Do you greet other hams on the road?

[N2RJ]

Interesting thing happened today.

I was driving along 23 and saw a red SUV with a large screwdriver antenna and a cap hat.

So I pass by slowly and send a "HI HI" on my horn. He waves hi and we wave back.

Then as I drive ahead of him, he sends CQ on his horn in CW.

I reply with "73"

Then he waves again and we drive off.

I am thinking of getting one of those magnets that say "146.520" on it so that any hams passing by would hopefully call me on the radio.

The bad thing is that this guy didn't have callsign plates. But the antenna was a dead giveaway.

Do you greet other hams on the road?

I sometimes do.

Sometimes I tap "CQ" sometimes I tap "di di dah dah di dit" and sometimes "HI HI" or sometimes "73" or sometimes I just wave hi.

[N2RJ]

I've also met a few hams at the NJ transit train station when waiting for the XYL.

One of them walked up to me and said, "ah, so I see 20 is open!!"

Turns out he lives in the area. I invited him to a club meeting and he's now a member.

[AG3Y]

We used to use an indication with our fingers to indicate that we had 2 meter equipment and were listening on the 146.52Mhz calling frequency. It simply consists of holding up our hand with all 5 fingers ( 4 +1 that is ) followed by two fingers in sequence to the side of our head. A fellow driver could see that signal from either in front of or behind you.

Since I don't drive anymore, I can't vouch that drivers are still doing it around here, but I bet they are.

Remember "five-two - - - five-two" worked for me!

73, Jim

[kd7msc]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Mar. 30 2007,11:59)]I am thinking of getting one of those magnets that say "146.520" on it so that any hams passing by would hopefully call me on the radio.
I know where you can get one of those. Send email and I can hook you up. You can also get callsign magnets or just the decal. 73, Sean http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[W5HTW]

I have to admit I still try to greet other hams when I see them along the road. It is, though, a frustrating experience. A tooted anything doesn't work much anymore, as the majority of hams I see are apparently no-code. Not meant as a snide remark, but simply true. They don't understand the "HI HI" I send.

Also, all too often the non-ham spouse is driving the car with ham plates, and she/he hunkers down when tooted at, wondering what the heck she/he did, and is she/he about to be shot in road rage.

Or, he/she extends one finger into the air and blows a loud and long "dash" back. No dots.

I have even tried it with cars sporting HF style antennas. Rarely any luck at all. Sometimes I think it is a real old timer who probably knew code and probably was a friendly ham, but all that is lost somewhere in the fog of his memory, and he may be too deaf to hear the horn at all.

Sometimes I pass them (If they are going the same way as I) and toot "HI HI" and let them hopefully look up and see the antennas on my car, usually an HF and a dual band. Instead, they hunker down and stare straight ahead.

So it's frustrating, honest. It almost never works.

What has happened, though, is I may be in a parking lot and someone notices the antennas and walks over and asks if I am a ham. That has happened twice in the past six years or so.

Once I was leaving McDonald's, driving my Jeep, with the Outbacker on the hood mount. There was a fellow there with another SUV and he was removing his Hamstick so he could open the rear hatch. I mean it was pretty obvious. So I tooted and waved. What I got was a dirty stare. Ah, so maybe the Hamstick was a freebander?? I didn't see any call plates.

So I have almost given up. Following some woman recently along a side road, saw she had a dual band antenna and ham call plates. I tooted "HI HI" (from behind her) and then picked up the microphone and gave her a call on 146.52. Got no answer. So was she the ham, and just oblivious? Or the ham spouse and thinking some gangster was giving her trouble?

It ain't like it used to be! Anytime I saw a ham plate and/or a ham antenna, I could toot a "HI HI" and probably get even a short ham-horn QSO, at least an exchange of call signs. Not any more. Either people don't know the code, or they can't hear, or they are too intimidated by road rage stories to respond.

Also, and again it is a sign of the times. being a ham radio operator is no longer very special, and in the eyes of many, seeing another one is a bit like seeing another dog on the highway. Too darned common. No uniqueness left. I think some of the hams view it as "so what?" "Big deal." It used to be, a real fellowship. That is mostly gone.

It is actually getting so I am afraid to toot the horn at someone. Honest.

So that is another ham tradition that has gone away, or nearly so. Too bad. Another loss of comraderie.

