I was learning visually from flash cards. In my second half century, I (like many others) saw hams contributing to disaster communications and wanted to be prepared to help, and learned that morse was no longer a requirement. I took the advice to first pass the tests and then learn at my leisure, passed the tests on 5 October 2024, and was assigned KZ4LY on 8 October.

I thought when I started that I wanted to focus on FM voice on VHF, and maybe SSB voice and data chat modes on HF, at least where supported by Open Source software (no real interest in proprietary protocols). Expected to do text chat using js8call. Couldn't really see the attraction of FT8. The only thing I really knew positively for sure was that I wasn't going to touch CW. Signed up for Brandmeister to use DMR, but given that it mostly seems to be just another way of doing VOIP that in a few cases involves some amateur radio endpoints, my interest was slight and short-lived. Checked into VHF voice nets, but just in-and-out because I didn't have anything to say for rag chew sessions.

But as I heard the repeaters indentifying in morse code, I wanted to know what they were saying, and got sucked in. I got started on Koch/Farnsworth training at LCWO. Then I started to use Morse Code for Android to drill character recognition, IZ2UUF Morse Koch CW for head copy practice, and Morsle for short fun word drills in spare moments. I started hunting POTA on CW, and now have more CW QSOs than all other modes combined. I wrote Field Day support for Morse Walker to help me prepare to work CW at Field Day.

In the meantime, I have only a few FT8 QSOs, still haven't actually used js8call, and haven't even done very much SSB. To my surprise, I've found myself spending most of my energy on learning CW. I started hunting POTA CW. Initially, when activating, I only hunted park-to-park while practicing. In July 2025 I ran for the first time, activating US-0364 QRP. Running QRP had a specific benefit: if they could hear me, I could probably hear them better! So now I mix up activating running and hunting park to park, as well as hunting from home. I occasionally S&P SST on Sunday evenings, too, though copying the names sometimes throws me for a loop. I now drill CW an average of about half an hour per day, and I have a goal of comfortably doing casual QSOs on HF at 20wpm by the end of 2025. We'll see how close I get.

It will be interesting to see how this mixes into my many other hobbies. I enjoy 3D printing and (mostly manual) machining. My first CW key design is a 3D-printed single-lever paddle that I prefer to basically any paddle I've ever tried, including a Begali Traveller. (I previously expected to end up machining a key, but so far the 3D-printed paddle has been so awesome I haven't been motivated.) Radio has rekindled an interest in electronic circuit design as well. I don't know much there, but I've started brushing off the rust!

I've also started getting into making antennas and related equpiment. I have designed a tiny winder that I used to make a QRP 10/12/15/17/20/30/40m inverted-V linked dipole that packs in a small bag with my KX3; I've done QRP DX with that antenna. I'm designing a new variable capacitor with a goal of my own design of a magloop for POTA. I have wound a bunch of my own ununs for use with wire antennas, including a really tiny QRP one wound on a half-inch FT50-43 ferrite (which has also done QRP DX so it must work).

Now almost all my VHF activity is ham public service, providing communications for events, most often bike rides. I now own a mag-mount flashing amber light bar as part of that service.

Ham radio has become a family thing. My wife and one of my offspring are now also licensed, and we do POTA and ham public service together.

My wife hated the sequential call she was issued so badly that she tested up from General to Extra to get a free change to a new sequential. She only works voice. Ironically, my call sign is shorter in phonetics than hers and longer in morse. If we could swap call signs it would be convenient for both of us!