KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

Clubs

What new hams are up against

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A  reader writes:

Although I hold a recently-acquired Technician license, I am a grey-haired rookie. When passing the test, the protocol questions were pretty easy for me, because both my parents had been radio hams. I memorized the technical questions, really do not understand the underlying principles.

The handhelds totally baffle me. I am an active member of here where I live, and I’ve asked for help so many times I’m embarrassed to ask again. 

I have two Yaesu  FT60s. When I try to carry them, I inadvertently touch one of the buttons, which changes the settings, and I have no idea how to get back to where they were. I tried to investigate how to “lock” the keyboard and discover in the manual that there are a multitude of ways in which the instrument can be locked.

It’s all just too complicated. Just because a manufacturer can create a certain kind of programmability, it doesn’t necessarily mean that such a capability is really needed. It’s overkill, and interferes with the use of the basic functions of the instrument.

This email points out two challenges facing new hams:

  1. The complexity of today’s technology.
  2. The lack of qualified or willing Elmers.

#1 sounds like a business opportunity to me. I realize that the FT60 is already supposed to be a stripped-down, easy-to-use HT, but perhaps there’s a market for something that’s even simpler to use.

#2 is a totally different matter. I am especially disappointed that my reader was unable to get the help she needed at her local club.

I’ve written before that I think part of the problem is that many long-time hams are really not as knowledgable as they may seem, or if they are, they’re just not prepared to be “Elmers.” When they’re asked to help, they get flustered and embarrassed. They don’t realize that it’s OK to say that they don’t know something and then go find the answer. This is especially true these days when the technology, as my reader aptly pointed out, is complicated and confusing.

I really think that the amateur radio community needs to make a more concerted effort to encourage and support Elmers. Recently, the ARRL suggested that they are considering “new programs and services to increase the knowledge base of newcomers in order to get them active, as well as programs to keep experienced amateurs up to date with changing technology and practice.” I’m going to suggest again that they also include a program to create more Elmers. Without a trained group of Elmers to bring these new programs and services to new hams, it will be a total failure.

A website for 30m CW ops

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Many moons ago (almost 13 years to be exactly), I replied to an item on eHam.Net, “Why is 30 Meters Ignored?”  I wrote:

I’m a CW guy, and while there’s often a good amount of CW activity on 30m, a lot of times it’s as quiet as a mouse. I almost never hear digital signals, though, and like K0RGR I wonder why that is. As he points out, it’s a great band for both DX and domestic QSOs.

At one point, I was thinking about starting a 30-30 club, similar to the 10-10 Club to stimulate some activity on 30m. Whatsa, OMs?

Well, today, I received an email from Lou, VK5EEE. He writes:

I hope this finds you well and still a fan of 30m. I had similar ideas and recently started 30cw.net — I hope you will join in.

Well, I did just sign up and subscribed to the site’s email list. Please consider doing so as well if you work 30m.

By the way, VK5EEE, is also a CW columnist. You can read some of his columns, CW Today, by going to http://www.vkcw.net/cwtoday.

Operating Notes: the sound of static, Field Day

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A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Rotary International convention in Atlanta. I was off the air for a whole week. I considered taking my KX3 with me, but it seemed like too much trouble, and I didn’t know how much time I would have to operate.

What I found was that I really missed the sound of static in my ears. There’s something about that sound that holds the promise of something interesting, whether that be some DX or a ragchew with an interesting person. I was really happy to get home and get back on the air.

Solo Field Day

Before Field Day, I ask those that I work if they have any plans for Field Day, and after Field Day, I ask them what they did for Field Day. A couple of days ago, I asked a fellow what he did, and he said that he operated 1D from his home on Sunday morning. While I didn’t work him during Field Day, I thanked him for getting on. By Sunday morning, we’ve normally contacted all the big club stations that we’re going to contact, so we need the 1D and 1B stations to pad our contact totals.

The flip side of that, of course, is that the guys that operate solo miss out on a lot of the fun of Field Day. A big part of what makes Field Day fun is just hanging out with other hams.

This face-to-face contact is valuable on a lot of levels:

  1. You get to see and use the rigs they’re operating. The star at this year’s Field Day was the IC-7300 that we used at the GOTA station.
  2. You learn how to improve your operating technique by watching those who are better than you. I forget how many years ago it was that Dennis, KT8X, showed me how to run with N1MM software. That really raised my game.
  3. Socializing is good for the soul. Even if you don’t operate or pay any attention to the rigs or antennas, the social aspect of Field Day can be a lot of fun, if you let it be.

