Ted Trost (W1TED)

How long have you been a Ham?

I was originally licensed in Canada in 1991. After moving back to the USA, I obtained my Technician license around 1997, then upgraded to General in 2018, and finally earned my Amateur Extra license in December 2020. Even as a child, one of my favorite toys was a set of inexpensive walkie-talkies. Looking back, I suspect they were 100 milliwatt (or less) radios using CB frequencies. I have been listening to police and fire frequencies since I discovered scanning at the age of 16. I’m still amazed that we can have voice conversations over thousands of miles using very simple stations.

What mode(s) within Amateur Radio do you enjoy operating?

I consider myself a very-occasional contester, but I'm starting to ramp-up my POTA activities. POTA allows me to challenge myself without the pressure of competition. I enjoy public-service events, as they allow me to use my radio knowledge and equipment in a real-world activity.

Describe your involvement with GSARA.

I'm a brand-new member, looking forward to getting to know everyone. I'd like to get involved as a VE and participate in some club activities.

What is one piece of advice you would give a new Ham?

Get involved, try new things, and connect with others. Oh-- ONE piece of advice? I guess those can all be summed up by "join a club". If you don't click with your first club, try others until you find your match-- it's out there!

Is there anything else you would like to share?

One of the amateur-radio-related things I'm most proud of is that my entire family (wife and two kids) are also licensed.