From: rbono@necis.UUCP (Rich)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Feedback to Operating Practices
Date: 1 Oct 92 21:16:33 GMT
Organization: still seeking it

In article <1992Oct1.040031.251@gagme.chi.il.us>, grahj@gagme.chi.il.us (jim graham) wrote:
> In article <1992Sep29.200615.16645@convex.com> tonyp@convex.COM writes:
> [and someone else wrote:]
> 
>>        1) Everybody on 2m seems to know each other already.  How do I get
>>           involved?
>>
>>Well - I *KNOW* exactly how you feel on this one: I've found 2 meters to
>>be about the most unfriendly place in ham radio - short of the gestapo
>>nets on SSB. The only thing that seems to work is to meet people in 
>>person - we used to go out for breakfast on saturday once a month - and
>>once people meet you in person the barriers seem to drop down. I don't
>>know (and I'm sorry to say) of anyone that made friends on a repeater.
> 
> YOU DO NOW.....  seriously, I've very definitely made friends on a
> 2m repeater.  I also happen to agree with you that this isn't nearly
> as common as it should be.
> 
> what I normally do when visiting an area is to just id on the repeater
> (when there's not a QSO in progress, of course, unless I mean to join in).
> folks hear a call they don't recognize and often welcome me to the area.
 [deleted some good comments]

  I offer my ideas on this.  This is from two viewpoints:

   1) I have held many beginners classes (both novice and technician) and this
       is what I recomend to them.

   2) I sometimes get to travel a bit, and this is what I do

 Basically, if you don't transmit, then no-one will know that you are there.
I know that it is terrifying for new people to do this, but sooner or later
you have to press that Push To Talk switch (or that Morse code key) if anyone
is going to talk to you.

  Sadly, we have to admit that there is a small chance that you might run into
one of the 'bad apples' of Amateur radio.  If so, just say 'this
is (insert your callsign here)' and tune your radio to another frequency or
OFF if you must.  For every bad apple, there are hundreds of friendly operators.

 If someone seems friendly, but seems to be critizising (sp) your operating
habits, don't worry too much about it.  You may want to think about what the
other person is telling you, or you may want to ignore them.  I basically
reccomend that you (as a new operator) don't try to use any jargon, q-signals
(except on CW), or other qute phrases (for instance, say "MY NAME IS RICH,
AND I LIVE IN DERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE", not "MY PERSONAL IS RICH (what is a
personal anyway) AND MY HOME QTH IS DERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE".  Remember, speak
English as if you were talking to another person face-to-face.  On CW the
Q-Codes are ok: "NAME HERE RICH QTH DERRY, NH".

 OK, these are some basics... relax and look for someone to talk to.  No-one
seems to be around?  Then (for repeaters) simply say "This is (callsign),
is there anyone around?".  If someone shows up, simply state that you are new
and are a bit nervous.... this will usually give the two of you something to
talk about and will get you started.  If not, simply ask some questions about
the repeater, or talk about the weather or something.

  How do you get to know people on the air?  You have to TALK TO THEM!  I know
that is seems that there are too many people with both NAMES and CALLSIGNS that
you feel that you must memorize before you can talk to them.  WRONG!  You only
have to remember YOUR OWN name and callsign (so that you can legally identify
your station and tell other people your name).  If you forget the other
operators name or callsign, just ask them again.  After having several
conversations with an operator you will begin to remember their name and
callsign without a problem.

  You will find that there seems to be cliques on different repeaters.  This
is both bad and good.  I usually find that each group tends to favor certain
topics (for instance, one group will always be talking about computers, another
may spend a lot of time talking about DXing, and others tend to always complain
about bad traffic).  Find the group with the topic that interests you.  This
way you will tend to be one of the group, instead of feeling like an outsider.
Again, remember that you have to take an active part in the conversation for
this to happen!

  Another thing to notice is that each repeater tends to have a certain 'mood'
at different times of the day.  This is because as different groups come and
go, they tend to have a different 'group' personality.  So, if you can, try
different repeaters at different times of the day until you find a group
that you like.

  Remember, we all were beginers once (or twice)!  Some of us (myself included)
actually consider being a first contact for a new person is a very special
honor.  I usually try and be extra friendly for new operators (unless they
try and talk to me while my dinner is waiting for me ;-) ).
  
  An open invitation:

  If you happen to be in the North of Boston, South of Concord New Hampshire
area stop by the 146.745 (-600kHz tx offset) repeater located in Derry,
New Hampshire.  This is a fairly quiet machine, but *most* people on it are
fairly friendly.  I am personally on the air during my commute to and from
work (for about an hour around 8:00AM and again around 5:30PM).  Give me a
call (NM1D), or just say:  This is (insert your call here), is anyone around?


  [boy, I can get wordy sometimes]

  Rich

-- 
 /**************************************************************************\
 * Rich Bono                     IMRICH         UUCP:rbono@necis.ma.nec.com * 
 * (508) 635-6300                 NM1D          AMPR: nm1d@nm1d.nh.usa.noam * 
 \**************************************************************************/