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Six-Year-Old Oregon Girl Gets General Ticket:
A six-year-old girl from Roseburg, Oregon, has upgraded from Technician to General. Mattie Clauson, KD7TYN--a fourth-generation Amateur Radio operator in her family--could be the youngest General-class operator in the US. Her new ticket was granted January 13.
Mattie allowed that the Element 3 test "was pretty hard" and she had to study for a long time before passing it on her third attempt. "The Element 3 test was a lot harder than the Tech test," she said. She was ambivalent about the 5 WPM Element 1 Morse code exam, characterizing it as "not too hard, just a little, but kind of easy too."
Her parents, Tim and Charlotte Clauson, AC7SP and KD7QZB, say Mattie became interested in Amateur Radio when she was five. The Clausons discovered "a kid-friendly study book," Ride the Airwaves with Alpha and Zulu by John Abbott, K6YPB (no longer in print--Ed). The Clausons say Mattie, who already knew how to read, dove into it right away. Her mom and dad helped her to study, explained the "hard questions" and encouraged her to take practice tests at various Web sites. She obtained her Technician license last July and became KD7SDF.
The Clausons said Mattie learned Morse code using several different computer programs, and they helped her practice by tapping out letters--and later words--for her. In the end, she passed her code exam on the very first try. For the time being, Mattie says, she's sticking with phone operation but plans to give CW a try in the future. Mattie says she prefers HF over VHF "because I can talk to people in other countries."
Homeschooled with her sisters, Mattie loves to read, and that may contribute to her precocity. Among her favorites books are those by Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT, Encyclopedia Brown, and Nancy Drew. Her parents say ham radio has been a very useful tool in homeschooling--in terms of letter recognition, spelling, science, geography and other subjects.
The Clausons say Mattie doesn't consider herself "someone special" since passing her General test, and neither do they. "We do not feel that Mattie has any abilities above any other child," Charlotte Clauson said.
For her part, Mattie says she hopes that she can be an inspiration to other youngsters her age to get involved with Amateur Radio. "I think that since I got my license, whether Tech or higher, other kids can do it also," she said. Mattie's late great grandfather, S.A. "Sam" Sullivan, was W6WXU; his daughter, Joan Brady--Mattie's grandmother--now holds his former call sign.
"The ham community has also been very supportive, especially in the Roseburg area," said Charlotte Clauson. "Their enthusiasm has made Mattie's experience with ham radio very positive." A article on Mattie Clauson appeared February 3 in the Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon news.statesmanjournal.com...m?i=56021.
Tim, Charlotte and Mattie Clauson all are ARRL members. Mattie and her mom now are working on their Amateur Extra tickets.
Source:
The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 06 February 7, 2003
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A six-year-old girl from Roseburg, Oregon, has upgraded from Technician to General. Mattie Clauson, KD7TYN--a fourth-generation Amateur Radio operator in her family--could be the youngest General-class operator in the US. Her new ticket was granted January 13.
Mattie allowed that the Element 3 test "was pretty hard" and she had to study for a long time before passing it on her third attempt. "The Element 3 test was a lot harder than the Tech test," she said. She was ambivalent about the 5 WPM Element 1 Morse code exam, characterizing it as "not too hard, just a little, but kind of easy too."
Her parents, Tim and Charlotte Clauson, AC7SP and KD7QZB, say Mattie became interested in Amateur Radio when she was five. The Clausons discovered "a kid-friendly study book," Ride the Airwaves with Alpha and Zulu by John Abbott, K6YPB (no longer in print--Ed). The Clausons say Mattie, who already knew how to read, dove into it right away. Her mom and dad helped her to study, explained the "hard questions" and encouraged her to take practice tests at various Web sites. She obtained her Technician license last July and became KD7SDF.
The Clausons said Mattie learned Morse code using several different computer programs, and they helped her practice by tapping out letters--and later words--for her. In the end, she passed her code exam on the very first try. For the time being, Mattie says, she's sticking with phone operation but plans to give CW a try in the future. Mattie says she prefers HF over VHF "because I can talk to people in other countries."
Homeschooled with her sisters, Mattie loves to read, and that may contribute to her precocity. Among her favorites books are those by Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT, Encyclopedia Brown, and Nancy Drew. Her parents say ham radio has been a very useful tool in homeschooling--in terms of letter recognition, spelling, science, geography and other subjects.
The Clausons say Mattie doesn't consider herself "someone special" since passing her General test, and neither do they. "We do not feel that Mattie has any abilities above any other child," Charlotte Clauson said.
For her part, Mattie says she hopes that she can be an inspiration to other youngsters her age to get involved with Amateur Radio. "I think that since I got my license, whether Tech or higher, other kids can do it also," she said. Mattie's late great grandfather, S.A. "Sam" Sullivan, was W6WXU; his daughter, Joan Brady--Mattie's grandmother--now holds his former call sign.
"The ham community has also been very supportive, especially in the Roseburg area," said Charlotte Clauson. "Their enthusiasm has made Mattie's experience with ham radio very positive." A article on Mattie Clauson appeared February 3 in the Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon news.statesmanjournal.com...m?i=56021.
Tim, Charlotte and Mattie Clauson all are ARRL members. Mattie and her mom now are working on their Amateur Extra tickets.
Source:
The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 06 February 7, 2003
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