SEVEN (7) Tips for Newbie Ham Radio Operators
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- These are the main tips we believe you need to know; who to trust, antennas, coax, radios, mistakes, mic-fright and attitude. Don't be bullied. Enjoy. 73, John and Callum.
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Yes Callum and John. Great message. Especially to the old curmudgeons out there. I remember as a new ham hearing chatting on the local club repeater put out my call and suddenly it goes dead or I'm completely getting ignored. I thought wow how odd a hobby about speaking to strangers in DX land that completely ignores locals!?!? Fortunately i by default followed this advice. So for new guys out there; Callum and John are great guys; hopefully more Hams out there will follow this advice.
Great tips Cal and John.
Excellent tips!
One of my most fun QSO's was talking with another ham who had his newly licensed son in the shack and asked if I'd mind being his son's first contact. We had extremely enjoyable time talking about Amateur Radio, where we lived, and etc. Of course I mailed both the dad and son an individual QSL card along with a short letter and received a hand drawn QSL card with handwritten letter from the son. I still have both the card and letter. Made my 2023.
Brilliant story!!
Great tip there, let people know if you are new and the other operator will be usually be very pleased to talk to you and will take extra care to make the QSO easy and enjoyable for you. I personally love it when a brand new operator calls me, if they come across as nervous I will ask them a few direct questions so they don't have to think too much about what to say, but most of all I try to make them feel glad they called me.
Great tips Stu!
Brilliant stuff Stu!
I like turning newbies on to POTA. There are many reasons why. First, you almost never run into a grump that will jump your rear for simple mistakes. Second, it's a great way to get over mic fright. You throw out your call, and if you're responded to, exchange signal reports and move on. The newbie will end up developing his/her own special rhythm while finding out what draws an activator's attention. Within a few weeks, the newbie will be pretty good at using the features on the radio to help contact the weaker stations, recognize if an activator is outside of their band allocations, and will likely become proficient with signal reports (if they don't just pull an Oprah- "you get a 59, he gets a 59, everybody gets a 59!"). Once they are comfortable with POTA, I encourage them to answer non-POTA CQ calls. Then finally, call CQ themselves. I tell ya, POTA is a great tool to overcome mic fright.
Great plan!
Yes Chasing POTA is a great way to start on HF. We use it a sa tool as well for our new generals and Techs if conditions cooperate.
Very good advice. I've been licensed for more than 30 years but have spent my on-air time in the UHF/VHF bands. I recently retired and I am now looking at getting into the HF bands. I have noticed a significant difference in communicating techniques between operators in the VHF/UHF bands and operators in the HF bands. If I make a mistake on HF and get called out on it by a newer HAM than me, it'll be hilarious (to me) when I throw out my call sign! lol
Yes, I find VHF more relaxed (certainly in this country)..
I was afraid to make mistakes when I first started, then someone pointed out, it is amateur radio, not professional radio. Making mistakes are expected and allowed.
Amen, just learn from the mistakes so you don't repeat them. When we fail we have an opportunity to learn.
Great video Cal and John.
As ever very informative and presented in a fun and friendly way.
It's great to have help and advice as a new licence holder.
It's a shame the RSGB don't do more to help new amateurs!
They could learn alot from the way you present your videos.
Many thanks both...
Thanks. I am not familiar with the RSGB as I should be. I volunteer with the ARRL and they are making an effort to have better content for new hams.
Well.. The RSGB "try" but they are at their own limits.. Frankly from what I have observed, they need to step down and seek fresh new volunteers at the top who are prepared to perhaps make some mistakes but at the same time reach forward.. HOWEVER, I am in no way a position to advise or assist because I don't want that job so I can't complain!
This is good to hear. I've just passed my UK foundation test, awaiting to get my callsign. Not gonna lie, I'm not shining with confidence with the thought of going on air & I know I'll balls up & mis hear call signs etc. Also I think I'll avoid anyone calling contest initially given how ruthlessly cut n thrust it is. A more chill rag chew seems more appealing at first.
You'll be fine.. Start on 40m at weekend..