Even if there isn’t a club in your area, you could invite some friends over to your place, or maybe a nearby park, and operate together. That way, you get to enjoy some of the camaraderie of amateur radio on what’s arguably our most important special event.

ARROW 2017 Field Day a great success, part I

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This weekend, was without a doubt one of the best Field Days I’ve had the pleasure of particpating in. Except for the loss of a flashlight, everything went off without a hitch.

My Field Day got started at 8am Saturday morning at Mark’s Midtown Coney Island. (I feel a little bad about not getting out to the Field Day site on Friday evening to put up the antenna masts, but only a little.) A bunch of us gather there to fuel up for the event. This year, ten of us ate at Mark’s.

Soon after I got there, Garry, W8GMD, approached me and handed me the laser-engraved nametag shown at right. How cool is that? 

The antenna masts for the CW station and the two SSB stations were already up, so about the only thing that we needed to do was to set up the GOTA station. As we have for probably at least the last five years, we used my 20m/40m fan dipole, mounted in an inverted vee configuration, using my set of surplus fiberglass masts. This setup has worked very well over the past five years, in many different locations, and this year was no exception.

The antenna went up quickly, and this year, once  it was up, we didn’t have to lower it for any reason. I guess that we’re finally getting the hang of it. I had purchased a new folding table and brought along some folding chairs, and that was all set up in no time as well. That left us some time to help set up the food tent and do some other miscellaneous chores. This was all aided by the simply perfect weather that we had that morning (and throughout the rest of Field Day).

About 10:30 am, I retrieved the radio that we were going to use in the GOTA tent—an IC-7300!—and got that set up. As soon as the generators were fired up, shortly before 11:00am, we were ready to get on the air.

As I did last year, I had a blast making pre-Field Day contacts with other stations who were also testing their rigs. This little activity is actually an important one. It helped me learn how to operate the IC-7300—an important thing for the GOTA coach to know—and it gave me an idea of the propagation conditions. I was happy to note that propagation seemed really good, at least on 40m.

Speaking about the GOTA station, we ended up with 72 contacts made by 11 different operators. Our start operator this year was Aaron, who tallied about 25 contacts. The rest were all stars in my book, though, including my wife, Silvia; her sister, Lucy; Michelle, KE8GZF; Garry, W8GMD; and Ian, age 12, who made four or five contacts before he had to leave (see below).

Ian, age 12, and yours truly at the GOTA station. Photo: Dave New, N8SBE.

At 1800Z, all of our stations were up and running. We ran 3A again this year, including one CW station and two SSB stations.

The “hyoooj” improvement that we made in our operation this year was the food. I don’t know how they did it, but our club officers convinced Tom, W8TAM, and Julie, K8VOX (of MSPOTA fame) to turn and burn on dinner rather than 20m phone.

We had a real feast. On the menu was pulled pork, jerk chicken, baked beans, potato salad, and other assorted delicacies. Someone baked some cookies, and someone else bought a cheesecake. Everything was incredibly good.

After dinner, I convinced Michelle, KE8GZF, to take another turn at the GOTA station, but after making a couple more contacts, both she and I had had enough. We called it quits, and I went home before returning very early on Sunday morning.

…continue on to Part II

How to make Field Day (or any remote operation) a success

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Today’s guest post was written by Scott Westerman, W9WSW, the ARRL Public Relations Committee Chair. Thanks, Scott!

In my days as a radio broadcaster, one of the most exciting things we did was a “remote”, where we took our gear and our talent out into the community to broadcast live. My good friend and legendary programming consultant, Gary Berkowitz, recently wrote a column about how to accomplish an effective remote. Realizing that Field Day, a Special Event Station, or any activity that takes ham radio into our community is an opportunity to promote our essential avocation, here’s my recipe for excellent execution, borrowing heavily on his advice.

  1. Have a plan – Weeks prior to this year’s Field Day, I had the honor of attending the South Lyon Area Amateur Radio Club‘s monthly meeting. A good portion was dedicated to Field Day. They had a strong committee, headed by a strong and respected leader. They recruited a number of volunteers and had detailed plans for everything from set-up to food preparation. Sweat the details beforehand and the execution is more than half done.
  2. Assign a welcome ambassador – Many years ago, in my role as ARRL Technical Coordinator for New Mexico, I visited a number of Field Day sites. I happened upon one at the same time as another ham. I naturally sought out who was in charge, but this other guy was more of an introvert. He wandered around the site for about 10 minutes, spoke to nobody and got in his truck. As he was about to pull away, he rolled down his window and sarcastically said, “thanks for making me feel so welcome.” Part of your plan should include a trained welcome committee who welcome each attendee, with a special eye for newcomers. Recruit some younger members of your club to fill this role, too. A key to the sustainability of our hobby is our ability to entice the next generation to get involved. This is our chance to show off the most important aspect of what we do, friendly fellowship. People may come to check out the technology, but they stay because of the friendships.
  3. Do a practice run before the real thing – This fall, we are launching the Great Lakes Ham Radio Convention at the Michigan International Speedway. The event naturally includes a Special Events Station – K8MIS. Members of our committee are using Field Day as an opportunity to test out gear we’ll be using in October and to review operational ideas that we’re considering. Before you get to the site, make sure your gear is in working order, including antennae, radios, computers, software, grilles, iceboxes, etc. Attention to detail here will minimize the chance of failure on the big day.
  4. Promote, promote, promote – Do a creative email blast to, club members, friends and your local media, customizing the copy for each audience. Make use of your social media channels and do a count-down to Field Day to keep things front-of-mind. If your group has a Public Information Officer (PIO), make the rounds to local news organizations and service clubs. Have Powerpoints and videos prepared to make it easy for your partners to amplify your message. On Field Day, be well stocked with collateral describing your club, the ARRL and how to become a ham. Make sure your guests leave with their hands full of swag.
  5. Serve good food – Nothing telegraphs summertime like the smell of hot dogs and burgers cooking on the grille. Create a sustenance committee that is responsible for feeding your volunteers and guests. Be creative, perhaps sharing the recipes you cook on fliers with information about the club. Bring lots of liquid. Especially if it’s hot outside, hydration is crucial to comfort and safety.
  6. Get guests involved – Every Field Day site should have a Get On The Air (GOTA) station, where visitors can try their hand at making contacts. The MSU Amateur Radio Club holds open shack nights throughout the year and the first thing we do after showing off the blinking lights is put a microphone in the visitor’s hands. Nothing creates excitement like involvement.
  7. Operate – Get your best operators on the rigs and hit it hard. Have a plan to maximize band conditions throughout the event. Set up times where newer participants can watch, earn and practice. Once you’ve decided which class of operation you’ll be using, keep the rigs on fire all the time. This is practice for the real thing and in the event of a true emergency, the muscle memory will kick in and your club will add true value.
  8. Enjoy! – The most important thing about any club activity is to create an environment where your participants can have fun. We promote ourselves as, and in fact we are, crucial partners in times of community need. To make this happen, we need a cadre of engaged, dedicated and excited volunteers who not only know what they are doing, but love what they are doing. Field Day done right can be an annual celebration that everyone in your area, licensed or not, will want to be aware of and involved with.

 It’s impossible to cover every base in an essay of less than 1000 words. I welcome additional ideas, thoughts and feedback.

Get some press for your club and earn Field Day points, too!

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Amateur radio has been in the news a lot lately, mainly because as we approach Field Day (which is this weekend!), clubs are encouraged to send press releases to local media. In fact, you get bonus points for sending out a press release.

Below, are a few of these stories. If your club hasn’t done this yet, there’s still time. Get them to come out to Field Day and publish a story afterwards. Be sure to tell reporters how readers and viewers can get in touch with your club.

And, here are a few more amateur radio stories in the news that aren’t specifically about Field Day:

Amateur radio in the news: hams are your friend, hams still have role to play, Field Day preparations

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How ham radio operators are your friends. A recent radio conversation between two HAMs raised a disturbing issue that surprised both of them. The conversation involved the NTS (National Traffic Service) that uses amateur radio operators throughout the United States to relay information during large-scale emergencies, such as earthquakes…One of the HAMs in the above conversation stated that sometimes in calling people with such information, he is met with suspicion and even hostility. Is he a telemarketer? Is he a drug dealer? Or worse yet, is he a terrorist?

Ham radio operators still have role to play. The people who keep communication lines open when disaster strikes are looking for new talent. That’s amateur radio clubs, and they’re increasingly filled by people above the age of 50, who would like to prepare the following generation to help in a crisis, says Mike Johnson, emergency management co-ordinator for Cumberland County. “We have so much technology that we rely on, and when it’s taken away, it creates a problem,” Johnson said Thursday. “There’s no question we need new blood.”

