Intro
Hello all my name is Travis and my call is KB3LAZ. My friends say this suits me rather well.
I was born on May 22 1987. I live in Greenville Pennsylvanian (born and raised, I still reside here).
Its about an hour north of Pittsburgh and an hour south of Eire.
Its a small town where not much happens.
I graduated from Reynolds Jr/Sr High School in 2005.
Now I currently attend collage at Youngstown State University (YSU).
My major is in sociology, working on my bachelors degree.
Then Hopefully my masters, and eventually my PHD.
I was born on May 22 1987. I live in Greenville Pennsylvanian (born and raised, I still reside here).
Its about an hour north of Pittsburgh and an hour south of Eire.
Its a small town where not much happens.
I graduated from Reynolds Jr/Sr High School in 2005.
Now I currently attend collage at Youngstown State University (YSU).
My major is in sociology, working on my bachelors degree.
Then Hopefully my masters, and eventually my PHD.
Pre Radio
My grandmother Rose sadly departed in my late years of high school.
I was about 16 years old.
Overcome by grief my grand father and I decide to take a trip to help ease our minds.
So we did exactly that. We decided to visit friends of my grandfathers (KECK, Frank).
This was my introduction to amateur radio. I then peered into a hole new world.
I met an amazing array of people who would forever change my life for the better.
And to this I am eternally thankful.
I learned more about radio in one day than most people could hope to in a life time.
Something else I learned was that even in these times the world is still full of kindness.
We were accepted for days at a time into peoples homes who had never met us before.
With this gesture a spark of curiosity arose in my mind. I now wanted to meet to meet more people like this.
So one of these kind people handed me a technician manual and said heres a world of knowledge for you to discover.
This person was w4clm Carol. Although she made the biggest impact on me she was not the only one to contribute
to my new goal. There were many others so ill just list the few I spent the most time with. They are as follows k9kxq Jim,
n2kp Richard, and w5rlb Lee. And thats the end of this story for now. It was a rather memorative trip, and one that i will cherish forever.
I was about 16 years old.
Overcome by grief my grand father and I decide to take a trip to help ease our minds.
So we did exactly that. We decided to visit friends of my grandfathers (KECK, Frank).
This was my introduction to amateur radio. I then peered into a hole new world.
I met an amazing array of people who would forever change my life for the better.
And to this I am eternally thankful.
I learned more about radio in one day than most people could hope to in a life time.
Something else I learned was that even in these times the world is still full of kindness.
We were accepted for days at a time into peoples homes who had never met us before.
With this gesture a spark of curiosity arose in my mind. I now wanted to meet to meet more people like this.
So one of these kind people handed me a technician manual and said heres a world of knowledge for you to discover.
This person was w4clm Carol. Although she made the biggest impact on me she was not the only one to contribute
to my new goal. There were many others so ill just list the few I spent the most time with. They are as follows k9kxq Jim,
n2kp Richard, and w5rlb Lee. And thats the end of this story for now. It was a rather memorative trip, and one that i will cherish forever.
A new world emerges
Now that my trip was over and I was back home I went back to school.
Now life was back to the "Norm" but not quite.
Some things were lost but not forgotten, and new memories were about to form as I stepped into a new world.
This new world was that of Amateur radio. With the encouragement of the "Hams" I had just met
and that of the ones iv known for years, I decided to study my new book in study hall.
But it didnt stop there. before I knew it i was hiding my book in between my school books and studying
in class. Also at the home front and in the car.
And then it was accomplished I passed my Tech test in April of 2004. My license was issued on April 26 2004.
i then Purchesed an Icom T7H hand held then the fun began. After awhile I desired to do more than talk localy
so I got a Yaesu FT-920 from my grandfather. But it didnt stop there i then got a Icom IC-7000 a Yaesu FT-100d
and a Yaesu VX-7R. Now I was ready to broaden my horizons. Eagerly wishing to use my new equipment
I took my General test and wow I passed. My license was issued March 5 2007.
Now I was ready to journey into the world of HF. Later that night I tuned the dial to 3.955.00
and talked to the men and women responsible for my success as well as new found friends.
Where I continue to meet new people to this day.
Now life was back to the "Norm" but not quite.
Some things were lost but not forgotten, and new memories were about to form as I stepped into a new world.
This new world was that of Amateur radio. With the encouragement of the "Hams" I had just met
and that of the ones iv known for years, I decided to study my new book in study hall.
But it didnt stop there. before I knew it i was hiding my book in between my school books and studying
in class. Also at the home front and in the car.
And then it was accomplished I passed my Tech test in April of 2004. My license was issued on April 26 2004.
i then Purchesed an Icom T7H hand held then the fun began. After awhile I desired to do more than talk localy
so I got a Yaesu FT-920 from my grandfather. But it didnt stop there i then got a Icom IC-7000 a Yaesu FT-100d
and a Yaesu VX-7R. Now I was ready to broaden my horizons. Eagerly wishing to use my new equipment
I took my General test and wow I passed. My license was issued March 5 2007.
Now I was ready to journey into the world of HF. Later that night I tuned the dial to 3.955.00
and talked to the men and women responsible for my success as well as new found friends.
Where I continue to meet new people to this day.
Today
To day I strive to meet new people and make new friends every day.
Most of the time Im successful. Theres always a CQ contest or a net going.
I enjoy nets and CQ contests as well as DXing but nothing compares to ragchewing.
Ragchewing now theres something I can do every night and usually do.
I usually talk on 3.955.00 or on 3.950.00.
However I do not restrict my self to HF I also talk VHF and UHF.
Im usually on the local repeater, Where I run the net along with my other friends.
A good time is had by all. And guess what Im still not done. Thats right Extra here I come.
All in all its a fun and relaxing hobby so pick up a book and enter the world of radio.
Most of the time Im successful. Theres always a CQ contest or a net going.
I enjoy nets and CQ contests as well as DXing but nothing compares to ragchewing.
Ragchewing now theres something I can do every night and usually do.
I usually talk on 3.955.00 or on 3.950.00.
However I do not restrict my self to HF I also talk VHF and UHF.
Im usually on the local repeater, Where I run the net along with my other friends.
A good time is had by all. And guess what Im still not done. Thats right Extra here I come.
All in all its a fun and relaxing hobby so pick up a book and enter the world of radio.