Youth Column on ARRL Website

[n5zgt]

Fellow Youth,

My name is Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT and I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. #I was licensed at 12 years of age, and currently 22.

I write a monthly youth column on that apears on the ARRL website (www.arrl.org). #It is called "Youth@HamRadio.Fun", and it is written for all young hams, as well as young people who do not yet have their licenses.

This month's column was just posted on the ARRL website (April 29).

I am posting this message to invite you -- someone who is young, or is involved with young hams -- to make suggestions on topics you would like to see in future columns. #I am open to any of them, and you have the opportunity to pass your idea on to me.

Topics can include anything that involves youth in Amateur Radio. #I'm also happy to write about young people out there as well, and their involvement in Amateur Radio. #Tell me about the youth club you are active in. #Tell me about how you got a group of young friends into Amateur Radio, and how other youth can be successful in doing so as well. #These are just a few topic ideas -- you probably have more, and I'd love to hear from you!

Please keep in mind that this column is monthly for now, and that space is limited (by the ARRL to keep columns from dragging on and on). #My goal and dream is to have it moved eventually into QST magazine. #How cool would that be? #Feel free to email the ARRL and let them know what you think about that idea.

But for now, I'd love to hear from you, and invite you to check out the column on the ARRL website. #Why? #Because it is written for youth -- the ultimate future of Amateur Radio. #Check it out.

73,
Brian, N5ZGT
www.swcp.com/~n5zgt #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K6BMB]

I'm 21 years old, licensed since last year. #Since it seems like there aren't many places for us "youngsters" to meet, I'm proposing a virtual ham club done all on the internet. #Maybe a site just for hams of ages 30 and below.

I do HTML and could make us something snazzy if there's enough interest. E-Mail me if you're interested or reply on this thread.

73,
Brodie
k6bmb@hotmail.com
K6BMB

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif GRAMMER http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif


again

73

[kc0gqt]

I think this is a great idea.
P.S.
Anyone can open a "club / group" at Yahoo.com

[KB1ICT]

I think the articles are a great means for new hams and youthfull hams to explore their new and exciting world. I do however feel that it is more productive for a new ham to join a local club. You will find a wealth of knowledge in the more expirenced hams and they will be more than willing to share it with you. These principals are what ham radio is all about. I am a new ham and am 24 years of age. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kg4sso]

My son, 13, is somewhat interested in ham radio. #But he is unsure of how to get involved with and talk to other kids. #He said he did not want to talk to "old people" all the time. #I explained that it was unrealistic that he would find only kids to talk to. #We live in a small town near Williamsburg, Virginia. #I have heard that there are some kids nets in Richmond, but we do not quite hit the repeater well enough to check it out. #So, an article of how kids could hook up with other kids would be useful. #Are there any kids nets on HF? #Also guides and advice on how to study for the test, hints on learning code, even basic articles about electrical / electronic theory would all seem to be useful. #Good luck, and 73s.

Dave Wilburn
KG4SSO

[kf6zpk]

Hi Brian. I am a 17 year old Extra class ham in San Diego. I have a website called Transworldradio intended to help young hams especially or anyone else for that matter to learn the material in the Tech. Element 2 Theory.

The URL is: http://www.transworldradio.8m.com

Transworldradio (http://www.transworldradio.8m.com/)

It might be an interesting thing to write about, since I don't know of any other site on the internet that does that.

I read your columns in the ARRL site and I think they're great. Keep up the great work.

I have some other ideas I can send you if you need some material for your article that would be too much to fit in this space. Send me an email and I would be glad to assist.ad6xs@amsat.org

Sam,

AD6XS
San Diego
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kd7nqb]

Ok this sounds pretty cool I am 15 and just got liscend last year. I think it absolutley wonderful that so many kids and teens are active. However I never hear these people on the radio the only one I ever hear is KD7QQO and he is brand new so he may drift. I wish all of you would become more active.

73,
Mike DeVietro
KD7NQB

Yahoo Groups does have a youngerhams@yahoogroups.com email reflector. There are quite a few younger hams subscribed as well as those young at heart.

[WF7I]

I've always thought youth (or younger) ham clubs are a great idea.

I started at age 13. I'm 30 now, but believe me, I often still feel like a youngster compared to most hams out there (who are old enough to be my parents or grandparents).

One topic I'd consider adding is a list of youth "chapters" or active clubs around the country where those who are stranded can find others their age. And I also think it would be nice to have a "younger adult ham" category which encompasses the age ranges from mid-20s to mid-30s. It's also a rare breed. Mainstream hams seem to start at ages of mid-40s or 50s.