Ed

[N8CPA]

A few years ago, my wife and I were driving to Dayton to see my stepson. On I-70, I passed a car with NJ (no call sign) plates. That had several magmount antennas.

Assuming the fellow was a ham, I tooted HI as I passed. A few days later, I got a QSL and a letter from the gent. He explained that he was in a rental car moving to Missouri, and that he got my call from my plates.

[KC9ECI]

I was on the I coming back from Milwaukee one day with the company van and a car with amateur radio plates came past me. #I honked CQ, he gave me an odd look and sped up.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (kd7msc @ Mar. 30 2007,22:41)]Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Mar. 30 2007,11:59)]I am thinking of getting one of those magnets that say "146.520" on it so that any hams passing by would hopefully call me on the radio.
I know where you can get one of those. Send email and I can hook you up. You can also get callsign magnets or just the decal. 73, Sean http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Will do.

I don't need the callsign magnet, as I already have NJ ham plates.

But I will definitely need the one that say 146.52

[WS2L]

I usually send a HI when I see a plate, have also received many myself. Once in a while I run into the person in the parking lot and if I have time I will introduce myself.

[N9FE]

Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Mar. 30 2007,20:38)]We used to use an indication with our fingers to indicate that we had 2 meter equipment and were listening on the 146.52Mhz calling frequency. #It simply consists of holding up our hand with all 5 fingers ( 4 +1 that is ) followed by two fingers in sequence to the side of our head. # A fellow driver could see that signal from either in front of or behind you. #

Since I don't drive anymore, I can't vouch that drivers are still doing it around here, but I bet they are. #

Remember "five-two - - - five-two" # worked for me!

73, Jim
Yes same here, Jim, you just have to remember to use the right fingers when your flashing 5x2 5x2... N9FE

[kb2vxa]

Since we went from callsigns to baseball signs to gang signs I gave up driving. Railroad engineers still wave back though and often respond to the - - . - horn signal with a .. in return. (I guess you have to be a railroader to understand.)

[AG3Y]

I recently took a trip on Amtrak™ and heard the DaDaDiDaaah horn several times in those 12 hours. At every crossing, they blow that whistle.

As far as XYLs ( YLs ? ) in automobiles, I highly suspect that they are wives of ham radio operators. The number of licensed lady operators is very minimal , and one driving around in a car equipped with a mobile setup would be IMHO even more minimal! With all the sexual harrassment etc. in the world today, it does not surprise me that an XYL would "hunker down" behind the wheel when some guy singled her out and made what she perceived to be "advances" ! ! ! Sad !

Interesting that the "five two" sign is recognized out in 9 land. I guess it is or at least was more universal than I had thought !

73, Jim

[WA2ZDY]

Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Mar. 30 2007,23:38)]We used to use an indication with our fingers to indicate that we had 2 meter equipment and were listening on the 146.52Mhz calling frequency. #It simply consists of holding up our hand with all 5 fingers ( 4 +1 that is ) followed by two fingers in sequence to the side of our head. # A fellow driver could see that signal from either in front of or behind you. #
Good way to get shot at the next stoplight too.

Ed's right; the cameraderie is long dead.

[KG6WOU]

I've got the callsign plates and a sticker on the rear window listing my usual listening frequencies. I can only remember one call generated thereby.

You have to ask, does anyone listen to simplex calling anymore? I hear a few but not as many as you would expect, even on the open road.

Having a true dual band, I try to have 146.520 on all the time, and certainly when I'm actually traveling somewhere. On one trip in a bad storm, having a fellow operator about 5 miles ahead of me on the road was really helpful in knowing we could get thru.

[KE5FRF]

I've had some experience with "saying hi" to a ham while mobile. A year or so ago I saw a ham plate on my drive to work, which is mostly 4 lane city driving through intersected thoroughfare. I tooted the horn, pointed to the antenna, and gave the 5 - 2 sign with one hand, alternating between 5 fingers and two fingers. It was a local who doesn't get on 2 meters much but sometimes sandbags. He said hello and we chatted for just a few minutes.

I occasionally see guys I already know in town as I pull up to a traffic light and wave and also give the 5 - 2 signal. Those guys almost universally will meet me for a quick hello.

There is a Suburban or some other large SUV that I see occasionally with ham plates, a whip, and a woman driving. I've waved and recieved the same suspicious stare. I suspect this is an XYL who would just assume her hubby remove the ham gear from the family vehicle if she had her druthers.

