Just Got Your License?

Your first contact will most likely be on a repeater. It's generally helpful to listen in for a short while, so you get to understand a little bit of how things work. But sooner or later, you have to push that button and talk. What do I say? I don't know these people? Suppose I make a mistake? Most of us dealt with with similar fears too. So here's the easy way.

Listen to the repeater for someone who makes a call looking for someone to talk to. Let's use the club's callsign as the person calling, and we'll use N3YOU for your call as an example. Typically you'll hear something like "K3AE listening", or "K3AE mobile listening", or "K3AE on frequency", or "K3AE monitoring", or even "K3AE listening 700" (see there isn't necessarily ONE way, they are all acceptable). Wait a minute or two and if no one answers pick up the mic, push the button, and say something like "K3AE, this is N3YOU. The name here is ......." and tell him or her your name. Then let go of the button. Typically the conversation will follow with a nice to meet you and an introduction. You can talk about the weather, but being a brand new ham, talk about just getting your license. In fact, if this is really your first contact, tell him or her that. Typically you'll be welcomed to the hobby, congratulated on your license, or he or she will mention how glad they are to be your very first contact. Just like talking in person. Just push to talk and release to listen. Just don't forget to give your call sign at the end of your conversation and at least every 10 minutes in between if decide to get into a longer conversation. Every 10 minutes? But what if I don't want talk and the other guy won't shut up. You can always cut a conversation short, gotta go, "I've arrived", "need to focus on my driving", "dinner's ready", or just plain old "been nice talking to you" or "I won't keep you any longer". After the first one, it gets a lot easier. Good Luck.

Here are some helpful links:

• Do's and Don'ts and Advice to new Amateurs to help you sound like an old pro.
• Glossary of Amateur Radio Terms by ICOM (PDF File) so you know what all those TLAs (Three Letter Acromns) mean.
• ARRL Chart of US Frequency Privileges to help keep you legal.
• ARRL Band Plans to help you know what's where.
• US Grid Square Map by ICOM (PDF File) so you know where you are. Here in Shrewsbury PA and the surrounding area we are in grid FM-19.
• Google based Grid square locator lets you click on any area and it will show you the 6 digit grid square and its boundaries.  It also shows you the latitude and longitude numbers of where you click the mouse. 
  

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