[KT4EB]

Hey, wanted to say this is a really good thing you are doing with the article for arrl. #I am now 21 years old, but I was 14 when I passed my first license test, and received my first license at age 15. #I worked my way to extra by 16. #And believe it or not there were several licensed hams in my area that were my age. #Unfortuantly over the years most of them have found college, work, wives/husbands/kids, and the internet, so they never get on the radio anymore. #Out of the origional 18 youngs hams in my area from 1996-97, there is only myself and one other ham that is still active. #So my idea is, maybe you should write about keeping the spirit alive. #Figure out some ways to keep active on the air even when these new "young" hams start to grow up.

Thanks and good luck 73's
Brandon

P.S. #DEATH TO I-LINK!!!!!

[KG6GOK]

I just got my Extra and I'm 13. If any young ham wants to set up a contact e-mail me at KG6GOK@hotmail.com. I will change my call sign soon so my e-mail will change to soon. When I change it I will update it on my QRZ bio. 73 to all, Andrew KG6GOK

[K0TLS]

A couple of months ago, I set up a Yahoo!Group and posted a message about it on QRZ. #It has 70 members, and recently has not been very active. #I invite all the young hams reading this article to join it at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngerHAMS

Thanks for joining!

[K0IIN]

Some other youghams and I run the IRLP4KIDS net. You can get more info by e-mailing me at k0iin@arrl.net or going to IRLP4KIDS Yahoo GRoup (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irlp4kids).
73,
Jason K0IIN http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KD5RNN]

Well to start out I am 14 and with the passing of my code coming up I will have full General class privleges.
I am very active in the DFW ,tx region of the world. I hope fully soon will be part of [URL=http://www.qsl.net/k5bsa]. which is Venture Crew 73 which is a very active under20 youth programs.

73-KD5RNN Neil Smith

[kf6qnu]

well- i'm 14 right now. I got liscensed when I was 10. Seems today the only people who get their liscenses [who are kids] are those with like parents or friends with ones. I didn't really have anyone I knew who was a ham. For a christmas present i got a shortwave radio as a present. That kinda sparked my interest- so i got that now you're talking book. meh.. also- computers are addictive. i remember when i got my hands on a copy of mandrake linux a few years ago. 73.

[M3PHP]

Hi
I am 15 years old and got my callsign at the end of Feb and got the callsign M3PHP and i live in oxford, uk.

QRZ.com seems to be a good place for young and old to meet so perhaps QRZ.com out make a area for young people to chat with one and other? as most people know about QRZ.com http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Peter, M3PHP

[Kg6kbe]

Hello, I am Greg, KG6KBE, and I am a net controller for the IRLP4kids net, a net for all kids or hams young at heart. I am 13 as well, and I find quite a few young HAMs on HAM radio. I am not sure if you are familiar with IRLP, but if you are not, please go to http://www.irlp.net for more information on this wonderful system. The net meets every Saturday at 0100z, which is Friday in North America, on IRLP reflector #2 (node 920). There are not any IRLP repeaters in NM, but if you are able to hit Eastern AZ, you might be able to check in. Be sure to ask someone to connect to node 920.

Hope to hear you then and 73,
Greg,
KG6KBE

[KC0LRH]

Hey! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif My name is Lisa and I'm 13-years-old. I'm a female ham operator. I just earned my tech. license last fall. I'm going for my general this summer. I'd love to help out and meet up with other young hams. (esspecially girls!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Thanks!


Lisa T.
KC0LRH

[kg4ghn]

Hello
My name is Mike and I am 17. #I was licensed at 15. #I am working on code and then will hopefully get general then extra. #I like your column on the ARRL website and would like to see it in QST. #I think that one of the biggest ways to get younger people interested is FIELD DAY!!! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Yes that wonderful time of year where there is so much fun to be had. #Youth Field Day groups would be cool....
IMHO
73 de
Mike Shaw Kg4ghn
Kg4ghn@yahoo.com kg4ghn@yahoo.com
The official site of Kg4ghn (http://www.expage.com/kg4ghn)

[N2RJ]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K6BMB @ April 29 2002,23:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm 21 years old, licensed since last year. #Since it seems like there aren't many places for us "youngsters" to meet, I'm proposing a virtual ham club done all on the internet. #Maybe a site just for hams of ages 30 and below.

I do HTML and could make us something snazzy if there's enough interest. E-Mail me if you're interested or reply on this thread.