That was great ! great tips. we all make mistakes . all part of havening fun. I allays go back to young kids when I hear them. help them make a log. answer all questions. their is no dumb question . love the JIM W6LG . 73's
Jim W6LG is a treasure!!!! The only dumb question is the one that remains unasked and leaves someone in the dark.
I wouldn't say these are tips for just newbies. Even an older hand like myself picked a few things up in the video.
We forget that this is an educational hobby and everyday is a school day regardless of time served behind the mike.
Happy New Year.
School day.. Yes good point!
Thank you guys for putting this video out there for newbies like myself. Ive had my license for just over 2 months and still find picking up the mic scarry 😢 so for the moment ive turned to FT8. Im now logging a few contacts per day then i spend the rest of my time listening to others. The hardest thing for me is catching their callsign! Why do ham operators always say their callsign that fast ive to listen multiple times until i finally get it into the qrz page to see if its the right callsign or not. 😢 Ive heard you Callum a couple of times now on the air and the speed you get contacts is incredible. I doubt me ever getting up to that speed.
Anyhow loving the hobby so far. 👍 Cheers guys. DE M7PGT
If you slow down.. they will.. Tp #473 :)
The more you listen, the better your "ears" will get. It takes a bit of time listening... As a contester I have to remind myself to slow down in none contest situations. Believe me if you concentrate and spend time in the chair you will develop your ears... just time and effort!
Appreciate the comments gentlemen. There are too few “gentlemen” on the radio is what discourages many. It did me for a long time. Keep up the good work. All the best in the New Year!
Happy New Year!
Thank you both. Almost have my shack ready and y’all have me excited to get on the air. Haven’t been on the air in decades. KB5RBY.
Have fun!
Fantastic advice to new and old, my biggest thing I learned was to stay off social media for advice, clubs and books helped me more than anything, also have a lot of fun just trying home made antennas, I will say the best antenna for the money is the DXC and have made some great contacts with it.
Merry New Year
Love that!
Great Program. I too fell for that RG 58 COAX when I started years ago as I used a Radio Shack here locally and that is what they sold, which works ok but not the best. Well done, Thank you
Love this, great tip's Callum & John. I really loved what you said Callum about the older hams being better towards newbies. Being a newbie myself that is so true. Many thanks 2E0SVJ
Glad you enjoyed it
I'm so happy to be part of YCARS with John. Great video! Cal and John rock!
I am currently sitting here wearing your YCARS T Shirt! Apparently I'm an Honourary Member! I even have the badge!
@@DXCommanderHQ Wicked! I will put mine on in solidarity. :)
Hef we are glad you are part of the YCARS family!!!!
Great tips for new hams as well as hams who have been off the air for several years and are returning! Thanks Callum & John! 73 de Patrick KF4LMZ
Our pleasure!
DX! I am the brother who talked to you on the 'Director's Garage" channel a few days ago! . Keep on rocking!
Oh yes! I remember!! Rock on! That was funny - you and me both on some random geezer's live stream!
GAS Gear acquisition Syndrome LOL :) love it
Very useful information from this video. We have four new foundation licensees at our club who are at the stage were they are about to buy there first radio and antenna. I will be sharing your video with them.
I wish I had your advice when I started out 21 years ago.
All the best Cal, your a gent.
David M0DUU
Thanks David.. Have fun - and thanks for what you do.
As always, you are your best Elmer in the end, enjoy the hobby/exercise. Read, do and enjoy! Sharing happyness is free! ..
Hey Thanks!!!
Any online source of information can be very confusing with several conflicting or confusing tips or bits of misinformation. A real live experienced older ham can be your best source of information. Usually Antennas and coax are the first and most important first question a new Ham might be most interested (or even confused about).
Happy New Year Cal and your fantastic Community of passionate Amateurs!
Happy New Year!!
Great Job guys! Could listen to ya both for hours
You may get that opportunity brother!
@@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z sign me up.. lol
Great video Callum and John. I enjoyed it even being a seasoned ham. You guys hit the nail on the head with all this good advice! Take care, 73' W4ACW BTW, John is my neighbor here stateside.
