Thanks AK4DAVE
I am gonna keep at it... my call sign KG4ADQ just a tech for now. There doesn't seem to be much activity in the ham world here... but if I get more active I will def. go for general.
So for now... I will keep trying and get involved somehow!
Thanks again Dave
Ralph

 

You bet.... Is your local HAM club still having meetings? If so start showing up to them as well. Even if they're older folks, it might be a way for you to get other newcomers involved and get it built up again. You may be just what that club needs...!!!

 

Hang in there - in the 20 years that I have been a Ham, the personal learning experience has been the key for me and there is so much you can choose to learn and do. On my first 2M transmission, an old timer grilled me. Then I asked a question about ham radio and I learned something. He started talking about ham radio!

Then I went to the local club meetings, and I was the youngest guy there - by at least 20 years. Most of these guys had been Hams longer than I had been alive - and I learned many things. And they learned about me.

Field Day is just one event on one day a year. Learn something about HF so you can ask questions and be a part of field day next year.

What did I learn at field day this year? We have to find a way to keep 3 transmitters from interfering with each other.


N4XGI

 

Thanks for your support... both Dave & Jeff.
I intend to keep hanging on. I have been to meetings several years ago... and I was mostly ignored.
I intend to try and go again. It is kinda hard to get into these meetings, it is on a military base, in the communication building. This is a great place to have productive meetings... but limits the new ones from even looking into these meetings.
As far as the old timers go... I am one of them. I just turned 60 on the 20th.
the last time I went to the meetings I was one of the older ones.
I even brought my wife to one meeting, thinking this might create more introductions or more conversations... she threatened me with death if I ever bring her again! LOL (she is an 8th degree black belt)
My yaesu vx 5r seems to be not working at this time... so I hope to pick up a 2mtr single band mobile ( maybe the FT 2900 or the FT 1900) for our jeep pretty soon. (the simpler the better) then later on I would like to go into the FT 897 or the IC 7000 to use at the house and in the jeep.
Since I retired I have more time to travel and spend time with Ham(not a lot of money... but a lot of time!)
Again thanks to you guys just for talking... and I am not really complaining just needed to talk to someone about it. I am not usually a complainer or provoker of arguments. It has helped just talking about my difficulties on getting plugged into ham radio. I am not a shy person.. I have owned a business in this area for a number of years (sales and service) and been involved with Chambers and other organizations in several counties. That is why I am so surprised I can't seem to get a foot into this door!
Just like Barnabas in the Bible... you guys have been encouragers!
Ralph

 

Like I said, you may be the one to get things going again in your area as well as get the young folks involved. Young folks have to get involved if HAM radio is to survive.

I also wanted to mention, the local guys have a lunch every Friday as a way for the HAMS to keep in touch as well as welcome new HAMS. It's more informal that way and helps to make the newbee feel more relaxed. It's mostly just folks sitting down to eat and talk about radios and such...kind of a "Meet & Greet" type of thing. They usually advertise where it will be that week on the local 2m repeater. This may be something to consider....??? You may want to call the local club and make the suggestion.

Good Luck....

 

thanks... sounds like a good idea!
I am gonna contact the club again this week and see what happens.

 

I got my license about 20 years ago. At first I did some listening, them started talking to people, eventually ended up meeting many of them in person. Even though I now live in a different state, one of them is still my best friend today, many of the others are still close friends. I met good people and bad, stick with it and you'll do OK.

 

Picnic,

Try looking into the "emergency" aspect of ham radio. Look into the ARES and RACES groups in your area. There should be some activity there and the general setup of the group is to get everyone involve. This will give you a chance to get to know other hams, use your radio, and provide a valuable service if emergencies arise. I have found these groups to be a good way to make friends and start learning.

Unfortunately, clubs can have a tendency to become so tight they inadvertently exclude new comers.

 

Picnic...........anything new to report?

 

Yes indeed!
one thing I did... I was not sure that my yaesu vx5 was working and was about to drive 100 miles to have it checked since I could not find anyone nearby to help out. One guy I knew from some time ago had mentioned he quit the club 5 years ago and he is not sure it is still active. And he had no idea how to check my HT. (he was very active at one time... moon bounce & satelites etc.)
So I took the HT and the book and sat with it all day to try and figure out why it was not hitting the local repeater. It took a while... but I found for some reason the offset was set in the wrong polarity and the ctcss tone was wrong as well. Not sure how that happened.. I had no knowledge of how to get to the tone etc. so it somehow got changed.
I am now hitting the repeater!
I took a trip to Iowa to visit with family, my brother in law is a ham and he took me to an informal breakfast with a few of his club members. it was wonderful to sit and talk to these guys. I actually got to see one guys rig in his truck. he had a icom 2820 dual receive... gps etc. He showed me how it works and where all his buddies are with the gps function!
This is the first time ANYONE (other than my brother in law) showed me anything about amateur radio!

Just because of this one guy... my batteries are recharged!

There is a Hamfest in the next county this coming Sunday and I will force myself on someone if I have to.... LOL
My wife has given me the go-ahead to start purchasing equipment for a starter shack. So I am planing on making a purchase of a YAESU 897 or an ICOM 7000.
I am beginning to feel that LOCAL may not be very active... but the rest of the world is!
I am also on echolink and talked to a guy in WALES (a great conversation) and made contact in MALTA. (I had been to Malta when I was in the navy)
I now know the repeater in Iowa that uses echolink and my bro in law and his club use it as well. It is only a matter of time before I make contact with them.
I told ya I did not want to give up on this.... so I am even stronger now than I was before! LOL
I think if I get into the HF and the wider range of use rigs... I will see a huge difference. I think a small shack with some modest but good equipment will open a new world of activity. So I am re-reading my tech books and will purchase the general books soon to upgrade my ticket and talk to the world.

Thanks for asking
Sincerely
Ralph
KG4ADQ