(formerly KA5LMR, 1981)

Message: I received my novice ticket in April of 1981. I was so excited, I took the afternoon off work and headed home to my Heathkit DX60B and Rat Shack receiver. I had a 15M dipole about ten feet high at the apex, surrounded by power lines. My first CQ's fell on deaf airwaves. An hour of pounding the brass brought me nothing.

I called an Elmer buddy of mine to tell him I finally got my ticket, and he told me to get back on the air and he would be my first contact. I fired the rigs back up and coordinated with him for my first contact. The only thing that bugged me was that he slowed down for me at first, but as he went on his code would jump up from 5 WPM to about 20 WPM or so in a couple of minutes. Drove me nuts, but at least I got my feet wet at last!