Things about Ham Radio it would be good to know
( How to fake it 'til you make it! )



This radio ham is operating on 2 meters. Why is her hair so funny? Why is her ham shack so cluttered? Why all the cameras?
She is an Astronaut on the International Space Station talking on 2 meters with hams on Earth. Hair goes wild in Zero gravity.

• Can I talk with the ISS? Well... Yes. Kind of.
• How do you do that? We have a local expert here in Melbourne, Florida: AJ9N.
• Does the ISS have a heavy braided copper strap connecting everything to earth ground? Huh?

• Are there ham transponders in the sky? Yes, they're called satellites.
• Hams have been bouncing RF off our first satellite for many years. It's known as "the moon."
• Other bouncing modes include meteor scatter and aurora scatter. Fun stuff.

• Where can I transmit? This LINK shows where you may transmit as a Technician, General, and Extra.
• Where can I transmit if I'm in Australia? This LINK shows where you may transmit from AU.
• Always be alert to where the band edges are for your license, and stay back 3 or more KHz.
• On HF, the trick is to learn which bands will work at what times of the day.

• When you call another station, you use "from" (or "de" on CW). W4XYZ this is (or from) W4GAL.
• That order is correct. Many other communications services are in the reverse order of that.
• If you put these things into practice, you will sound like you've been licensed a long time.

• If you are starting out with CW QSOs, it is an advantage to conform somewhat with tradition.
• It is necessary to jump in with both feet and do your best. Meanwhile, prepare with the sample.
• The sample sequence of events is right
HERE for calling CQ or for answering a CQ.

• Repeater use: don't call CQ. It's a dead giveaway you got your call yesterday. Just say your call.
• There are a lot of people listening who may not say anything. The repeater puts you front and center.
• Some repeaters are linked to others and your transmission may get wide-area coverage. Be aware.
• If you want to chat, see if you can "go direct" and move off the repeater. "QSY to 146.55 simplex."

• In order to get an insider's understanding about ham radio, listen to the bands and the repeaters!
• There is nothing quite so valuable as hearing a lot of levels of experience in daily QSOs.
• Listen to how they interact. Notice the breaks before the other station comes back, leaving room.
• There is a constant flow of contests. Contests are set up for various reasons, and are a lot of fun.
• We operate contests at the PCARS club station for new people to experience them and learn.
• Our club station is usually open on Wednesdays starting at 5 PM. We are ready for questions!

• If you are criticized and are told you have done something wrong, you just met a bully.
• We have a fellow in Melbourne who tries to come across as the ultimate FCC authority.
• Most everyone on our repeaters will try to be helpful to new folks. Not this guy, unfortunately.
• In a recent gathering of local long-time hams, all present knew who it was without naming him.
• If you are criticized for using the "wrong procedure, or words," Just thank him and sign off. QRT.
• Don't give up on ham radio just because of a bad example. Talk with your mentor about it.

• As I was re-reading the preceeding paragraph, I thought about something else you need to know.
• It's the word, "Lid." I've been licensed a very long time and I have no idea where this came from.
• If you call a ham, a Lid, it's worse than a swear word! A long-time ham will drop right into a funk.
• On the positive side is FB or Fine Business. That means I'm doing very well, or copied it all fine.

• Do I need an antenna tuner? If you have full sized antennas, cut to the bands you are on, no.
• Many rigs have tuners built-in. That will work fine with antennas that aren't too far from tuned.
• If you are using a compromised or strange antenna, or a shortened version, maybe yes.
• Antenna tuners don't tune antennas. They fool the transmitter into thinking it's a perfect match.
• Where do you suppose the rest of the power goes in a mismatched antenna? Heat!



• Can I get a Vanity call with my initials, like you? Yes, if one is available. Ask K8RAR or N4JGR.
• How about a cool call? KO4VVV, KO4XXX, KO4YYY, KO4ZZZ? Yes. Grab it before it's issued!
• My guess is after KO4, the FCC will skip over KP (VI, PR) and go to KQ4 like KQ4AAA.
• I was right. As I write this (5/22/22), the FCC is issuing right about at KQ4ANA.
FCC.gov.
• You can also go back through the Ws, Ks, Ns, AAs, as long as you qualify with license class.
• Hint: your call is like your name. Once you get used to it you may not want to change.
• Is it free? Not any more. The FCC started charging $35 on 4/19/22.
• Here is the Process to apply for a Vanity call. Meanwhile, check out KO4OOO and VK6GAL.

• How about a cool email address? Your call letters without additions @ gmail.com will be available.
• If you join ARRL, you can have your call @ ARRL.net. That's a nice and well recognized address.
• You can also forward either of those to your regular email address.

• Finding out about another ham - location - etc. www.QRZ.com. Put your own call in. Top left.
• Then try mine: W4GAL. Then try my Puerto Rico club call: KP4MM, or enter my AU call VK6GAL.
• Active hams use this constantly. I'm always surprised when someone is not taking advantage of it.
• You can see how many times people are looking for information about you: Lookups: _____.
• If you click on the picture in the upper-right corner, the picture may get a lot larger.
• Can I edit my own QRZ page? Yes. Is it fun to build your page? Yes. Is it free? Yes.
• QRZ.com is free... but if you pay for the service like I do, there is no advertising. Ha.

• Help. I was listening to a repeater and couldn't understand what they were saying.
• Yes, your ear will become more accustomed to the sounds, but mics can be lousy, or....
• Hams can be careless with enunciation. Speak clearly so you could understand yourself.
• I listened to a net control station in Melbourne recently and I never did get his call.

