Hi, my name is Dirk Brinckerhoff, my call sign is KM6VKQ.
I actually started with ham radio when I was acting as SAG for the Marin Century. I stopped by Nicasio School to ask where they wanted me next and someone behind the desk said, Dirck, haven’t seen you in a long time. That was Ann Shores.
Our son used to work with her husband and climb with her husband and I let her know that I had always wanted to be a ham, but I couldn’t get code when I was a teenager. She said, you don’t need it anymore. So three weeks later, I had my license.
Well, I had wanted to be one when I was a teenager. We had a neighbor, his call sign was W6QUC, lived at the top of our hill, and had a gigantic beam. He owned San Francisco Radio.
And so he had invited me up at times to listen to him talking around the world. And I found that intriguing. I got the books, did all the studying, and then never got around to getting code.
But radio has always intrigued me. Built a crystal radio as a Boy Scout. And that was kind of interesting because when I first put the earphone to my ears, I was listening to an interview of my uncle on KTIM, who had been one of the several dentists that had convinced Marin Municipal Water District to put fluoride in the water.
So that was kind of intriguing. Eventually, I built some radios. I had a Heathkit, HA2 or something like that anyway.
Well, I think the biggest misconception is that people don’t understand the service that we provide. I think most people think of ham radio operators as those who are trying to talk to people all over the place or like CB people just talking to friends, et cetera.
And they don’t realize that actually part of the reason we have airwaves is to provide service.
My approach to inspiring new hams has always been pointing out the public service kind of aspect, number one. And number two, letting them know that it doesn’t cost a whole heck of a lot to get started, either testing, licensing, or your first ever Baofeng!
Recorded on April 23, 2026 in Mill Valley
