Far Below Zero

Being an editor of the only ham magazine that is still survived after almost 20 years, I met so many ham friends.  Some of them were very experienced, some were new.
Most of the new hams told me they started from zero so it would be difficult to gain knowledge in time..

I said, “You’ll learn faster than you thought, Being me as you see, I started from below Zero!!”

It was in 1985, when I was a customer of a color separating for printing shop.  I was surprised seeing a strange shape black case on one desk with noise and some talking in a funny language that I did not understand.. with so many queues..
Vichan - the owner’s son said it was so much fun listening to them.. to their funny ways of reporting signal strength..

Seeing the blank on my face, he then said.. “The night before the King’s birthday, we always in queue to wish him on the air.. Unexpectedly, around midnight after the last ham was on the air, we heard our King’s voice saying, ‘Thank all of you for your wishes.’  Oh.. what a thrill!”

“Oh yes, what a thrill!  Where can I buy this radio”
“No, you can’t just buy.  You need to take the examination.  Lucky that this Sunday… bla bla bla…”

I did not understand what he tried to tell me, only knew that I already had an appointment that Sunday.

Wow! It was so crowded in the big convention hall of that big hotel. Vichan helped me register, got the document and a seat to listen.  No, I learned nothing..

Then, there was a small training by a clever young man which I knew later that he was HS1CH.  There were about 20 persons attended.  Vichan arranged it for me.. I have learned about V=IR, and the electron jump between the 2 plate of capacitor.. and that something call diode would not let the electricity run backward.. something like that..

I remembered all that.. I also remember that the strange line that was called a Dipole had 75 ohm impedance and the one that looked like capsule called Folded Dipole which had 300 ohm impedance.

Vichan also help me to the examination place.. and yes I passed it very easily for what I had remembered.. But I did not know what all that funny names are.. I was just remembered them.

At that time a radio was not allowed to sell in Thailand.  I must ‘IMPORT’ them.  Some smart hams set a trip for us to Singapore the buy the radio.  I was one of the customer.  Vichan gave me list of things I should get and off I went on my very first trip out of out of Thailand.. and alone.

With the help of the group, which a few of them were very experienced, I got all things in the list.  One of them told me to charge the Battery..

Oh what is battery.. What is charging? 

He help me put the battery into the plugged charger and told me to wait for 14 hours.  On the next day he taught me how to turn the radio on and he pressed the PTT of his radio and asked, “Can you hear me?” 

I was very surprised.. “Oh, can we also talk?  I thought it was only for listening.”

Now you see, that I started very far below Zero..