Posted: 1/31/2014 4:16:17 PM EDT
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How long did you listen before talking. I am sitting here listening to a net checkin, that I listened to two weeks ago. I had ample opportunity to check in two weeks ago but didn't, and this week again I am feeling mic shy.
WTF? |
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Drink more?
Just kidding. It's really common with new hams, don't worry. Feel free to tell net control it's your first contact and I'm sure you'll get lots of people welcoming you and by the end of the net you'll be perfectly comfortable. For your check-in, it might help to write down exactly what you're going to say so you can read it. |
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I would suggest going on the repeater and mention that you are a new ham looking for his first contact. In all likelihood, people will fall over themselves to talk to you and welcome you to the hobby! I did that a couple weeks ago by accident. I was setting up my radios with the local repeater's and would transmit stating my call, testing. I couple responses saying my signal was strong...when I responded that the individual was my first contact I had a log jam of people trying to talk. But something is different about that than checking into a net. |
I used to be that way but now I'll talk to anybody anytime. 
Net checkins, contests, and DX are a great way to start because you just make a simple standard transmission. When they ask for checkins just say "'YourCall' - No Traffic" or whatever the other guys are doing. It gets easier the more you do it. |
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I just checked into the ARFCOM net. Unfortunately it was/is with my echolink app on my iphone. I turned off my VX8DR listening to the local net that is running. ETA - Wish this checkin was on my actual ham gear (RF). Oh well, you have to start somewhere. Using the EchoLink is about the same as a radio from the talking side of it. I've used some kind of radio for well over 20 years, so talking isn't a problem for me. Figuring out something to talk about might be, as I am not one to talk just to hear myself. My suggestion is to find a local net or two, and get comfortable with being on air with that. If the net is associated with a local club, it might be easier for you if you meet some of the people on the net by going to some club meetings. As stated above many hams will fall over themselves if you are approachable at the meeting and say you are a new ham just getting into the hobby. Another way to look at it is much like posting here. It is not really much different. The biggest difference is instead of typed responses, they are vocal, CW, or digital over the airwaves. Bottom line is the more you do it, the more comfortable you will get with it. |
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I just checked into the ARFCOM net. Unfortunately it was/is with my echolink app on my iphone. I turned off my VX8DR listening to the local net that is running. ETA - Wish this checkin was on my actual ham gear (RF). Oh well, you have to start somewhere. nothing wrong doing the echolink net on your phone - that's how I do it to.... mic time is mic time |
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First, a BIG WELCOME to ham radio! Congrats!
Tech? General? If a General.. (and if not, do this ASAP!!!) check in on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday nights on or about 3.908 mhz with the HiFivers Net. http://hifivers.wix.com/hifivers The HiFivers Net is from 8pm to 10 pm Central (when a California net takes the freq) out of Texas and Louisiana that covers a large portion of the south from GA to NM and CO, up to MO and IL. Net Controls alternate, and are in Gordon KF5JMJ in the Houston area, Alonzo W5ACB in Marion, TX, and Charles N5YHQ in Shreveport, LA. When you hear a gap, just say your call sign and you will be recognized. Also you can dial up a few khz to 3.916 mhz, the Tailgaters net ("unofficial warmup to the Freewheelers Net") most every night from 8:30-10:00 pm Central also. http://www.tailgatersnet.com/the-tailgaters-net.html This net is more of a ragchew than a true net, and is spearheaded by Pete KE5GGY near Denton, TX. Pete is an Asst Net Control for the Freewheelers on the same freq beginning at 10:00 pm. "The world's only net without a net control!" Be careful, or Pete will turn the net over to YOU while he helps his kids with homework. Same 3.916 mhz at 10 pm Central time. http://www.tailgatersnet.com/the-freewheelers-net.html During the day, on 40 meters, the Daytime Texas Traffic Net is on 7.285. The Net Manager and Monday Net Control is Roger KD5OTH near San Antonio. This net runs 08:30-09:30 am Central time, Monday - Saturday. http://www.daytimetexastrafficnet7285.org/ |
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I live in an area with probably close to a thousand hams (Cedar Rapids - Rockwell Collins) and I have had one (1) contact in the last year
Went to a local hamvention and overheard and 80+ year old man talking shit about me for having a tattoo and a haircut he didn't approve of of the 3 local clubs I've yet to get any info on meetings or how to become a member I guess I'm the new kid at school that nobody wants to talk to or let sit at their lunch table 
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It's AMATEUR Radio, we are not pros. Yes... people keep forgetting this. And you don't have to tell others you are a new ham. They will know.  They will gladly guide you along.
