View Full Version : Starting All Over
KD5NAB
01-31-2007, 07:03 PM
How many of you have had to move, and then try to make new freinds on the air waves?
It seams to me to be a little hard to get those locals to talk to some strange new call sign.
We as hams should help new hams in the area to be welcome and just key up that radio and do some talking.
WB2WIK
01-31-2007, 07:14 PM
I've moved lots of times, including a pretty big move coast-to-coast and didn't have this problem.
Of course, a lot of my operating is on HF, where the stations I'm contacting are thousands of miles away, anyway. But still, you do need to meet & greet with neighboring hams.
One thing I did right away was "join" a local VHF repeater group (with dues). Not so much that I wanted to use the repeaters, but I wanted to meet the local people. The group has "breakfasts" every month, and dinners about every other month, and all sorts of social events. Perfect opportunity to meet the folks face to face; thereafter, when you break in on a conversation or ask if anyone's listening, they know who you are and come right back.
WB2WIK/6
kn4ds
01-31-2007, 07:22 PM
I ran into this in 2000, when moving to a new town. I went to a couple of club meetings, but felt something a cold shoulder... so basically I just put ham radio aside while there.
After moving here to middle GA, at least one of the clubs has been welcoming... no troubles there. I've never had much contact with the other local club, but maybe I'll go see sometime.
I think it has to do with the group. There are a lot of areas that have two or more clubs, too, due to decades-old frictions between groups.
Probably I just didn't meet up with the right group in that other town.
Moved to Jackson less than a year ago. Just jumped in. Now if I miss the morning net on 2M for more than a day I get a phone call, "Are you ok?". Alot of fine people here and good Amateurs. Jackson has its Hamfest this weekend. I am looking forward to it!
n0nwo
01-31-2007, 07:35 PM
First you got to get their attention. Put up the tallest tower with the biggest ugliest antenna you can find. They will be stumbling all over themselves to see your shack. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Actually, some communities are more closed than others. It may just take time where you are at. Check into local nets if there are any, try to attend a club meeting or two and give a call to some one after they have just signed from another QSO and introduce yourself. Let them know you are new and are there to stay. If you write down a couple of local calls, and call them after a QSO and introduce yourself a couple of times, the ice will soon be broken and flood gates will be opened. It that don't work, go back to paragraph number one in my post. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
MInton
I moved to Enid, OK about 15 years ago. #Packet was still the big thing so I got that fired up and met several of the locals on packet. #Since the club president was on packet and one of the first I met, that was helpful. #I found that I was able to make friends with the newer hams easier than some of the older ones. #Perhaps it was just that they were more eager to chat during the day when I was mobile on 2m.
It always takes some time to get to know people and then learn which ones you can get along with well. #Don't be afraid to be active in the club, but don't try to take it over either. #Eventually you will find those like-minded hams that will become life-long friends.
In fact, one of those life-long friends from Enid called me last night to tell me he has become settled in Oregon and loves it. #He was having trouble with ULS, so I helped him out on that too. #Despite all the debates on licensing and such, ham radio is ultimately about people and friendship.
Quote[/b] ] I went to a couple of club meetings, but felt something a cold shoulder... so basically I just put ham radio aside while there.
Don't put ham radio aside. Just put the club scene aside.
A cold shoulder from a club should not keep you from having on the air fun.
I have been to some club meetings where I was basically ignored but I found that getting on the air was more fun than club meetings anyway.
I have known some really great hams who wanted nothing to do with the politics of clubs.
On the other hand I got lucky. I found a small club where egos are put aside and politics are virtually non-existent.
I actually look forward to the meetings.
WA2ZDY
01-31-2007, 08:12 PM
I've been here in Florida for six months now. One local repeater is on a tower I can see from my window. Even with the HT, I get into it. They hear me. Total contacts on 2m/440 since I got here? Zero. Their loss. I've exchanged emails with one other ham who lives in this same "no antennas" allowed subdivision. We've traded antenna ideas.
I still haven't decided whether I want to bother or not but on HF it won't matter about the locals. Clearly though in this immediate area they don't like 2-land calls. Oh well. CW contacts are worth double on Field Day and it doesn't look like I'll be making any for the local club. Bummer for them, huh?
2m rigs for sale!
KA3CTQ
01-31-2007, 08:18 PM
I have moved a couple times and never had a problem.
Just throw your call out there on the local repeater and you will get to know some people. If you don't like the one group you visit, there may be another not too far away.
Just have fun with it.
wb7dmx
01-31-2007, 08:21 PM
heck, I have moved around the country so many times I have lost count.
but the best part was that ham radio always let me stay in contact with all the friends I have made across the country and make new ones no matter where I lived.
wd0ct
01-31-2007, 08:56 PM
Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ Jan. 31 2007,12:31)]Moved to Jackson less than a year ago. Just jumped in. Now if I miss the morning net on 2M for more than a day I get a phone call, "Are you ok?". Alot of fine people here and good Amateurs. Jackson has its Hamfest this weekend. I am looking forward to it!
Hope you find some bargains Charlie.
