From: rlt@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (r l taylor)
Subject: Re: Feedback to Operating Practices
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 12:45:42 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.200126.16371@convex.com> tonyp@convex.com (honey bunny) writes:
>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.

Okay, this is for that anonymous new feller (not all that much newer than
I am, actually):

>        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.

Congratulations, and welcome!  It's been my experience that 99.99% of hams
are glad to have newcomers, and won't think any less of you if you make a
few mistakes at first...provided, of course, that you don't come across like
you know everything and they know nothing.  And that fraction of a percent
of them who *don't* accept you, aren't worth worrying about.

BTW, I think we all make a few mistakes in the beginning.  I had trouble
remembering my call sign at first.  Kept getting it confused with my father's
(KB2OOA vs WB2ODU) since I've known his call for years.  Now I've got a new
call (AA2KZ) and I have to remember not to say AA2JT (my OM's call).  Kinda
like remembering your own phone number, I guess... :-)  And I'm sure I could
think of a couple other things I've messed up, but I'm getting there...

>        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".

That's exactly what I did!  Mostly cause I wanted to avoid the codeless tech
stigma, and partly cause I knew I'd get the ticket back faster if I sent the
610 to Gettysburg myself.

>        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!

I doubt it.  I don't have records of my 2m repeater QSO's, but on HF, I don't
have many more than you...and I just got my Extra recently.

>        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?

They're certainly welcome on ours.  Unfortunately, it's down here in 2-land.
I would second the suggestion made by another poster:  Visit and/or join one
(or more) local clubs.  You'll make friends in person, which makes it a whole
lot easier to make contacts on the air.  (I can talk up a blue streak with
someone I know, but I still have never just gotten on and announced "AA2KZ
listening...")

>        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?

That probably varries from net to net.  I belong to one Old Pharts net on
75m (what can I say, my father is one of the Charter Old Pharts - I had no
choice!) where anybody is welcome.  Once you check in the first time, they
give you a Net Number that's yours for life, whether or not you ever come
back.  (In other words, there's no escape!! :-)  )  Granted, some of their
practices would make the purists cringe, but it's a great way to get up your
nerve, and your number of contacts, since they're on every night.  (The
Maine Potatoe Net, 3953KHz, 8pm local Eastern time.)

Drop me some email if you'd be interested in setting up a QSO some time.
I promise, no flames if you make a mistake...but you probably won't.  It
seems to me that attitude is the main thing:  a conscious effort to do
things "right" and a willingness to learn.  (At least, it's worked for me,
so far.)  And you seem to have that part down just fine!

73 de aa2kz

Roberta Taylor
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Whippany, NJ
rlt@gummo.att.com