Well I got interested in amateur radio when a good friend of mine, John G1TTO, (who is now silent key) brought a radio around to play with and talked excitedly about Amateur Television (ATV) and got me hooked. I sat the exams in December 88 and passed first time. I became G7AFD. I then started to get interested in doing other things, I had an FT290 Mk2 which was pretty good, I even worked Hungary and the former Yugoslavia on 2m !! Ok it was sporadic E
I joined RAYNET, an organisation of radio amateurs (I hate the term HAM) who offer their services as radio operators to pass messages in times of emergency and national crisis. We train by passing messages at various events such as half marathons. The organisation split into two when the RSGB decided it no longer wanted to administer RAYNET, but remained committed to the idea! I am not aware of a specific Internet link to RAYNET, or RAEN, which formed as a result of the split. But you could contact either UKRS or RSGB.
Anyway I became a Morse user and passed that after a quick 3 month course over the air. I became G0KMT. Still in RAYNET (Fylde Coast Group)
I started to get worried earlier this year that the RSGB
were getting a little big for their boots, I did not want to become a member purely on the
grounds of there was no other choice, but I rather liked the idea of having another
organisation other than the RSGB to represent my
interests. I welcomed the birth of the United
Kingdom Radio Society (UKRS) so I joined
as a founder member. I also volunteered to be a county representative, but was beaten to
the post, however I am deputy county rep for Lancashire If you need to contact me, Email
me at g0kmt@qsl.net.
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