ADVICE FOR NEW HAM OPERATOR
Congratulation’s on receiving your first Amateur Radio license. You are now a ‘HAM’ and we are very happy to have you join us. The following is a list of hints of things to do and NOT do as you venture into using that handheld ‘HT’ or base radio for the first few weeks. The hints are good for those 2-meter nets as well as working HF frequencies. Of course these hints are good forever!!!!
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Listen, listen ,… and listen some more. Unless you have an experienced Ham by your side, the best thing to do is listen to the repeater and/or simplex frequency that you intend to use to understand the procedures used to make a contact or to join a conversation/net in progress. Different ways of making contact are often used, possibly changing for different repeaters, nets, contests, or even modes (voice, digital, TV). Once you understand the correct procedure for the repeater/simplex freq. you want to use, take that deep breath and make the call.
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Be sure to use enough power to put a good signal into the repeater or so that you are heard by others on simplex. The rule is to only use the amount of power required to make a good contact.
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Moving around while using an HT will often drop your signal from a repeater. Find the ‘hot’ spots in your home and/or current location, and only transmit from those locations. Also consider the general direction where the repeater is located, and minimize RF absorbers between the HT antenna and the repeater (including your head or body).
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If using an HT, and you haven’t charged the battery after eight (8) to ten (10) hours of use, it is time to change to a fresh battery and charge up the drained one. More than one charged battery insures you have reserve battery power when needed.
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Calling a specific callsign of someone you have recently heard (especially just before you make your call) will be the best way to get your first few contacts. In many areas Hams tend not to respond to someone they don’t know, so knowing a callsign will pique their interest in whom it is that is calling them.
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Practice using your callsign before you make your first calls. Learn to give your call using the phonetic alphabet, if your call is KX3BNH say: “this is ‘Kilo X-ray Three Bravo November Hotel’ and name here is Bob ‘Bravo Oscar Bravo’ “. You may hear others use a distinctive phonetic version of their callsign and you may want to do the same, which often helps others remember your callsign when you first come on the air, such as ‘Kilo X-ray Three Brand New Ham’.
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Don’t over use of the phonetic version of your callsign after the folks you are calling know who you are. A simple “This is KX3BNH” is generally all you need once you are recognized by other HAMS on the repeater.
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DO NOT ‘ragchew’ for extended periods of time, say over 30 minutes, on a repeater. This subject is much in debate. HAMS going to work and returning home may use the repeater for hours, which is fine in most areas…but its best to leave pauses in case another HAM wants to join or make a quick call. Use of simplex frequencies for ragchewing is often the preferred method. Again follow the ‘unwritten’ rules you learn as you listen the others on the repeater.
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It is NOT necessary to give your callsign every 10 seconds!!!!!! Overuse of your callsign just tie’s up time. Give your callsign when: 1) first making a contact, and 2) when you are about to turn the conversation back to whoever you are talking to, and 3) every ten (10) minutes if you talk that long. Follow this instruction and you will be using good radio practice.
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If checking into a ‘Net’ it is usually best to wait for the Net Control Station (NCS) to ask for new check-ins. Remember; follow the procedures for that particular net.
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If in a NCS controlled net, return the net to the NCS station when you have passed your information. Again follow the procedures of the net.
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If you are participating in a small (non-NCS) group net, remember to pass the conversation on to the person who follows you in the rotation so everyone gets their turn.
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If you want to join a SKYWARN or other Emergency Communications Net, it is especially important to know what type of information the NCS wants. For example, in a SKYWARN net the NCS may ask for reports of winds over 30 mph, hail larger than pea size etc., and only report in if you have those conditions.
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Additional training, such as annual SKYWARN training class and taking the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) EmComm Level I courses are the best way to gain the background you need to participating in emergency nets.
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