Newbie Repeater Question - Youth Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : Youth : Newbie Repeater Question

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Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by KJ4BNF on February 14, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
First off I apologize I'm asking so many questions. The last four posts have been by me. I really appreciate all thy great help you all are providing. Now the question... I have ordered my radio and expect to get it up and running soon. As you can imagine I'm a little nervous getting on the air for the first time and dont want to sound like a fool. I think the best place to stat out is on one of our local repeaters. How should I start a convorsation or make my first contact? Also I have a receiver and have been listening to the repeater. It seams like people announce two callsigns when coming in or leaving a convorsation. What are these two callsigns for? Thanks in advance for your help! 73's kj4bnf Grant

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by K8GU on February 16, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
No worries, getting on the air for the first time can be intimidating. Each repeater has its own culture, just like any other community or forum. It's pretty common here in the midwest to say something like "KJ4BNF listening" or "KJ4BNF monitoring" if the repeater is quiet. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't. It all depends on who the locals are. You can also often pick up a contact after two (or more) people sign off by calling one of them. The two callsigns usually belong to the two stations who are communicating. So, if I was wrapping up a conversation with you, I might say, "Well, Grant, I need to go cut the lawn. Catch you later. KJ4BNF (this is) K8GU." Again, every operator and every repeater will have different variations of this. It's always helpful if you can get to a local club meeting and meet some of these people face-to-face, too. That may make some of the aspects of conversation a little less intimidating for everyone. Sometimes older and younger people don't feel like they have a lot to say to (or hear from) each other...so, if it's hard or awkward it first, it's not just you.

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by KJ4BNF on February 16, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks for the reply. I think I need to go to a local club meeting. It seams like everyone on the repeater knows everyone else and they're not interested in talking to new people. Hopefully I will find someone that will be willing to make a contact. I think I am going to go for my General License next month. I think I will like HF much better than VHF/UHF!

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by K8GU on February 17, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Like I said before, everywhere is different. Club meetings might be just like the repeater. I was fortunate that my dad and I both became hams at the same time. So, we went through everything together. If you can find a couple of other young (or young at heart) people to talk to on the repeater, you'll have a good time. HF exposes you to a lot more people...if you operate CW or digital, it's even harder to tell how young/new you are than on phone, too. I started DXing and contesting on HF simply because I didn't have to listen to "back in my day..." too much. But, that's what worked for me. You'll find your place in the hobby, even if it takes a little looking. Good luck on the General. I got the Extra two years after I started...and, I only wish I'd done it sooner. This hobby is a blast...

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by KJ4BNF on February 17, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I just made my first contact about 10 minutes ago. I have had no luck on our local Greenville repeaters so I decided to try to contact one in the city of Gaffney, SC which is about 50 miles away. I spoke with the very nice owner of the repeater and he encouraged me to use their box anytime. This certainly eased my worries. That one contact mede a BIG difference. 43 KJ4BNF Grant

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by KD0BIK on February 17, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The first one is the hardest...Now that you've had your first QSO, get back on the air and get that second one in the log. Before you know it you'll have 10 then 20. Attending (and joining) a local club is an excellent way to get to know fellow hams. I would also suggest checking into the local nets in your area. This can also help you get over the mic fright. Good luck Jerry

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by K8GU on February 18, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Glad you had a good one...welcome and have fun!

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by ONAIR on February 19, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Listen for a net, and jump on to give support to it. That way you can be heard by the other hams who are on the net, and will become familiar to them.

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by W1ITT on February 28, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Grant... Don't fall into the trap of believing that repeater operation has any resemblance to real radio. Mostly, repeaters have become dead-ends. While you are on a roll, keep working and get your General class license. The world is much larger and more diverse on the "real" ham bands that will open up for you. While you may wish to occasionally utilize a repeater while you are on a short commute, you will seriously limit your Amateur radio career if you stagnate there. The Technician license was originally introduced to encourage vhf-uhf-microwave experimentation and technological advancement, but almost immediately it became a stopping point for super cb-ers who merely wanted to yak. Hit the books a bit more. The best repeater is the ionosphere! 73 & welcome... Norm W1ITT

RE: Newbie Repeater Question	Reply
by KR4WM on April 16, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Welcome to the airwaves! Glad to hear you picked up a radio and got on the air! So many are content to get on Echolink and miss out on the real world of amateur radio. It sounds like you need an elmer to guide you for a few steps. Sometimes your local club is a good place to look, and sometimes not. Sorry to be vague and ambiguous, but that's the way it is. It also sounds like you have a pretty good foundation to begin with. There's nothing wrong with hanging out on the VHF/UHF bands for awhile to learn a little protocol, just don't shut the door to other bands. If it were me, I would have invested in an all-mode rig like the Kenwood TS-2000 or the Yaesu FT-847 (if my radio budget would permit it). Both will do HF when you upgrade your license, and are great for working long-haul VHF/UHF (I've confirmed Canada and Texas on 2M, West VA. on 432, and California and Costa Rica on 6M). When I started in the hobby, I was told to listen, listen, listen for about a month to see what normal protocol was. Once I saw how everyone else did it, it was easy from there. Wish I was in Greenville, I'd be glad to help you set up! I'm in Myrtle Beach. I'll be through there on May 1st- maybe I'll get to work you from the mobile. 73, -KR4WM

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