I've recently earned my ham radio license. It's something I've wanted to do on-and-off for years now. Easily a decade of trying to get it.

Not that I couldn't pass the test or even tried, but the flow would go something like:

  1. “it would be cool to get into ham radio”
  2. Let's find some a testing session nearby that isn't on a Saturday, is nearby, and is in the near future.
  3. Neat, there's one on a Sunday in 3 weeks
  4. Test day comes and goes, I forget about it
  5. “danggit, forgot about the ham exam... oh well”
  6. oh well, maybe next time

And so on, for years. I'd remember, plan, and then forget.

Recently though, it worked out where I thought about it on a Thursday, found an exam session on an upcoming Tuesday down the street, and managed to follow through. I took the exam, passed it first try.

The ham community over on Mastodon has been great. I've learned a bunch of information from them, got some great resources, and I've been on the air since.

I went from not having a radio to now I have a couple. They have kind of multiplied. For now, though, I think I'm good for a while (famous last words!).

I started with a Baofeng UV-5R, listening at first since I didn't have my license. I quickly found that there wasn't a bunch of folks on the air near me. I couldn't reach enough hams to really enjoy anything. Did some more research, reached out on Mastodon, and got into digital radio (specifically DMR). My main radio is now an Anytone 878 UVII Plus.

With a hotspot that I cobbled together with an old Raspberry Pi, I was able to chat with people all over the world. Granted, it used the internet and not local, but it got me going. I was able to find some local repeaters, both digital and analog. I have access to APRS and a bunch of other neat stuff. Lots to learn.

I've always messed around with electronics. Making semi-useless circuits, blinkenlights, sensors... that sort of thing. Amateur radio has re-ignited that passion and given me some concrete goals with my accumulated electronics skills/knowledge.

Making antennae is pretty neat. It's sticking together some wires in just the right way and voices come out of thin air!

Figuring out how to power and charge the radios in ways their manufacturers didn't intend (like with USB-C) is fun too.

Overall, I'm glad I finally focused long enough to get into amateur radio, become a ham, and start experimenting.