Amateur Radio

Thank you for checking out my amateur radio page.

Paul Francis

I am a no-code Extra-class ham who has been licensed since 2000 when I was 15 years old.  From as far back as I can remember I was fascinated by broadcast FM radio.  My mother learned of the hobby, and she encouraged me to take the weekend classes offered by the Lanierland Amateur Radio Club in Gainesville, GA.  A big shoutout to one of my instructors, silent key "Mr. Ed" Cravey - KF4HPY.

My first radio was a portable Icom IC-T8A that I bought at HRO.  I remember the cost was in the $300's, and that was a lot of money for a high schooler in 2000.  Over the next two decades I almost exclusively used 2m/70cm FM.  During that time I met fascinating people through the radio, and I would come and go from the hobby.