View Full Version : Worked some new Generals today!
And guess what?
They were all pretty savvy about HF phone operating. Good procedures, ID'ing correctly with calls and the /AG addendum.
All in all, a good experience... Pretty much exactly what I had expected. In fact, one of the locals dropped by my frequency, and he was /AE!
Yep, all-in-all a good day on twenty meters, and I'm looking forward to plenty more.
Now, only one quick note for the newbies:
Please, please, please! When you give me your name, remember you have a name, not a "personal"! Just use the same good English that you would normally use, and forget about the lingo.
Yeah, after you've been around for a while, the lingo can be useful, but while you're learning the ropes, take it easy on us old curmudgeons and just speak simple, understandable English.
But having said all that, I'm sure that the new guys will get it soon enough!
OK, one last thing:
ARRL DX test this week-end! DX galore!
Don't be shy, and if you hear an exchange ending with a power lever i.e. 59 KW or 59 100, that's a DX station!
Give him a call!
Have fun, and I'm looking forward to working all you newbies in the year(s) to come!
73 Gary WG7X
kn4ds
03-02-2007, 01:07 AM
That's good to hear. I'm glad everybody's having fun... that's what it's all about, and I'm especially proud to be hearing good reports on the newly upgraded.
N8MME
03-02-2007, 04:08 PM
I have had the same experience as the originator of this thread. #Good operating practices. #It will be interesting to see what this does to the new equipment market. #Maybe some of the manufacturers will come out with more choices in HF gear. #
73's all.
KI4ODO
03-02-2007, 04:12 PM
Great post!! it projects the spirit of ham radio. Good compliments, good sound advice for us who are learning, thank you. I mean that, thank you! I sure hope to run into you on the band because attitudes like yours make ham radio better. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Have a great day, #Marvin
WA7OET
03-02-2007, 04:24 PM
I dont work phone but looking forward to seeing some new generals on CW... 40 and 20 meters above 7.05 and 14.05.
W0BKR
03-02-2007, 04:32 PM
I've worked a number already, don't have a count on me at the moment and no different then the other ops I have contacted previously.
Hope some end up on CW also. Great fun in the CW band.
KI4ODO
03-02-2007, 04:37 PM
Quote[/b] (W0BKR @ Mar. 02 2007,09:32)]I've worked a number already, don't have a count on me at the moment and no different then the other ops I have contacted previously. #
Hope some end up on CW also. #Great fun in the CW band.
Funny you should say that. I have been having a blast learning CW for about a month now. I could pass a 5wpm test at this point, but who cares, I want to use it. I am practicing at about 8 wpm with a character speed of 15wpm. I moved up this week from 6wpm so I can see the progress. I'm having fun with it. I have made a couple of contacts that I struggled through, but in another week or so I should be good to go as far as copying slow without getting brain freeze lol.
Yall' have fun, 73
Marvin http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
WA7OET
03-02-2007, 04:52 PM
I remember when my code speed went way up.... it was one summer where I used to listen to the fastest CW ops I could find... it was fun to pick out letters then words then sentences... give it a shot, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Went over to phone to work /AGs and worked two. Nice guys trying hard to fit in. I admire that.
ai4ep
03-03-2007, 03:02 AM
Naw, say it didnt happen !!
AG4YO actually talked to some folks with a " /ag " to their callsign ?
...after all that has been printed on the internet ...??
but...if it IS true, congradulations to all 3 folks; Charlie and the other 2 operators.
.........................there just might be hope for MISTER ag4yo....??!!
W4MAY
03-03-2007, 04:51 AM
Remember that many Techs spent a lot of time on 6 meters. When it is open not much different than working someone on 20. Enjoying the new privileges--worked 25 countries this evening on 40.
73 Paul W4MAY/AE
kd7msc
03-03-2007, 05:07 AM
Topic: Worked some new Generals today!
Well better than working some new Privates. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
N7RJD
03-03-2007, 05:45 AM
Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Mar. 02 2007,13:02)]Naw, say it didnt happen !!
AG4YO actually talked to some folks with a " /ag " to their callsign ?
...after all that has been printed on the internet ...??
but...if it IS true, congradulations to all 3 folks; Charlie and the other 2 operators.
.........................there just might be hope for MISTER ag4yo....??!!
Actually if you had been reading Charlie's words you would know that he has made a point of saying on air is one thing and internet discussion is another.
I know he comes off as a serious grinch on the boards when it comes to the new code free licensees but taking him at his word leaves me short of expecting that he would do the same on air.
kn4ds
03-03-2007, 05:59 AM
Quote[/b] (KE7DLG @ Mar. 03 2007,00:45)]Actually if you had been reading Charlie's words you would know that he has made a point of saying on air is one thing and internet discussion is another.
Agreed... it'll probably take a sked, but I'd be honored to add AG4YO to my log.
