Radio For Teens

Hey everyone hope you are doing good and staying warm this winter season! I have always found that winter in the best time to get back involved with Ham Radio if you haven’t done anything with it in a while. It is too cold outside to do much else, so I usually find myself in front of my radios sipping a hot cup of coffee and tuning around on my HF. I encourage you to use this time of year to get back involved with Ham Radio and see what’s happening on the bands

Some of you might be wondering about my “Reaching for Extra” series that started and didn’t really continue, and for that I apologize. My microphone that I used to do my podcasts has broken and I am going to wait a little while so that I can get a higher quality microphone before I continue with any podcasts.

A little update on me: I have almost completed my shack setup! I have an Icom ic- 718 and an MFJ tuner that I just purchased not too long ago, and now I just need to get a power supply and some antennas and I will be good to go!

Again I apologize for the lack of updating but I will be doing more blog-type posts from here on out until I get a new microphone!

Thank you and 73’s!

Will, KI4WXL

I received an Email today that really made me happy. It was from Bob Matson, KA4VIV, who is starting a new Radio youth program within schools, to get more kids involved with this very rewarding hobby! Here is some of what he said.

“We are embarking on a new youth program; “Amateur Radio Cadets”. At present, we have an anticipated audience in 3 school groups of about 100 students and parents. We have presented material at the Palm Coast library and a charter school. Appointments with the Flagler School board are pending for the 2012 school year, and we have had nothing but accolades for this program. We will reach students from 8 to 18.”

“Our club will offer free memberships to any student and their family, teach basic electricity, radio history, and all material relating to the Technician License. All interested students will build many projects to include a 1 to 10 MHz shortwave transceiver. Yes, even the young ones, 8 to 12, will build their own rig and will carry on short range QSO’s using CW within the classroom. This will be their first step towards being a ham. Our club has designed several easy-to-build, no solder, kits for the students and will supply all parts. With one-on-one instruction, they will have every opportunity to be successful.”

This sounds like an excellent idea and I am sure many kids will have fun with it!

Here are some pictures of their Library Gazebo Event:

Hello everyone and welcome to “Radio for Teens”. If you are a returning visitor, then welcome back, and if this is your first time visiting, then thank you for checking it out. I was so excited when I flipped through the pages of the August edition of the nationally known Amateur Radio Magazine, QST (From ARRL), and saw my little article about RFT. After the publication took place though, I stopped updating the site, mainly because of time restraints, and the fact that I am fifteen years old, and it is summer (enough said). Haha

Speaking of this summer, I had the opportunity to totally renovate my room, and one of the most prominent things that I added, was a big L-shaped desk that holds all of my radio equipment, as well as my school work, and computer. I felt great as I placed my icom IC-718, beside my 2-meter radio (that I have used for years) on my brand new executive desk. Though my 2-meter radio works fine, my HF doesn’t even have a power supply to go with it, so right now, it is mainly just serving as a desk decoration. But also, it is serving as a motivation to get all of my radio equipment set up by the end of this next school year. It’s working so far, because I have already employed myself, so as to start some revenue circulation coming in my direction. HAM RADIO IS EXPENCIVE!!!! (Especially for a teenager!)

Along with the goal of getting all of my station set up this school year, I also would like to get my Extra class license. As you might have read below, I am starting a new podcast series, going chapter by chapter through the ARRL Extra class license Manuel. I was supposed to start it at the beginning of summer, and I actually have the first few episodes already done and saved on my computer, but because of the pre-mentioned time restraints, as well as some procrastination (I do admit), I have decided not to release the first episode until August fifth. For those who have been waiting on this, I apologize, but I promise, It IS coming.

The main goal of this post was to let everyone know what was going on with the RFT site and to catch you up on what I have been doing this summer. Thanks to everyone who reads this and continues to come back for more. I love reading all of the great comments and emails. By the way!!!! Please email me at THIS account: wjhaydon@gmail.com. If you have a Ham radio story that you would like me to publish on the site, please just send it to me by email and if approved, It will go up on the “Story Tab” that you will see as one of the menu options above. Thanks again for the support and time!

73’s

William, KI4WXL

In the March edition of the popular Amateur Radio magazine, their was an article placed on PAGE 66 promoting the Radio For Teens website. If you are visiting because of that article, welcome! Have fun and explore! If you have not yet seen the article, be sure and check it out! Stay tuned for more great content!

73′s William, KI4WXL

Hi everyone and thank you for checking back in to Radio For Teens. In being a teen ham radio operator, I love having the opportunity to have a much longer time in enjoying this wonderful hobby, but unfortunately, in being a teenager I do have other obligations that I must fulfill before I can call a CQ. I have not got around to updating the website in a while simply because these first few weeks in school have been crazy and has required a lot of time and effort on my part!

In this post, I would like to express that ham radio is not a career but a hobby, and ham radio does not bring in money like a career does. This is just one of the reasons that I have chosen to strictly do ham radio for fun, and not make myself stress over getting on the radio every day instead of getting homework or other school related activities done. Recently though, things have kind of simmered down so I can get on the radio more often and actually enjoy the hobby again.

I just wanted to give everyone the reasons of my extended absence, so please come back and see what is new on the site! A new podcast will be coming shortly!!! Stay Tuned!

William Haydon, KI4WXL

 This is a picture of what many would consider an ideal radio shack. In the topic of Ham Radio on a budget, a lot of teens/young adults cannot afford this. Although do you you really need all of this? Maybe a simple HF and 2meter would satisfy me and many others. I am a big fan of adding gradually to your shack until you are older, and really can afford something like this shack.

We really do have to come back to the reality that people these days just do not have thousands of dollars on Ham Radio equipment, and by no means do I suggest not to invest in Ham Radio, I am just saying that that people need to realize that it is a Hobby and not a job. You should not be stressed by the financial burdens of Ham Radio. In fact Ham Radio is meant to be fun!

 In the upcoming Radio For Teens podcast we will discuss “The Test “(2 of 5), continue with what people think about their first testing experience, and also continue with Ham Radio on a Budget! Thank you for all of the great comments and support! It has really been great!

73′s William Haydon, KI4WXL