• Do we have a lot of camaraderie within the amateur radio community? Yes. On and off the air.
• W7DMM is my longest ham-friend. We met in 8th grade study-hall in Iowa. We were both 13.
• We discovered our mutual interest because we were reading the same ham radio catalog!
• I was a Novice, he was ready to pass his Novice exam, and now we're both old-timers. :-)
• We talk regularly on the telephone or on FT8. FL to CA. We've been friends for 68 years!
• To build camaraderie, attend ham gatherings, and get involved. Help others. That's a hint!

• Should I know more Q signals? Yes, the Technician license only tests for three.
• QRP or QRO? It's your choice (power level). QRX (hang on a minute, I'll be right back).
• Here's a list of common Q Signals on an ARRL page. Actual usage can be slightly different.
• How do I learn the proper or accepted way of communicating and identifying? Listen. A lot.

• What are QSLs? Paper postcards used for the last 100+ years to confirm a QSO. Examples.
• Would you like to get some QSLs for your new call? Cheap QSLs. Or KB3IFH QSLs.
• Are there other ways of QSLing? Yes, eQSL and LoTW at ARRL to name two.

• Do I have to log my QSOs? No, but you might wish you had, later. At least logging early days.
• When first on, I thought that I needed to log everything. Pages of CQs with no one coming back.
• I still have all my old logs. Now I use a logging program: N3FJP.com. There are others.

• Should I make my own antennas? Yes. It's more fun and it's cheaper.
• Is a dipole a good antenna? A properly cut dipole can be an excellent antenna.
• A multi-element beam (Yagi) is really a dipole with helpers. It's named after Mr. Yagi in Japan.
• How about a full sized flexible whip to extend the range of my hand-held 2 meter transceiver? Yes!
• How about putting a home-brew antenna in the attic and connecting it to my hand-held? Sure!

• What are the frequency bands and names?
• MF Medium Frequency .3 MHz to 3 MHz. Includes the AM Broadcast Band and 160 meters.
• HF High Frequency 3 MHz to 30 MHz. 80 60 40 30 20 17 15 12 10 meters.
• VHF Very High Frequency 30 MHz to 300 MHz. 6, 2, and 1¼ meters.
• UHF Ultra High Frequency 300 MHz to 3 GHz. 440 MHz (70 cm), 902 MHz (33 cm) + 3 more.
• SHF Super High Frequency 3 GHz to 30 GHz. 4 more ham bands.
• EHF Extra High Frequency 30 GHz to 300 GHz. 6 more ham bands.
• Then come the Infrared and Visual Spectrum, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma Rays, etc.

• What's a Grid? Am I in a Grid square? Yes, it's an international system for locating ham stations.
• Mine is EL98qb in Melbourne, FL. When I'm operating remote from Croatia, it's JN85gv.
• When I am on the VK6SR remote in Perth, Western Australia, I'm transmitting from OF87bt.
• Want to find yours? HERE.

• Should I buy lots of equipment? You can if you want. It's an enjoyable part of ham radio.
• Are there ways around that? Yes. Or you can buy used gear. Make sure it works first.
• A number of companies make kits. They take time, but the pleasure is greater when used.
• Do ham clubs have stations set up that I could use? Some do: PCARS & HARG.
• If you are at a military installation like Patrick, see if there is a MARS station.

• Can I operate a remote station? Yes. And you can remotely control your own station.
• You can also operate remotely through www.RemoteHams.com to many stations for free.
• You can also operate remotely through www.RemoteHamRadio.com. It's not free.

• Are you a teen or pre-teen? To a teen, ham radio can often sound like a bunch of old men.
• That's a little misleading, but it's a common perception because many old-timers are on the air.
• This also applies if you are helping a son, daughter, or a young friend learn about ham radio.
• Check out a quick look at the teen side of the story:
Teen

• Should I learn morse code? Yes - from a few letters to competence. You're part of history.
• Many of the how-to-learn CW examples on YouTube use visual memory. That's totally WRONG.
• With any of those methods, you will max out at 5 wpm, if you're lucky.
• Would you like to learn CW? A
LINK.

• When I was licensed as a 13 year old, I was told to never talk about three subjects on the air:
• Politics, Religion, and Sexual Innuendos. I still don't today. Much better left unsaid.
• If it happens, I find another QSO. I don't stick around. Or I move the power switch to off. QRT.
• In a ham group if those subjects come up regularly, I stop attending that group's meetings.
• That's another advantage of CW or FT8. You will never find those subjects discussed on CW.
• At a recent hamfest, there were tables with a large political display. I didn't go near their tables.
• If you create a QRZ page, I highly recommend you avoid politics/religion/sex subjects completely.
• If you choose not to avoid those subjects, you will find that there are hams who will avoid you.

• What is DX? Distant stations.
• How far away is that? It depends somewhat on the frequency/band.
• On HF, It could be Europe, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, or Australia.
• On SHF, it could be a mountain top you can see from the mountain top where you are.

• Would you like to say 73 at the end of a QSO? Then say 73, not 73s.
• 73 is Best Regards. 73s is effectively saying Best Regardses.

• Can I interface my computer with my station? Oh, yes. In so many ways.

• Who is the control operator at my station? Raise your right hand...

• Are there mentors available to help me? Yes.
• A good place to start is the PCARS club station, 1980 Hughes Road, Melbourne, 5 PM Wednesdays.
• Also, the PCARS monthly club meeting, VFW on Dairy Road, 7 PM on the 2nd Monday of the month.
• That one is in Melbourne, Florida. Many cities all over the world have similar clubs.
• In Perth, Australia, connect with the Hills Amateur Radio Group: HARG.




W4GAL / VK6GAL