73,
Brodie
k6bmb@hotmail.com
K6BMB[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'm 23 years old. This could be a good idea, but I don't know if a younger hams club already exists. But, there is no harm in forming a new one.

Too often the regular ham clubs and ARRL don't specifically cater to our age group, and when they do, they usually do it as part of a "get the kids involved because the hobby will die if they don't" program. That may be nice, but I would like to see a club where we young folks in our 20's can just get together and share some ham ideas. I love this hobby but I don't like the "grandpa" stereotype attached to it.

If anyone is seriously interested e-mail me at

ryan dot jairam at verizon dot net.

73,
Ryan A. Jairam AB2MH

[kg4lit]

I am a 17 general who just recently passed my morse code exam. #It seems that there are not a lot of young people using ham radio any more due to cell phones and the internet. #I support any attempt to get teenagers and young people into ham 100%. #If someone starts a club or anything like that please let me know, i would be very interested in helping out all that i can.

73s

Shane Hester
KG4LIT
shanehester@excite.com

[MAB2003]

Hey this KG6KTZ I like your article brian I agree I think we should put a youth club on world wide for all young hams I am 16 and I like the idea of being in clubs with more people around my age sometimes i think it would be a great thing for all young hams

[w0ahh]

I think thier should be a place online for us youngster hams to just go and chat about radios. #Its obvious we all like them, and it always seems when i get in a convo with someone its usually someone quadrouple my age and we talk about radios, what we are planning to do to our radio, or how our radios sound. #The only difference is im only 19 working a part time job and cant afford the big hf rigs, have to stick to 10 meters and below. #And for some reason my dad thinks radios are just weird and says slapping a 50 foot tower on the side of our house with a massive beam looks like white trash so he claims; if ya ask me its pretty pimp just look at my sebring its a eye catcher kinda looks like i work for the CIA or somethin. #So yah young hams with parental issues, and annoying neighbors that just dont understand and complain about tvi for all us broke folk should be the forum name..lol

73's KCØMVL
Brian McCormack
kc0mvl@qsl.net
http://www.members.tripod.com/brianPNH

[KD7QWD]

Hi I am 14 Years old and just got my Tech license last April I would really like to see some people my age on the air, but don't regulary...

It would be very cool if we had a community of Ham's that are @ or under the age of 30 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[K0TLS]

Well, this has been posted before, but I'm going to post it again, as noone has seemed to notice.


There is a Young Hams Club/Community on the Web, the YoungerHams group at Yahoo! started up about 5-6 months ago (as an earlier QRZ article mentioned)

You can join this group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngerHAMS

and the group has about 80 members right now, the largest youngHAM community on the internet (I think... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )

Everyone is invited to join!

Terry Salmi, KØTLS

[n5zgt]

Hello Everyone,

#It's great to see such activity here on the QRZ message board! #I hope you've all gone to the ARRL site to read my column (It's called Youth@HamRadio.Fun -- if you don't see it on the ARRL homepage, do a #search for it on the League's site). #I feature a ham, Nathan KC0LCS, who has planned a 20-meter youth net. #His email address is in the column, so get in touch with him as well via email.

#In regards to clubs, there is also one called LYRA, which is the League for Young Radio Amateurs. #It is modeled like the ARRL with sections and areas. #Check it out. #Just do a search on the web for LYRA.

#Many of you are looking to get onto Internet mailing lists to keep in touch. #Many exist. #Eham.net also has a Youth forum.

#Mailing lists are great and all, but please remember one thing: #The only way we as youth can recruit new youth to Amateur Radio is if we are active on the bands. #This is also true if we want to keep young hams active in Amateur Radio. #Plan an HF net (like Nathan's) and let's recruit as many hams as possible to get on the net and have a fun time on the air. #Especially with summer coming around!

#Keep up the great work, guys and gals...keep on recruiting young people to join our ranks in Amateur Radio, and stay active on the air!

73,
Brian, N5ZGT

[WN4C]

It is great to see the youth getting involved in ham radio. #I have a nine year old daughter(KG4OPC), who will hopefully pass her code this week giving her full general priveledges. #She has been wanting to find other young hams out there to talk to. #Thanks for posting information on the youth groups, I know she will find it useful.
73,
Angela

HI

MY NAME IS DANIEL SPEARS AE6CZ I'M 16 YEARS OLD
I VE BEEN A HAM FOR TWO YEARS I LIVE IN FALLBROOK SANDIEGO CA.
I RELLY LIKE HAM RADIO I MEET LOTS OF PEOPLE IT'S RELLY COOL.
HEY CHECK OUT http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/farc/

73S FROM AE6CZ
MY EMAIL IS
RUNNINGSPRING@TFB.COM

[KC9ASI]

My problem with most of the local clubs isn't one of age (I'm 24, sort of young in this neighborhood), but one of scheduling. Working a retail job means that most of the local repeater nets happen right before work finishes.. rather frustrating. Anywho...

