The allure of radio, and an impressionable mind.
Some people find my Ham radio hobby real strange, and wonder just why i am so fascinated with the whole thing. when asked about why i do what i do, the short answer is always the same. It is simply "magic". How else could i explain, without getting lost in all the details, how and why i love radio so much ? I could go on for hours, explaining how it all works, how signals are bounced off the atmosphere, how with just a handful of parts, you can listen to little bits of electricity that are bouncing around in the air, producing sound through a speaker, for our entertainment. I wont even get into the whole "radio spectrum" topic. That is a subject for another article, somewhere down the line.
For me, radio has always been magic. Even as a child, growing up in the Suburbs of Southern California, radio was a big part of my life. I would take the AM tabletop radio, that was from the tube era, and connect wire to the antenna terminal in the back, and in the evenings i could listen to radio signals from all over the country. Sure, my dad thought i was nut's, but nurtured and accepted my new-found passion for radio. About the only time he would complain was when i got a bit over abundant with the wire, and he would walk through it, while mumbling something under his breath.
I guess, the long and short answer would have to be the same, now that i ponder the question more in depth. For me, it is still "Magic".
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Hey theronatwork
That's some wacky hobby you got there. I bet you can even listen to all the police, army secret service and air control communications...lol
Yep, i have a Police scanner going most of the time while im working. Fun to listen to all my old friends on there at times....lol
Sometimes it takes seeing the magic through somebody else's eyes to remember it yourself ... I love the magic in your post, and your dad for his good-natures nurturing of your passion. I'm following you if that's ok :) - I like magic in my life, P.
You've described exactly my childhood obsession to radio. An obsession that has lasted me my whole life. For hours at night, I'd tune the console radio in the living room, listening to the faintest distant stations. And when I found a old radio wire aerial still hanging up in the attic and hooked it up, I thought I'd found a whole new world! It was & still is, simply magic. 73' KI4HEE
I must admit I always used to feel a little conspicuous walking around with my 'hand held' transceiver talking to anyone within range. I used to get some funny looks from people while I was, apparently, talking to myself. Now look! Everyone and his uncle talking away on their mobile phones using radio technology but taking the 'magic' for granted. It's nice to be a pioneer though, isn't it?
lol, yep. The only thing missing was the orange vest and and twirly cap with an antenna sticking out.
I don't think radio will die because there are still so many people that are reliant on it.
Unfortunately in this hobby, i am considered a young'un, at 45. The old timers and pioneers are slowly disappearing, and most of there knowledge is going with them, as no one seems as interested. I still get funny looks when i show people what i do, and they just cant understand why i just dont use the internet, or a cell phone.
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Then you have found a niche and are ready to work it!