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Hot off the (digital) press: 21 Things to Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio License

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by KB6NU, May 23, 2012.

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  1. KB6NU

    KB6NU Ham Member QRZ Page

    21 Things to Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio License by Dan Romanchik, KB6NU is now available for the Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/Things-After-...?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337801406&sr=1-3) and Nook (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/21-...-romanchik-kb6nu/1110913057?ean=2940014442466). Written for the new ham—or the ham that hasn’t really been all that active lately—its 21 chapters include:
    • Join a club
    • Join the ARRL
    • Find an Elmer
    • Buy a radio
    • Get on the air
    • Set up a shack
    • Buy some tools
    • Buy a digital multimeter (DMM)
    • Build an antenna
    • Build a kit
    • Go to a hamfest
    • Learn the lingo
    • Subscribe to mailing lists, blogs, and podcasts
    • Upgrade to General
    • Go to Field Day
    • Learn Morse Code
    • Get to know your (ham) neighbors
    • Buy QSL cards
    • Join SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES
    • Participate in a contest
    • HAVE FUN!
     
  2. K2NCC

    K2NCC Ham Member QRZ Page

    • Join a club
      I did, but mostly we sat around, ate and TALKED about radio.
    • Join the ARRL
      I did, but left after learning their agenda doesn't match mine.
    • Find an Elmer
      You can never have enough Elmers!
    • Buy a radio
      BEFORE you become a ham.
    • Get on the air
      As little as I talk on the air, I wonder sometimes if I really ever needed this ticket.
    • Set up a shack
      A lifetime of upgrading!
    • Buy some tools
      Why? There's little in today's radio you can work on. A screwdriver, wire-cutters and a flashlight is about all I've needed.
    • Buy a digital multimeter (DMM)
      As above, why? I have a nice Fluke here that's been used maybe 3 times in 7 years. Usually just continuity.
    • Build an antenna
      It's a nice feeling, but I still prefer to have someone else make it.
    • Build a kit
      No thanks. Zero interest in electronics. Besides, my hands are too big for that little box.
    • Go to a hamfest
      I couldn't wait to see my first. Now I never go, since it's the same junk and old-farts as it was the 1st year.
    • Learn the lingo
      As with any hobby. At least you can sound like you know what you're saying!
    • Subscribe to mailing lists, blogs, and podcasts
      Or just visit those forums and keep your inbox free of more spam.
    • Upgrade to General
      Best benefit to upgrading is not having to look at the band-chart as often!
    • Go to Field Day
      Too damn hot, bugs, allergies, etc. I'd rather stay home where it's nice and cozy.
    • Learn Morse Code
      In case you ever get stuck in a Turkish prison and need to bang on some pipes.
    • Get to know your (ham) neighbors
      So you know who to blame.
    • Buy QSL cards
      Even if you don't collect them, other people do.
    • Join SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES
      So you too can participate in a no-traffic net.
    • Participate in a contest
      Easiest 10-second QSOs you'll ever make.
    • HAVE FUN!
      AMEN!
     
  3. AJ4LN

    AJ4LN Ham Member QRZ Page

    • Join a club
      I joined 3 and sometimes attend others. One taught the license class that motivated me to actually get my license (In 2008).
    • Join the ARRL
      I did, and I was also a member once before, many decades before I became a ham, since I was very interested in radios and electronics.
    • Find an Elmer
      I've received help from club members, especially with setting up antennas.
    • Buy a radio
      I bought a few.
    • Get on the air
      I do get on the air, but not as often as I think I should.
    • Set up a shack
      Done, and it will continue to evolve
    • Buy some tools
      I have lots of tools, and have had lots of tools for decades, and like getting new tools
    • Buy a digital multimeter (DMM)
      I have a bunch, and got my first one back when they used LED's for the display
    • Build an antenna
      A club member helped me build my G5RV, which was my first HF ham antenna, and still works well
    • Build a kit
      I've built lots of electronics devices long before becoming a ham, usually from raw parts, though, not from kits. I did build my mike arm from a desk lamp, so that is sort of a kit.
    • Go to a hamfest
      I started going to hamfests decades before becoming a ham, and I attend the 3 closest ones every year.
    • Learn the lingo
      Still learning.
    • Subscribe to mailing lists, blogs, and podcasts
      I'm on my clubs' e-mail lists, and on many product-specific Yahoo groups, among others.
    • Upgrade to General
      I started at Extra, so not applicable.
    • Go to Field Day
      Every year since becoming licensed.
    • Learn Morse Code
      I plan to, but haven't yet.
    • Get to know your (ham) neighbors
      There are at least 2 other hams in my immediate neighborhood, I should meet them, though I might have already met them at a club meeting or event without knowing it.
    • Buy QSL cards
      On my list.
    • Join SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES
      Joined Skywarn (took a class and got a spotter number, and not much else yet).
    • Participate in a contest
      I have some that I like to participate in.
    • HAVE FUN!
      Yes.
     