[c6anu]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I am 13 years old and live in Nassau Bahamas I am an active ham , mainly on 20 meters. my sugestion is that there is an online club where HAM's cam meet say people under 30 can join and trade information and spread the word of HAM radio . http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif C6ANU http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KD1XH]

Hey, all. I was first licensed at 19 and I am now a semi-young 28 years old, Advanced class. I would be interested in joining a group of hams on the internet in this age range! I will be in touch...and look for me on the bands from the mobile for New England QSO Party today May 5.

73 de KD1XH- Litchfield County, CT

[KD7OVP]

Hi! I am 16. I have read all the links and decided to start my own group as well. The website is: Youthful Hams web group (http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/youthfulhams)
I hope you all would join because I think this will be a great thing for people to use and enjoy. Also I intend on having an HF net that is open to Kids, Teens, and youthful people of all ages once I get my General and save up to get an HF radio.

Thanks for your time and look forward to seeing you in my group!

[kc9umr]

The "internet group" thing has been done.... do a search for LYRA (not the currency, the "League of Young Radio Amateurs"), i know a few of the founding members... well, the club has been up and down as far as operations...it was going strong last time i checked on it.

As far as the ARRL is concerned, (as i believe was posted on a reflector someplace) "Young ends at the age of cuteness". Like it or not, they need to promote school clubs, but not necessarily the grade school clubs... the high school and college clubs need to be emphasized. I contacted the ARRL about possibly running an article about my school's club on out 70th anniversary.... i got brushed off. While grade school clubs may spark a little interest, it is during the college years that many lasting impressions are made. These are the times amny things, and many years of schooling, begin to come together for people, as we get ready to go out and start careers. If we don't do anyting with radio now, chances are not very good that it will be a big, if any, part of our lives later. The saddest part of all of this is the number of collegiate amateur radio clubs that are DYING!! being moved, displaced, forced to tear down antennas.... UM columbia, Cincinatti, and the list is growing.... we need PUBLICITY, we need to get people interested in the clubs... Countless people here on campus have licences, but don't even know about the club untill it's too late. While this is partially the clubs fault, we also have no way to promote our club on a national level, so everyone knows we are here. we get on the air whenever possible, but there is a limit to how far this can get us.


While it is nice that there is something on the ARRL website about this, I'm willing to bet that there are far fewer people that read the arrrticles on the website than read through, or even skim through a QST magazine. Would it hurt them to maybe set aside a few pages for a spotlight on a school club or two (heck, spotlight a grade school club, a high school club, and a collegiate club!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif, and other things pertaining to those of ages less than 60.... I can't count the number of people visiting our shack on tours that think ham radio is just a bunch of old guys playing with tubes and straight keys....they're suprised when they see that we use computers, new equipment (with TRANSISTORS!!!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif and other such things.... we need to get over those old stereotypes. While QST can't do this for EVERYONE (well, if someone is reading QST already, they're interested in amateur radio already), i'm sure we can get national publicity along the same lines....

(ok, so maybe not all real radios DON'T glow in the dark.... but real AMPLIFIERS do.)

[wy4n]

As I scan through all of the posts to Brian’s original message, I notice that most of the replies keep pointing to the main culprit of youngsters not joining the amateur ranks…. THE INTERNET.

Now, don’t get me wrong…the internet has it’s place in keeping us all informed about what’s new and fresh in amateur radio, but if we are to keep young hams active, turn off the computer and turn on the radio.

I’m 19 and I have been an Extra since February of 2000, and everyday I have made it my goal to make at least 5 contacts on the air. Sometimes I go well over, sometimes I only make 1 or 2.

Every young ham that has posted a message or is reading this one…make a commitment to yourself by contacting at least five different stations per day. You’ll be surprised at how many of you will remain active through the years.


73
Adam S. Hoffman, AF4QZ
af4qz@arrl.net

[W7TDC]

Hello,
My name is Trevor, W7TDC and Im almost 16 years old. I've been licensed for a little over 2 years and loving every minute of it. I'm an extra class licensee. I think it is great to have youth nets and youth clubs. Im currently a avid member of a local club and ARES group. I'm a "member" of the youngerhams group on YAHOO. I think it would be great to have a national or worldwide youth organization.