John, Glad to know you enjoyed it,.. hope to see you on a Wednesday night out at the club!
Shout out to DJ0IP for the past few years of taking me under his wing and spoon feeding a turnip, I am forever grateful!
Great episode and topic, happy new year!
That is awesome!
Kudos to DJ0IP!
Very interesting discussion, I remember my FB first steps with ham radio 30 years ago, the best 73' de M0HWI Andy Coventry hi hi
Hey Andy, thanks for dropping in!
Great video Cal, my tip for a new radio amateur is buy ARRL Handbook and Antenna book, tons of useful info there. The phrase "a station is onIy as effective as its antenna system" I read as a kid on the back cover of 1984 Antenna book was a great lesson for me back then.
Happy new year !!!
Great tip!
great stuff in that comment!!!!
Agree on the coax 100% and for me a 450D is all the radio I will ever need in reality although I yearn for a G90 for qrp mobile /portable use. My only unresolved issue is local QRN from solar and home office equipment making daytime very tricky. The curse of high density urban areas. 73.
Ugh! Anyway John.. Hope you are feeling slightly better today..
@m0mcx thanks Cal. Slowly recovering but now having to try and get the diabetes back under some control. Hey ho such is life. Determined to get back to the shack soon to play with the new licence power when allowed. 😀.
Happy new Ear Cal & John your a couple of my Elmers 💙 I’ll get back on the air in 2024
thanks...
Hello Lord Callum: Thank you for another wonderful video sir. Just a quick note to wish you, Wendy, & your dogs a very Happy New Year OLD CHAP. ITS always a pleasure to see you in your videos & even though I've been doing this a long time ago I always relearn from you. God Bless & be safe, TMP, Unit 22 from N.J.
Happy new year NJ!
My first radio was a ts-520S yes before a vhf radio 28.300 28.500 was where I started wasn't long till I upgraded to General
Nice!
Spot on! If I wasnt a radio kid, Radio guy in tge Forces with a ton of training AND I hadn't taken my time I'd be confused. The RG58 story is so funny. I upgraded in the 80s to RG8, tried thunderpole, Sigma 4.. 5/8 wave.. so could compare. Then moved. I'm currently RX only simply for the reason to get low dB loss to the antenna, then buy a multi band hf antenna. Can't wait to get my coax and antenna ordered once xmas skintness passes. Rg213 and .. not sure.
G'luck!!
Thanks guys. Very good info for all.
Good tips. May I add one important one? Learn to understand solar propagation. Its very important for the new person to understand what band to use at what time of day/night. Even if you don't use FT8, a quick trip through the FT8 frequencies will quickly tell you a lot.
Another special comment from my side of the fence... I work a lot of massive pileups (I logged 600 in the last 4 days) here in Alaska and every few minutes I stop and ask for "Only Technicians" or "New General/AG" Only. I WANT to hear you on the air. I want to Log you. Massive pileups will go silent and wait for the new Hams. There are mostly GREAT people on the air.
Good tips!
great stuff. Propagation and solar weather are great topics to learn but take a while... I hope to work you in Alaska.
Great video callum and john , hope to speak to you on the air very soon as im taking my foundation at the end of the month and this channel has helped me no end ( especially with ohms law 😁) 73's All and Happy New Year
Very best wishes with your Foundation exam, it should not be feared, my experience was it was mostly rules and regulations, the second one introduces mathematics, and the last one seemed to included SDR.
You have enough time to go through them at least twice, l answered what l could, and then went back on the others. There is enough time.
Unfortunately l shared my exam with a person who made a lot of noise, flicking paper notes, coughing, unwrapping sweets, and breathing heavily, you would not experience so much of this in a classroom environment ,but online picks up ever sound. 👍
Ohms law.. Yes, that was a fun video.. Well good luck!
@@YllaStar95970 Ha ha thankyou
@@DXCommanderHQ Cheers Callum
Such a great vid Cal! Some great tips for all! :) 73, from VK4DNO
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks guys, great tips. But now I have to RTFM.😂
I also agree with the old experienced guys helping the newbies. I sadly had found a few condescending experienced Ham's right after I started and really put me off radio for a while.
