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I began studying for my Ham Radio license, with a goal of having my license by the end of 2025. I more than met my goal by attaining my Basic with Honours certificate on October 25, 2025.

My motivation for acquiring this license? My son, Evan, obtained his Basics with Honours license in 2020. I have often thought that it would be nice to also have a license so that I could communicate with him, regardless of what was happening in the world. Power outage? No problem! Connect via radio.

The The London Amateur Radio Club is full of kind and welcoming members and I am pleased to count myself as a member since March 2025. I have been occassionally joining them for their weekly "Hams and Eggs" breakfast on Saturday mornings.


My first time on air occured on May 18, 2025. One week each May is dedicated as EMS week in North America and our local club annually holds the callsign VC3EMS for this week. Mike (VE3ACW) gave me a short primer on how to operate in this particular EMS special event, and I made some contacts. It was lots of fun to participate and have that first on-air experience.

Just under six months later, I participated in the annual Fire Prevention Week. Once again, Mike (VE3ACW) was my excellent Elmer (radio speak for mentor). Together we made just over 50 contacts for whom we were able to share helpful fire prevention tips for Lithium Ion Batteries.