94 Yes, I'm a HAM

Well, after a while, I wanted more privileges on the radio (ability to use different frequencies, different modes of communication.. etc), so I studied for my "Technician" test (at this point, my licence class was called Novice).

This test was pretty easy, and once you pass this test, you have the option of going from a 2X3 call (KA1TBE is a 2X3, two letters, a number and 3 letters) to a 1X3 call. I chose to change for reasons I explained on Friday.

Oh, did I mention, the "1", stands for the geographic area you live in. 1 is the Northeast US. Here's how that works. Each number represents thee following states/areas:

1 ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, VT
2 NY, NJ
3 PA, DE, MD
4 KY, VA, TN, NC, AL, GA, SC, FL
5 NM, TX, OK, AR, LA, MS
6 CA
7 WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, NV, UT, AZ
8 MI, OH, WV
9 WI, IL, IN
0 ND, SD, NE, KS, CO, MN, IA, MO
L0 - L9 AK
P1 - P5 Caribbean: Navassa Island (P1), U.S. Virgin Islands (P2), Puerto Rico (P3, P4), Desecheo Island (P5)
13 H0 - H9 Hawaii and Pacific: Baker or Howland Island (H1), Guam (H2), Johnston Island (H3), Midway Island (H4), Palmyra Island or Jarvis Island (H5), Kingman Reef (H5K), Hawaii (H6, H7), Kure Island (H7K), American Samoa (H8), Wake, Wilkes or Peale Island (H9), Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (H0)

Of course, all US HAM Radio Callsigns begin with A, K or N.

Back to my new call. Another 5 weeks went by and I got my new call. N1GUF. Much better than before! I've probably made contact with over 50 countries, and had a great time with it. Unfortunately, the Internet made HAM radio much less interesting when you could Instant Message someone in any country very easily. That... and I sold most of my HAM radios to make money to buy my Corvette.

And now, for a funny:

Hilarious Signs

Over a gynecologist's office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."

On a plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed."

On the trucks of a local plumbing company in NE Pennsylvania: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

Pizza shop slogan: "7 days without pizza makes one weak."

Outside a muffler shop: "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

In a veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

Door of a plastic surgeon's office: "We can help you pick your nose!"

On an electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts."

In a non-smoking area: "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

On a maternity room door: "Push. Push. Push."

At an optometrist's office: "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

In the front yard of a funeral home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

That's it for today... have a wonderful Monday!