|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
1-10 of 51 messages
|
Page 1 of 6
Next
|
|
My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by WA9SVD on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Don,
Congratulations on getting your Extra. Do NOT feel you are NOT a real ham, and do not let anyone tell you that! You have passed the exam, and you have every right to be proud of that fact.
You will meet a few "grouchies" here and elsewhere, who will say that if you didn't "hike 25 miles in 6 feet of snow when it's 20 below zero" just to take your exam, you had it too easy. Just Ignore them, and consider the source.
The important thing is be as courteous an operator as you can be, be helpful to those around you, respect other operators, and have fun! I hope to meet you on the air sometime soon!
73,
Larry WA9SVD
P.S. You will eventually recognize the callsigns of the "grumpies" an be able to filter out or ignore their negative comments. And remember, they are a minority.
|
| |
|
My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by KC0PED on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I just got my Technician license on Feb. 17. I've been reading all I can in magazines and online. I just purchased a VHF/UHF radio, my first (Kenwood TM-D700A). I've been listening to conversations and have yet to make a QSO because, honestly, I don't want to screw up and violate any sort of norm or embarrass myself on my first attempt to contact someone.
I have a computer background and am fascinated at what can be done with packet radio and even with what is being done with Echolink and ARPS.
I live in Minnesota and most of the conversations I've listened to are on a repeater I found on (or near, I'm not sure. I think the St Paul club runs it, but am not positive yet) 146.850. I was amazed at the number of hams that checked in on Sunday night.
Passing the test was easy. Learning how things really work is much more difficult. I'll probably keep lurking in the background listening in and gathering information till I feel more comfortable with my radio and more secure in what I'm doing. In the mean time, I'll keep getting ready for the next test.
|
| |
|
My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by KE2IV on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Don,
Bravo! And welcome to the wide, wonderful and (sometimes) crazy world of ham radio.
As to your Extra - look at it this way. I was first licensed in 1964 but didn't get my Extra until 2000 when they first dropped the 20 WPM requirement.
It's a long story about "stolen" frequencies due to "Incentive Licensing" etc. But never let anyone tell you that you are not a true ham! If you like CW then enjoy it - - it not - - that's great too! These days we have a multitude of modes and bands and only a few old codgers still believe that being a "real" ham requires mastery of a antiquated skill originally used to communicate messages between railroad stations!
Enjoy ham radio with two caveats:
1) Minimize your time on these websites - they eat up "on the air" time and they tend to be habituated by cranky old, unhappy (usually white) men.
2) Stay away from 75M phone for the same reasons!!!
73,
George*
KE2IV
*and yes, I am white, and yes I am getting old(er), but hopefully not too cranky and I only work DX in the window on 75M!!
|
| |
|
My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by N6AJR on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Congrats on your new found hobby. I was a 2 meter tech from 1978 (I never was a novice) untill a couple years ago. It was always the code holding me back. I kept my license current but basically went inactive untill feb of 2001 when I bought a vx5r. What a neat little rig, when my last one was a new ft 101 ee!!
I decided to study for my general, and found I could be grandfathered in as a general as I had already passed the (then) general test and the 5 wpm in 1978. so I upgraded and a week an a day later I passed my extra. It was always the code holding me back. ( I don't do well on foriegn languages either), any ways I had the knowledge thanks to 8 years in the Air Force in classified electronics, and I'm glad I am an Extra now.
Remember that you passed the test they gave at the time you upgraded, that is decided by the FCC not you. I am an extra lite with a quarter century of dues paid so where do I fit, ??? Any where I want.
Get on the repeaters and make frends, its just one more way to be aham. My buddies and I spot interesting DX now and then and tell each other on the repeater, amoung other things.
There are so many things to do as a ham, from antennas to satilites to tv to teaching others to helping with disasters and so on. I'm proud to be a ham, and at age 54 I am thinking about finally going after a private pilot license, if I pass the physical. why not, after all I made my extra and it only took 20 something years .. enjoy ... 73 tom N6AJR
|
| |
|
RE: My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by KG4RUL on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
As far as repeaters:
If we do not use them, we will lose them! More accurately, we will lose the spectrum they are operating in.
Dennis - KG4RUL
|
| |
|
RE: My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by NI0C on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great thoughts. May your enthusiasm for this wonderfully diverse hobby never wane. Your code speed will improve by listening to lots of good code at speeds just slightly faster than you are comfortable with, and by enjoying lots of conversations on CW. Thanks for your write-up-- it is a breath of fresh air.
73 de Chuck NI0C
|
| |
|
My Perspective as a Newcomer
|
Reply
|
|
by KC8RXE on March 5, 2003
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Congratulations!
I too am a recent Extra, and I can appreciate your perspective. It took me about a year after getting my tech license to get enough courage to get on 2 meters and actually TALK to someone. I've been an Extra for 8 months, and just last week made my first HF QSO via PSK31. When I took the 5 WPM General test I felt anxious knowing most of the VE's had taken the 20 wpm, but they were genuinely nice and made me feel like I had accomplished something when I passed. I've had some bad experiences with hams on websites like this, but most of the hams I've talked to "on the air" have been very helpful. I still feel like I'm somewhere between being a Tech and a "Paper Extra", but I'm learning quickly and more importantly having a blast.
So have fun, and maybe I'll hear you on airwaves sometime.
Regards,
James Rice KC8RXE
|
| |
|
This Topic is Linked
This discussion is regarding an item in the
Articles area
of eHam.net.
View the item being discussed
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
Forum, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Forum Manager.
|
|
|
