Funny thing is that there is still sometimes more activity on 11 Meters than on 2 Meters! I keep a 40 channel SSB CB in the shack just for amusement!
Some of those abnormalities may just make it into the DSM-V.
We're close in age. I got my license when I was 14 and became an extra before I graduated high school. The reason I love this hobby is that you make it whatever you want it to be. If you want to talk to people, it's fine. If you want to build things, that's fine, too. And, when you get bored with something, there's something else to try. You don't even have to throw millions of dollars into it to get good results, like some other hobbies (although you could if you wanted). As long as you're having fun...Luckily in my area the 2 meter people keep it professional. Even if others are acting like little kids I wouldn't let that stop me from trying to get someone into the hobby. Some people say that ham radio is dying out or slowing down. So I say the more the merrier and would try to point out the positive, just my 2cents..
I'm in my 50's & just getting ready to test and already have an old IC735. I think the more people on the air the better then deal with or ignore jerks on the air later
LOL. Some of the guys I've known years past would monitor the repeater input from their homes. I wouldn't be surprised if he was angry that the other station was marginal into the repeater.
I'll recommend a better way, instead of kerchunking how about saying "This is call sign testing." Boom! They just got Elmered and didn't even know it.
Thank you, Brandon. You get it! I know myself pretty well and a smarta** comment from someone is likely to get it right back. I was just in a situation today where limited communication and not knowing someone gave me the wrong impression and it was a downward spiral from there. Once I got some face-to-face, everything was cleared up. We don't get any interaction by jumping someone's stuff. Now that's not to say some people are malicious, but new people really don't know. We get to shape them. A good deal of them, anyway. There are also some interesting characters out there who are just... different... (in an Exidor from Mork and Mindy way) but not necessarily bad.Well said!
On the local repeater I hang out on we have a lot of new hams (and probably some old ones too) that just love to kerchunk the repeater. I guess hearing the ID and courtesy tone is somehow reassuring to them? Instead of doing what I want to do and yelling "stop kerchunking the repeater! ID your station!" I instead key up and say "Sounds like someone was trying to get in, you were keying the repeater up. Try it again and I'll give you a signal report." Sometimes the kerchunker goes away for a while, and sometimes they come back and start a conversation. I'll recommend a better way, instead of kerchunking how about saying "This is call sign testing." Boom! They just got Elmered and didn't even know it.
Also, I remind new hams that there's more to radio than just 2 meters. I encourage them to upgrade and try HF. Or try 6 meter sideband with their Tech license. As soon as I get my home station set back up I plan on having a radio cookout once a month. Fire up the grill, invite over some new ham ops, let them tune around on HF and make a few contacts and see if that doesn't spark some interest in upgrading their license. Who knew you could be social in ham radio without attending club meetings?
Just don't say "10-4 Good Buddy", ask for someone's "20", or call anybody a "Mud Duck", and you should be fine.
