What do hams do ??? What should hams do ??? ENTHUSIASTIC AMATEUR RADIO

Presented February 2, 2013 At Aroostook Amateur Radio Association monthly meeting by Ivan Shapiro WK1W

Encourage other PEOPLE Encourage other HAMS to do “things” licensing – upgrading – dxing - fun stuff field day – contesting – rag chewing build kits/antennas/whatever ARES-RACES/community service

* ENTHUSIASM * NEW HAM –enthusiastic about radio learn new things EXPERIENCED HAM –experienced. Lots of knowledge RETIRED – has time to be enthusiastic

To a prospective ham: “It is NOT overwhelming !! ” HOW DO I BEGIN? WHERE TO START? WHO WILL HELP ME IF NEEDED? RESOURCE MATERIALS? Should I get books? Which? Where?

AARA ENCOURAGEMENT and ASSISTANCE

Get Your Ham Radio License ARRL Books: QRZ You don’t need a car to get a driver’s license You don’t need a radio to get a ham license

ARRL

Getting Licensed

Practice Tests

Tehnician Test: Subjects

Hamtestonline.com

“CW” You don’t need _._.._ _ FCC CHANGED RULES-WHY? FCC wants more hams (replaced SK’s) FCC recognizes young people text & FCC recognizes digital modes as important

OK: You Have Your Tech Ticket IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE to GENERAL WHY? –More Frequencies Allocated for phone –DX-ing: what is it? –How Do I Upgrade?

Technician License-Your First Ticket

Got General? Time to Upgrade to Extra WHY? All Amateur Frequencies and Privileges –So? What’s the big deal? Let me tell you –Less crowded frequencies in extra portion –Seems less noisy in extra portion

This is WHY UPGRADE

Log Entries Casual DX-ing

AMATEUR EXTRA CLASS Is it difficult to pass the test? No. If I can pass, so can you. NCVEC-maintained question pool & answers You see, FCC wants you to get ticket and upgrade

Extra test Categories

OK, So I upgraded to Extra Now I get Vanity Call* WHY Shorter Call Sign Shorter call = better for contesting and CW Easier to understand (i.e. bravo/papa) You are known to be amateur extra I started having people call me-first time Give my call in pileups. I get called !! * [Not necessary. Not everyone wants it]

GOT EXTRA CLASS What’s Next? You Guessed it right !! GET VANITY CALL newer extras? estalished extras? Become a VE (volunteer examiner) WHY ?? Help out. Give back Learn CW There is always something more…………

HOW TO GET VANITY CALL Here’s How: YOU can file with FCC I used W5YI group ( –My questions answered, and I had plenty –They walked me thru. Explained the process

W5YI Group w5yi.org

Vanityhq.com

1 x 2 calls

2 x 1with explanation

FCC VANITY APPLICATION SEARCH (status)

FCC ULS Initial Grant and Upgrade

ULS Details of Status

FCC: Previous call cancelled

Vanity Call Preference List

Do I Need QSL CARDS

QSL Cards - WHY? Do I need to have them? No. Then why bother: Your decision –It’s polite to reciprocate if you receive one –You can just use LOTW –You can use eQSL –You can opt out For DX-ing, though not required, it’s polite to reciprocate

QSL CARDS Google search for printers of qsl cards Comparison of features vs. cost Decision Examples to follow

My Previous QSL Card source: cheapqsl.com

Cheapqsls.com $50.00 per postage

KB3IFH $ per shipping

KB3IFH

K4JSG.com front $80 per 1000 – includes shipping

K4JSG.com back

So what is DX-ing This is a DX Cluster One click brings up long entry/another gets QRZ page

One-click log entry from cluster

** QUESTIONS ** HAVE YOU HELPED A NEW HAM LATELY? or one who needs help HAVE YOU SOUGHT ONE OUT TO HELP? HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT HAM RADIO TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED? * LET’S DO THIS*

a neat idea: ADOPT-A-TECH ask a tech class licensee if he/she needs help to do more radio and to UPGRADE maybe the tech doesn’t know the benefits explain-explain-explain

THE END? NO…Just getting started LET’S DO THIS….. TOGETHER And let’s not forget community service ARES/RACES/EMCOMM fin