On a few interstate road trips I've seen arials on vehicles, but I don't think I've tried to get their attention. Rest assured, if someone tries to get my attention, I'm always eager to reply.

I agree that the comradere is sometimes lacking, but it is not all lost. But I think this is less a symptom of ham radio and more a symptom of the world in general.

I've lived in my current home for over 4 months now, and have only spoken to one neighbor, and that was just a few days ago. This is just as much my fault as theirs, so I can't cast blame. But it does seem that the "welcome wagon" mentallity is gone. Honestly, the less my neighbors know about me, the better. I'll let them scratch their heads to figure out what the long wire that runs from my oak tree to the corner fenceposts is...no need in offering any info. I just hope the Department of Homeland Security doesn't get a call some day.

[N3ATS]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 31 2007,04:52)]I was on the I coming back from Milwaukee one day with the company van and a car with amateur radio plates came past me. I honked CQ, she gave me an odd look and sped up.
Damn no-coders! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Probably wifey out for a drive in her husband's vehicle that didn't have a clue...

[KC9ECI]

Doh! Fat fingers and too early in the morning for any sane person to be posting. That was supposed to be 'he' not 'she.'

[ai4ep]

speaking of FAT FINGERS...try to use one of the new CELL PHONES and drive at the same time, you wind up half the time hitting 2 numbers instead of just one. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KC9ECI]

Robert-
I just got a new cell phone a couple of days ago. The buttons ARE tiny...vocal recognition rocks though. I just tell it "Fire Station" and it dials the number. "E.T. phone home" does just that...phones home.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Mar. 31 2007,20:52)]speaking of FAT FINGERS...try to use one of the new CELL PHONES and drive at the same time, you wind up half the time hitting 2 numbers instead of just one. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I have voice dial on mine.

It's practically a necessity.

You can't dial on my phone while driving. I have a Treo 700p which has a full QWERTY keyboard.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 31 2007,20:56)]Robert-
I just got a new cell phone a couple of days ago. The buttons ARE tiny...vocal recognition rocks though. I just tell it "Fire Station" and it dials the number. "E.T. phone home" does just that...phones home.
First phone I had that did that was the Motorola V710. Cool phone, lousy quality. Motorola's cell phone division has really gone downhill.

Prior to that I had a Motorola T720 which did voice recognition but you had to train it. The 710 required no training whatsoever, and it even recognized my foreign accent.

Voice dial on my treo is similar. The technology is the same, made by a company called voice signal.

[ai4ep]

My cell phone is bottom - of - the line - cheap.

the voice mail is usually 1 day old.

I would say " normal for Alabama " but I think most of you are tired of reading all that kind of stuff, so I guess I am just getting the $22.68 service I pay for, with 100 minutes and most times I dont even use 10 of them in a month.

I DO understand why you folks want or even need such options on your phones, and glad you are able to make use of the conveniences of it.

[N2RJ]

My phone is used for work. I need mobile e-mail.

However, I'll happily confess to being gadget obsessed.

[K4KWH]

Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Mar. 31 2007,09:40)]I recently took a trip on Amtrak™ and heard the DaDaDiDaaah #horn several times in those 12 hours. #At every crossing, they blow that whistle.

As far as XYLs ( YLs ? ) in automobiles, I highly suspect that they are wives of ham radio operators. #The number of licensed lady operators is very minimal , and one driving around in a car equipped with a mobile setup would be IMHO even more minimal! # With all the sexual harrassment etc. in the world today, it does not surprise me that an XYL would "hunker down" behind the wheel when some guy singled her out and made what she perceived to be "advances" ! ! ! # #Sad !

Interesting that the "five two" sign is recognized out in 9 land. #I guess it is or at least was more universal than I had thought !

73, Jim

But that has little to do with Morse Code with regards to the railroad! # That #2 Longs, 1 Short, and another Long blast# is the standard whistle signal for grade crossings. It's required by Federal regulations. From the cab, there is a "whistle post" that tells the engineer when to blow that signal; been there and DONE that meself!#And there are a number of whistle signals that denote different things. Ya want to hear a real racket? #Try riding on a steam locomotive for 70 miles with that LOUD whistle doing that right above your head every so often! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif # OUCH! #Talk about DEAF!
(well, we did wear ear plugs!) http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73

Jerry
retired Norfolk Southern Railway

[kb2vxa]

Hi Jerry ex NS and all,

Let's start with a bit of history. Morse code was used by the railroad telegraph, Continental code was used by submarine cable later adopted by Amater Radio. OK, it has nothing to do with whistle signals.