Don't be afraid to ask, "What does ____ mean?" IGNORE and do not reply to anyone that says, "Well, you're a ham, you should know that." So, tell me, how did THEY learn? There are no books or classes that tell you, "When they say X, you respond by saying Y." But this may help. Copy and print (large) this phonetic alphabet. Do not make up your own cutesy phonetics. Post this nearby for easy reference. Perhaps even put your call at the top in phonetics until it just rolls off the tongue naturally. A = Alpha N = November B = Bravo O = Oscar C = Charlie P = Papa D = Delta Q = Quebec E = Echo R = Romeo F = Foxtrot S = Sierra G = Golf T = Tango H = Hotel U = Uniform I = India V = Victor J = Juliet W = Whiskey K = Kilo X = X-ray L = Lima Y = Yankee M = Mike Z = Zulu Next, also print this about signal reports: Signal reports are massively subjective. R-S-T R = READABILITY 1 -- Unreadable 2 -- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable 3 -- Readable with considerable difficulty 4 -- Readable with practically no difficulty 5 -- Perfectly readable S = SIGNAL STRENGTH 1 -- Faint signals, barely perceptible 2 -- Very weak signals 3 -- Weak signals 4 -- Fair signals 5 -- Fairly good signals 6 -- Good signals 7 -- Moderately strong signals 8 -- Strong signals 9 -- Extremely strong signals As a matter of your station consistency you need to decide what you consider a 5/9 In practice most hams report 5/9 if they have a solid copy with decent quieting. In contests it is always 59 for reports BTW I give a 59 for anything solid and better, adding 10 over, 20 over and such if another station really rocks my station. Third digit is for CW ONLY (referring to code... such as "599") T = Tone 1 -- Sixty cycle a.c. or less, very rough and broad 2 -- Very rough a.c. , very harsh and broad 3 -- Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered 4 -- Rough note, some trace of filtering 5 -- Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated 6 -- Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation 7 -- Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation 8 -- Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation 9 -- Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind For VHF/UHF FM there are only a few good reports, Full Quieting, Some Noise, Noise. In digital modes there are only a few really good reports - Full Print, Read x%, No Print. The 599 is courtesy and custom. And finally, I don't have a good one on Q-Signals that I can copy/paste. Mine is in Excell format and won't easily paste here. But get a list and post that also nearby. QRM - Manmade noise QRN - Natural noise (lightning crashes) QSY - to change frequency. "QSY up 5" means just that, change frequency up 5 khz, such as 3.750 mhz to 3.755 mhz. Note that some can be both a statement or a question. QSL? (Do you understand? Do you copy?) QSL. (I understand. I copy. I acknowledge.) Google radio Q-signals and it will bring up many links. There are many which I've never heard on the air, and others used quite often. Perhaps someone else can give a good list of Q-codes / Q-signals. |
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I live in an area with probably close to a thousand hams (Cedar Rapids - Rockwell Collins) and I have had one (1) contact in the last year Went to a local hamvention and overheard and 80+ year old man talking shit about me for having a tattoo and a haircut he didn't approve of of the 3 local clubs I've yet to get any info on meetings or how to become a member I guess I'm the new kid at school that nobody wants to talk to or let sit at their lunch table That's truly a sorry bunch. Keep dialing around and I am sure you will find some better folks on the air. |
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I live in an area with probably close to a thousand hams (Cedar Rapids - Rockwell Collins) and I have had one (1) contact in the last year Went to a local hamvention and overheard and 80+ year old man talking shit about me for having a tattoo and a haircut he didn't approve of of the 3 local clubs I've yet to get any info on meetings or how to become a member I guess I'm the new kid at school that nobody wants to talk to or let sit at their lunch table I gotta believe that there are like-minded hams near you. They may have gone through the same thing you are and now just listen. Try hard to find a few and start your own club. |
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nothing wrong doing the echolink net on your phone - that's how I do it to.... mic time is mic time Quoted:
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I just checked into the ARFCOM net. Unfortunately it was/is with my echolink app on my iphone. I turned off my VX8DR listening to the local net that is running. ETA - Wish this checkin was on my actual ham gear (RF). Oh well, you have to start somewhere. nothing wrong doing the echolink net on your phone - that's how I do it to.... mic time is mic time +1... The IRLP / Echolink net you checked in to last night is primarily for new hams to get their feet wet. Please keep coming back and only talk if you want to. Just listening to how that net operates is a great way to overcome any mic fright. That being said, I know more than a few hams that don't even have a mic hooked up to their rig, preferring the digital modes and a keyboard or key. It's your hobby. Make it your own. 
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Yes... people keep forgetting this. And you don't have to tell others you are a new ham. They will know. They will gladly guide you along.
