Issue #41: How Do New Operators View Amateur Radio?

Thank you for the mention! I want to welcome everyone to come and visit Friendly Amateur Radio Elmers | Facebook

 

Hi Jon, I enjoy visiting Friendly Ham Radio Elmers each day. Your idea has built a group that now has over 25K members, and that is SIGNIFICANT growth! Lots of good stuff there. I wish it were a Google Groups meetup as opposed to Facebook, though. Dave, W7DGJ

 

Ahhh most of them do have $1,000. take a look around...

 

Most likely on a purchase plan contract with their carrier.

I havent been into it long enough to find payment plans for amateur radios and antennas!

Facebook " clubs" are an enigma in a way.
I see a phenominal amount of questions asked about unlocking radios for illegal uses, and many that appear to be ai generated for clickbait.
For instance the exact same post word for word but under different names.

There is good information out there but you have to dig it out.

 

Reading through the thread, I see there are many comments regarding lowering the cost of entry (working QRP for instance) which are great ideas. I also believe demonstrations showing what could be done with a Baofeng and tape measure antenna to work satellites is a compelling argument against start up costs.

Some have tried to dismiss the complaints by comparing the cost of a radio setup to modern electronics. Unfortunately most people still see this as a hobby. So justifying a high priced mobile phone --which could be essential to make a living -- makes the cost to benefit calculus favorable for it when a HAM radio might not.

Most telling is that we need a FRIENDLY Amateur Radio Elmers group [emphasis mine]. That sums up how the world views us. But I am glad that it exists.

I was fortunate that my early experiences were very friendly that led me to stick with HAM

Ram
https://motopota.blogspot.com

 

My view of Amateur Radio? Being new since Nov '24, it had been a interesting ride to say the least. I really haven't found anything that has diminished my interest in Amateur radio. I have joined our local club and they are a good group of guys and gals. Albeit a small group, these guys and gals are great! I am one of the young guys (I'm approaching 50 hihi). If I need advice about HF, there a a couple HF guys, DMR, D Star, etc, there are folks there that can help me with that. 2m, 70m, satellite, you got it.

The most rewarding aspect that I have found is building antennas. To me it is very rewarding and frustrating at the same time to build an antenna that works or hopefully works well. My 10m vee dipole was my first one I have built and have talked worldwide with it and it's in the attic no less. There is now a 20 meter vee up there, worked Australia and New Zealand with it recently and currently ready to hang a K4VX linear 40 meter antenna as well. Just waiting for the attic to warm up!

I do have limitations on where to place antennas, but it is part of the learning. Propagation is a odd science to me. I was just having a QSO with a guy in Washington state. 599 then poof! Gone!

 

Hi Rich, great to have you here. And thanks for being a QRZ Premium Subscriber! You're finding (as I did) that antennas and propagation are the most fun aspects of ham radio. I have always felt that way, since the 1960s! Still baffled at how propagation works some days. You ought to join the Activity Group someday - an interesting net but not a net, of hams who jump in to see how the band is doing on a particular day and frequency. Check it out in the AM on 18157.5o or thereabouts. Dave, W7DGJ

 

Thanks Dave! I stumbled across that group a few days ago roaming around 10 meters, 27.570. I joined in and it was interesting to note on how well my dipole was performing and how it changes on any given day. Hit the KQ2H repeater over on 29.620 earlier in the day, threw out my call, didn't get any response but a lot of kerchunking was going on.

I have looked at some of the Facebook Amateur radio groups and well, some of the posts seems its more steered towards the FT8 crowd, MARS mods. Some interesting stuff.

 

Yeah facebook is a bit of a minefield though, so many bi#ching about sad hams, and quite a few rouges in gmrs/ cb crouds asking how to unlock radios to transmit in restricted frequencies.
Let alone all the damnable AI posts put in to stir up clickbait trouble.

Sure your gonna have members who will get tired of answering the same questions over and over like a parrot.
Patience is not a strong point for many.

Im not afraid to ask questions at all, but i am one to exhaust all efforts to research first.
Ive got copious notes ive made just from what Ive learned here on qrz.
And by the way, thank you all.