It is with much pleasure

And yes PRIDE I

Introduce the “new”

WB8FER

After several years and a few “false starts”, my XYL Robin joined the ranks of Amateur Radio Operators. This last attempt actually started while she was in West Virginia taking care of her ailing parents. They were both in the hospital at the same time (with same illness but that is another story) in early 2008. Since she was there pretty much 24x7 and there was little she could do, she used the time (and the hospital’s Wi-Fi connection) to start reviewing the Technician question pool on QRZ.COM. Just as it looked like she was actually about ready for the test, she lost her mother and her father was moved to a rehab facility so she once again lost the momentum.

That summer her father agreed to move with her to our home as he needed 24 hour assistance and after settling him in, old friends of ours, David – K8ELS and his son John came to visit and attend the 2008 Shelby Hamfest with me. John made a quick decision at the end of the first day at Shelby to get a Technician study guide which he read cover to cover that night. Sunday morning he took a couple of quick assessment tests on QRZ.COM and decided he was actually ready to try the test. The trip back to the Shelby Hamfest was for that purpose and yes he was ready and passed with only 2 missed. He was assigned KD8JGC which he later released when he was awarded his dad’s first call – KA8QYU. He announced his success to Robin on our return by handing her his study guide saying “…you may want this; I don’t need it anymore!”

Robin took the book (and the implied challenge) and started reading it as much as she had time for (taking practice exams on QRZ.COM in between). On October 11, 2008 she, her father and I travelled to Lincolnton, NC where she took her Technician exam and (as I had already assured her she would) passed it missing only 3 or 4 questions. I had kept my promise to her I made years ago; when she tested I would go to and take my Extra. Yes I passed it but I was more proud of and for her than of the Extra (hey I can still copy 20+wpm but I never used all my privileges so no reason up till now to upgrade). Her call she was assigned was KJ4HEN. She had already expressed interest in applying for dad’s call and as soon as the FRN paperwork was in she did just that. On November 7, 2008 she officially became WB8FER! I think dad is smiling at this – at long last those two calls are active on the same radios again.

Stay tuned for further updates to this chapter.

Al (JR) WB8FEQ – 04/11/2009

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