From: flloyd@l1-a.West.Sun.COM (Fred Lloyd [Phoenix SE])
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Feedback to Operating Practices
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:30:33 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Phoenix, AZ
NNTP-Posting-Host: l1-a.west.sun.com

In article <1992Sep29.200126.16371@convex.com>
tonyp@convex.com (honey bunny) writes:
>I've received quite a bit of E-MAIL from my posting (complaining/pointing
>out) operating practices. 
>
>One new feller sent me the following set of questions. I answered 'em all,
>correctly of course [ahem!], but asked his permission to post it to the
>group so he could get some well rounded feedback too.
>
>---
>
>        I have mixed feelings to  the  recent  comments  about  "operating
>        procedures".    I  am  a  new ham.   Got my novice late June,  and
>        General early September.
>
>        For equipment, I have an HF transceiver, and a borrowed 2m HT.   I
>        have  spent LOTS of time listening,  and very little attempting to
>        make contacts.  My log shows exactly 10 contacts (9 10m SSB, 1 10m
>        CW).  I haven't spoken to anyone on the HT.
>
>        The reason is that I am scared to death.

I still remember the terror I experienced the day I sent out
my first CQ on CW (was actually my first contact of any kind)
and somebody answered!  I was totally unprepared for a response,
having practiced sending CQ on the oscillator for some time
before the fateful afternoon.  I finally did make contact but
to this day I'm not 100% sure who it was other than someone
in Chicago!  My hands were shaking throughout the QSO!

>        I want to sound like a "professional amateur".   I don't  want  to
>        get  a  reputation for being a "lid" early on!   But comments like
>        yours aren't entirely encouraging.  I'm not sure if ham radio is a
>        welcoming hobby, or a closed clique.

I wasn't sure either at first, but I soon found out that the hobby is
about as clique-ish as one's self.  In other words, if you're able to
strike up conversations with total strangers, say, in the grocery store,
then chances are you'll have no problem on ham radio.  I didn't have
this newsgroup when I first got started, and didn't know a single soul
in the local ham radio community.  I had been listening to 2 meters on
a portable scanner and had been wondering how I would "fit in" once I
got my license....  Yes, I was diving into this alone, frightened, and
without an experienced trail guide :-).

>        I've read lots of the books and magazines.  I still have  LOTS  of
>        questions.    I'm  aware  of  a  resentment among some hams toward
>        codeless techs, so I started with Novice, so I could avoid getting
>        a "N1xxx" call.   In my area,  that  means  "probably  a  codeless
>        tech".

Well, guess what... there are thousands of codeless tech's out there 
already.  _They_ would have been happy to talk to you.  Around here, N7xxx
once meant codeless, but not anymore.  There aren't any N7's left....
The "resentment" factor is of no consequence.  There will always be those
who disapproved of the nocode thing, but they probably weren't very
friendly before nocode either.  Don't worry, most hams could care less
about nocode.

>        Ok,  maybe  I'm  oversensitive.    But  code  and  theory is easy,
>        avoiding gaffs on the air appears to be difficult.  By December, I
>        may be the only "advanced" class ham with less than 20 QSOs  under
>        his belt!

You won't be the first.  I think I had about as many when I got my
advanced.  It's a case of "Let he who is without sin cast the first
stone".  If anyone can show me a ham who hasn't made on-air gaffs, then
I'll show you someone who just received their license in the mail.
It's just a fact of life, once in a while you'll get egg on your face,
in public and over the airwaves.  It's those who can bounce back
without skipping a beat who have the most fun and stay in for the long
run.  If you can laugh at yourself, others will see themselves in your
shoes.

>        Here are some questions:
>
>        1) Everybody on 2m seems to know each other already.  How do I get
>           involved?

You listen.  When you hear something that you are familiar with, or
when you have a question, or when you have an answer, pipe in by dropping
your call sign.  Ham radio is a hobby of talkers, and conversationalists.
If by chance the group you break in on is unfriendly, politely thank them
and move on.  On the other hand, you'll probably be integrated right into
the round table as if you had been there for years.

It's very important to be there every day.  If there is a particular
group who talks about things that interest you, be sure and show up
regularly on frequency.  You'll soon become a part of the regular group
if they know you're there.

>        2) There seem to be MANY repeaters in my area.   If I use them,  I
>           should support them, right?   but I can't pay dues to ALL those
>           clubs.    Are  regular vistors welcome on open repeaters?   How
>           does this work?

Its nice when you help support them but it isn't always necessary.  Some
repeater owners expect no contributions whatsoever and are quite happy
with that arrangement.  Accepting no contributions has its benefits, 
which is mainly the absolute authority over the machine.  No user dues
means that you don't have to listen to user complaints and that you can
institute any policies that you feel fit to establish.

Other repeater groups actively solicit donations and dues, and you can
be sure that they'll make this known.  If you use their service then you
should contribute.  If your use is very occasional to not-at-all, then
don't feel obligated to donate.  It's not uncommon to "donate" to the 
cause and not realize that the "cause" might be the repeater owner's
new TS-950SDX or FT-1000D :-)

>        3) Based on what  I  read,  apart  from  real  emergencies,  there
>           appears to be no valid use for an autopatch.  True?

False.  "Valid" in this context equates to "desired".  If you want to make
a personal, non business local call, then it's as valid as any other QSO.
Emergency traffic does of course, take priority at all times.


>        4) Apart  from  the  fact  that  I'd  be  unwisely broadcasting my
>           creditcard number, is there a reason why a long-distance credit
>           card call is inappropriate for autopatch?

No. There's nothing wrong with it.  You're radio transmission is considered
'local' in this case.  We have repeaters in our area on which regular
ragchewing is discouraged and phone calls take precedence.  It's kind of
like the clubhouse telephone, which sits in the corner for everyone to use.
The 2 minute autopatch timer keeps calls short and to the point.

>           Does a long distance call violate the business use rule, as its
>           furthering the business of Sprint or MCI?

No.  The business rule has to do with conducting business as a part of
the message(s) transmitted, not the medium over which they were relayed.

The real danger here is that you're spending more time worrying about 
rules and procedure than you are operating.  You've already passed the
written test, you'll get the subtleties as you go along.  By and large,
there are no FCC Police squads out there, just a number of self appointed
repeater cops and armchair lawyers who lay in wait for some poor soul
to ambush with their righteous interpretations of the law.  Don't listen
to these guys and don't become one yourself.  


>        5) I've  heard  a  local  "net" on 10m.  I mean REALLY local,  all
>           within a 25 mile radius of me.   They get on and exchange  1010
>           numbers  and their own "net numbers",  and talk about basically
>           nothing.   If I could join  them  some  night,  I'd  DOUBLE  my
>           contacts to date !
>
>           How do I do this?  Would I be welcome if I just dropped my call
>           in during a lull?

Just do it.  They'll be pleased that their checkin list grew larger...


-- 
| Fred Lloyd  AA7BQ,  Systems Engineer          Fred.Lloyd@west.sun.com |
| Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation                   ...sun!flloyd |
| Phoenix, AZ    (If it's a fact, I believe it!)         (602) 275-4242 |