Biography

Hello! I’m Caleb, a 21-year-old amateur radio operator from Pennsylvania. Licensed as a Technician in early 2023 and quickly upgrading to General just a few months later, I’ve been diving deep into the world of amateur radio ever since. Whether it’s making DX contacts, experimenting with digital modes, or introducing more young people to the hobby, I love everything radio has to offer. My technology background is entirely self-taught, I've developed skills in computers, Linux, and networking that complement my radio interests.

Website: KC3VPB.COM

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleb_j176/

CLUBS: PODXS 070 #2972 | Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club (W3ACH)

I was born and raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a small town known for its rich history and rural charm. Lots of history in this town, and many state parks nearby. Gettysburg is also not far from Chambersburg.

I've always been drawn to technology, computers, and how things work, including when it comes to anything else tech. Growing up, I spent probably way too many hours tinkering with software, learning how computers worked, and figuring out how to make different systems communicate with each other. That hobby and passion also led me to learn other areas that weren't even related to the whole IT side, like doing microsoft flight simulator and being fasicnated by learning information on aircraft and the computer systems. It seems that anything computers, I seem to pick up on and learn a lot, even on unrelated topics.

But school was a different story. I struggled academically and socially. I had no real friends and was frequently bullied. I was that kid sitting with no one, no wanted to be friends with etc, my grades suffered as a result. Eventually, my parents pulled me out of traditional school, and I transitioned to cyber school. It wasn’t until I turned 21 that I was diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The diagnosis made sense, I had always struggled with processing information, navigating social situations, and keeping up with traditional academics, but I never understood why. I also was diagnosed with high-functioning autism which solves a lot of puzzle pieces that I was questioning over the years.

One day, I stumbled across The Modern Rogue YouTube channel, and that’s where I first heard about ham radio. One video in particular, a fun take on Winlink and "sending nuclear codes" and that caught my attention. Sure, it was a joke, but the concept fascinated me. I went down a rabbit hole, watching more videos about radios and communication. I knew instantly: this was something I had to try, I studied hard for my Technician exam and passed on my first attempt, only missing two questions. This was a stark contrast to my struggles in school, it proved that when I’m truly interested in something, I can learn, understand, and excel. For the first time, I felt a good sense of belonging and friendship.

One of my biggest passions is introducing younger people to ham radio and showing that it’s not just for one generation, it’s for everyone. This year, I had the opportunity to visit Mercersburg Academy with a few other members of W3ACH, where we spoke to a group of students who were interested in starting their own radio club. It was an good experience to meet students who were genuinely curious about amateur radio. We discussed a good bit of radio from getting licensed and setting up a station to how HF works and such. Seeing their interest reminded me of how I first got into the hobby, and it was great to help plant the seeds for a potential new generation of hams.

Beyond outreach events, Youth On The Air (YOTA) Month was one of my most memorable ham radio experiences. In December 2024, I operated as part of the special event YOTA station, making over 500 QSOs with stations worldwide. It was my first real experience being on the other side of a pileup, and it was very fun! Other outreach involves helping friends of my age get into the hobby or at least get interest going!

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Home Station
Primary Rig: Yaesu FT-710 Field - a fantastic radio that I very much love!
Secondary Rig: Xiegu G90 - Compact, but man it works great for a secondary radio. It was my first HF rig.
Antenna System: End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) sloper mounted at 22-28 feet high - nothing fancy, but it's surprisingly effective at getting my signal out! I've made contacts worldwide with this simple setup.

Portable/POTA Operations
Field Rig: I typically bring my FT-710 for field operations, though the G90 could find it's way too for field adventures if I'm traveling light
Field Antenna: JNCRADIO MC-750 - quick to deploy and efficient for those park activations and field days. It works great on 20m!