I’m Kevin, amateur radio callsign M7XOM.
I launched this blog in 2024 as a way to document my journey into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of amateur radio, more commonly known as ham radio. It’s been an exciting and rewarding adventure, and I enjoy sharing my experiences with others who are curious about this incredible hobby.
Science has always been a significant passion of mine for as long as I can remember. At the age of six, I was already tinkering with old radios, attempting to fix them (and often breaking them in the process). Growing up, I was surrounded by electronics and chemistry sets that fueled my curiosity. My first encounter with a computer came in 1969, when I was just nine years old. It was a paper terminal connected to a Honeywell mainframe at Middlesex Polytechnic, showcased at a Town Show in Enfield. I was captivated, especially by a lunar lander game that left a lasting impression on me.
In 1977, I was fortunate enough to own my first personal computer, an Apple II. It was a gift from my mother, and I will always be profoundly grateful for her support. My fascination with technology only grew from there. By the early 1980s, I discovered Wide Area Networks (WANs) through the Joint Academic Network, or JANet, at Bradford University. Later, in 1992, I accessed the burgeoning Internet through the "Tenner a month" group, which eventually evolved into Demon Internet, a key player in the early days of UK internet service.
Back in the 1970s, illegal CB radio swept through the UK as a popular craze, and it didn’t take long for me to get involved. My brothers used CB radio as a social tool to meet girls, while I, being the nerdy older sibling, focused on technical aspects like fine-tuning antennas and searching for elusive 'skip.' While they had their fun meeting people, I was thrilled by the science and exploration of radio waves.
For over 26 years, I’ve regularly used radio communications in my role in the emergency services. I started with an old analog radio system where you could hear other ambulance crews chatting, and now I use the highly functional but admittedly dull Airwave system. During my 12 years as an airport paramedic at Gatwick, I used Airband radio, which added another layer of experience to my communications background.
Ham radio wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me. I vividly remember the station at the Science Museum in London, GB2SM, from my frequent visits as a child. However, it was during the Covid lockdown that I truly began to explore amateur radio as a hobby I could immerse myself in. A chance encounter with a patient, an older gentleman and seasoned Elmer, changed everything. His room was filled with ham radio equipment, and despite being very unwell, his enthusiasm was infectious. He eagerly demonstrated his setup and shared his knowledge, igniting a spark in me that I couldn’t ignore.
The rest, as they say, is history. This blog is a diverse and personal record of my ham radio adventures, and I hope you’ll enjoy following along. Welcome to my journey!
