ROTA-Radio

The Spark: 1970 and the “Sixth Grade Bug” The journey into amateur radio often starts with a single moment of curiosity. For me, that spark ignited in 1970 as a 15-year-old in Michigan. It began with a science unit on electricity, but the real “hook” was following a telephone repairman around our home. He showed…

The Transitional Years: From Teenager to “Family Man” If the 1970s were about getting my foot in the door of amateur radio, the 80s were the decade where I moved in and set up shop. I entered this second decade as a “ham at heart”—unlicensed, but fueled by the memories of 75 watts and a…