Don't be afraid to ask, "What does ____ mean?" IGNORE and do not reply to anyone that says, "Well, you're a ham, you should know that." So, tell me, how did THEY learn? There are no books or classes that tell you, "When they say X, you respond by saying Y." But this may help. Copy and print (large) this phonetic alphabet. Do not make up your own cutesy phonetics. Post this nearby for easy reference. Perhaps even put your call at the top in phonetics until it just rolls off the tongue naturally. A = Alpha N = November B = Bravo O = Oscar C = Charlie P = Papa D = Delta Q = Quebec E = Echo R = Romeo F = Foxtrot S = Sierra G = Golf T = Tango H = Hotel U = Uniform I = India V = Victor J = Juliet W = Whiskey K = Kilo X = X-ray L = Lima Y = Yankee M = Mike Z = Zulu Next, also print this about signal reports: Signal reports are massively subjective. R-S-T R = READABILITY 1 -- Unreadable 2 -- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable 3 -- Readable with considerable difficulty 4 -- Readable with practically no difficulty 5 -- Perfectly readable S = SIGNAL STRENGTH 1 -- Faint signals, barely perceptible 2 -- Very weak signals 3 -- Weak signals 4 -- Fair signals 5 -- Fairly good signals 6 -- Good signals 7 -- Moderately strong signals 8 -- Strong signals 9 -- Extremely strong signals As a matter of your station consistency you need to decide what you consider a 5/9 In practice most hams report 5/9 if they have a solid copy with decent quieting. In contests it is always 59 for reports BTW I give a 59 for anything solid and better, adding 10 over, 20 over and such if another station really rocks my station. Third digit is for CW ONLY (referring to code... such as "599") T = Tone 1 -- Sixty cycle a.c. or less, very rough and broad 2 -- Very rough a.c. , very harsh and broad 3 -- Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered 4 -- Rough note, some trace of filtering 5 -- Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated 6 -- Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation 7 -- Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation 8 -- Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation 9 -- Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind For VHF/UHF FM there are only a few good reports, Full Quieting, Some Noise, Noise. In digital modes there are only a few really good reports - Full Print, Read x%, No Print. The 599 is courtesy and custom. And finally, I don't have a good one on Q-Signals that I can copy/paste. Mine is in Excell format and won't easily paste here. But get a list and post that also nearby. QRM - Manmade noise QRN - Natural noise (lightning crashes) QSY - to change frequency. "QSY up 5" means just that, change frequency up 5 khz, such as 3.750 mhz to 3.755 mhz. Note that some can be both a statement or a question. QSL? (Do you understand? Do you copy?) QSL. (I understand. I copy. I acknowledge.) Google radio Q-signals and it will bring up many links. There are many which I've never heard on the air, and others used quite often. Perhaps someone else can give a good list of Q-codes / Q-signals. Quoted:
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It's AMATEUR Radio, we are not pros. Yes... people keep forgetting this. And you don't have to tell others you are a new ham. They will know. They will gladly guide you along.
Don't be afraid to ask, "What does ____ mean?" IGNORE and do not reply to anyone that says, "Well, you're a ham, you should know that." So, tell me, how did THEY learn? There are no books or classes that tell you, "When they say X, you respond by saying Y." But this may help. Copy and print (large) this phonetic alphabet. Do not make up your own cutesy phonetics. Post this nearby for easy reference. Perhaps even put your call at the top in phonetics until it just rolls off the tongue naturally. A = Alpha N = November B = Bravo O = Oscar C = Charlie P = Papa D = Delta Q = Quebec E = Echo R = Romeo F = Foxtrot S = Sierra G = Golf T = Tango H = Hotel U = Uniform I = India V = Victor J = Juliet W = Whiskey K = Kilo X = X-ray L = Lima Y = Yankee M = Mike Z = Zulu Next, also print this about signal reports: Signal reports are massively subjective. R-S-T R = READABILITY 1 -- Unreadable 2 -- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable 3 -- Readable with considerable difficulty 4 -- Readable with practically no difficulty 5 -- Perfectly readable S = SIGNAL STRENGTH 1 -- Faint signals, barely perceptible 2 -- Very weak signals 3 -- Weak signals 4 -- Fair signals 5 -- Fairly good signals 6 -- Good signals 7 -- Moderately strong signals 8 -- Strong signals 9 -- Extremely strong signals As a matter of your station consistency you need to decide what you consider a 5/9 In practice most hams report 5/9 if they have a solid copy with decent quieting. In contests it is always 59 for reports BTW I give a 59 for anything solid and better, adding 10 over, 20 over and such if another station really rocks my station. Third digit is for CW ONLY (referring to code... such as "599") T = Tone 1 -- Sixty cycle a.c. or less, very rough and broad 2 -- Very rough a.c. , very harsh and broad 3 -- Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered 4 -- Rough note, some trace of filtering 5 -- Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated 6 -- Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation 7 -- Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation 8 -- Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation 9 -- Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind For VHF/UHF FM there are only a few good reports, Full Quieting, Some Noise, Noise. In digital modes there are only a few really good reports - Full Print, Read x%, No Print. The 599 is courtesy and custom. And finally, I don't have a good one on Q-Signals that I can copy/paste. Mine is in Excell format and won't easily paste here. But get a list and post that also nearby. QRM - Manmade noise QRN - Natural noise (lightning crashes) QSY - to change frequency. "QSY up 5" means just that, change frequency up 5 khz, such as 3.750 mhz to 3.755 mhz. Note that some can be both a statement or a question. QSL? (Do you understand? Do you copy?) QSL. (I understand. I copy. I acknowledge.) Google radio Q-signals and it will bring up many links. There are many which I've never heard on the air, and others used quite often. Perhaps someone else can give a good list of Q-codes / Q-signals. Ham Radio Tools (Android) has a list of Q codes, basic electronic formulae, calculators for a simple vertical and a J pole, as well as logging which can be imported/exported from/to your SD card. |
