Here's a few hints to help you when the new cycle DOES hit. It is meant to help, and not to criticize, OK? I know old habits are hard to break, but don't start (on 10 Meters) talking about "channels"!
That is sure to get you, at least, gently corrected as amateur radio doesn't HAVE "channels" in the sense of CB. It's a dead give away to the OLD way of doing things! You are embarking on something NEW and exciting. You think 11 Meters was really sumpin' back in the day? Wait until you hit that rare DX from Zanzibar or the Australian "mate" down under!
And, some of the old heads, the ones with a beef about the code "letting in the masses", yeah, they might criticize your lingo, of which "channels" is a sure excuse to get 'em to rag ya!
Don't get excited and forget and say "what's yer 20"? WOW! That's sure to get you jumped!
Leave the 10-code behind.
Listen a bit before transmitting. Generally, talk the same way you talk on the telephone. 'What's yer location, mine is ------"
(yer LEGAL, so you don't have to hide!
) You'll hear "Q" signals such as QTH (home 20 to the CBer), or "QRZ" (often used on phone to mean "is anyone using the frequency"--not exactly accurate). QSO=simply a convo between two or more hams. Leave the "cutesy", folksy sayings behind you are accustomed to on 11M. Someone is likely not to appreciate it and will say something about it---hopefully, a kind correction.
"Fire in th' wire an' yer blowin' smoke" comes off on two meters as silly and unprofessional. :roll: There are no "first personals"
(OOF!) Use "my name is --------". "My handle is" is acceptable, too.
So WHAT'S wrong with CB lingo? On the surface, nothing. To a whole generation of CBers, this is an accepted way of "fitting in", making the group comfortable. It lowers the threat level by
taking the type of conversation down a peg and presenting the subject in a less serious way. However, to the listener, one who is not involved in CB or has no interest, it comes off as very silly and immature. Amateur Radio, to some extent, needs to represent to the public a more
dignified face, a more mature "foot forward". It, after all, is still part of our Nation's emergency infrastructure and must show to the public that it is something that they can rely on---something reassuring. This is done with that more professional "face", the more professional way of speaking, omitting the cutesy and childish sayings (and, yes, we do have our sayings that have crept in--like "destinated" which is NOT a real word). Another reason for avoiding "CB-isms" is, our transmissions cover a LOT more territory via FM repeaters. One can make the SAME contact day after day, after day, after day. We don't know who might be listening and saying "UGH! Who is that silly goof that comes on every day talking like that?"
Back to the emergency comms. Another reason for "plain dress" language is the necessity of having the message get thru
accurately! Using proven, even time-worn phrases is imperative to understanding the meaning of the message in an emergency. Being inventive, cute, or silly is NOT the way to save a life!
Thus, this is why you don't find "CB-isms" much on ham radio. To them, it is not "cool". That may or not fit with our perceptions of how it should be done, but it is the way it is. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is a good slogan. Listen. Use plain dress language. Talk the same way the other hams do, and soon you will forget about "channels" and "blowing smoke"
To a ham, "blowing smoke" is a BAD thing; it likely means that something is burning up!!!!
QUICK!!!! TURN THAT THING OFF!!!!
If you can do these things, your journey into ham radio will be a MUCH, MUCH enjoyed thing. I hope no one takes offense, it is not meant that way. Yet is is a reality that, if it is NOT said, some existing hams will NOT take kindly to the lingo of CB. We all need to be aware of this.
73
CWM
