ARLA/CLUSTER: Uma das mais jovens radioamadores americanas.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

At age 8, Deltona girl is among youngest ham-radio operators

DELTONA — When many kids her age are learning texting abbreviations such as ROFL or IYKWIM ("if you know what I mean"), 8-year-old Mikaila Williams is focused on KK4BFK.

That's her call sign, the collection of numbers and letters that identifies her as a legitimate ham-radio operator.

"KK4BFK, CQ?" she spoke into the microphone at her Deltona home, a little timidly but with a big, hopeful smile.

Mikaila is thought to be the youngest ham-radio operator in Central Florida, and she ranks among the youngest in the country holding the general license for amateur radio.

Although ham radios may seem outdated in an era of smartphones and Twitter, hobbyists remain devoted to their frequencies, enjoying the chance for random chatter while standing by to use the airwaves in an emergency.

Read the full Orlando Sentinel article at
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-05-07/news/os-ham-radio-deltona-girl-20110507_1_youngest-ham-radio-national-ham-radio-group-ham-radio

Fonte: Fabio, IZ8FTW.