Hey older hammies, what's with the attitude???

[binrat]

I guess I mean the more structured aspect, maybe “rules” was the wrong term. CB is a little more free I guess. I also hate how a lot of people tend to look down on CB, especially because it’s what got me into radio in the first place. You can be on the air for less than $150. I have done some listening, and I do enjoy it, but I haven’t heard anything that has made me wish I could join in. I will say the couple of hams that I have had contact with have been very welcoming, maybe I shouldn’t put so much stock in what I read. But with threads like this, I can’t help but wonder.

Only time I look down on CB is when I start looking at prices... Then its like damn, sure wish they were the same.
With any hobby you get jerks. As long you sre within acceptable guidelines who cares.

 

[Rick330man]

I'll give you the best summation of this CB vs Ham radios I can. If you were an asshole before you got your ticket, you are now the same asshole with better equipment.

I respectfully suggest you get a law degree. With that straightforward, to-the-point reasoning, you belong on the Supreme Court.

 

[kopcicle]

http://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx-2/ $129 +$10 for DHL (recommended)
and just to give a forgotten workhorse a shameless plug
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yaesu-FT-8...237702?hash=item1a7cefc3c6:g:whYAAOSwQOpc7dm8

Deals are out there, buyer beware, YMMV, TANSTAAFL, research, research some more, read eHam reviews (toss the high and the low and read the descriptive ones)
Find a local club an see what is in the swap bucket, (they most likely will be giving the test anyway) Once you get more well read refer to craigslist/offerup/estate sales and bargains can be found .

Look, I see Connex HP~xyz#@! 500w (yeah right) for $500 and up for just .45MHz of "Legal" (cough cough) coverage. Then I see deals like her HW-101 for $80, My Tempo 2020's for $75, The TS-830 (mint) for $400, and the above FT-840...

For me oddly enough it was the prices and coverage hand in hand with a dare from family and friends to take the plunge. I don't regret it. Other than She is the other extra in the house. I don't have to just justify my radio purchases, I get to buy two

Such is life.

Next chapter is antennas ....

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Let me give some examples of what HAMS are:
1. After hurricane Katrina the first responders were paralyzed and had zero communications. The local hams got together with their own equipment and set up a system that got them on the move. No body asked them. They just did it.
2. A search and rescue group in the North East of the Untied States had trouble communicating with the command center and each other to coordinate the search parties and aircraft being used. A ham and one of the locals involved with the search and rescue devised a plan to fix the problems. Recommended test equipment was bought and put to use. Repeaters and command central tuned up and now a Handy Talkie can make contact with any other members of the group reliably over very rough terrain.

That my friend is what you don't hear about "HAMS." Not all of us are the cranky snooty curmudgeons and are dedicated to public safety and service.
So If you don't want to be a member of such a noble group, Okay but we could use more people to chip in and help out in times of crisis.
I don't think that is an attitude.

Back in 1998 when Swiss Air flight 111 went down off our coast hams were a HUGE help. The area at the time was basically not served by cellular service and the local RCMP were still on VHF. Their local Tantallon detachment could not access their repeater from the crash emergency operations centre. The Tantallon ham repeater on 2m was turned over to emergency services for three days until the local telco company could bring in and set up a cell phone site extender. Also hams were operating at police roadblocks and emergency locations alongside RCMP relaying traffic directly from Canadian warships and coast guard ships involved in the rescue turned recovery effort. MANY RCMP members were awestruck with our ability to contact directly with the ships either on HF or VHF-FM and relay info over our own radio network when they could not. The coast guard and war ships were able to legally come inside our bands for emergency operations. They used their ship name such as CCGS Edward Cornwallis or HMCS Provider and we simply used our amateur callsigns. Things like that make me proud to be a ham.

 

[Tallman]

I respectfully suggest you get a law degree. With that straightforward, to-the-point reasoning, you belong on the Supreme Court.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I like being honest and not ripping people off.