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Just pick-up the microphone and say: "Breaker 9-1, what's your twenty?" Just kidding. But seriously, tune to your local repeater and say: "This is <YOUR CALLSIGN>. I'm newly licensed and would like to have my first radio contact". I bet there will be a lot of guys jumping in and wanting to talk to you. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. It's perfectly understandable. Like mentioned before, it's an AMATEUR radio. We all went through this. No big deal. You are not talking to a 100,000 audience on CNN News channel.
Ohh, and don't forget to press PTT button on the radio when talking. I once had to drive to my friend's home to help troubleshoot this first radio. It would not transmit at times. Everything checked fine but he obviously was forgetting to push the transmit button when talking into the radio. LOL.
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Press PTT, give it a second, THEN speak. Don't press simultaneously with your first word. Then, continue to hold the button a second after you finish speaking. It is common for people to clip off the first and last syllable.
If you are on a repeater, wait until the "tail" drops off (tsssssssscht) from the other transmission before you begin. And when you press PTT, wait a little longer, 2-3 seconds, for the repeater to come up. |
Just turn in your licence and sell of your gear on QTH.com! 
Really.....just key up the radio and say something. Ham Radio is the original social networking, so don't worry about sounding stupid or making mistakes. Jump in there and make a few contacts and hopefully you will end up making a few new friends in the process. 
Good luck! |
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My Elmer once told me, after having my ticket for about 9 months, how glad he was to have me on the air-participating in the conversation.
He mentioned how most new Hams didn't take to the microphone and some were never heard. According to him most new guys didn't know what to say or do...my reply was a deadpan-"I got my ticket so I could talk" It prolly helps that I spent a great deal of my youth on a CB, my first 'Career' job as a Firefighter, and my last job running a Non-Com LPFM radio station. We're ALL different, and Most can appreciate that-so keep it up--soon enough you'll be burning up the repeater! |
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I love how some people are mic shy but will post on a public forum where its archived forever. On the radio, unless someone is recording, its gone into the ether never to be heard again. On here or FB, someone may dredge it back up if you ever run for public office.
I will admit that even after almost an entire lifetime working and transmitting on radios my heart was beating a little faster the first few times I keyed up as a ham. I was more nervous about making a mistake than anything. After listening to some of the BS I have heard, mistakes are the least of my worries. |
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I gotta believe that there are like-minded hams near you. They may have gone through the same thing you are and now just listen. Try hard to find a few and start your own club. Quoted:
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I live in an area with probably close to a thousand hams (Cedar Rapids - Rockwell Collins) and I have had one (1) contact in the last year Went to a local hamvention and overheard and 80+ year old man talking shit about me for having a tattoo and a haircut he didn't approve of of the 3 local clubs I've yet to get any info on meetings or how to become a member I guess I'm the new kid at school that nobody wants to talk to or let sit at their lunch table I gotta believe that there are like-minded hams near you. They may have gone through the same thing you are and now just listen. Try hard to find a few and start your own club. I know of a few just down 380/80 from you. Might be just a shade too far for 2m but they are in the area. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I will admit that even after almost an entire lifetime working and transmitting on radios my heart was beating a little faster the first few times I keyed up as a ham. I was more nervous about making a mistake than anything. After listening to some of the BS I have heard, mistakes are the least of my worries. Nailed it. I've used radios for years, mostly marine band, always for work. It's second nature, key up and communicate, keep it brief and clear, don't tie up the channel. Ham radio requires a mental gear-shift, from brief businesslike messages to more casual operations. It's taking a little getting used to. I believe there's also a bit of glossophobia involved, at least for me. Net check-ins are a great place to start. Just ask for an i/o (in-out) at first, that way you don't have to come up with some soliloquy on your first go-round. |