District 3

Welcome to District 3!

I’m very happy to be representing District 3 and I hope my tenure will encourage more participation from all the YLs in this district.  Your license has given you more than you realize, it’s time to partake.

I remember wanting to learn code as far back as a 4 yr old, I think inspired by family returning from WWII (yeah, that long ago). But I didn’t actually get my license until December 1994 so now officially a ham for 30 years. My OM N1MR (SK) licensed first but he was always the tech side of the hobby and rarely on the air although we eventually did the YLRL Valentine’s event.  He encouraged me to get my own license when I would ask why he wasn’t answering 2M/440 calls mobile.  Well encouraged, I think his actual words were: if you want to talk so badly on the radio, get your own license.  It was quite motivating.  I started as a Novice with the call KB1BMO (dubbed Big Mouth Operator) thanks to not passing the tech exam.  And fast forward about 3 years, 5 written exams, 3 code tests, I got my Extra in 1997.  Dropping the code requirement was looming and I had come this far and felt a sense of completion when I passed the 20 wpm code test.

The OM and I used to talk about all the facets of ham radio, something for everyone, every age.  A hobby for.a lifetime and moving into my new life without him, eventually relocating from district 1 where I was born and raised and never intended to leave taking my W1 call with me, here I am in District 3 enjoying everything the greater Pittsburgh area & beyond  has to offer that interests me. 

Ham radio is very alive and well here and my radio club, Skyview Radio Society has fostered and supported everything I have wanted to do.  My club is very active with POTA and CW, my 2 main interests and I regularly use the club’s POTA kit which is a complete setup for activating.  My other interest, keeping it simple, learn to solder, at my request they reactivated one of the club’s activities, Smoke & Solder night and I’ve now built one kit, Dummy Load, working on 2nd and about to be really challenged in a couple of weeks building my own SWR analyzer along with a group of club members.

Whether you share the hobby with others or you are on your own, there is something for you, you just need to find what fits on or off the air, kit building, or not, paper chaser like me.  I’m looking forward to being in touch with all the YLs in District 3 and sharing information and activities.  33 Linda W1MP/3