what do hams do ??? what should hams do ??? enthusiastic amateur radio
TRANSCRIPT
• What do hams do ???• What should hams do ???
ENTHUSIASTICAMATEUR RADIO
Presented February 2, 2013 At Aroostook Amateur Radio Association
monthly meeting
by
Ivan Shapiro
WK1W
.- - -.- .- - - - .- -
Encourage other PEOPLEEncourage other HAMS
to do “things”
licensing – upgrading – dxing - fun stuff
field day – contesting – rag chewing
build kits/antennas/whatever
ARES-RACES/community service
* ENTHUSIASM *
NEW HAM –enthusiastic about radio learn new things EXPERIENCED HAM –experienced. Lots of knowledge
RETIRED – has time to be enthusiastic
To a prospective ham:
“It is NOT overwhelming !! ”
• HOW DO I BEGIN?
• WHERE TO START?
• WHO WILL HELP ME IF NEEDED?
• RESOURCE MATERIALS?
• Should I get books? Which? Where?
AARA ENCOURAGEMENT and
ASSISTANCE
Get Your Ham Radio License
• ARRL Books: www.arrl.org
• QRZ www.qrz.com/ht
• www.hamtestonline.com
• You don’t need a car to get a driver’s license
• You don’t need a radio to get a ham license
ARRL
Getting Licensed
Practice Tests
Tehnician Test: Subjects
Hamtestonline.com
“CW”• You don’t need
_._. ._ _
FCC CHANGED RULES-WHY?
FCC wants more hams (replaced SK’s)
FCC recognizes young people text & email
FCC recognizes digital modes as important
OK: You Have Your Tech Ticket
• IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE to GENERAL WHY?
– More Frequencies Allocated for phone– DX-ing: what is it?– How Do I Upgrade?
Technician License-Your First Ticket
Got General?Time to Upgrade to Extra
• WHY?• All Amateur Frequencies and Privileges
–So? What’s the big deal?
• Let me tell you
–Less crowded frequencies in extra portion
–Seems less noisy in extra portion
This is WHY UPGRADE
Log EntriesCasual DX-ing
AMATEUR EXTRA CLASSIs it difficult to pass the test?
• No. If I can pass, so can you.
• NCVEC-maintained question pool & answers
You see, FCC wants you to get ticket and upgrade
Extra test Categories
OK, So I upgraded to ExtraNow I get Vanity Call* WHY
• Shorter Call Sign
• Shorter call = better for contesting and CW
• Easier to understand (i.e. bravo/papa)
• You are known to be amateur extra
• I started having people call me-first time
• Give my call in pileups. I get called !!
• * [Not necessary. Not everyone wants it]
GOT EXTRA CLASS What’s Next?
You Guessed it right !!
GET VANITY CALL newer extras? estalished extras?
Become a VE (volunteer examiner)
WHY ?? Help out. Give back Learn CW
There is always something more…………
HOW TO GET VANITY CALL
• Here’s How:
• YOU can file with FCC
• I used W5YI group (www.w5yi.org)– My questions answered, and I had plenty– They walked me thru. Explained the
process
W5YI Groupw5yi.org
Vanityhq.com
1 x 2 calls
2 x 1with explanation
FCC VANITY APPLICATION SEARCH (status)http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/ApplicationSearch/searchVanity.jsp
FCC ULSInitial Grant and Upgrade
ULS Details of Status
FCC: Previous call cancelled
Vanity Call Preference List
Do I Need
QSL CARDS
QSL Cards - WHY?Do I need to have them? No.
Then why bother: Your decision– It’s polite to reciprocate if you receive one– You can just use LOTW– You can use eQSL– You can opt out
For DX-ing, though not required, it’s polite to reciprocate
QSL CARDS
• Google search for printers of qsl cards
• Comparison of features vs. cost
• Decision
• Examples to follow
My Previous QSL Cardsource: cheapqsl.com
Cheapqsls.com$50.00 per 500 + postage
KB3IFH$100.00 per 1000 + 11.00 shipping
KB3IFH
K4JSG.comfront
$80 per 1000 – includes shipping
K4JSG.comback
So what is DX-ingThis is a DX Cluster
One click brings up long entry/another gets QRZ page
One-click log entry from cluster
** QUESTIONS **
HAVE YOU HELPED A NEW HAM LATELY? or one who needs help
HAVE YOU SOUGHT ONE OUT TO HELP?
HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT HAM RADIO TOSOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED?
* LET’S DO THIS*
a neat idea:
ADOPT-A-TECHask a tech class licenseeif he/she needs help to do
more radio and to UPGRADE
maybe the tech doesn’t know the benefitsexplain-explain-explain
THE END?
NO…Just getting started
LET’S DO THIS…..
TOGETHERAnd let’s not forget community service
ARES/RACES/EMCOMM
fin