[ARC5] Getting the younger crowd interested in radio

[Glen Zook]

This summer, my youngest daughter and her family was here for over a week.  Her son, now going on 9, is very interested in how things work, etc.  My daughter wanted me to work with him.  So, we built a transistorized crystal oscillator which can be used as a QRPp (very low power) transmitter and a broadcast band crystal set receiver.  
When I was re-creating my Novice Class station, I acquired 2-each Hallicrafters S-107 receivers.  The best looking receiver was used in this re-creation and the other just sat on a shelf.  So, I electrically restored this 2nd receiver including replacing the electrolytics and paper capacitors, replacing an i.f. can that had a shorted internal capacitor, and so forth.  I then taught him how to use the receiver, along with his mother.  Then, I placed the receiver on permanent loan to my grandson and he took the receiver home.  He also took the oscillator and crystal set with him.
Shortly after returning home, my grandson found an article in some magazine about building a desk.  My son-in-law had several gift cards for Lowe's and Home Depot.  They "talked" the personnel at Lowe's to cut the wood to the lengths specified in the article.  Then, my grandson painted the wood and with only a little help from his father assembled the desk which includes shelves above the desk top.  The S-107 sits on the first shelf with a wire antenna running around the ceiling of his bedroom.  He has gotten interested in seeing just what he can hear on both the broadcast band and shortwave.
My youngest daughter, when in high school, dated the son of another amateur radio operator (whom I didn't know) and they decided to get their licenses.  My daughter actually learned the International Morse code.  Unfortunately, before getting her license, they "broke up" and she lost interest.  But, today, over 20-years later, she does remember the code!  She got very interested in using the S-107 and I think, with a little encouragement, that both she, and her son, will get licensed.
My youngest granddaughter, who is 2.5-years older, is very competitive with her brother, and, I am almost sure, will get licensed just to keep up! Glen, K9STH 
Website: http://k9sth.net