"Scott" wrote in message
...
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.

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.


Great that is what we should all do. Afterall the club is paying the
freight to keep it operational.

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. 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.


It takes a while before you actually "merge" into a new group. They may or
may not have been trying to impress each other. It is actually more likely
that they were trying to come up with the answer to a problem by all
bringing up their own experience and knowledge. However to a newbie this
can sound like bragging.

You might try introducing yourself to someone who seems both knowledgeable
and approachable. Tell them you are new and ask if they know someone who
can advise you. i.e. Circulate before the meeting, during the break (if
there is one) and after the meeting if people stick around. Come early
enough to help with set up and/or stay late enough to help with tear down.
This way you'll get to know people more quickly.


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.
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. 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.


Not so.

Ask the emergency personnel who worked the 9/11 disaster. Phone service was
spotty and unreliable. It sometimes took an hour for a cell phone or phone
call to get through. This affected fax, internet, land line and cell phone.

Ask the Red Cross and FEMA after any hurricane. There is often no
communications in or out of the disaster area except for HF and most of it
is done by hams.

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.


This varies from person to person. For some it is the learning of the in's
and out's as you say. For others, their satisfaction comes from actual
operating, participating in public service and so on.

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


Incorrect. The number of new licenses and total hams has been on a steady
increase. Just check the various databases such as that of the FCC and
other sites. The actual numbers show an increase.

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


That's OK, one learns by putting forth opinions whether they are right or
wrong from the discussion that is generated.

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)?


As indicated earlier, keep reaching out to the club members. However, there
are a number of good reviews at the ARRL website and it is worth joining
them just to have access to these reviews.

For HF equipment, stick to something that is new enough to have the WARC
bands (i.e. 10m, 12m, 30m). This would mean something not too much older
than 30years. In general, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and Ten-tec are all good.

For VHF equipment, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and Alinco are all good.

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".


This is where it really helps to have other hams to talk to. Really try to
reach out at the club meetings.

Also the reviews on the ARRL website have a lot of older radios covered too.

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


The ARRL has a variety of publications that are easily understood by the
beginner. Simply go to their website and check out what they offer.

Thanks folks.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE