Anybody can own a classic HF ham radio, but to be able to use it on the air you have to hold a General class Amateur Radio license. So when Larry Waisner, KD5VXK, a Technician licensee, announced that he was about to take his code test and upgrade to General, he had the entire Kenwood Collectors Group rooting for him. The next day an exuberant KD5VXK fired up his classic Kenwood TS-820 and added "/AG" to his call sign indicating that he was now a General class operator.

Larry Waisner, KD5VXK, talking to hams on his 1970's vintage radio equipment.

Larry first became interested in Amateur Radio when he saw a flier in his local RadioShack store advertising a free Amateur Radio licensing course being offered by Charles Rogers, KJ5KU. He always had a desire to become a ham, and at this stage of his life he not only had the time but the opportunity was right in front of him.

From the outset Larry knew that with a teacher like Charles he was going to pass the exam and get his license. "He's a natural." Larry says. "Charles has a great way of explaining things." Good mentors have a way of demystifying complicated topics for their students. Charles has been a ham for over 13 years, and he has been teaching and mentoring for the past 10 years. Charles still remembers his Elmer, Mike Walters, N5TMV, who is still an active radio amateur.

Once Larry finished the class and earned his Technician ticket, he knew that he wasn't going to stop there. To Larry, ham radio meant worldwide communication and radios with lots of knobs--like his old Kenwood. Armed with a copy of the ARRL General class Study Guide and a CD-ROM from Ham University, Larry set his sights on upgrading. During this time someone wrote the call sign NX5W on a sticky note and gave it to Larry. This is how he met Darryl Clutter.

Darryl, NX5W, was first licensed in 1991 and has been very active in Elmering and upgrading hams for the past five years. He, too, still remembers his Elmer Bill Knesek, K5ARS, from his days in Austin, Texas.

Darryl's story is a bit like Larry's. Somebody gave Darryl a shortwave receiver, and when he went into the local RadioShack store to buy some antenna wire, the man behind the counter asked him, "You trying to become a ham?" The counter man was Bill, K5ARS, who would become his mentor.

Both Darryl and Charles believe in helping new hams and feel that public service and emergency communication are good ways to foster new people into the hobby. Darryl loves to chase DX as well as serve as net control for HF traffic nets.

Now that he has his General ticket and is enjoying his new privileges, Larry is working hard to pass his Extra class exam, and he hopes to take Element 4 by March. In the meantime, if he needs help with the study, he knows he has two friends to rely on.

The Kenwood Collectors Group is one of many reflectors on the Internet that specialize in helping people who have a common specialized interest.

This group is actually the KENWOOD TS-520_820_530_830 reflector, and it is where folks come together to swap information about how to maintain these classic Kenwood transceivers. This is a little bit of high-tech mentoring too, as questions are asked and answers are shared electronically. There are groups for just about any special interest in ham radio or anything else on the planet. It may be high tech, but it is still hams helping hams.

ARRL is committed to support Affiliated Clubs in their efforts to mentor new hams. [Full Story]

Elmering or mentoring is the backbone of Amateur Radio, and while today's technology may enhance it, nothing will replace the human interaction between the mentor and the prospective or new ham. Elmering will remain as one of the hobby's strongest traditions. When he bought his classic Kenwood TS-820, Larry also became a part of that classic tradition that comes with ham radio. Just as he was welcomed to the hobby and mentored by new friends, Larry will be there to help the next new ham looking to get a license and join this wonderful hobby.

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