In article , "Scott"
writes:


Hi folks.

Please allow me to give a "newbies" view on the current state of amateur
radio, and also ask a few questions.

I recently took my Technicians License exam and passed with a perfect score.
(I bring up the score just to indicate that I studied hard, and took the
exam seriously). I am now studying to take the 5wpm mores code test. I have
not yet purchased a radio, or even been "on the air". More on this is a
moment.

Scott:

Good work, keep it up.

I have also joined a local radio club, whose first meeting I attended last
night. This club owns and maintains the local 2m repeater, and even though
it is an open repeater, if nothing else, I feel as though by joining, I am
helping to support a service which I plan on eventually using.

But what disappoints me is the fact that I left this meeting knowing
absolutely no more than I did when I walked into the door.

That is not entirely unusual, and nothing to be worried about for now.

I had been led to
believe that one of the best ways for a new guy just becoming involved in
this hobby to get practical advice on things like your first purchase of
equipment, which bands are best for what, and the different applications of
amateur radio, was to join a club. Well, unfortunately, the majority of the
meeting I attended was, in my opinion, controlled by a group of 7 or 8 ham
"veterans" trying to impress one another with their technical knowledge.

You have just described virtually every meeting of every amateur radio club
ever organized on this planet. Again, nothing unusual.

So, I guess what I would like to do here is give my views on what I have
seen so far, and invite anyone who is more informed on these matters to
correct me.

1) The Amateur Radio Service is not an essential element in our society.

Definitely not, but it does serve a useful purpose. After you've been a ham
for a number of years, gained some knowledge and experience, and seen
for yourself what is possible, you will realize that.

Even in times of emergency, there is nothing you can do with a ham radio
that you can't do with an internet connection, fax machine, land line
telephone, or cell phone in similar circumstances.

Not necessarily true in all cases. There have been virtually thousands of
documented cases in which, during severe emergency conditions, amateur
radio operators have been the only practical communications link to "the
outside world" available to a community experiencing a situation which
caused a widespread breakdown of primary communications resources.

Ham Radio is a hobby, and
like golf, gardening, bird watching, or any other hobby, it could cease to
exist tomorrow, and nothing would really change.

Again, not necessarily true. If amateur radio were to cease to exist tomorrow,
then, on the next day, it would have to be re-invented in order to regain the
practical backup communications capability it provides.

2) To me, the most appealing aspect to Ham Radio is the gaining of
knowledge. Learning the "in's and out's" of all that encompasses Ham Radio o
peration is the true fun, whether it is dx'ing, satellite, CW or whatever.
But, like building a boat in a bottle, or even doing a crossword puzzle, the
satisfaction comes in the steps taken to accomplish the task, not the end
result itself.

I vehemently agree.

3) From all accounts that I have heard, the number of new Amateur licenses
issued has been declining for years.

Actually, the total number of licensed amateurs in the U.S. is growing, but at
a pitifully slow rate of approximately 0.003 percent.

This would tell me that the best way to
save the hobby was to open new Hams with open arms, instead of clinging
white-knuckled to the past (packet radio, morse code etc.) look to the
future, and make it fun.

While I don't disagree that we need to be open to more new hams, the simple
fact of life is that the old communications technologies we "cling to with
white-
knuckles," i.e. the Morse code, RTTY, packet radio, and even Single Sideband
voice, all serve a very practical and useful purpose in carrying out our
primary
mission which is to be capable *backup* communicators under conditions where
primary communications systems become unavailable for whatever reasons.
Everything we've ever known about radio technology is always going to be
applicable to practical and effective communications, and we need to retain the
basics in order to understand and create the advances.

Thanks for letting me rant folks. Now for some questions.

"Ranting" is what this newsgroup is all about. Carry on.

1) Can anyone point me towards any resources to assist someone brand new to
the hobby? (Stuff like recommendations on the type of equipment to get for
the first time buyer)?

Yes. That club you joined, but didn't learn anything from on your first
meeting.
Go back to the next meeting, and the next, and slowly get to know the people
there and let them get to know you. Eventually you will find someone there who
can help to steer you in the direction you want to go. However, keep in mind,
that radio amateurs are essentially "self training," which means that it is
primarily
up to you to dig in to the available books, magazines, web sites, and other
information resources. That's what I did, that's what virtually every
successful
radio amateur did. Nobody can beat you over the head with a "knowledge
stick" and thus fill your head with things you didn't know a minute before. It
will take an investment of time and money on your part to acquire knowledge
and the equipment you need to create an effective and efficient amateur radio
station. That should be your goal.

2) Also, any sources to purchase used equipment. I think I would rather buy
more functional used stuff, than new equipment that has less "bells and
whistles".

Try eBay for starters. Also, check out the ARRL web site (www.arrl.org) for
hamfests in your area.

3) One more thing...I am looking for information on antennas that is geared
to the novice.

I'd suggest that you invest in the ARRL Antenna Book. It has something for
virtually every possible application.

Bottom line: Nobody can help you become an amateur radio operator better
than you can your own good self. You need to open books and read them,
then open some more books and read some more. I'd suggest some simple
electronics projects you can build yourself, in order to get some basic
experience with electrical theory and electronics principles. I'd also suggest
that you give top priority to investing in a good HF transceiver with general-
coverage receive capability. The Yaesu FT840 is around $600 brand new,
and could be your main HF rig for years to come.

One more thing: Resolve to learn the Morse code and to use it on the air.
Decide from the start that you are going to be a proficient CW operator, and
don't give in to any of the frustrations normally associated with learning to
use this uniquely practical, effective, efficient, and universal communications
mode. We have all experienced them, and people from all walks of life have
overcome them and become proficient CW operators. It's not that big a deal,
and the only problems you'll have achieving success are those you make
for yourself.

Thanks folks.

Your welcome. You will find more good advice from other regulars in this
newsgroup. Start reading; the learning process starts now.

73 de Larry, K3LT