Hello all!

[Sparks46]

I am a new GMRS user but I have had some exposure to amateur radio from a young age. My Grandfather held his license back in ‘39 and was an avid ham operator building his own equipment and making connections around the globe. Recently I’ve discovered his radio logs and old Chandler Morse Code Courses. It’s really fascinating stuff.

My goal is to learn as much as I can, meet people and make connections while helping others and providing a service. I’m looking forward to getting to know others and soak up the knowledge.

 

Shawn

WSEZ511

[BoxCar]

wELCOME - AND IT SOUNDS AS IF YOU HAVE A REAL TREASURE TROVE FROM YOUR GRANDFATHER.

[SteveShannon]

Welcome, @Sparks46!

You might find that GMRS isn’t enough and that you would like to become a ham like your grandfather.  Many of us here enjoy both GMRS and ham radio.

[WRUU653]

 @Sparks46, I can relate to going through stuff from a grandfather and the connection one can have there. Oh and yeah what @SteveShannon said .  

73 to you sir and welcome to the forum.

[WRUE951]

7 hours ago, Sparks46 said:

I am a new GMRS user but I have had some exposure to amateur radio from a young age. My Grandfather held his license back in ‘39 and was an avid ham operator building his own equipment and making connections around the globe. Recently I’ve discovered his radio logs and old Chandler Morse Code Courses. It’s really fascinating stuff.

My goal is to learn as much as I can, meet people and make connections while helping others and providing a service. I’m looking forward to getting to know others and soak up the knowledge.

 

Shawn

WSEZ511

your Grandfather was a treasure chest of knowledge.  He came from an era when people actually earned their HAM license through true grit smarts. Now the best we get is people remembering and reciting answers..   Wish we had more of your grandfather around...   Now days, 'anyone' can be a HAMER..  

[Sparks46]

2 hours ago, WRUU653 said:

 @Sparks46, I can relate to going through stuff from a grandfather and the connection one can have there. Oh and yeah what @SteveShannon said .  

73 to you sir and welcome to the forum.

Thank you all. My grandfather was an amazing man. He went on to enlist in the naval reserves at 25 as a radioman in 1941. His first duty station was Wake Island. He was only supposed to be there for two weeks to establish a radio station when the Japanese started their simultaneous bombings of both Pearl Harbor and Wake Island. Needless to say he didn’t expect to spend the next 4 years a POW. Once the war ended he was discharged in 1946 and came home carried on as most that returned did. I truly can’t express my gratitude enough.

As for the amateur license I’ve already been studying and taking practice exams on ham study. My first practice test was a  51% so obvious room for improvement but I’m grasping the knowledge. 

Shawn

WSEZ511

[SteveShannon]

33 minutes ago, Sparks46 said:

Thank you all. My grandfather was an amazing man. He went on to enlist in the naval reserves at 25 as a radioman in 1941. His first duty station was Wake Island. He was only supposed to be there for two weeks to establish a radio station when the Japanese started their simultaneous bombings of both Pearl Harbor and Wake Island. Needless to say he didn’t expect to spend the next 4 years a POW. Once the war ended he was discharged in 1946 and came home carried on as most that returned did. I truly can’t express my gratitude enough.

As for the amateur license I’ve already been studying and taking practice exams on ham study. My first practice test was a  51% so obvious room for improvement but I’m grasping the knowledge. 

Shawn

WSEZ511

If you haven’t seen it, HamStudy.org is a great way to interactively study in a way that helps you understand the questions and answers. It’s free to use their website and inexpensive to buy their app for your phone so you can study almost anywhere. 

[GreggInFL]

On 10/13/2024 at 3:08 PM, Sparks46 said:

Thank you all. My grandfather was an amazing man. He went on to enlist in the naval reserves at 25 as a radioman in 1941. His first duty station was Wake Island. He was only supposed to be there for two weeks to establish a radio station when the Japanese started their simultaneous bombings of both Pearl Harbor and Wake Island. Needless to say he didn’t expect to spend the next 4 years a POW. Once the war ended he was discharged in 1946 and came home carried on as most that returned did. I truly can’t express my gratitude enough.

As for the amateur license I’ve already been studying and taking practice exams on ham study. My first practice test was a  51% so obvious room for improvement but I’m grasping the knowledge. 

Shawn

WSEZ511

Quite the story.  Quite the generation.  Gratitude indeed.

My father was the radio operator on a halftrack in Europe about that time.  He taught me CW decades ago.  It wasn't until years later that I realized I was taught by an expert; I've never seen anyone faster with a key.

[Sparks46]

2 hours ago, GreggInFL said:

Quite the story.  Quite the generation.  Gratitude indeed.

My father was the radio operator on a halftrack in Europe about that time.  He taught me CW decades ago.  It wasn't until years later that I realized I was taught by an expert; I've never seen anyone faster with a key.

That is an epic photo, thank you for sharing. This is why hobbies/services like this need to be preserved.

My Pepe apparently was already a licensed operator before he joined the Navy. I came across log books from ‘39 as well as CW course material. I wish I had gotten into this sooner but I’m full steam ahead now, I’m hooked.