He's vocal (and sometimes offensive to some) in his online postings, but I don't for a minute believe that would come across on the air.
And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with being vocal about your beliefs, even on the air... but Charlie's got too much respect for the hobby to go raising hell on the air. I've been glad to see his reports on the /AGs... it just proves that he's got strong beliefs, but he's a gentleman in being fair regarding the on-air behavior of those he's worked/heard.
Back here again after hosting our local clubs (http://www.W7DK.org) General class.
12 students, and everyone is looking forward to taking the test on March 13th. This too, has been a rewarding experience, and I'll probably do it again.
This whole thing takes me back to when I was a newbie; looking at the vast Amateur spectrum, with all the various activities that await the new licensee.
In a way, I suppose that I envy them, because its all new for them, where I've got a few miles on me...
Oh, Well... I'm still going to have fun working the new Generals and Extras. Soon enough they will have fully assimilated and this will be old hat to them too.
I have never lost my interest in the magic of radio, and of HF operations in particular. I hope the new licensee's enjoy the Hobby/Service as much as I do!
73 Gary WG7X
KD7UFF
03-03-2007, 07:58 AM
Hi Gary (WG7X)
Dan over here in Forks,WA (about 60 miles west of Port Angeles, WA) I plan on taking my General test over at your guys & gals hamfest on the 10th if there is enought room. Its 11:54 PM now and just called it another night of study.. So maybe I will see you over at the hamfest..
Your gang always puts on a heck of a great hamfest..
73
Dan/KD7UFF
N5LRZ
03-03-2007, 12:41 PM
Re the original poster
Procedures have never been the question.
I, myself have worked a 5 wpm extra who happened to be under the age of 10. The gentlemen had better protocal sense than most of the members in the group who have had their licenses for many years. My good bud has a son almost 10 whome he lets talk on his 2 M radio (3rd party of course) from time to time who has just as good as if not better procedural sense than most of the locals on the 2 M circuits. You see, its not a matter of protocal. Its simply a matter of earning your priledges, sucking it up, paying the price without having to ask for cheese to go with your whine.
The MAJOR querstion has never been ability to commit to a protocal of procedure. The main sticking point has always been that of "FREE". You see up to the no code era/movement you had to at least make some effort to EARN your privledges. And while the code may have been only 5 WPM, AT LEAST you knew the traditional skill. In doing so you 'Earned' a certain amout of respect from those already there. Respect must be "Earned" and can never be delegated.
What stuck in MY craw and I think a lot of other peoples craws, I believe/my HO, is that it was all a giveaway in the face of people who actually earned their license. Its like having an office full of hard working people people striving to be better at doing their jobs and suddently dropping in it the boss's airhead daughter into a position of management as the Office Manager who only qualified because she needed a job. You gotta know more than a few hard fealings are going to follow.
You mentioned procedures, so as not be completely negative, from personal observation of the no code techies over the past couple of years at least in my area, I find that they have given a very good account of themselves as far as procedures go. In fact they surprised he jell out of me for the most part.
NOW I know, having said the above, that the Amateur Radio Service needs more people, particularly young people, to replace those of us who are getting old and passing away. It's the METHOD of recruitment that is the cause of the resentment not those recruited or their abilty to adapt and blend into the procedures. Anyone can perform procedures. Its not about procudures, good people or bad people. In reality is NOT about know v not know code. Its about IDIOLOGY and the death of "Tradition". When Accepted Tradition is superior to Idiology one should always tell Idiology to take a long walk on a short pier.
One persons humble Point of View/opinion.
But past is past is it not?. Let us MOVE ONWARD and FORWARD into the unknown future to see what this new seed that has been planted will produce. We can do so with hopefully the result being that some day someone will look back and say that the growth pains were worth it.
May your day be fruitful
May your family prosper
N5LRZ
Yes it will take a sched as I work mostly CW. I get on 3.955 on Friday and Saturday nights after midnight for a few minutes and that's about the limit to my SSB.
N5FOG
03-03-2007, 02:00 PM
Quote[/b] (N5LRZ @ Mar. 02 2007,07:41)]Its simply a matter of earning your priledges, sucking it up, paying the price without having to ask for cheese to go with your whine.
It’s the exact attitude you have expressed that is the problem. This isn't a Masonic lodge where you have to be initialed and earn the privilege of being a member or some kind of fraternity that you have to be “pledge” into.
This is a federally licensed radio service and the exam should reflect that. The purpose of the exam is to make sure the applicant has the working knowledge of technical theory and all applicable laws and theory.
The exam isn’t to make someone “earn their license” or see if they are dedicated enough to be a ham or anything like that, its purpose is to make sure they know enough to safely and legally operate their station, nothing less nothing more.
The point the author of this thread was trying to do is address the long argued point that the removal of the CB exam would cause an influx of CB type operators or lids.
