On 6/9/2010 9:13 AM, Michael J. Coslo wrote:
On Jun 9, 8:14 am, wrote:
A real ham is someone who follows the rules is nice to other operators.
and doesn't brake any homeowner complex rules
and a real ham is also a ham sandwich

Since I have been a Ham, and apparently long before, so many Amateur
radio licensees have been seriously concerned with "What makes a real
Ham?" In my other avocations, I don't hear people discussing who is
real or not. We don't have real versus unreal amateur astronomers, or
real Hockey players versus the non real version. And while I have my
own thoughts on the matter, which are more in line with what I
consider good traits, like manners, discretion, high activity level
and technical acumen, I don't worry a whole lot when one or another
feature goes missing, though I have been known to take action on some
who have problems in the first two areas.

All of this is to ask, Why are so many amateurs so concerned about
this?

- 73 de Mike N3LI -


Well, I have to agree with the person who basically said "Attitude"

There is so much to Ham Radio that I'd have to write a book (The ARRL
Radio Operator's Handbook?) to describe it all, And it matters not if
you are into CW, or SSB or FM or Emergency Communications or voulenteer
work or SSTV or Digital or EME or repeaters or satellite or expermenting
and developing or.... Well, pick a chapter of said book.

A real ham: Has a license, uses it, and thinks of himself (or herself)
as a ham radio operator. (Assuming we are talking radio ham)

IF (s)he is sitting on their license and never touches a radio (Save for
the AM/FM/FM in the dash of their car) then they are not a real ham.

But so long as they are doing something with their license, They are.



Side note: I like the folks who cry about how new hams do not have to
know Morse code (Alas, I had to learn it when I got my first license,
but today....) Well.. Today you may not need Morse Code. But you do
need Rocket Science, at least to pass Extra