 

[Tallman]

Back in 1998 when Swiss Air flight 111 went down off our coast hams were a HUGE help. The area at the time was basically not served by cellular service and the local RCMP were still on VHJF. Their local Tantallon detachment could not access their repeater from the crash emergency operations centre. The Tantallon ham repeater on 2m was turned over to emergency services for three days until the local telco company could bring in and set up a cell phone site extender. Also hams were operating at police roadblocks and emergency locations alongside RCMP relaying traffic directly from Canadian warships and coast guard ships involved in the rescue turned recovery effort. MANY RCMP members were awestruck with our ability to contact directly with the ships either on HF or VHF-FM and relay info over our own radio network when they could not. The coast guard and war ships were able to legally come inside our bands for emergency operations. They used their ship name such as CCGS Sir Edward Cornwallis or HMCS Provider and we simply used our amateur callsigns. Things like that make me proud to be a ham.

I wanted to be a amateur radio operator since early childhood. There was a TV repair shop down the block that was owned and operated by a ham. I spent many hours down there sweeping the floors and mowing his lawn in exchange for electronic knowledge.
I spent many hours down there listening to his radio and him talking to foreign countries. It all seemed like magic to me. I had on several occasions had wished he was my father. The flame for ham reignited right after Katerina and hearing of the heroes of the swamp land,

 

[Rick330man]

I appreciate the sentiment, but I like being honest and not ripping people off.

Lawyers are like your CB vs. ham operator example. Those that were jerks before obtaining their license become jerks with a law degree. Those that were honest, however, are empowered by a law degree to perform great and noble deeds.

Think about the power you'd have to make the airwaves - all of them - better for all of us!

 

[Tallman]

Lawyers are like your CB vs. ham operator example. Those that were jerks before obtaining their license become jerks with a law degree. Those that were honest, however, are empowered by a law degree to perform great and noble deeds.

Think about the power you'd have to make the airwaves - all of them - better for all of us!

If I was younger and a lot smarter I would go for it. These days my memory can't do it.
I just got up from the dining table and I can't remember if I ate breakfast or not.

 

[314]

If your an asshole to me , you get it the same way back. Ive got hams that are on 38 LSB and try to drop the ham knowledge..It's funny really....When I get my Willy Wonka golden ticket this summer, I think I'm gonna have a great time pissing off all the assholes

 

[Tallman]

For me oddly enough it was the prices and coverage hand in hand with a dare from family and friends to take the plunge. I don't regret it. Other than She is the other extra in the house. I don't have to just justify my radio purchases, I get to buy two

Such is life.

Next chapter is antennas ....

COOL! Does she have a sister that is so inclined?

 

[W4KVW]

I was treated the same way by a bunch of classic car guys. I was also treated the same way by a bunch of remote control airplane guys. I was also treated the same way by................Every group has assholes that stick together. Amateur radio is not unique in this.Time to get over it and move on.

Bad apples in anything & everything & I doubt it will ever change. Plenty of others who are Good Apples so don't let the Bad Apples Win or that just makes you the LOSER! Having Thin Skin in life will more times than not make you the LOSER so learn to be the better person & leave the A--Holes to themselves. Life is to short to let somebody else decide for you what you will or will not do as a hobby.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[kopcicle]

I think I'm gonna have a great time pissing off all the assholes

I hope you find fewer than you expect

 

[543_Dallas]

If your an asshole to me , you get it the same way back. Ive got hams that are on 38 LSB and try to drop the ham knowledge..It's funny really....When I get my Willy Wonka golden ticket this summer, I think I'm gonna have a great time pissing off all the assholes

Get used to that. Theres always someone talking about something over their heads. You'll get more joy out of the hobby if you just let them talk. Don't turn into one of those weirdos that scan the bands looking for a qso to jam.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Get used to that. Theres always someone talking about something over their heads. You'll get more joy out of the hobby if you just let them talk. Don't turn into one of those weirdos that scan the bands looking for a qso to jam.

Indeed. After all, assholes attract assholes. Don't be an asshole.

 

[w9cll]

If your an asshole to me , you get it the same way back. Ive got hams that are on 38 LSB and try to drop the ham knowledge..It's funny really....When I get my Willy Wonka golden ticket this summer, I think I'm gonna have a great time pissing off all the assholes

Great another one :-(. Get your general and just set your radio to 14.313.. you will do just fine.