The second step, finding your way and an elmer

[WB9GKM]

Welcome to the ham ranks, Jim. I hope you are ready for the almost infinite number of ham sites available on the web. hfradio.org is a good one. Sign up for the eAlerts and get acquainted with A and K indices for propagation. Also check out heavens-above.com. This one will give you a very accurate list of ham (and other) satelites and their locations in real time, including the ISS.
GL es 73,
Greg

[n6ayj]

I know some will call me a crank, but you seem quite intelligent and write well. I've had my license for 41 years now, and want to give you some sincere advice. Therefore, I am going to tell you that you deserve a better hobby than ham radio. I think you will ultimately find ham radio to be rather disappointing and you will regret all the time you wasted on it. While there are SOME friendly hams, most of them aren't. Also, I think the hobby is going downhill (not due to the newbies, but due to the nasty, insecure old-timers). All I can tell you is that I've been much happier since I gave up ham radio and began engaging in other activities such as athletics, studying physics, astronomy and cosmology and doing lots of reading on many varied subjects. Since you are just getting started in the hobby, you have little to lose by getting out now. Don't waste your time on a bunch of old, half-dead guys like most hams are. You BECOME the same as the people you associate with, so associate with healthy, fit, friendly and lively people instead. Bill Crowell, N6AYJ

[N8IK]

N6AYJ - as long as he stays away from 75m he'll have a great time with ham radio! 73 de Ian

[ka1eze]

Hey, the pages have good content, and are great for a beginner. It's not a company, and a personal site, so it's up to him how he wants to display his work.

Think of it as art!

Rick
(loads blink of an eye for me!)

[ka1eze]

What do you want to do? You must have been lured to radio because of something really cool that you wanted to do.

Me, I learned mostly myself, mags and books. But and with the internet, help is close by too.

And don't let anyone do the opposite and discourage you. All hobbies have their share of tainted views, this one seeming to have more but I think mainly because it involves communication, and nasty people like to propogate into the whineosphere!

Heheh... I LOVE that statement you made: "I DON'T want to sit at some local restaurant and stare at any more blue hair talking about what was." That is so funny... and so true. That is exactly what turned me off from Amateur Radio for so many years, the vehement resistance to change so many older hams exhibit.

If there are any clubs in your area that are comprised of younger hams, it would be a good bet that they'll be more open minded, willing to embrace modern technologies and ideas.
Richard, N7TGB

[KD5OSZ]

Sometimes "Elmer's" find you... It seems mine did. Timidly and carefully I entered HF, trying to make courtesy a #1 priority. As a "brand spanking newbie, I've had some super QSO's and made friends (Elmer's) who are consistant in helping me smooth out my rough edges. There are many great hams out there willing to help the newbie, such as myself. To each of them many thanks. 73... KD5OSZ, Tyler, TX

[KD5OSZ]

I'm a "brand spanking newbie" and having a great time. I've found those not-so-friendly hams but most are super. A few have VOLUNTEERED to help me work through my weaknesses on HF and CW. They've provided e-mail support on the internet and have INVITED ME to unoccupied frequencies on HF to work CW. I believe I'll stay with the hobby. kd5osz, Tyler, TX

[kd7ohc]

Hi Mike,

I replied to you via e-mail but I thought I would post a reply here as well for anyone else that might be interested. I looked up Mike in the database and found that he lives not too far from me, so I thought maybe we could try to find a repeater in common that we could have a QSO on. Even though I'm not anywhere near elmer status, I figured any kind of contact would be cool, and I am pretty much in the same boat. I would not say that I'm bored with the hobby at all, but I am seeking others with similar interests. Anyhow, hopefully we can set up a QSO, and maybe figure out a way to get in touch with others who are nearby who are interested in the same kinds of things and getting something going here.

73
Leo
kd7ohc

[kd5pxj]

Jim, I must admit I'm confused. I read your plea, and then went to KD5PDS on QRZ. It shows there that you just got your Extra ticket. If this is so, it means you've been a ham at least long enough to study for the Extra test. And, you've probably been on the air once or twice?

I just got my General ticket in October, as evidenced by my call sign. Though I had been a ham in 1966, I let it lapse. When I got ready to re-ticket, I tood a class at our local radio ham club, met some folks I like, some who'se interests I don't share, and some I haven't met. But, I found a WWII ham in my neighborhood one day when he keyed and almost blew the cans off my head! The lesson is, there are plenty of folks out there who want to help you find your way in hamdom. Give me an e-mail at ZUT213@earthlink.net and I'll sure do all I can for you.....in the interim....73 Dave