Enjoying the Hobby

Being an avid reader of the articles here on eHam.net as well as other websites on the internet, I can’t believe all the QRM over topics that seem to be brought up solely for the intent on generating such QRM. Having been in amateur radio for almost 30 years (indeed a few years QRT but still observant of the hobby), I guess I could be considered an old timer by some and a young squirt by others. I have held almost every class of license (from the old licensing structure); Novice, General, Advanced and Extra. I am neither pro-code or pro-noncode. I feel that each person should determine how they want to operate and endeavor to obtain the license, knowledge and technical capabilities to enjoy those modes, whichever suits their fancy.

Having said that, how many amateurs are fall into the category that used to be referred to as “appliance operators”. Here’s a bit of hobby nostalgia for the new hams. Years ago, when the new wave of solid state transceivers started showing up on the market, operators who used a no-tune rig was considered, by many, as less technically competent that those with radios using tube finals which required tuning. Kind of sounds like the current attitudes of some ‘old timers’ relating to code-nocode issue, doesn’t it? When I was a novice, being called an appliance operator was tantamount to being called “something not printable here”. My distain of being ‘labeled’ by my peers as a less capable amateur radio operator drove me to learn more of the art. Now I don’t consider myself any sort of genius, but I can read and understand technical papers, know how to solder correctly, can read a schematic diagram and know proper circuit assembly practices and so forth and so on. I think you get the idea. How did I learn this stuff of the art of amateur radio? It wasn’t through any divine intervention or cosmic revelation. It was probably the same way as the majority of hams who possess it -– thorough readings and experimentation and the desire to better myself. It also was the basic reason I chose engineering as my profession and obtained an electronics engineering degree. But even before college I like to learn radio stuff. Maybe that is why I got into ham radio in the first place?

Ask yourself, can you read a schematic? How’s your soldering technique? Can you figure the length of coax needed for a project based on its velocity factor? All this information does not require a PhD in Electrical Engineering (although it would probably give one a boost up on the learning curve). The ARRL as well as other authors and organizations publish a myriad of technical books at almost every conceivable learning level covering every aspects of the art of amateur radio. Most are only a few dollars for a vast array of information. Our local library (for those of you who may have forgotten, it’s a building that contains books that you can borrow for a short time) has several ARRL pubs donated by local ham club members for public use. If all else fails, ask local operators if you might borrow their copy for a few days.

I would encourage those who have enough free time to belittle your fellow operator to divert some those energies into learning a new radio skill or sharpening old ones. Who knows, maybe you can develop a new type of antenna to share with other hams. Maybe you would like to improve your VHF receiver front end by building a pre-amp for your 2M station. Maybe you want to get on 6M but don’t have a 6M rig. Try building a transverter kit. But whatever you do, you most likely will get more from the hobby other than just having a license. And maybe along the way you will have the chance to introduce someone to the hobby or meet someone who shares the same interests.

One of the facets of amateur radio I enjoy more than actually operating is experimenting with antennas. Almost every amateur radio operator knows that the antenna is the one of the most, if not top most, important element of a well-planned station. Having a ‘gallon’ or more is nice but if you can’t hear the other station, your transmitted signal isn’t worth much except as QRM. As an example of a project that was both fun and quick to do, I recently built a Low Earth Orbit antenna project from the pages of QST. I spent a Saturday and about $5.00 for some wire and PVC pipe parts. Now I get near full quieting reception on LEO FM satellites plus the pride of knowing I did it.

Whatever you do in amateur radio, enjoy the hobby. It’s yours and it is what you make of it.

73,

Gene KI6LO

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