Yeah, we need to cruise through these oldies..
Yes RTFM haha... I am one of those guys that reads the manual first... just weird I guess.
@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z haha, yes. Very unusual to RTFM first!😀
You must have a rare condition that needs further in-depth examination.😄👍
I wish manufacturers would always have dedicated Squelch and RF Gain knobs. I dislike a dual purpose knob, which needs changed in a menu.
Agreed!
Enjoyed the video, Thank you Sir. 73 W8VHS
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands
"clap clap"
I do buy RG213, but I buy it from RS components, which should be a reputable retailer.
Correct!
Thanks for that vid. MY first antenna was a Dipol for 40 and 15 2m above ground. Was enough for ft8. For two days working with a vertical, what a difference, and now on ssb. Hope to make a first contact with you at the Friday sessions, I love them.
And a question too, what is the moment to think about a Tranciever upgrade.
Your question about an upgrade..? When you have some money to put "in" to your own hobby :)
When to upgrade a transceiver is a good question? Once you have the best antenna system you can afford and deploy, because let's face it, we don't all have the money, space, ability to put up towers and such. I found that once I was on the air for a bit, I was asking more out of my FT-857 then it was capable of. It could not filter as tight as I needed, among other things... so i made the decision to upgrade and saved up the cash to pay for a new rig!
I like to deal with dx engineering for my supplies.
Good choice!
Happy new year commander.
Happy New Year!!
Well done
I know hams that can't or won't learn how to even program their own rigs. Can't add a repeater, don't even understand the basic controls other than the power button. I am not to bright, but I can't imagine the hobby being fun if you can not do anything for yourself. I started out knowing nothing, learned on my own. Every part of this hobby can be a new experience if you have not been exposed to it. I don't post my callsign on youtube, don't have my email on QRZ, nothing. I don't take assholes baggin on me, so I don't advertise how they can contact me.
Great advice. I’m just getting started and have already found how strongly opinionated some guys are. It’s off-putting. The old guys should be a little more welcoming but the community is just imitating life itself.
Well said! BUT.. just cruise through it.. Have no fear.. Uncle Callum said so :)
Happy new year Cal
Happy New Year!
Gents,
I am interested in your triangular phased array, any follow-up?
73 es God Bless,
Art / K0ACP
There is a video coming out soon. It's already been edited and uploaded.. It's in the schedule.. Thanks for the prompt.
My tip: reduce RF gain, turn off the preamp.
the RF gain is one of the most important tools on the rig.
@@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z Yep, unfortunately most of the hams, including some "elmers", keep it at 100% all the time.
In a ham group, I asked about conduit suggestions to bury my 100 foot of broadpro 50 under my lawn. First response. Why broadpro 50? 😂
Yes!!! That's what happens!
yep!
I can't agree with the go to your club. I do extensive research, buy the gear, and ask for advice....you don't want to buy that! Build it yourself! NO!!!! I want to get on the air, not spend 3 weeks cobbling some crap. I wasted 2 years TWO YEARS and got nowhere. Now I gave a DX Commander to build , sod it. I want to get on the air
Dear Commander Callum & John, thank you for this excellent message. Best wishes for 2024. The BIG advertising $$$ are spent on radios, and a newbie (like me) can easily get the idea that one can get by with any antenna or coax as long as the BEST RADIO is what is what one is transmitting/receiving with. POTA has saved me. Mic fright! My confidence has changed because of POTA, and I would recommend it to anyone. Courtesy & respect towards all! 73 KQ4IXD
Great news. Great tip! PS - Still pay more on coax than you thought..!
Awesome, glad to hear you are getting comfortable... keep it going!
@@DXCommanderHQ I cannot agree more with you about putting $$$ into good components, like coax. I researched what was available and started with M&P Ultraflex 10. Until now it has served me well. All my transmitting has been at temporary field locations until now. My wife has said ok to a ham shack within our house, and the “antenna field” will be 200+ meters from the house, therefore very good coax will be required. More research needed for coax and conduit. As always, thanks - and enjoy Cornwall.