Well, we do live in a new world these days, where people have little respect or patience for new operators. They, thankfully, are in the minority. I have seen some experienced hams with more of this attitude as they feel new hams did not have to work as hard as they did. However, I have seen new hams come on the air without any respect either. Some bring a CB mentality which will go over like a lead balloon. I would encourage every new ham to join a club [yes there are politics involved] to have the members get to know a new ham. There are a couple of threads on this already here. Just recently we had a new ham who came on every day asking for a radio check. He did get a few people talking with him the first few days, but I think the hams got tired of this after awhile. One day, a couple of Older Experienced Hams were having a conversation on a repeater and this new ham would continually throw out his call sign. The OEH did come back and tell him that they were having a conversation and would have acknowledged him is he had not been transmitting when the parties were talking. I haven't heard the new ham since. You really have to know when to enter a conversation. So I would encourage everyone to start operating the way amateur radio operators should. I would like to say that I have heard this OEH that blasted this new ham, also readily accept new hams as well. Although he has gotten a little turned off with people using hand helds and being chopy into the repeaters. And I don't blame him on this aspect. I hear a lot of newer hams not understanding why no one talks with them. The main reason being you can only hear 10% of what they are saying. Thus, find an Elmer and try talking with him through repeaters and simplex so that you know you have a good enough signal for a conversation.
I will echo everything robertmac has said, and add the following. Listen and get a 'feel' for how the repeaters are used, and the 'cadence' of how the operators act.
Listen lots, and do not jump on everyone that calls out. We have a local guy that used to do that... A few of us traded phone numbers and would calla do 'save' each other when this guy used to jump on us, even when we were calling a specific different person.
Look for an Elmer, someone you 'click' with that is respected by the other hams, listen and learn what he has to offer. Most of all, do not come off as a know it all. You got to earn your 'cred' before others will take you seriously. Nothing worse that the new guy acting like he knows it all. It does not matter of you are a 25+ yr radio tech that manages an Astro 7.15 system, you still gotta earn your respect from others, it's not just given.
Most of all have fun. Locally a lot of folks have forgotten that.
Welcome to the hobby, there is a huge amount one can do, that is waiting for you explore.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk