An Encouragement for Highly Experienced & Well Seasoned Operators

[hill]

I am a member of great ham club in Eastern Baltimore County, but didn't really join to be mentored with being a ham for over 6 years.
The club is the Aero Radio Club. Also have been around ham radio my whole life with my grandfather being one, but I was mainly into monitoring before taking the test in 2008.

This club is only about 8 miles from home and a 15 minute drive.

We have both members that have been hams, since the 1950's and much newer hams. All get along very well. Several experienced members are always willing to help new hams and travel with them to the HRO about one hour away.

We have good meetings twice a month and nice Field Day each June where the club meets at a small airport. Plus operate in few contests each year.

Going forward I have learned some stuff and about 4 years ago stepped up to be the club"s secretary. It isn't too taxing with only taking about 1 hour to complete the minutes.

In area near Baltimore/Annapolis we have 2 or 3 other very active ham clubs.

 

[FAT_Ronnie]

Last seen: Feb 25, 2024.

He's probably gone, forgotten about us, or otherwise moved on.


View attachment 157715

I feel attacked. Lol

Thankyou, RadioReference.com I will never financially recover.

In 2022, I asked the kentucky forum for advice on a scanner. I received excellent advice from multiple members and ultimately bought the best uniden I could.

During a scan I discovered amateur radio repeaters, I became intrigued with the hobby and came back to RR to research.

After passing the tech license, I came back to RR to find every available repeater in my area to transmit my scratchy trashy HT audio on.

When I wanted to know about antennas, RR search function, and my HT transmissions got better.

I decided to install a mobile radio, RR threads helped me along.

I bought a Icom R75, radio refrence threads showed me how to drive it.

I passed my general last Month.
This hobby is a blast, and I'm going broke.

Thankyou, to all of you for the information y'all have compiled here.

Included a picture of the shack.

 

[mmckenna]

Thankyou, RadioReference.com I will never financially recover.

Yeah, an expensive hobby. Nice thing is that once you get a good station set up, you can slow down the cash flow. Unless you are the kind that needs to have the latest and/or greatest.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the hobby.

 

[FAT_Ronnie]

Oh I'm just crying because I'm saving for a HF transceiver, and a remote tuner (i know, I don't need, but) , more low loss coax, and those N connectors (a beautiful design)

I figured the "why won't anyone be my "ideal" Elmer" thread was a good time to say Thankyou. Thankyou to all of those who answer threads, often the same questions asked repeatedly. I have searched this forum for answers more times then I could count, if I couldn't find the answer, I found myself educated enough to modify the question and move forward.

Not everyone is an Elmer: not everyone knows they are an Elmer.

 

[JustinWHT]

There is this nifty little thing that's included with every radio. It's called a 'manual.

As we say... RTFM

 

[StrugglingNewb]

Nope, I haven’t forgot you, nor have I forgotten your many valuable replies. In fact, I have returned to these replies several times to gleam and learn. Thank you! I have pursued the one operator, despite his highly demanding career. Im Learning much from him, he’s amazing. However, the main purpose of my post was to encourage the seasoned hams to be patient with the newcomers. I do appreciate the encouragement I have received in this post. Once again, thanks!

 

[dickie757]

Hello everyone. My name is Dickie and I like radio.

I recently had someone offer to be my mentor on the professional side of radio. I had to say no to the offer. Very knowledgable, and a very good person, but I just dont appreciate his teaching style. Not demeaning at all, but glossing over things that are very important, or going down a rabbit hole of things that aren't. We have great discussions, but it just wouldnt work.

I have a couple guys that call me or text me about issues they have on the ham side. I hope that continues until they surpass me. My local club is not very active, but one right down the road is super active and supportive of all levels of geeky-dom and nerdtastic sheningans. Simple antenna building to full on servers to control rigs remotely.

It may take a few years to get comfortable in one particular aspect of the hobby, then you might find a different one that can advance your understanding of the first.

Most here know this, but I got into the pro side of radio because of my ham hunger. Just today, I saw someone configure a six pack of repeaters and two site controllers. Every single day, I realize how much more I have to learn, and all of the opportunities still out there.

Radio rules!!!

 

[mmckenna]

...and all of the opportunities still out there.

That's the way it should be. Great attitude.

 

[prcguy]

I feel attacked. Lol

Thankyou, RadioReference.com I will never financially recover.

In 2022, I asked the kentucky forum for advice on a scanner. I received excellent advice from multiple members and ultimately bought the best uniden I could.

During a scan I discovered amateur radio repeaters, I became intrigued with the hobby and came back to RR to research.

After passing the tech license, I came back to RR to find every available repeater in my area to transmit my scratchy trashy HT audio on.

When I wanted to know about antennas, RR search function, and my HT transmissions got better.

I decided to install a mobile radio, RR threads helped me along.

I bought a Icom R75, radio refrence threads showed me how to drive it.

I passed my general last Month.
This hobby is a blast, and I'm going broke.

Thankyou, to all of you for the information y'all have compiled here.

Included a picture of the shack.

Welcome to the hobby, the spending has only just started.