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Question by Nancy W: Does anyone have any Ham Radio tips?
I just recently got my ham radio license,and I was wondering if any of you other amatuer operaters out there have any tips you could share with me involving transmitting and receiveng. Also, how can see which actual frequency I am on? I have a Yaesu Vx-3r.
Best answer:
Answer by Daniel K
Nancy – Welcome to ham radio!
I don’t have too many specific tips other than to say you need to listen to some other hams as they talk on the radio first, then chime in with your callsign if you want to say hi or add to the conversation.
Learn your radio well – read the manual and play around with it.
Definitely get the ARRL repeater directory if you are in the USA:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/books/3602.html
It will tell you all the repeaters in your area. Program them in and then just scan them and listen. Have fun and make some friends!
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
William pretty much covered it. I would just add that you can check around your area for a Ham club. If there is one close enough, they would be glad to help you out.
Welcome.
AB4MG
rick
As Daniel K has beaten me to it, I’ll just chime in with a “me too” and welcome you to our hobby.
Your VX-3R will display the frequency on the front of the radio. As the manual most likely explained, the radio was aligned at the factory before it was sent out, so if you are concerned about being off frequency, then perhaps you should check with someone in your local club, and see if they can check your transmit signal.
A factory preset should be “good to go” and with an HT that size, you can go pretty much anywhere.
I strongly urge that you read the manual. I know that sounds funny coming from a guy since we are widely believed to think we can do just fine without reading the instructions, but a modern radio is a pretty complicated thing, so I’d start with the manual.
I just bought a Yaesu FT-7800R last March, which is of course a dual band mobile, and the manual has a getting started instruction right in the beginning. That should give you the basics, like how long to charge it the first time, setting repeater frequencies, setting the offsets, and PL tones.
The second link is to the Yaesu page for the manual and such. I wasn’t sure if you had one or not, but sometimes it’s also useful to look at it on the computer.
I also encourage you to get the repeater directory. You can order these through the ARRL, if you wish, or if you’re lucky enough to have a Ham store nearby, go in and pick one up. I have also attached a link to the ARTSCI repeater directory. It’s searchable by state and city, but I found that if you want to do anything fancy, you need to sign up. For your initial needs, until the directory arrives, this should help out and it’s free.
As to operating practices, I’d listen to the people on the repeaters, and see how things are going. If you are in “book ordering mode” then I can’t really suggest a better choice for a new ham than to buy the ARRL Operating Manual while you are ordering the Repeater directory. [Honest, I’m not really a salesman]
Its just easier to get started on the right foot, with the right operating practices, than to get started on the wrong foot and have to unlearn something you picked up along the way.
If you make a mistake, remember we were all there once, and if we weren’t then the people who put erasers on pencils would be out of work.
The single most important thing to remember about this hobby is that it’s fun, and when we’re all in the right frame of mind, it’s also welcoming. I sincerely hope that you meet good people, and have a wonderful time.
73 and good DX
AB9BD
licensed since 1968