ENTHUSIASTIC AMATEUR RADIO What do hams do What

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

Presented February 2, 2013 At Aroostook Amateur Radio Association monthly meeting by Ivan Shapiro WK 1 W . - - -

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: 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 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 W 5 YI group (www. w 5 yi. org) – My questions answered, and I had plenty – They walked me thru. Explained the process

W 5 YI Group w 5 yi. org

Vanityhq. com

1 x 2 calls

2 x 1 with explanation

FCC VANITY APPLICATION SEARCH (status) http: //wireless 2. fcc. gov/Uls. App/Application. Search/search. Vanity. jsp

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 e. QSL – 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 500 + postage

KB 3 IFH $100. 00 per 1000 + 11. 00 shipping

KB 3 IFH

K 4 JSG. com front $80 per 1000 – includes shipping

K 4 JSG. 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

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