Posted on 07/06/2008 9:19:40 AM PDT by mylife
Posted on Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 A boy's passport to the world
Six-year-old Cameron Hasson's world just got a little larger.
The amateur radio license he recently earned puts him in touch with folks from all over.
He's a bona fide ham probably the youngest in North Carolina and maybe the U.S., according to his instructor, Joe Hullender with the Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Club.
All that talk going on out in radio land endless conversations about the weather and gas prices and whatever Cameron takes it all in.
The world has opened up. He feels more connected. And he also feels closer to his parents: Eric, a computer consultant, and Beverly, a physical therapist at Gaston Memorial Hospital. Studying in the same class, they all earned their amateur radio licenses together.
Ham radio, like fishing, is something I've always admired, but never had much luck with.
Eric Hasson, 46, got the radio bug as a kid in St. Louis. It came from his dad, Jack, who was into citizens band radio during the CB craze of the 1970s the Smokey and the Bandit days.
Eric decided to study for his ham license, but the FCC's requirement of testing for proficiency in Morse code was a brick wall for him.
His interest in electronics and computers grew as visions of being an amateur radio operator faded.
Until the brick wall collapsed. In late 2006, the FCC did away with the Morse code requirement and Hasson started thinking about ham radio again.
The idea kicked around in his mind for a while. Then, in March, he enrolled in a six-week class sponsored by the Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Club. On the first day, Hasson asked Hullender if a 6-year-old could learn the material. The answer was yes. Hasson asked Cameron if he'd like to try for a license. Cameron was game.
Two-way radio had already captured his imagination. He had a CB, a General Mobile Service and Dick Tracy-style Family Radio Service, complete with a Tracy wrist radio.
These radio services, which didn't require a license, gave his son a little more freedom, Eric Hasson said. His parents could check on him when he was out of sight and feel a greater sense of security.
When her husband and son signed up for the class, Beverly Hasson decided she'd join them.
The radio class was held at the Gaston County Police Community Room. Ages ranged from 6 to 76.
The final exam had 35 multiple choice questions; to pass, you had to get 26 right.
Cameron wanted a technician class license the beginner's level. Hullender remembers his youngest student as kind of quiet and serious.
A kid, maybe, but one who was really into the subject.
Every night at home, Cameron was tutored by his dad. They did research together on the computer. They waded through technical material.
It was hard, Cameron recalled.
Test day rolled around. Eric Hasson wasn't sure his son would pass.
But he did.
Cameron wants to go up another notch and get a general radio license. He's a smart kid and will probably make it. But even if he doesn't, he's learned about focus and hard work and family togetherness. At 6, he's way ahead of the game.
Gees...I couldn’t even spell “can’t” right!
ping
Yeah... that could be against ordinances LoL
/johnny
My guess is that he’s single...
NASA is using this SDQ-14 with a bank of those to listen to the Mars Rover.
Choose yer own frontend
Thanks for posting this mylife.
Grammy, this ping is for Mr. G, can’t remember his posting name right now.
Neat story.
I knew what ya meant L0L
My pleasure.
> I leave a HT tuned to 52.525 and turned on 24/7. <
That’s in the FM part of six meters. The DX is almost all down in the CW portion(below 50.100) and SSB portion (below 50.300) of the band.
Check out the associated Iraq Field day story
Perchance you can join this grumpy old man for the Technician class I will be teaching starting on the 14th that will have two sub teens and several future grumpy old men as students. I have contributed to about 100 hams and upgrades since the code went away....
GRUMP GRUMP GRUMP
W5VEX, Belton Texas...
Love yer tagline
Oh I for got...
Grump grump grump ;)
Here is a 50 foot dish built entirely from scratch...uses a 5" gun mount rotor...bet this guy is single as well!
This is a great story of a boy & his DAD together to get a common goal. Way to go DAD...
The key here is that Dad has this kid understanding FOCUS at a very early age
Moms a Ham too!
aaaahhh yes the good old days, built many a kit from allied radio and their Knight kits. still have QSLs from around the world during my SWL days. Actually worked one of the SWL cards when I got my ticket have both framed in my shack. Our radio club been having field day at my place going on 14 years still enjoying it. And still use CW.
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