Just getting started with Ham. Any tips?

[kb2vxa]

"I agree hamfests there are some fantastic deals!!"

Pardon my chuckles, sellers think their stuff is made of gold and buyers are cheapskates, never the twin shall meet. Still I have found some fantastic bargains, two things work like a charm. First some don't know the real value of what they're selling, for example I got a converter cabinet fully stocked for 6M, 1.25M and 70cM for $100 when the 220MHz converter alone is so rare it's priceless. The second is bargaining in a special way, listen carefully to the seller for clues. I spotted a receiver that is near and dear to my heart, only trouble was the seller wanted way more than I had left in my wallet, $60. He made the fatal mistake of saying "If I take it home the wife will kill me." famous last words. I waved the cash at him and said "It's me or the wife, make your choice." With nothing more said I walked away receiver in hand.

Unfortunately hamfest season is over with a few exceptions of indoor events and the famous Florida Winterfest but that's too far to travel. Then there's always next summer which gives you time to study up on the real value of things so you know what you're buying and hone your bargaining skills. If you want to be a shrewd businessman a killer instinct helps.

Last a bit of valuable advice, the best times for bargains are before the 'fester opens to buyers (sellers an hour early to set up so go as a seller, it's worth the few extra bucks admission) when it's vulture time and the last hour when sellers unload at reduced prices. Vultures, they're other sellers who work the tables buying up the goodies and putting them on their own tables at twice the price. It's a firstest with the mostest situation, snatch them up before the vultures get their claws on them. Don't leave just because it's over, that's the time to go dumpster diving. You won't find equipment in there but often bits and pieces from the dollar boxes and free junk boxes, sometimes accessories so if you like to experiment and tinker stuff together or add bits and pieces to your station it's a gold mine and it's FREEEEEEEE!!!

One last word, often you'll find a bit of a computerfest and CB stuff too, these days hamfests have like corporations diversified. Heh, you'll find Barbie dolls, pots and pans, I've seen everything from soup to nuts... mostly nuts but that's a long story about one Gary Prozac and a few other pests. (;->) Oh, I almost forgot I have his picture!

[KD2DLL]

Just an update, I passed my technician test yesterday on my first attempt with a 33 of 35. Just waiting for my callsign to show up on the ULS and I will be set to start making contacts!

[fineshot1]

Originally Posted by alexkaczor

Yeah i know what you mean. At the most I will go up to General. Maybe do extra in a few years. Only reason I may do both together right away is because I am going to have to get a day off from work in order to take the exam and where I work, its hard to get a day off. I primarily will do 2M and 70 CM for quite a while anyways since I don't have the money to get anything else at the time. Only time I may use other bands are if I go to my friends who has a lot of equipment.

Cavmedic points out what I consider to be an ongoing negative issue with most new hams
that they do not learn but instead memorize so after you get your new ham ticket please take
the time to learn not just about the hobby but the world which is one of ham radio's great things
as it is a window on the world and as such we are ambassadors of the usa to our other country
ham radio brothers and sisters. I have been a ham since 1974 and listened many years before
i obtained my novice class and had to upgrade to the next level which in my case was General.
I started with CW only and it was wonderful to communicate with people all over the world and I
got pretty good at it listening to the W1AW code practice sessions every day and in several weeks
I was up to about 18 words a minute. Don't let anything like CW intimidate you and go for it and
have fun with it and good luck......

[KD2DLL]

Yeah I know exactly what you are saying. Luckily I knew a lot of the material already from some of the engineering classes I have taken, so there wasn't as much new things to learn, which in turn made it easier to actually learn the new parts instead of memorizing it.

I have been listening to 2M and 70CM ham repeaters for a good 6 months or so as well, so I have gotten a good feel of how the actual contacts work and stuff like that. Obviously I'm going to be able to learn more by actually making a contact than just by listening, but it defiantly will help have been listening before hand instead of just going in blind to the repeaters.

[perrybucsdad]

Originally Posted by fineshot1

Cavmedic points out what I consider to be an ongoing negative issue with most new hams
that they do not learn but instead memorize so after you get your new ham ticket please take
the time to learn not just about the hobby but the world which is one of ham radio's great things
as it is a window on the world and as such we are ambassadors of the usa to our other country
ham radio brothers and sisters. I have been a ham since 1974 and listened many years before
i obtained my novice class and had to upgrade to the next level which in my case was General.
I started with CW only and it was wonderful to communicate with people all over the world and I
got pretty good at it listening to the W1AW code practice sessions every day and in several weeks
I was up to about 18 words a minute. Don't let anything like CW intimidate you and go for it and
have fun with it and good luck......

Bingo! I just took some classes for my Technician class and just recently passed the test as well and I was a little shocked by the comment of "just memorize the questions and worry about learning what they mean later". When I passed my tech license, I took the general and was 3 short of passing. I'm glad I didn't pass it because would I have really understood what it all means? I doubt it.

I just purchased the ARRL Handbook, not because I want to memorize it, but because I want to better understand what all this stuff means. I'm sure I'm in the minority but what good is the license if you don't understand the fundamentals behind it all. Personally, I think the Tech test was too easy. Yes, it went over some FCC rules, some basic power principles, and then some, but I think it sells the amateur radio operator short in what it takes to be a HAM operator. I feel I owe it to those who have gone on before me to learn CW and all the other aspects in order to call myself a HAM operator.

John

[KD2DLL]

Originally Posted by perrybucsdad

Bingo! I just took some classes for my Technician class and just recently passed the test as well and I was a little shocked by the comment of "just memorize the questions and worry about learning what they mean later". When I passed my tech license, I took the general and was 3 short of passing. I'm glad I didn't pass it because would I have really understood what it all means? I doubt it.

I just purchased the ARRL Handbook, not because I want to memorize it, but because I want to better understand what all this stuff means. I'm sure I'm in the minority but what good is the license if you don't understand the fundamentals behind it all. Personally, I think the Tech test was too easy. Yes, it went over some FCC rules, some basic power principles, and then some, but I think it sells the amateur radio operator short in what it takes to be a HAM operator. I feel I owe it to those who have gone on before me to learn CW and all the other aspects in order to call myself a HAM operator.

John

Yeah I used the ARRL handbook for Technician and will be ordering the one for general as well when I decide I want to go for it. I want to at least get some time on the air first before I try to upgrade.

[perrybucsdad]

Alex... I'm not talking about the technical manual, but the 1000+ page hardcover ARRL Handbook. It goes into a ton more detail and doesn't teach to the test but to the concepts. http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbo...cover-Edition/

[KD2DLL]

Oh gotcha, sorry. I actually have that, but in the softcover that ARRL offered. I thought you were referring to the test guide versions. I have not looked too too much into the handbook yet, mainly just when I needed some more details about a certain topic. I actually had bought that a while back for some reference for my scanners, when I was still learning the basic concepts of them

[K3NPO]

Originally Posted by alexkaczor

Just an update, I passed my technician test yesterday on my first attempt with a 33 of 35. Just waiting for my callsign to show up on the ULS and I will be set to start making contacts!

Congrats and welcome to the club! It's a bit addictive

[Fuzy_GSXR1000]

Congratulations welcome!!!