Ham and CB radio - a great family hobby

The opportunity to spend time with the family is at hand. I was certainly blessed when my father decided to encourage my interest in electronics, directing me to a two-way radio and television reception. There are few things that we can choose as a hobby, learning to offer a meaningful way over time. Inter-personal relationship with our children, creating a strong family bond and the emotional bond that lasts forever.

I was the type of guy who took home allI was on the curb electronic garbage pickup day. The neighbors saw my interest and gave unwanted electronic devices so I could learn. I had TV, radio, record player console / radio combinations, etc., in my bedroom and the kitchen table. I was surprised how all these electronic devices work fascinating. Dad saw this and encouraged my education through the involvement of me, "Heath Kit" products and, later, to obtain an amateur radio base station and the license for our house. My world expandsenormous, and my involvement has been a lot of heart to learn.

Cb Amplifier

There was a time when we have a radio mast, the installation of an antenna shortwave ham, CB radio antenna, TV antenna, and we had recorded together. It 'was quite the sight in our neighborhood, when Daddy's friends, Claude and Jocko, on a Saturday morning brought the tree in a company truck. Dad had built himself and said that a surprise for all of us children. He had a decision to consult us on the radioThe common communication as a hobby. The tree was triangular, made of 1.5-meter-inch aluminum square thin-walled warehouse and was 35 meters high.

The base of the tree corresponds to the pitch of the house was easily removed from the platform on the roof, stood up and fixed the roof, then climbed to secure each antenna. It seemed that everyone in the neighborhood was wide-eyed and fascinated that day, as I and my brothers and sisters. We felt proud of the factAspect of our home that day, we had only "fiction" looking house on the block, and he knew that all the other children in our heighborhood envies.

About a week after picking up the antenna, the father brought in a amateur radio base station receivers, transmitters, amplifiers, and assemble components. All complementary '"Jocko", a communications technician Phillipeans was during the Second World War, with dad, and dad in the companion of war. He also bought a 'Johnson Messenger "CB radio baseUnits and a corresponding 'Johnson Messenger "mobile installed in the family car. CB Both were the same," White Face "models is the only exception is the mobile version has had a" tube vibrator' installed so that they can convert DC (DC run) because the radio was rated 110 V AC (alternating current) power operation. What has made mobile CB radios, and after I have had a great time with the base station and the radio with my father wherever he was. The real fun beginsAfter all that has been installed.

Over time it became clear that our radio is not always a good reception / transmission reach. It was clear that both the base station and radio base CB Ham. The problem of our earth. We just ran a rod of copper from land to land outside the bedroom window of Dad. We had a mass at the base of the pole, attached to 8 'long copper wire and used it as a base antenna transmitter / receiver-to-ground circuit. We decided it was notappropriate, and we need a new ground system. Dad bought two bags of "rock salt" (sodium chloride), then took off our old land auction. Then I dug a hole four feet, has guided our copper bar in the middle of it where it would be 4-5 inches above the ground when the hole has been filled. After that, we are thrown into a lot of salt added to water, then filled the hole half way up, added the last bag of salt and water, then filled the hole with earth.

A test was needed, so I thought100W bulb (bottom) against the rod, and hold the ground wire to the pole positive peak of the pear. Dad 'entered' the microphone and my CB lightbult lit brightly. The "radio messenger" was "bypassed" in the final output gives us power amplifier 100W SSB. Wow, that was really amazing to me. The next test of the "Ham Radio" was based test transmitter. With the same lamp, enlightened father 'joined' the microphone and the light bulb in my hand, overly bright and burned. The base stationDecommissioning was approximately 1.5 KW (1500) watt transmitter), which was a bit 'our license current. Well, we have anyway. Our new routes tested less than 24 ohms of the antenna mast to the ground. We had a situation that lightning did not realize at that time.

A long story shorter, has a period of time, our antenna has a lot of attention. We had the privilege to speak all over the world, ham and CB were elected, and I learned so much moreelectronics. With the mode "continuous wave" (CW), I moved 'Morse code' around the world. Each rule in 1960, but also in its use of these proud. All good, but it seemed a problem to us to participate in the first fall / winter, again in the spring. Our system grounding was so good that pulled thunderstorms around our house. We did not know that until the city inspectors came. It seems that some of our neighbors hadcomplained that six children lived in a house that has always stuck by lightning.

The salt creates an acid copper base to ensure good contact with the ground. The height of our trees antenna was about 47 'from the ground, and 8' in length than the antenna. This was a total height of 55 ', which is above all else was around our house. It 'was well established and safe, but the cities are concerts on the total amount of more than local regulations. We had to bring the antennaTree on a concrete block on the floor. This eventually proved to be effective, but the fun of the storm was very lost, but it was a serious electrical activity around our house a few days. We really enjoyed the storms, and many local children and parents were impressed by them.

I must say that this hobby has changed my life. My sister and brother Steven Lara, also developed interests in communications. LaRa worked as an executive and television stationOregon, and my brother Steven works for the sheriff's department as a communications engineer. Personally, I worked as an electrician and electronics industry for over eight years. This hobby is both educational and exciting. The bonds you build with your children for life. I can honestly say that time and money in developing this hobby with family and friends are involved, it is well spent, spent.

Have fun and good in your new hobby, you shoulddecide to participate.