A forum that agrees with me.....

[Hobart Duncan]

First licensed in '61 and Generalized in '62 - a Jr. in High School.
Enlisted in the US Navy '65 and license expired in '67. I had no reason to reacquire my license after being discharged in '69. I really didn't like what the ARRL was doing with the licensing, band privileges, code/no-code.... etc.
It wasn't until age 59, being forced into accepting SSDI and then the purchases of a 2001 Forest River Sierra, '97 Dodge Dually Diesel, and a need to communicate on the open road, that I took the General exam and reclaimed my old call; WA6VCN. It sounds selfish, and I guess it is.... but, I need a reliable way of communication and a cell phone and/or CB rig just don't get the job done. I took a typing class in High School just because I couldn't write fast enough to keep up with my code speed; now, can no longer do 42 WPM in CW, but I can hold my own between 15 and 20.
I've had the 5th wheel and Dodge for over three years now, and have not gone anywhere because my mother was taken with dementia and took a turn for the worse and need my attention during that time. She passed in December of last year and now is at peace.... and I no longer have an excuse to stay in one place. The only thing now is my limited mobility (back problems) but now I'm rambling...... I'm just glad to find a forum that can relate to my two major desires; travel and communications.

[Andy N1ORK]

Welcome Aboard Hobart!
You'll find a great bunch of people here who are just waiting to hear your stories and are glad to provide assistance as required.
My wife and I don't have a trailer anymore, as we migrated to a park model at a seasonal camp resort in NH. I was in the USAF at the same time you did your Navy stint (2/65 to 2/69) and I did my remote year in the Aleutian's on a small island called Shemya from '68 to'69. My QTH in Manchester, CT has an Yaseu ft-847, fc20 ATU into a G5RVjr in the attic. Also in the attic are 7el 2m and 3el 6m rotatable yagis and a 2m/70cm/6m vertical (big attic).
So, get out there, set up your mobile QTH and take your unit on the road.
73
Andy - n1ork

[One Country Boy]

Good morning Hobart,

Glad you found us. As Andy related, a great bunch of guys here. I got my novice in '69 or '70 (WN4QBW) and worked code for almost a year before upgrading to General (WB4QBW). Like you I could copy faster than I could write or type (abt 35 wpm, never took typing) so I kept most of what I received in my head and just made notes. I graduated from high school in '65 and retired in 2005 after about 35 years in law enforcement. I recently changed my call to W4EWA to indicate the small town I live near and was raised in. You can see our rig in the sig photo. We camp as often as we can and are about to take a 3 month trip to the Great Smokey Mountains to escape the high temps and humidity here in Florida.

Glad to have you with us and looking forward to exchanging posts with you. Welcome aboard !!!

Jim

[Radio]

Welcome aboard and thanks for serving!

Unlike some forums we actually like having new people.

How did you find us?

[W6ZKH]

Greetings Hobart from Central Cal. I recently joined this group also, so still getting my feet wet, so to speak.

[KC1BUD]

Originally Posted by Hobart Duncan

First licensed in '61 and Generalized in '62 - a Jr. in High School.
Enlisted in the US Navy '65 and license expired in '67. I had no reason to reacquire my license after being discharged in '69. I really didn't like what the ARRL was doing with the licensing, band privileges, code/no-code.... etc.
It wasn't until age 59, being forced into accepting SSDI and then the purchases of a 2001 Forest River Sierra, '97 Dodge Dually Diesel, and a need to communicate on the open road, that I took the General exam and reclaimed my old call; WA6VCN. It sounds selfish, and I guess it is.... but, I need a reliable way of communication and a cell phone and/or CB rig just don't get the job done. I took a typing class in High School just because I couldn't write fast enough to keep up with my code speed; now, can no longer do 42 WPM in CW, but I can hold my own between 15 and 20.
I've had the 5th wheel and Dodge for over three years now, and have not gone anywhere because my mother was taken with dementia and took a turn for the worse and need my attention during that time. She passed in December of last year and now is at peace.... and I no longer have an excuse to stay in one place. The only thing now is my limited mobility (back problems) but now I'm rambling...... I'm just glad to find a forum that can relate to my two major desires; travel and communications.

Welcome, I to was Navy. But I enlisted about 9 years after you did and was aboard a Knox class destroyer escort for over 2 years. But I was Army before that enlisting in 1970.

I do not travel extensively right now, as we have my F-I-L living in our home and my Wife still works.

I too am on a SSDI retirement because of my back.

Around 1962 I helped my Father build a Heathkit GR64 shortwave radio I was 10 and always wanted to become a ham, as did my father. He was afraid he couldn't learn code so he never achieved it. I waited until I retired to get my ticket.

Again welcome to the forum.

[jagco]

Hello Hobart and welcome aboard. Thanks for serving. I never did serve as I have been taking Insulin since I was 12. According to the recruiters, that makes me a 4F. I have been a ham since 1986, and enjoy hamming and camping. My RV is a 1977 Class C (that is currently in the shop), so we don't travel very far. When the YL retires, we plan to buy something newer and full-time. Anyway welcome aboard.