• What do hams do ???• What should hams do ???

ENTHUSIASTICAMATEUR RADIO

Presented February 2, 2013 At Aroostook Amateur Radio Association

monthly meeting

by

Ivan Shapiro

WK1W

.- - -.- .- - - - .- -

Encourage other PEOPLEEncourage 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: www.arrl.org

• QRZ www.qrz.com/ht

• www.hamtestonline.com

• 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 & email

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 EntriesCasual DX-ing

AMATEUR EXTRA CLASSIs 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 ExtraNow 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 (www.w5yi.org)– My questions answered, and I had plenty– They walked me thru. Explained the

process

W5YI Groupw5yi.org

Vanityhq.com

1 x 2 calls

2 x 1with explanation

FCC VANITY APPLICATION SEARCH (status)http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/ApplicationSearch/searchVanity.jsp

FCC ULSInitial 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 Cardsource: cheapqsl.com

Cheapqsls.com$50.00 per 500 + postage

KB3IFH$100.00 per 1000 + 11.00 shipping

KB3IFH

K4JSG.comfront

$80 per 1000 – includes shipping

K4JSG.comback

So what is DX-ingThis 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 TOSOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED?

* LET’S DO THIS*

a neat idea:

ADOPT-A-TECHask a tech class licenseeif he/she needs help to do

more radio and to UPGRADE

maybe the tech doesn’t know the benefitsexplain-explain-explain

THE END?

NO…Just getting started

LET’S DO THIS…..

TOGETHERAnd let’s not forget community service

ARES/RACES/EMCOMM

fin