Has Ham Radio become too easy?

[KD2EQF]

I'll chime in here.

I studied all of last week for the technician exam and with a day left before the test I thought I had done well enough to look at a few of the general exam questions. I ended up passing both tests (and then getting 21/50 on extra) and now I'm here. I'll admit I studied for the tests and that I found them to be easy enough to pass after investing enough time into them. It helped that I have a decent science background.

I don't see anything wrong with what I did (not learn the theory or the concepts in depth). Now that I have my license I still don't have a radio and don't even have immediate intentions on buying one. I'm happy to spend a few months here learning about the hobby from people that are really in it and can teach me practical things. Maybe I'll find a local club and get some hands on time too.

At the end of the day of course there are some people that study for the test and don't learn anything, but how long do they stay involved in the hobby? I'm one of those people that looks things up on wikipedia whenever I don't understand something and I have no intention of embarrassing myself once I get around to transmitting.

 

[dksac2]

So much depends on the person. The test is easier than before, no doubt.
Thing is, if a person really wants to get the most from Ham radio, they will learn as much as possible.
I read a lot of forums, have a pretty big library and ask questions when I'm on the bands.
A test that is easy may let some people who tend to be lazy onto the bands who might not have been there with a harder test.

When it comes right down to it, the amount of study and the want to know is what will make you a better ham.
One should always listen for a while before getting on the air. You will hear excellent operators, good operators and a much smaller amount of bad operators. Listen to how the good operators conduct themselves.
I had the best luck letting people know that I was new and then asking questions when I had them. I found most hams really like helping out a new person.
I make it a habit to always listen before breaking into a conversation. You can pretty much tell which QSO's will be full of people who will help and won't mind another person in the group and which people just want to talk with one or two others without being bothered.
Overall, I have found people to be great on the bands with very few exceptions, but much depends on how you conduct yourself. I now am a regular on quite a few roundtables and nets. Just be sure you have something to say others will find helpful or interesting before keying up or getting on the paddle.

You'll take years to really learn and never stop. Have fun, ask questions, read, have an open mind and be the best operator you can. It will all come to you in time and you'll be one of the one's who help the new guys. Never stop learning all you can and soon you'll find that you may be an Elmer to a new person. Lastly, if you don't know the answer to something, don't BS, ask some else who does know. You'll be respected for doing this.
Like many things in life, Ham radio comes down to respect as well as knowledge and both go hand in hand.

73's John KF7VXA

 

[bill4long]

Congrats on the license. Don't be shy. Get a 2 meter radio and get on a local repeater and start talking and make some friends. Don't worry. Be happy!

 

[jeepinjeepin]

KD2EQF, congrats on the license. I'm waiting on an email to confirm an appointment to take my Technician test. I've been listening to my local 2 meter traffic on an old scanner. It's a blast. I don't know how many times I've wished I could jump in with them, but not being able to I've had to be content to sit and listen. I've gleaned a fair bit of information just by doing that. If you aren't looking to purchase a transceiver immediately perhaps you could find a deal on an old scanner and listen in for a bit. I think you will be hard pressed to find one that doesn't cover the popular 6 and 2 meter bands as well as 220 and 440. It would give you a chance to see what your local traffic is like and might steer you towards a less expensive 2 meter only or a more expensive multiband unit.

 

[KD2DLL]

Congrats on the license. Don't be shy. Get a 2 meter radio and get on a local repeater and start talking and make some friends. Don't worry. Be happy!

Agreed. I have learned so much from just hanging around the local 2 meter repeaters than I did the entire time I spend studying and learning material.

Plus if you travel, 2 meters is great for on the road and talking to locals from that area. I have done this a few times so far when I was traveling and I ended up talking to someone local that recommended a good place to eat or a good place to visit while I was there. Plus it's always fun to meet other hams while your away from home.

 

[KD2EQF]

Thanks for the tips everyone. My guess is that I'll skip the scanner and go right to something that can transmit. If I can, I'll go to my county's club meeting, read a bit online and then after that see if I still need help picking out a good unit for my needs.

To stay on topic though... I've showed the questions to a few people and they all think the test is very difficult. I think we might all be bias because we have the interest and desire to learn the material or at least spend a few hours memorizing the answers. Most people don't and so the exam is still a decent barrier to entry. Imagine if the exam to get a drivers license was as difficult!

 

[WB4CS]

Thanks for the tips everyone. My guess is that I'll skip the scanner and go right to something that can transmit. If I can, I'll go to my county's club meeting, read a bit online and then after that see if I still need help picking out a good unit for my needs.

