Help for new hams in reno
One of the biggest challenges to a newly licensed ham radio operator is to simply get on the air.
You studied a book or CD, or you took a radio class, passed your test, you even went so far as to buy a radio.
You found a repeater listing on the internet and have managed to get the frequencies into your radio, and you have probably spent some time listening to a few conversations or maybe a net or two. All good learning activities, but many new hams wait far too long before pushing the transmit button on their radio for the first time.
All that "Hamspeak" lingo, those darn Q-codes, all those different letters: PSK, RTTY, ATV, SSTV, APRS......
You may have already heard some derogatory comments from a crusty old ham or two about new operators. You certainly don't want them calling you "CB radio wanna be" or "Appliance Operator", so you sit and listen. You want to talk! You want to learn more! You want to ask questions! But if you do old, know-it all "rusty-crusty" is waiting to pounce on your question and make sure everyone on the frequency knows just how dumb new hams are.
But there is good news. If you live in the Reno area, the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society has created a nice "incubator" environment for newly licensed hams to get on the air and have even their most basic amateur radio questions answered.
Every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM SNARS hosts the "New Ham Question and Answer" net on the 146.61 2 meter repeater.
Newly minted hams can join other newcomers in asking questions and learning new operating skills from seasoned operators.
You studied a book or CD, or you took a radio class, passed your test, you even went so far as to buy a radio.
You found a repeater listing on the internet and have managed to get the frequencies into your radio, and you have probably spent some time listening to a few conversations or maybe a net or two. All good learning activities, but many new hams wait far too long before pushing the transmit button on their radio for the first time.
All that "Hamspeak" lingo, those darn Q-codes, all those different letters: PSK, RTTY, ATV, SSTV, APRS......
You may have already heard some derogatory comments from a crusty old ham or two about new operators. You certainly don't want them calling you "CB radio wanna be" or "Appliance Operator", so you sit and listen. You want to talk! You want to learn more! You want to ask questions! But if you do old, know-it all "rusty-crusty" is waiting to pounce on your question and make sure everyone on the frequency knows just how dumb new hams are.
But there is good news. If you live in the Reno area, the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society has created a nice "incubator" environment for newly licensed hams to get on the air and have even their most basic amateur radio questions answered.
Every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM SNARS hosts the "New Ham Question and Answer" net on the 146.61 2 meter repeater.
Newly minted hams can join other newcomers in asking questions and learning new operating skills from seasoned operators.