Radio Relay Field Day in Whippany hopes to tap into thousands of sources. HANOVER TWP. – For the 13th consecutive year the Morris Radio Club and the Hanover Township Office of Emergency Management will team up and participate in a joint American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day exercise on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25 at Brickyard Field in Bee Meadow Park in Whippany…Last year the group made contact with 637 similar groups and individuals worldwide.

A program to help new hams

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A new ham proudly showing off the CSCE that proves he passed the test.

While I’ve been quite successful with my one-day Tech classes, I must admit that I haven’t been so successful following up with the new Techs. It’s not that I’ve abandoned them, but rather I don’t have a program to really engage them with the hobby. Many of those who have been in my classes have gone on to get advanced licenses and have a lot of fun with ham radio, but I can’t help but think that perhaps I could have helped more.

I would think about offering follow-on classes every once in a while, but I never really had enough time to both come up with a program and then develop the individual classes.

That’s why I got a little excited when I saw the article, “Making a Good hobby Better Through Post-Licensing Enrichment” by Tim Busch, N0CKR in the latest issue of Radio Waves. Radio Waves is the ARRL’s email newsletter that bills itself as, “News you can use for license instruction and radio science education.”

In the article, Tim describes several activities that his club encourages, including a “new ham net” and the Field Day GOTA station, but he also details a program of “mini classes” that will teach specific skills related to ham radio. These include:

  • Programming Radios and Getting on the Air
  • Soldering 101
  • Multimeter 101
  • Build and Use a Roll-Up J-Pole Antenna
  • Build and Use a Satellite Antenna
  • Foxhunts
  • Operating Digital Modes: IRLP, AllStar, D-Star, EchoLink, etc.
  • Remote Operation
  • Software-Defined Radios
  • Transitioning from VHF/UHF to HF Operating
  • Chasing Awards
  • Learn CW
  • Contesting
  • Build Projects

Tim writes,

Each class is intended to be no more than two hours at a sitting, so they can be held before a monthly club meeting. The variety of subject matter allows many club members to get involved in leading a topic. Materials kits are prepared in advance, so students walk away with practical items they can use at home.

I think this is a great set of classes, and I plan to try some of these in the fall. A couple of other topics that occur to me are:

  • Power Supplies 101
  • Mobile Operation 101
  • ARRL 101
  • RFI/TVI 101

Can you think of any other mini-classes that would fit into this program?

What can the ARRL do to help clubs?

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In the latest missive from the Great Lakes Division Director, Vice Director, Tom Delaney, W8WTD writes

For those of us who have been hams for a while, we know how important clubs are…

… the enthusiasm of the clubs that do hold license classes helps make and retain new hams, who are more likely to be on the air, and advance to a higher license. So keep up the good work on that front. And the more activities your club has, with a variety of interests served, the better the club will be, and the better ham radio will be.

All of us can learn, and all of us can participate. Share your knowledge. Keep your club strong, and do what you can to help ham radio.

I always get a kick out of reading things like this, because, aside from a little cheerleading, like the message above, the ARRL really does very little for clubs. The only two things that come to mind are donating a few books to give out as prizes when your affiliated club and a very small commission when ARRL members renew their membership through your club.

They used to publish a club newsletter, but that was discontinued when the ARRL staffer responsible for publishing it was assigned to other tasks. (I volunteered to take this over, but they blew me off.)

I can’t help but compare the ARRL to Rotary International with regard to how they treat their clubs. Rotary International realizes that Rotary is only as strong as its local Rotary clubs, and as a result, provides a wide range of resources for recruiting and retaining members, training club officers, and helping Rotary Club members be better Rotarians.

Perhaps the ARRL really can’t do as much for amateur radio clubs as Rotary International does for Rotary clubs, but if amateur radio clubs really are so important, then the ARRL should try to do more. They could give clubs more of a commission when someone renews their ARRL membership through the club. They could be more proactive about funding club projects through the ARRL Foundation. The could offer some kind of training for amateur radio club officers.

My question to you is what can the ARRL do for your club? What do you need to make your club stronger?

Cut the boring officer reports at your next club meeting

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I looked for some clipart of a typical amateur radio club meeting, i.e. old guys sitting around and shooting the breeze. When I couldn’t find any, I opted for this cool amateur radio club logo.

After the introductions, most amateur radio club meetings start out with officer reports. BORING! After all, how many people really care about how much money is in the treasury, or the latest tweak to the repeater made by the club’s technical coordinator?

Instead, why not have member reports? Ask members to volunteer a report on their latest amateur radio activities, or even other cool activities? They’ll certainly be a lot more interesting, and they’ll have the effect of generating better discussions and better friendships.