What you call "whining" was actually hams trying to point that out. The FCC finally saw what allot of the no-code crowd has been saying for years, that a CW proficiency exam has no bearing on someone’s abilities to operator a HF station.
Making someone prove they have CW proficiency for HF privileges is like making you prove you can drive a manual transmission to get your drivers license.
Your posting proves what allot of no-code have been saying, all it’s about is you guys feel cheated and it’s the “I had to do it so should you” attitude.
FOG
ab9lz
03-03-2007, 02:05 PM
I have yet to hear a -..-. .- --. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Charlie, are you ever on 30?
73 Mark.
Hey! Youse Guys!
Knock it off already!
I was trying to be positive about the current state of affairs. There are already waay to many negative threads about how things are and who got reamed and who is the reamer etc ect ect...
The facts are:
1. The rules have changed.
2. Change is a constant.
3. There is nothing new in the universe.
I was sitting up in the W7DK library yesterday, perusing old QST magazines from the early forties and mid forties. the mags from 1944 were all about what the amateur service would look like after the war.
What was interesting to me was that there had been some rumblings in the 1940 mags about licensing, and testing, and qualifications.
There really is nothing new, because the letters to the editor column in the early 1940's QST's looked very much like the current argumnets here on QRZ.
Old timers grousing about the new "Phone OPS", complaints about how the new (1940's) operators just wanted to operate phone, not CW, complaints about old time operators jamming CW practice nets on 160, and my personal favorite, some gnarly OT complaining about a proposal for a "no code" phone only license!
In 1940!
Yeah its the same old same old...
So you see, guys those who don't know the past are truly doomed to repeat it, repeat it repeat it...
73 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Gary WG7X
ka7fox
03-06-2007, 05:46 PM
wg7x hit the nail on the head: the FCC has nothing to do with "earning" anything and this argument has been around as long as ham radio itself.
You should "earn" respect in how you treat people online, and on the radio...
You should "earn" respect by doing new things and pushing the limits of radio theory.
You should "earn" respect by helping out with emergencies and events.
You should not "earn" respect by taking a federal test, even if some of you think its easy, I'm sure theres just as many people that think its hard.
Edit to add: I have a few friends that cannot learn Morse, they try really hard and totally fail to retain it... its just the same as people who cant learn new languages.
Ham radio will not die out because of new blood, it will die out because of the lack of it.
I'm doing my best to get new blood into the hobby, what those of you on this forum should ask yourself is, are you helping?
- KA7FOX / VA7FEN
PS: WG7X, hope to see you at the W7DK VE session on the 13th, maybe it will be a day of good luck for me (I don't mean the test, I mean the busses).
Well honestly if we want new blood in the hobby, we should be going back to our roots - which is experimenting and homebrewing.
Simply encouraging people to get into it and boosting the numbers "by any means necessary" isn't good enough.
We should be actively showing prospective hams that this is a technical hobby, not a replacement for the cell phone or internet.
Quality over quantity, I always say.
kg4llq
03-06-2007, 11:28 PM
Quote[/b] (KI4ODO @ Mar. 02 2007,09:37)]Quote[/b] (W0BKR @ Mar. 02 2007,09:32)]I've worked a number already, don't have a count on me at the moment and no different then the other ops I have contacted previously. #
Hope some end up on CW also. #Great fun in the CW band.
Funny you should say that. I have been having a blast learning CW for about a month now. I could pass a 5wpm test at this point, but who cares, I want to use it. I am practicing at about 8 wpm with a character speed of 15wpm. I moved up this week from 6wpm so I can see the progress. I'm having fun with it. I have made a couple of contacts that I struggled through, but in another week or so I should be good to go as far as copying slow without getting brain freeze lol.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Yall' have fun, 73
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Marvin #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
To Marvin (KI4ODO) thanks for your single comment. #Please keep at CW. #I encourage you to log onto the FISTS CW Club's web site. #I've been a member for several years and find our members courteous, helpful and eager to help anyone beginning their path into CW operations. #It's great fun. #Check out a couple of FISTS call-frequencies: #7.058 & 14.058. The FISTS Motto is:
"Accuracy transcends Speed". #Courtesy above all!
Good luck & 73, Ken
Hey Dan, (KD7UFF)
The hamfest this week-end is the Mike and Key (K7LED) hamfest! The W7DK fest is in August again this year.
At any rate good luck on your test! Looking forward to hearing you on-the-air!
Kyle, (KA7FOX) Hope to see you at 'DK for the tests on the 13th. Our students will be taking their tests that day!
CU Guys later!
73 Gary
ka7fox
03-07-2007, 02:04 AM
I wont be able to make the Mike and Key thing, as I'm up in Soviet Canuckistan for some stuffs that may or may not involve ham stuffs.