Biography

I am a new ham since January 2022, mostly work in CW, phone, and sometimes FT8 modes. I love CW and phone modes the most, however, please pardon my dry ragchew.

I grew up in Taiwan, immigrated to the US in 2005 while in my 30s. When I was a preteen, one night in the late 70's, I randomly tuned to an AM frequency broadcasting a long list of 4-digit numbers. Out of my curiosity, I kept listening until the end of these tedious numbers, then finally I heard: "The following directive is assigning to agent 4321 in (somewhere in the middle of China): Your last mission is a great success. Your effort is appreciated. Your next directives are sending now, please copy: 3298 5167 9456 ...." Then I figured out it was the encoded messages for the secret agents who worked underground China, simply through regular civil AM radio services. The mystique of secret agents, plus the phenomenon to propagate beyond thousands of miles brought my first interest to radio.



My first amateur radio experience was a loaner STANDARD C460 handset in 1991, from a neighbor whose 2 meters and 70 cm signals always interfered in my TV reception when transmitting through his Yagi. He loaned his handset to me couple weeks for compensating my inconvenience, then I got hooked up. My father later bought me a STANDARD C150 handset. I began my humble shack with that handset, lead-acid batteries, a 50W amplifier, and an outdoor antenna when I was in college.



In that era, radio transceivers were transiting from contrabands to grey area devices in Taiwan. The amateur radio regulations were not comprehensive, learning resources and radio equipment were limited and pricy, CB bands were not allocated from the authorities. The unlicensed amateur radio enthusiasts formed a CB-like community and claimed themselves “sausages” to differentiate from “hams”. Sausages were people who couldn't get their amateur radio licenses - CW qualification was definitely the most roadblock. I have to confess I was one of the sausages, and had fun of social networking in early 90's.

After college, I was conscripted for compulsory military service in Taiwan, assigned to the army infantry division. In most patrols and exercises, I hauled and operated AN/PRC-77, for I was the few enlists that remembered phonetic alphabets. I expected that would favor me to receive the signaler training, learn Morse codes, and then pass the ham license exams afterward... but things didn't turn out the way I wanted. After 2 years of compulsory military service, I was no longer interested in chitchatting on the air. Just like others, there were a lot of things to focus on as a young man in his twenties.

(Copyright: https://www.facebook.com/jash.kinmen)

During Covid pandemic, my radio interest was re-ignited by Baofeng UV-5R. Initially, the plan was merely to use the Baofengs legally when needed, also to compensate the regret of not having an amateur radio license. I didn't expect it would be out of control once started: while studying the exam materials, I was more fascinated by the aspects that a licensee can do and explore. That motivated me to upgrade to general license within one month.

I am very blessed to have the greatest radio club GOTAHAMS (WG6OTA) that not only builds my confidence as well elmers all skills I need, but also supports me with sincerely friendship. In this club, which is mostly made up of newbies, experienced members who possess skills, knowledge, and passion are willing to guide and assist with friendliness and acceptness. New hams share their stumbles and joys of exploration. The club's nightly net is holden at 19:30 PST, 7 days a week, all licnesed operators are welcome. No need to become a club member, just a simple check-in to GOTAHAMS Nightly Nets is the first prescription for curing microphone fright.

Most of the time, I chase POTA activators during daytime, join round table net at WG6OTA repeater (Echolink 106963), and WinSystem (AllStar 2560 / Echolink 126012) insomniac trivia net in the nights. My EchoLink nodes is 883375, and AllStar node number is 57121.

I was first attracted by ham radio for its distant wireless communication, dived in 2 meters and 70 cm bands as an unlicensed operator, talked to friends and strangers on the air. Later the internet and cellular services dominated those fields, yet I am turning back to this classic but non-mainstream telecommunication technology. I was not selected to learn Morse codes when I served in the military, yet after one year of practice with Long Island CW Club, I bagan CW operation in November 2023, transitioned from straight key to iambic paddle in July 2024, and later picked up bug fists in late 2024.

I reply all direct QSL cards, domastic and international, buro or direct, no SASE needed.

Thank you for stopping by and your contact. I will keep updating this page. 73.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom IC-7300
Icom IC-7100
OFC Dipole @35'
Hexbeam @8'
142' Long Wire @35'