KE5FRF
01-31-2007, 09:04 PM
Quote[/b] (wd0ct @ Jan. 31 2007,15:56)]Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ Jan. 31 2007,12:31)]Moved to Jackson less than a year ago. #Just jumped in. #Now if I miss the morning net on 2M for more than a day I get a phone call, "Are you ok?". Alot of fine people here and good Amateurs. #Jackson has its Hamfest this weekend. I am looking forward to it!
Hope you find some bargains Charlie.
I'll (most likely) be in Jackson on Saturday too. Don't really have a shopping list, but I like to go for the social aspect as much as anything. Last year, Jackson had some interesting forums too. Great hamfest.
KA4DPO
01-31-2007, 10:17 PM
I'm planning to retire soon and look forward to moving. #I've moved many times in my career with the Army and have always enjoyed the challenges of setting up antennas and stations in my new location.
Throughout I have kept in contact with old friends and made many new ones everywhere I went, including Florida. #The 146.25/85 machine used to be one of the friendliest in Brevard County.
Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 30 2007,13:22)]I ran into this in 2000, when moving to a new town. I went to a couple of club meetings, but felt something a cold shoulder... so basically I just put ham radio aside while there.
After moving here to middle GA, at least one of the clubs has been welcoming... no troubles there. I've never had much contact with the other local club, but maybe I'll go see sometime.
I think it has to do with the group. There are a lot of areas that have two or more clubs, too, due to decades-old frictions between groups.
Probably I just didn't meet up with the right group in that other town.
Hey Dave,
First hand I know there are a lot of great and welcoming guys in and around your area. When I go to visit my mother in Albany, I can often find a few guys to chat with from just south of Athens, through Macon to beyond Americus, where I exit the interstate to head for Albany. It would seem all of the bad eggs in Georgia are in the greater Atlanta metro area, where one is usually attacked for so much as IDing on a 2m repeater. You are quite fortunate indeed!
very 73 de Tom
PS, I also learned how to say HOWstun instead of HEWZtun. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
kn4ds
02-01-2007, 01:04 AM
Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Jan. 31 2007,17:32)]First hand I know there are a lot of great and welcoming guys in and around your area. When I go to visit my mother in Albany, I can often find a few guys to chat with from just south of Athens, through Macon to beyond Americus, where I exit the interstate to head for Albany. It would seem all of the bad eggs in Georgia are in the greater Atlanta metro area, where one is usually attacked for so much as IDing on a 2m repeater. You are quite fortunate indeed!
very 73 de Tom
PS, I also learned how to say HOWstun instead of HEWZtun. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
There are a lot of great guys around these parts, and most places, I can almost always talk to someone on a repeater.
In Atlanta... well, there are some guys up there that have claimed "ownership" of a couple of simplex frequencies, and they will climb right up you if you so much as key up on "their" frequency.
I've never gotten chewed out for calling on one of the repeaters... but then, I think the only one I've ever used is the TOTR (Top Of The Rock... on top of Stone Mountain) machine (146.760). That's run by the club that puts on the Lawrenceville hamfest, and a bunch of great folks there, too.
And I, too, had to get used to HOUSE-ton pronunciation here!
KI4PEQ
02-01-2007, 01:18 AM
Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 31 2007,19:04)]Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Jan. 31 2007,17:32)]First hand I know there are a lot of great and welcoming guys in and around your area. When I go to visit my mother in Albany, I can often find a few guys to chat with from just south of Athens, through Macon to beyond Americus, where I exit the interstate to head for Albany. It would seem all of the bad eggs in Georgia are in the greater Atlanta metro area, where one is usually attacked for so much as IDing on a 2m repeater. You are quite fortunate indeed!
very 73 de Tom
PS, I also learned how to say HOWstun instead of HEWZtun. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
There are a lot of great guys around these parts, and most places, I can almost always talk to someone on a repeater.
In Atlanta... well, there are some guys up there that have claimed "ownership" of a couple of simplex frequencies, and they will climb right up you if you so much as key up on "their" frequency.
I've never gotten chewed out for calling on one of the repeaters... but then, I think the only one I've ever used is the TOTR (Top Of The Rock... on top of Stone Mountain) machine (146.760). #That's run by the club that puts on the Lawrenceville hamfest, and a bunch of great folks there, too.
And I, too, had to get used to HOUSE-ton pronunciation here!
Folks from Georgia can't help it if Texans mispronounce "Houston".
The guy they named their Texas city after mispronounced it, too! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Ever been to Georgia's Taliaferro County? It's not pronounced the way it looks, either! (It's pronounced Tal if er. the "o" is silent)
When I lived in central Florida in a town once known for its cattle industry, we could tell who was a tourist and who was not by the way they pronounced the name of the town. Care to guess what the name is?
Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Jan. 30 2007,19:18)]Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 31 2007,19:04)]Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Jan. 31 2007,17:32)]First hand I know there are a lot of great and welcoming guys in and around your area. When I go to visit my mother in Albany, I can often find a few guys to chat with from just south of Athens, through Macon to beyond Americus, where I exit the interstate to head for Albany. It would seem all of the bad eggs in Georgia are in the greater Atlanta metro area, where one is usually attacked for so much as IDing on a 2m repeater. You are quite fortunate indeed!
very 73 de Tom
PS, I also learned how to say HOWstun instead of HEWZtun. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
There are a lot of great guys around these parts, and most places, I can almost always talk to someone on a repeater.
In Atlanta... well, there are some guys up there that have claimed "ownership" of a couple of simplex frequencies, and they will climb right up you if you so much as key up on "their" frequency.
I've never gotten chewed out for calling on one of the repeaters... but then, I think the only one I've ever used is the TOTR (Top Of The Rock... on top of Stone Mountain) machine (146.760). #That's run by the club that puts on the Lawrenceville hamfest, and a bunch of great folks there, too.
And I, too, had to get used to HOUSE-ton pronunciation here!
Folks from Georgia can't help it if Texans mispronounce "Houston".
The guy they named their Texas city after mispronounced it, too! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Ever been to Georgia's Taliaferro County? It's not pronounced the way it looks, either! (It's pronounced Tal if er. the "o" is silent)
When I lived in central Florida in a town once known for its cattle industry, we could tell who was a tourist and who was not by the way they pronounced the name of the town. Care to guess what the name is?
Not to mention that my mother lives in Dirty county too. I'm still not sure how they get that out of Dougherty though. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
KA4DPO
02-01-2007, 03:53 AM
Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Jan. 31 2007,20:18)]Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 31 2007,19:04)]Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Jan. 31 2007,17:32)]First hand I know there are a lot of great and welcoming guys in and around your area. When I go to visit my mother in Albany, I can often find a few guys to chat with from just south of Athens, through Macon to beyond Americus, where I exit the interstate to head for Albany. It would seem all of the bad eggs in Georgia are in the greater Atlanta metro area, where one is usually attacked for so much as IDing on a 2m repeater. You are quite fortunate indeed!
very 73 de Tom
PS, I also learned how to say HOWstun instead of HEWZtun. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
There are a lot of great guys around these parts, and most places, I can almost always talk to someone on a repeater.
In Atlanta... well, there are some guys up there that have claimed "ownership" of a couple of simplex frequencies, and they will climb right up you if you so much as key up on "their" frequency.
I've never gotten chewed out for calling on one of the repeaters... but then, I think the only one I've ever used is the TOTR (Top Of The Rock... on top of Stone Mountain) machine (146.760). #That's run by the club that puts on the Lawrenceville hamfest, and a bunch of great folks there, too.
And I, too, had to get used to HOUSE-ton pronunciation here!
Folks from Georgia can't help it if Texans mispronounce "Houston".
The guy they named their Texas city after mispronounced it, too! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Ever been to Georgia's Taliaferro County? It's not pronounced the way it looks, either! (It's pronounced Tal if er. the "o" is silent)
When I lived in central Florida in a town once known for its cattle industry, we could tell who was a tourist and who was not by the way they pronounced the name of the town. Care to guess what the name is?
Was it Twoegg or Yehaw Junction? Or maybe Dee-Lan?
kn4ds
02-01-2007, 03:57 AM
Remember, in Georgia, it's not all-BAHNY, it's ALL-binny
WA2ZDY
02-01-2007, 06:14 PM
Ok PEQ, what town are you talking about? Kissimmee comes to mind as often mispronounced. Nothing to mispronounce where I am. And there are no native Floridians around anyway, so anything original here is gone.
ki4ned
02-01-2007, 07:36 PM
i moved from palm beach gardens to port saint lucie, florida, 5 houses down the road is another ham, kb4vve, one day i knocked on his door and said hello, im the new guy. we are good friends since then, i became a member of the fort pierce radio club, no problems here.
73 christoph
w4wtf
02-02-2007, 05:30 AM
Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Feb. 01 2007,11:14)]Ok PEQ, what town are you talking about? # Kissimmee comes to mind as often mispronounced. #Nothing to mispronounce where I am. # And there are no native Floridians around anyway, so anything original here is gone.
A few left down that way, my Father in Law lives in Ridge Manor, I have been trying to get him to get his ticket.
I get down there a couple times a year, hold on to that 2m rig..we will give the locals an earfull, even toss in some Modat!
KI4PEQ
02-07-2007, 06:40 AM
Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Feb. 01 2007,12:14)]Ok PEQ, what town are you talking about? # Kissimmee comes to mind as often mispronounced. #Nothing to mispronounce where I am. # And there are no native Floridians around anyway, so anything original here is gone.
Correct! There were plenty of natives when I lived near there as a child, long before Walt announced "Disneyland East" on the Wonderful World of Color (I didn't even know color TV existed until a few years later when my rich uncle bought an RCA). Still quite a few native Floridians in the panhandle. I was born and raised in Florida, back when Miami was pronounced "My am uh". "Gonna marry my girl in Miami, and then I'm goin to Tampa with her!" was an old joke when I was growing up.
Kiss SIM ee in the daytime, and KISS me at night. I cringe when I see that motel commercial where they pronounce it KISS sim ee.