[Elecraft] How I Found Elecraft

[Mychael Morohovich AA3WF]

Due to excessive QRM from local FM and BC stations, I was having trouble
getting a little home-brewed x-tal radio that I was building as a gift for
my father to work. This was my first foray into the world of radio.
Frustrated, I called up one of the offending stations and spoke with the
head electronic engineer. He volunteered to stop by my place on his way home
from work that day to see what he could do.

While he was hopelessly fiddling with my lil unshielded radio we got to
talking, and long story short he said something to this effect: "You know,
if you are into building stuff, there is this little company in CA called
Elecraft...". I didn't even have my ticket then, and really didn't know much
about amateur radio at all. Having played with electronics years before
while helping a big brother of my best friend build a Heathkit stereo
component, I knew I enjoyed electronic kits. "Elecraft, huh?"

After the engineer left, I logged on to the internet and performed a search
on Elecraft and promptly joined the reflector where, among a host of other
good souls, I eventually met my good friend and Elmer, Ron AC7AC. The next
thing you know, I was studying for my license and a few months later passed
my Extra exam. Somewhere in there I managed to convince my wife that I
really needed to have a K2, so the money was produced and the building
commenced.

An ironic aside here is that while researching that first xtal radio, I came
across a mention in a book devoted to amateur radio exclaiming how much fun
it was communicating and exchanging QSL cards with interesting strangers
around the world using something called CW. "CW? QSL cards? Strangers?!!" At
the time, I recall it sounding like a really dopey thing to do <G>.

No big wonderful story here, but it does go to show how one seemingly
insignificant thing can lead to another until we end up in places we never
could have imagined.

Tnx es 73,

Mychael AA3WF
K2#1025