To stay on topic though... I've showed the questions to a few people and they all think the test is very difficult. I think we might all be bias because we have the interest and desire to learn the material or at least spend a few hours memorizing the answers. Most people don't and so the exam is still a decent barrier to entry. Imagine if the exam to get a drivers license was as difficult!

I'm glad to see that this thread has turned into one that is helping new hams get more involved in the hobby

Some great advice has been given here, I fully agree that when you're new you should take some time to listen first. Get a feel of how each repeater works and the type of people that frequent each repeater. Then, take a deep breath and key the mic. The only way to get over mic-fright is to key up and say hello!

To be honest, some repeaters can be "clickish" and if you're not one of the every day regulars, you may find it hard to be welcomed into the group. It's an unfortunate part of human nature that transfers to amateur radio. If that happens, don't get discouraged, find another repeater and try again with different people.

Also, don't forget that there's more than just 2/70 repeaters! If you can swing the money for it, get a radio that can do SSB on 6 meters. With a modest 3 element beam you'll be surprised what 6 meters can offer you. There's of course digital modes, satellites, and even the HF bands. With a Tech license you have a small portion of SSB privileges on 10 meters and a few small CW privileges in a few other HF bands. Right now the conditions on 10 meters can be challenging, but rewarding when you make that first DX contact.

For those few new hams that posted above, congrats and welcome to the hobby!

 

[KF5YBZ]

Maybe it is too easy. When I first looked into getting licensed in the late 80's I didn't have the time or the money to get into the hobby. Back then it was buy whatever study book RS sells, study like heck and learn CW, if you pass buy whatever radio that RS sells... Came here looking for scanner advice and just got my Technician's. Just missed one question and the guys wanted me to go for General but I declined. Two meters is my only interest right now and I would like it to soak in for a while before I think about upgrading. Still plan on getting a new scanner when the next Uniden model is released.

 

[dksac2]

Congrats on the license. Is getting a license too easy? The only thing that really made it harder was the code test. Now it's gone.
While I think it would be great if everyone knew code, some like me with dyslexia have a very hard time with it.
It was something I worked on for a very long time and could not do.
Now, I'm a general and learning what I need to know for my Extra, which is anything but easy, at least for me, especially the math, it's killing me. I'm just lucky that I've learned to be able to read and write, I still have to go back and correct mistakes, but when it comes to anything mechanical or just plain common sense, I am not at any kind of loss.
That said, ham radio has opened up a whole new world to me and there are so many things one can do with it.

I'm really pleased to see the new ham and how excited he is. He should be. Technician was a lot of fun for me. I met a great deal of wonderful people. Getting on the General bands is a whole new world, and I've met so many more great people. There is DXing, making antennas and then tuning them to be the best they can be, and so many things to do, it boggles the mind.

If getting rid of the code test allows people like myself to get into Ham, then no, I don't think it's too easy.
What is needed is people who will use the service correctly, help others with it and give back.

It's a wonderful hobby, with something for everyone. People should study the material and really get to know the nuts and bolts of Ham. There is so much to learn, I think it's a lifetime of learning.

Those who feel slighted because they had to learn code and new people don't. Consider yourself lucky. Knowing code has to be absolutely great. I just hope someday I'll pick it up. I was told to think of it as music, that's what I'm looking at now. Maybe someday I'll be able to join the others on the code parts of the bands, I sure hope so. Code is a very necessary thing to know for many reasons and if you are proficient at it, you are one of the lucky one's. Think of it that way and maybe it won't bother those who don't like the fact that code is no longer required. If one has the ability to learn code and doesn't, it's their loss, not yours. You are one of the special people who know and can use it.

Getting your license is just the start. Being a good operator and taking advantage of all the hobby has to offer is my main goal. I've been involved in ARES/RACES for a while and help out whenever called. I attend anything where I can learn more. I also know my place and always try to be an asset. Having a radio does not make you a LEO or other professional emergency responder. It does give one the ability to help them as asked and when needed.
In between training and doing things such as public events, it about learning new ways to use the technology and having fun. Then if there is a real emergency, we will be ready to assist anyway possible and maybe save some lives. Some think that on a call out, all a Ham should do is behind the radio. Not true, there are many other ways to help also and some forget that.
It does not get much better.
Tarzan, enjoy being a Technician. When your ready to upgrade, go for it. It opens up a whole other world, but enjoy the one your in for now. No rush, whenever your ready, you'll know and I'm sure will have no problem upgrading. General is harder than tech, but with some study, it's not all that bad.

73's John KF7VXA

 

[bill4long]

Ugh. Find some repeaters. Say hello. Be nice. You'll make friends. Not rocket science.