  4. WJ4U

    WJ4U Subscriber QRZ Page

    Whew! I am 'on track'

    Hi Eric!
     
  5. KD5PUR

    KD5PUR Ham Member QRZ Page

    join a club
     
  6. N2TJX

    N2TJX Ham Member QRZ Page

    Oh, this looks fun.


    • Join a club
    Did it, fun stuff.


    • Join the ARRL
    Thanks, but no thanks.


    • Find an Elmer
    Sure


    • Buy a radio
    I'd add to this, make your first one a used one. Read the maual, learn how, then why.


    • Get on the air
    Of course!


    • Set up a shack
    Or a corner of your living room, dorm, or even car works.


    • Buy some tools
    • Buy a digital multimeter (DMM)
    Both great ideas. The Elmer and the club help you find what you need and get the good deals on used stuff.


    • Build an antenna
    Lots of them. Try things, experiment, fail some, win some. Learn why.


    • Build a kit
    Same thing as above


    • Go to a hamfest
    I'd say sure, but not for a $25 door fee. (booo)


    • Learn the lingo
    QSL


    • Subscribe to mailing lists, blogs, and podcasts
    Lean more, free knowledge


    • Upgrade to General
    Wait a while, lean some things, take the test without memorizing the answers. I even think there should be a required waiting period for upgrades.


    • Go to Field Day
    Make your own party


    • Learn Morse Code
    If that's your thing


    • Get to know your (ham) neighbors
    Most important one of them all


    • Buy QSL cards
    If your into HF



    • Join SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES
    Why not?




    • Participate in a contest
    Meh, not for me, I like to talk about things. But, it's fun for some and I can respect that.


    • HAVE FUN!
    Sure!

    This list could use a little "modernization" to appeal to the younger crowd.

    Sam
     
  7. W4IOA

    W4IOA Ham Member QRZ Page

    That hit the old funny bone :)
     
  8. KB1TCD

    KB1TCD Ham Member QRZ Page

    I'll have to agree with Frank, K2NCC.
    ARES/RACES, ARRL, Clubs = waste of time!
    Went to two Field Days, my buddies (4 of us) and I did all the work and made all the contacts while everyone else sat around and talked about everything but ham radio. Never again!
    The only reason I belong to a club (they don't even talk about ham radio!) is so I can use their auto patch; I'm too cheap to buy a cellphone!

    73 de Jose Douglas - KB1TCD
     
  9. ZL4AU

    ZL4AU Ham Member QRZ Page

    Hi there, I read the first two, and its about right. I couldnt agree more. I've been hamming
    for over 30 years and only just rejoined our local radio club after about 20 odd years.
    and basiclly you guys are right. Cheers and good luck
    Roly/ZL4AU
     
  10. WA7KPK

    WA7KPK Ham Member QRZ Page

    This is a good list. Did most of these almost 40 years ago (ARRL life member since about '78), was off HF for most of the last three decades, doing most of them again.

    As for the people griping about the ARRL, Field Day, Morse code or whatever . . . guys, these are suggestions. I can come up with about 21 more things you can do with ham radio and I'm not even thinking hard. If any of these don't float your boat, find something else that does. Ham radio, to paraphrase an old quotation about chess, is an ocean from which a gnat can drink and in which an elephant can bathe.
     
  11. K2NCC

    K2NCC Ham Member QRZ Page

    I'm not griping. Sorry if it sounded so. Good luck with his book. 73
     
  12. WA7KPK

    WA7KPK Ham Member QRZ Page

    Quite all right, I might have come off a bit strong myself. As for the book, the only problem I have with it (not yet having read it) is that I didn't think of it first. :)
     
  13. K0STK

    K0STK Ham Member QRZ Page

    This is the sort of list that, years ago, would have been published on a web-site. I don't understand how putting this information in an eBook format makes it now worth $2.99.
     
  14. WA7KPK

    WA7KPK Ham Member QRZ Page

    The only person who can answer that is the person trying to make a determination of whether the ebook is worth $2.99. For you and me, maybe it's not. Many of us could go down the list and say, "Done that. Been there. Got the coffee mug for that one." Some of us could probably write a book like this.

    For a newly minted Technician who doesn't know PSK-31 from an AK-47 and couldn't tell you the difference between a QSO and a PDQ, this information could be highly valuable. And at $2.99, if the book is any good it could be one of the cheapest accessories he could buy. As for putting it on a web site . . . well, you could do that, but they aren't free to maintain, and this way the reader (presumably) doesn't have to deal with popup ads and the like.
     
  15. NN4RH

    NN4RH Premium Subscriber QRZ Page

    New ham checklist

    1- buy an HT
    2- get 1x2 or 2x1 call sign
    3- buy FT-something
    4- buy G5RV or 43 foot vertical or "Carolina Windom"
    5- find a colonoscopy net on 75m and ask for a "radio check"
    6- buy amplifier so that next time they won't say "get a signal"
    7- check into colonoscopy net again and say "cw sucks"
    8- log into qrz.com and complain about old farts being mean to you
     
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