Let Be Honest with Our Self’s

[A71AN]

I always wanted to know, how much each of us is putting into this Ham Radio Hobby, practically, I means being working behind the mic or the key, how work each of us is putting in the administration of this hobby, like maintaining log books a sorting out qsl cards.

Don not feel shi of embarrassed and lets be honest and straight, are we going with this hobby as good as the pervious generation of radio operators, better of worse.


I understand that especially the American are very much straight and honest and I do expect a lot of answers.


Personally I spend at least 4 hours a day in a company of my radio and its administration work and some times long hours of trying to improve my set up.


Wishing you all of the best

73

[UR5QA]

As for me - #I spend at least on the air 3-4 hours a day, but not every day... as a rule 4-5 days a week.
During popular contests (20-25 a year) - nothing more than 18 hours a day, because I can not without sleep 24, a fortiori, 48 hours.

Anatoly
UR5QA

[N2RJ]

I spend roughly 10-12 hours per week at least listening to amateur radio. This is my "on air" time. This includes mobile air time.

I am a trustee for my club.

I am a "letter manager" for the W2 QSL bureau. This means that I mail out all cards for suffixes with the letter "Z".

I am a QSL manager for a few people.

[WA9SVD]

It's hard to quantitate. Due to unpredictable workschedules, along with out-of -town family boligations to an elderly parent, I can often work from ten minutes to twenty days a month (along with a few hours at a time at a club station if time allows.) But If I DO operate, it is my top priority. I WiLL try to have some time available, and if work allows, listen to 6 Meters in the background. If I do want to operate, then I put other matters on hold and concentrate completely on operating.

I DO keep an accurate log of HF contacts. The only contacts I do NOT log are routine repeater contacts with known local operators, such as local net checkins. (Sometimes even that gets logged in.) But ALL HF, 6 Meter, and VHF/UHF SSB/CW contacts get logged in.

QSL cards may be delayed because of QSL card availability; if the printer stops working, they can back up, but they WILL all be answered. But they will all have a personal note, and be individually hand entered, not "machine processed."

It really depends upon time available and band conditions; obviously, if the propagation is poor and I don't make many contacts, I don't spend as much time on operating and other duties as when the sunspots are at a peak and I can make world-wide contacts almost around the clock.
I don't deliberately chase DX, although I do like the occasional rare DX contact, so I guess my time allotted to Amateur Radio is less than many here.

But I will continue to search for A71AN when I AM on HF, and hope to talk to you one day soon.

73 My Friend, and Peace now and in the future.

[A71AN]

Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Dec. 28 2007,15:20)]It's hard to quantitate. #Due to unpredictable workschedules, along with out-of -town family boligations to an elderly parent, I can often work from ten minutes to twenty days a month #(along with a few hours at a time at a club station if time allows.) #But If I DO operate, it is my top priority. #I WiLL try to have some time available, and if work allows, listen to 6 Meters in the background. #If I do want to operate, then I put other matters on hold and concentrate completely on operating.

# #I DO keep an accurate log of HF contacts. #The only contacts I do NOT log are routine repeater contacts with known local operators, such as local net checkins. #(Sometimes even that gets logged in.) #But ALL HF, 6 Meter, and VHF/UHF SSB/CW contacts get logged in. #

# #QSL cards may be delayed because of QSL card availability; if the printer stops working, they can back up, but they WILL all be answered. #But they will all have a personal note, and be individually hand entered, not "machine processed."

# #It really depends upon time available and band conditions; obviously, if the propagation is poor and I don't make many contacts, I don't spend as much time on operating and other duties as when the sunspots are at a peak and I can make world-wide contacts almost around the clock.
# #I don't deliberately chase DX, although I do like the occasional rare DX contact, so I guess my time allotted to Amateur Radio is less than many here.

# #But I will continue to search for A71AN when I AM on HF, and hope to talk to you one day soon.

73 My Friend, and Peace now and in the future.
Thank you my friend, the pleasure will be mine to meet you down the loop.

Happy and Peaceful New Year to you and yours

73

[kf4vgx]

Maybe an hour a month .
It's just a hobby to me .
To much squabbling and crying going on.
Oops ,thats the same thing thats going on in these forums http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif .

[G0GQK]

Well, I'm putting more into the hobby than my Old Man, he never even owned a short wave radio !