Check out my website at www.w7tdc.com
E-mail me at trevor@w7tdc.com

[k9nl]

Hi everyone.
I'm an extra in wisconsin, I'm 17 and was licensed when I was 10, but that isn't my point.

I am an Executive Committee member of an organization called the League of Young Radio Amateurs. We have a web site at http://www.youngradioamateurs.com/
(Go to the message board, there isn't much on the rest of the web site)

The League is not incredibly active at this time, it has been around for many years but never really took off, the reason partially being our inability to contact other young hams.

If you are interested in LYRA or a fellow young hams club in another country PLEASE EMAIL ME at k9nl@arrl.net.


73
Nick Luther, K9NL
Executive Committee Member, LYRA
k9nl@arrl.net

[kb1eip]

I'm 13 years old, licensed since 11. I've volunteered for a bunch of events (Walk for Hunger, MS Walk, etc.), and got BARC (Boston Amateur Radio Club) to have a booth at my school's science fair. I think the reason we don't have a lot of kids in ham radio is because of things like AIM (AOL Instant Messenger). They decide to take the easy route, and don't fully understand what ham radio is.
-Joseph, KB1EIP

P.S. I got my mom to do ham radio (I bugged her into doing it) http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[N8PCA]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AF4QZ @ May 06 2002,14:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As I scan through all of the posts to Brian’s original message, I notice that most of the replies keep pointing to the main culprit of youngsters not joining the amateur ranks…. THE INTERNET.

Now, don’t get me wrong…the internet has it’s place in keeping us all informed about what’s new and fresh in amateur radio, but if we are to keep young hams active, turn off the computer and turn on the radio.

I’m 19 and I have been an Extra since February of 2000, and everyday I have made it my goal to make at least 5 contacts on the air. Sometimes I go well over, sometimes I only make 1 or 2.

Every young ham that has posted a message or is reading this one…make a commitment to yourself by contacting at least five different stations per day. You’ll be surprised at how many of you will remain active through the years.


73
Adam S. Hoffman, AF4QZ
af4qz@arrl.net[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Thank you for telling the truth. This kind of posting I find very bothersome. It is wholey and completely misleading. True HAM RADIO has absolutly NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INTERNET!!!!!!! HAM RADIO has EVERYTHING to do with RADIO!!!!! and NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WWW!!!!! I sincerly hope that the youth that finds out about the wonderfull hobby of HAM RADIO... EMPHASIS ON THE WORD "RADIO"..... will have the ability to descerne that RADIO is RADIO and that the WWW is the WWW. MEANING THE YOUTH.. CHOOSE TO MIX THE OLD WITH THE NEW... THAT IS THEY'RE CHOICE AND THAT IS FINE WITH ME. But please stop "Tom Brokenjawing" these kids and stop lieing to them. The WWW and Ham Radio are TWO distinctly differently systems. Sure... one can compliment the other, but please do not bluure the line between the two. Just my five bucks worth.

Hi, I am Andrew Styles, W4CCE, a past president of LYRA. I am also a memeber of the Board of Trustees for the organization.

The organization is moving along a little slow right this moment, but if there are energized people interested in the organization, you are invited to join and get involved. A notice will probably be sent out soon about elections in the organization.

We are also looking for members who can help maintaint the website as there is no one overly interested at this moment in time.

LYRA's Virginia Section will soon be hosting a youth licensing class in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area this summer.

Contact me at andrew@excellweb.com for more information and I will help you get in contact with the appropriate people at LYRA.

Thanks, & 73! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KD1XH]

This is why I don't agree with the existence of something like "I-Link"-
I admit that it is cool to be able to talk to people all around the world with an HT
through your local repeater, but it should be done with radio and only
radio...like a 10 meter FM link. When the band is open it is a great thing
to have...same with 6 meters. If you want to talk to people in foreign
lands on the computer go on Yahoo Messenger or whatever! This kind
of thing will kill interest in the radio aspect of the hobby, and cause people
not to upgrade and lose interest...just my point of view

[dachief156]

Glad to see the younger folks getting invloved. I got my first ticket what I was 14 years old, 28 years ago. I had an HT mounted to my bicycle because I was not old enough to drive. It is a great hobby, and am really glad my folks were both licensed and got us involved. I had my first "QSO" on 2M AM when I was about 4, talking to my dad with my mom as control op.

ENJOY!

Bob
WA2ZOU