(formerly WN9HJW, 1971; NN4RH, AI4CB, KG4WNE) I got my Novice license in 1971, at age 15. My interest in ham radio started with an interest in CB. A friend lived about a mile away, and we tried to use CB walkie-talkies to talk to each other. There came a point…

(formerly WN4VQY, 1971) I've been fascinated by radio and electronics for as long as I could remember. When I was in fourth grade, my father ordered a Knight-Kit 12-in-1 Electronics Lab. He tried out all the different circuits, but I would always rewire it back AM wireless broadcaster. I'd "broadcast"…

(Formerly WN6FWI, 1971) My dad used to work at North American Aviation. So periodically, we would head down to their recreation center and check out the various clubs and what not showing off their various skill sets. I was fascinated by the rack mounted amplifier and the tower next to…

(Formerly WN0GDA, 1971) My WN0GDA Novice license was issued November 23, 1971, and I originally operated on my parents' farm around five miles east of Essex, Iowa. I put up a World Radio Labs 80/75/40/15 meter doublet consisting of part ladder line and 18-gauge copper weld wire. I was originally…

(Formerly WN6FDE, 1971) I always knew I was going to be involved with RF and radio communications. Always... My graduation project from elementary school (Clover Avenue School, Los Angeles) was to build a crystal radio (using a 1N34 diode) and to present a short lecture on the history of radio…

(Formerly WN6IYM, 1971) Ahhhhhhhhhhh the memories.....I was licensed as WN6IYM back in April, 1971...Don, WA6FFF (sk) was my Elmer.  Although he had no offspring of his own, over the years he had helped a lot of you guys get their tickets.  Don had his own shack built on the back…