G0GQK http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kc4umo]

Honestly, not enough.
My wife would beg the differ though. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I have spent 7 to 9 hours a day for the past week in the shack. All radio's on, but not doing much transmitting. You would think with my recent upgrade I would be spending time talking on them. Heck I only fired up the satelitte rig one time in the past 2 weeks.

Most of my time have been spent working on gear, finishing up some projects, and rearranging the work bench.

But heck, I am learning a few things....

[wa9cwx]

It changes.

I have been licensed since 1962.

I have ALWAYS had a working station, of one level or another, some poor, some nice, but I have NEVER lived anywhere in 45 years that I did NOT have a usable station.

In college (1966 to 1971), I had a full sized 20 meter beam, and I was fairly active, I ALSO did my upgrades to Extra at that time.

When I was in Chiropractic school (1971-1974), I only operated a few hours per month, at MOST, sometimes not at all for many weeks. School was 30 classroom hours per week, homework was almost ANOTHER 60 !

That meant 10 - 12 + hour days for a over three years.
Not much radio time...

Once in practice, one of the first things I did, was volunteer teaching of a Ham Radio course at the local School for the Blind.

I had antennas and a tower up within 3 months of moving into an old farmhouse.

Built a TU for RTTY, converted some other gear, bought some more gear from AES...in short order, I was on the air about 20 hours a week, CW and RTTY.

Then in the late 70s/early 80s although I had a LOT of ham gear, and decent antennas ( I have always had Quads since living in WI), I spent almost ALL my time listening, mostly chasing UTE IDers, and RTTY listening, and beacon hunting below 500 Khz. VERY little time operating, filled ONE log in about eight years!

Since that time, I operate or not, as I feel like, sometimes away from the radio for up to 3 months at a time. When I DO operate, it is mostly on the lower frequencies, ragchew more than DX chase, and usually about 2 - 10 hours a week, no contests, almost all CW, and a little PSK /RTTY, and some 2 meter CW/SSB/FM activity.

I have helped (Elmered) quite a few people to get on the air, and given away or lent out working equipment to several older, and newer hams, over the last 30 years.

I subscribe to Six Ham radio / electronic magazines, and read a fair portion of each.

I 'tinker' with older gear ( to say I 'repair' gear is more wish than reality)..I DO have a nice boat anchor section to my station, and I do enjoy playing with the stuff!

I have been a member of the ARRL for the better part of the last 45 years.

I operate mobile (CW) when on trips, and a little 2 Meter FM mobile.

I hear CW in ordinary noises during the day..... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif


Frank

[KD8COO]

Only a couple hours a week. Still just joining local repeater nets. Finally put together a couple dipoles for HF, but setup/teardown requirements make it hard to do in the limited time available.

Really need to get a place where I can setup the antennae and have them available all the time!

[K1VSR]

I'm on the air generally about 5-7 hours per week. Most of that is on 220 though I also check in to a net or two on 2m.

[kn4ds]

Me, I'm just a small cog in this big ol' machine...

I rebuild a rig here and there, fix 'em when I do something stupid and make the smoke come out...

Twice a month, I go watch folks take tests, and sign their CSCEs if they pass.

I get on the air here and there, mostly digital modes lately, since that seems to be the wife's preference (she doesn't appreciate hearing CQ Contest over and over).

I make what contacts I can within the limitations of my station and license privileges.

In short, I don't do anything that thousands of others haven't done before.

So my "standing" is that of "amateur radio operator." Nothing more.

[KC9JIQ]

Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Dec. 28 2007,15:27)]Maybe an hour a month #.
It's just a hobby to me .
To much squabbling and crying going on.
Oops ,thats the same thing thats going on in these forums #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif .
Same here, but I Listen 99.9% of the time, mostly breakfast nets and the comute to and from work.

I also monitor CB channel 19 and channel 3(base station channel, which is often more active than the ham bands)

..and occasionally marine channel 72-the coyote hunter channel.

I am more interested in building antennas than "talking"

[W4INF]

Ham radio for me is a hobby, NOT a way of life or an obsession. My family is my priority. Thats where my 'feet on the ground' perspective and standpoint comes from, reality. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KD5HMS]

Honestly ...Why has the hobby in general of Ham Radio..been the best kept "SECRET" for at least the last 100 years to the present..the average Joe on the street hasn't even heard of Ham Radio ! #? ? ?
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