Blowing for the grade crossings is no longer in the rule book, it was dropped last year. This allows municipalities to ban it for noise abatement but so far none in NJ have done so to the best of my knowledge.

The only signals left (again to the best of my knowledge) in regular use are one short for starting forward and two shorts for reversing. The latter is also a common recognition signal, sometimes the engineer waves back at me, sometimes he toots.

Oh they just love blowing the whistle on steam excursions, makes me wonder if they have anything left for the drivers. You think that's bad, a few years ago at the Tri Transit Exhibition C&O 614 sounded off every few seconds inside Lackawanna Terminal at Hoboken NJ as the eager kids filed through the cab (and I was one of them).

Ah, radio and Diesel sort of took the magic out of railroading. Those whistle conversations were music and you could tell the locomotive by the tone and the engineer by his "fist" sort of like a bunch of sound driven CW ops in a round table.

Now who said railroad and hams have nothing in common? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KC9ECI]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Mar. 31 2007,21:08)]My phone is used for work. #I need mobile e-mail.

However, I'll happily confess to being gadget obsessed.
I just looked. I used 1 minute in March.

[ai4ep]

Lately I have just used mt CELLULAR TELEPHONE to call on Friday nights to a local restaurant for a FISH dinner to bring home & eat after LENTEN church services, plus we shouldnt eat meat on Friday during lent....which aint THAT hard of a sacrifice.

So one more friday to go with no meat.

Back years ago, it was EVERY Friday was a meatless day, as some of you remember.

---------------------------------------
But back to the topic of this thread, locally we all recognise each other and call each other on the radio ( if we arent already talking TO each other on the local 146.960 repeater ) when we see each other or meet each other on the roads......good " old - fashioned Alabama amateur radio comraderie "...keeping the good times going, and letting the bad times occur somewhere else ( hopefully not in YOUR area !! )...and remembering that no matter what the class of license, we all share the fun and continuing learning experiences of amateur radio !!

#Praise the lord !! # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w7act]

The answer to the question is yes and it actually happens quite often here. I've been approached by other hams and have approached other hams on the highway and in parking lots including in rest areas on the interstate.

I can remember one occasion doing seventy pulling an equipment trailer and a service truck pulling up next to me honking his horn and waving a cardboard sign with the driver's call sign scribbled on it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[w7act]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ April 01 2007,01:19)]Lately I have just used mt CELLULAR TELEPHONE to call on Friday nights to a local restaurant for a FISH dinner to bring home & eat after LENTEN church services, plus we should eat meat on Friday during lent....which aint THAT hard of a sacrifice.

So one more Friday to go with no meat.

Back years ago, it was EVERY Friday was a meatless day, as some of you remember.

---------------------------------------
But back to the topic of this thread, locally we all recognise each other and call each other on the radio ( if we are already talking TO each other on the local 146.960 repeater ) when we see each other or meet each other on the roads......good " old - fashioned Alabama amateur radio comraderie "...keeping the good times going, and letting the bad times occur somewhere else ( hopefully not in YOUR area !! )...and remembering that no matter what the class of license, we all share the fun and continuing learning experiences of amateur radio !!

Praise the lord !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Not to high jack this thread, but I remember a story that was in Readers Digest years about how Admiral Byrd made a visit to the South Pole Station on a Friday with a group of dignitaries and the Catholic Chaplin was the group. The Station cook made up a bunch of Ham Sandwiches for the group and presented them to the group and the Chaplin made the comment that it was Friday, therefore he couldn't eat meat. Admiral replied to the Chaplin if you walk 100 feet to your left you can have the ham sandwich as it's Saturday over there. The Chaplin walked the 100 feet and enjoyed his ham sandwich.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[wa9cwx]

I often indicate that I am monitoring channel "One" on my crystal controlled 2 meter rig.

As everyone knows, channel "1" is always 146.52, supplied with the radio when purchased.

I honk, hold up one finger ( usually the middle) and often I just get a confused look.
Sometimes they return the gesture, obviously indicating they are on channel one also, but I never hear them on the radio.

Maybe my antenna is bad.

