Very First Contact Made

[billdean]

You'll be fine. All of us were new at one time or another. I didn't necessarily have mic fright when I got licensed after years on the CB but I stared at that Morse code paddle some time before my first CQ got thrown out.

I never had a problem with CB but Ham seems to intimidate me.

 

[K9KLC]

I never had a problem with CB but Ham seems to intimidate me.

Simple don't let it. It's just radio, with a few extra rules (ok maybe a lot) but in general most hams at least in my area are pretty welcoming. If you run across a butt head or two don't worry about it, most of us are still on there to have a good time meet people and talk to them. Hopefully one day you'll upgrade and we'll be able to talk to each other on 40 meters, I've worked a lot of guys up in that area. Would be incentive to get my long wire back up to do that. Lately been spending a lot of time on VHF and up but still do some 10-12-15. meters off my IMax 2000 when the bands are up at all.

 

[mmckenna]

I never had a problem with CB but Ham seems to intimidate me.

Keep in mind that while many hams will not admit it, a LOT of them got their start with CB. At least any that were around in the early 80's or earlier.

 

[W4AXW]

I never had a problem with CB but Ham seems to intimidate me.

Don't under any circumstances let amateur radio intimidate you. The majority of operators are friendly folks who just want to play radio and respect their fellow operators. That way it works for all of us without having to suffer through all of the immature BS that seems to rule 11m now days. I cut my radio teeth on 11m but I'll never go back. Getting licensed was the best radio move I ever made. Relax and have fun, no one is going to eat you.

7 3

 

[Yagi]

An easy chance to make more contacts is during the CQ World Wide DX contest later this month.

There will be lots of stations calling CQ and they will want to make brief contacts. You can sit back and listen to the flow and jump in and make more contacts.

Plus if you are on LOTW many of the big contest stations will be uploading their QSO's so you can get quick / easy confirmations.

Whatever route you go, have fun !

 

[Kiwibru]

What a great read this is. As a new license holder I learned a lot to add to the slowly enlarging set of files and tools to digest. I had to chuckle after reading the CB reference. It brought back memories of my CB days in the early 1970's running twin antennas in a Subaru wagon with the handle of Unicorn.

I too am looking forward to the "first contact" but that will have to wait until everything needed has arrived, is set up, antenna tuned, and ready to jump in. Again, thanks for the wonderful links and directional wisdom you all provide.