[k9zmd]

In the early 1960's, a young LEO in my home town was a ham, and he told this one on himself. He noted a ham plate on the car he'd just stopped for some violation. So, as he approached the driver's open window, he said, "Didididit Didit" to the man behind the wheel. The man replied, "Huh? Ohhh . . . this is my wife's car." http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC9ECI]

Also not to hijack this thread, but I had an issue with my wife's van today. I jumped in and took off down the road and didn't notice that it was about out of gas. When I did notice, I was in fairly heavy traffic. Couldn't get ahold of anyone on the cellphone that could come help me out...so I pulled out the HT, put out a general call for assistance, and in under half an hour, Jeff, W9BOW came and helped me get going again. Thanks Jeff! Amateur radio to the rescue!

[ad1os]

1-I just give the 2 finger wave off the steering wheel. Usually met with a "question head".
2-Doing a 5-2 with your fingers or hands looks like a gang sign to some.
3-I use the morse Q on air horns at intersections. Gets some smiles from what I presume to be railfans.
4-75% don't realize my license plate is a callsign.

[KG6YTZ]

Quote[/b] (ad1os @ April 03 2007,16:17)]4-75% don't realize my license plate is a callsign.
You know, I was going to ask why a higher percentage of people - ordinary people - couldn't recognize a call sign when they saw one low number], then I realized you were referring to fellow hams, but I wondered how 75% of hams wouldn't recognize your plates as being a call sign when they saw them...

THEN I took a good look at your call! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Yeah, I guess there are some calls that wouldn't look like calls when they're stamped onto license plates. #Which reminds me, is AB0RE reading this? #

And on the original topic... #Oddly enough, I don't [i]see very many fellow hams' vehicles around here, at least not the ones that are plainly obvious, with call sign plates or at least an antenna or three. #I bumped into one - I don't remember her call - in a shopping center parking lot several months ago [you have to ask about the antenna when you see one, right?], and I once found myself behind AD6CD's Jeep [he's one of the VE team who tested me and lives just a few blocks away], but he apparently didn't quite grasp what I meant by that "five-two" hand signal. #Oh, I watch for antennas and call sign plates - I just don't see many. #So far, I have had only one "hey-you're-a-ham-too?" parking lot encounter. #[Bumping into other hams at HRO does NOT count!] #I've never stumbled into a car-to-car QSO on the road, never had "CQ" honked at me, not even after I put the call sign bumper sticker [profesionally printed from my own design by www.makestickers.com, end of cheap plug] on my car.

Then again, my commute is only 16 miles round-trip and there's no need to take the freeway...

[W5HTW]

Some thirty years ago I have ham plates on my car when I had the call sign W0RKX. There was a slash in the zero. But I was stopped somewhere and some fellow was looking at my license plate. He shook his head and said to me, "I agree. I hate those welfare bums. I work, too, always have, always will." Took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. When I did, I chose not to laugh at him. I just agreed that we needed to work for a living.

A few years before that I held the call sign W3GAB. And, yes, someone did mention to me that he and his wife like to gab, too, even with strangers.

Neither plate had the words amateur radio operator on them, of course. If they had, maybe these two incidents would not have happened. Then again, maybe.

I still recall being at the beach in Delaware, with a Saturn Six Meter Halo on the rear bumper. Someone asked me if that was a rack to dry swim suits.

I don't remember my answer.

Ed

[n2cfj]

Non hams sometimes fail to realize that we even exist. Many years ago, after a club meeting, some of us retreated to the diner for some coffee. We were sitting around the table, with 3 or 4 ht's on the table. A teenager came up to us and asked if they were CB's. One of us said "no" but before he could explain what they were, the kid turned around to his buddies and said "See, I told you they were cops." We didn't bother to correct him.

[KB2SFH]

I did at 6:15 this morning with WB2BOI RT 22 West in Greenbrook http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (n2cfj @ April 04 2007,14:40)]Non hams sometimes fail to realize that we even exist. #Many years ago, after a club meeting, some of us retreated to the diner for some coffee. #We were sitting around the table, with 3 or 4 ht's on the table. #A teenager came up to us and asked if they were CB's. #One of us said "no" but before he could explain what they were, the kid turned around to his buddies and said "See, I told you they were cops." #We didn't bother to correct him.
Don't even begin to ask, "is that a CB" around my XYL.

She'll become your worst enemy! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif