Ham Radio - New Hams tip. Making that first contact on the repeaters.
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Some hints and tips for new Amateur Radio licensees on making that first QSO. You've worked hard to get that license, now it's time to get on the air.
First contact tonight. One on one contact with another ham via a repeater 15 miles away with a $25 Baofeng HT (UV-5R). Inside the house, in a valley, with an 8 inch antenna. Did a couple of net check-ins afterwords. One of the nets knew I was new in the area and new to HAM and welcomed me the second they heard the callsign (not much traffic here, so they know right away if one sticks out). Thanks for the video!
Welcome to the hobby Jordan. Glad you liked the vid. Thanks for watching!
Keep it up, nets are important to keep people in practice.
My first contact: Got scolded for entering tones incorrectly into a repeater. [edit] guy didn't like it.
Hello Kevin! Just passed my Technician test on Saturday, at age 65, and can't wait to get my call sign! This video was very educational, and put me at ease. Thank you!
Glad it helped Dan, welcome to the hobby. I hope you find many years of enjoyment on the air.
I’m just studying at 58. Little overwhelming but I’ll get there!
I'm 69 and just got my call sign a few days ago. Passed the Technician license test with a 100% a couple of weeks ago. Waiting on the call sign was murder as I spent 2 weeks listening on my HT the local club gave me for passing the Tech. test. It's a Yaesu FT-4VR which is a mono band 2 meter only HT. Glad to have gotten it even though I want a Baofeng UV-5R so I can get on the 400 MHz, 70 cm band.
Just got my ticket a week ago and this video is exactly what I needed to help me along. I'm 62 and was furloughed from work recently so I decided to get into Ham radio. Bought a Yeasu FT-70D.
Lol. It happened to me! 👍😎
Kevin, real nice job! I just showed up in the FCC data base (three days ago) and am having some anxiety about making my first contact. This video really helped!!
Welcome to the hobby Ron. I'm sure you'll have a good time and make many new friends. Thanks for watching!
Wow, I really needed this video. I earned my Tech Plus in the mid-1990s then got General before all the code was dropped, but through it all, I've never been on-air and have yet to make my first contact!
Just got a nice HT for my birthday and looking to get back into radio after these decades. Wish me luck!
Great video. Took my tech exam in November, got my ticket 12/7. Got my radio programmed up (I think) to the local repeaters. I listened for a couple hours with nothing...but it was later. Too chicken to try anything until I found this video. Took some notes and will fire it up again in the morning. Thanks for the vid. 73-KD9JUT (Dave - Big Rock, IL)
Excellent info for nervous new Hams. Teaching correct and polite operating procedures is crucial. That first contact is a big deal!
Holy cats that was a helpful video, sir. I just got my technician’s, and am awaiting my call sign. It felt like you’d made the video just for me. I appreciate your work and your care for others.
Good intro into first contacts! I just ordered my first radio. I have a Baofeng BF-F9 V2+ coming. I have made contact with a local club and I am listening in with my old Realistic Pro 43 scanner for now. I won't be able to take the technician's test with them until January so that gives me plenty of time to study. I'm learning what I can here on YT every day. I have been wanting to do this for years. I'm 63 now but I can still learn new tricks. 73 to all!
just got my license on Saturday; after watching your video it helped me overcome my butterflies of going on the air for the first time. 73 from VA2KDJ in Montreal
after waiting to see if the frequency/repeater is clear, wouldnt it be better to ask if its in use? not in a rude way im just wondering
Great help. Thanks. I never really knew how to make contact on a repeater. I knew enough not to call "CQ," or say "Anybody out there got your ears on?" but never really knew the 2-meter way of finding someone to talk with other than to ask for a radio check. As such, I've felt uncertain trying to contact someone (anyone) on a repeater.
Enjoyed the video.
Wow cool Info Video thx
73 darc swl DE2TRF loc jo60el dok S 44 MITTWEIDA SACHSEN 🇩🇪
Just passed my technison license on 04-08-2019 hope i get my call sign before may im supper excited
Kevin, great instructional video. Wish I would have seen this when I first got my ticket. Good information.
WAIT FOR OPTION 3!!! The local net controllers usually LOVE to give out a first contact QSL card as a memento!
I have radio, I dont key it up as I'm waiting to get my ticket.. I cant wait to utilize option 3.
Inspirational Kevin. Thanks so much for the positive way you are 'selling' the hobby. I'm studying in the UK for my ticket and hope to go live either end December or January next year. For us, the first step is called a 'Foundation Licence' rather than a Technician class. We get access to most amateur bands and are limited to 10W output power on most of them. I figure that should be enough until I learn how NOT to be dangerous!!
Please keep up the good work. Videos like this will certainly help and inspire us Newbies....
PS My first 'transmitter' was a one transistor crystal oscillator that I built 50 years ago. I just came across it in an old box while clearing out some junk. It wasn't meant to be a transmitter (!) but imagine my surprise on applying the 9V battery when the TV screen went blank (turned out I was 'broadcasting' on the TV IF frequency.....).
Hi Kevin. I am in the UK and not got a ticket yet. Just so encouraged by this enthusiastic video. I am subscribed to you as you are so infectious in your encouragement in the hobby. Keep it up please!!!!
Excellent advice. Videos on “how to break the ice” and initiate a QSO are welcomed. 73, N2POP
Great video! Just got my call sign today KD9NBF and looking forward to getting on the air. Thanks again!
Your video is still making an impact. Today, after watching, I made my first contact. Thanks for the insights.
Welcome to the hobby. I'm glad to know I helped a little. 73.
This is a great video! I'm waiting for my FCC notification, but passed Technician and General on Dec 14, 2019. Can't wait to make my first contact. Thanks for the how-to!
Very help full thank you for this video I just got my license god bless
Thanks! I'm just waiting for the FCC to get me in the database and I'm checking every day. This has been a question in the back of my mind and you answered it perfectly.
Thank you for sharing this video. Got my tech on 5/19 and leveled up to General last weekend. My call sign was posted on Monday but I’ve been nervous about making contact. Going to the Prescott Hamfest tomorrow.
This video was excellent. Thanks! KC2YEO.
Thanks, Kevin! That's just the information I was looking for.
Wife & I just passed the technician and our handhelds should arrive soon. Been searching the web for what to do now and this is the most help of any video I've found. Our main reason for using Hams is to use them while doing disaster relief work when other com methods are down. Thank you and I just subscribed. Bill
Just got my foundation licence (technician, but in the UK). Can't wait to get started.
Thank you for your valuable input, cant wait till my call sign is listed on the FCC so i can surf the waves !!!
Thanks Kev for a very informative video. Will be taking my ham exam in the autumn your instructions here will definitely come in very handy in my case. Thanks for sharing, greetings from Norway and have a good one mate👍
Helped me make my first contact! Thanks for the reassuring advice. 73 de KI5HJM
Kevin, Followed your lead and hit several repeaters in the area. No joy, until the 8th repeater, I made a contact about 30 miles away ( must be the time of day ) ! Had a nice conversation and then as soon as I cleared my first contact, another HAM was calling MY call sign ! He had heard me say I was new and was surprised my little Baofeng BF-F8HP was sounding so strong. We had a nice chat and I promised to reach out in the future. Wow what a thrill, I was smiling and shaking the whole time ! LOL I really see the importance of the phonetic alphabet, I am a little hard of hearing and it really helps me get the correct call sign from the contacts. Thanks again . 73, KO4DJM
Hello Kevin, I just got my ticket today, I'm 70 and a little late to the party, but very excited ! Your video was just what I was looking for, just the basics delivered in a laid-back style. I hope to make my first contact this weekend. Thanks for the heads up. 73, KO4DJM
Just got my tech license yesterday. Thank you for this video, it was very helpful!
Just got my call sign. Yeah this is a bit scary lol. I want to be on CW… But I guess I should start with phone/voice. I have no idea why I did this. I don’t want friends and I hate I couldn’t afford a P.O. Box. I do want to go hiking outside cell service and actually have a useful radio. Maybe make some CW contacts for fun. POTA and SOTA sound nice. But I have to make this first contact to get started…
(off to return my radio! jk)
KB9RLW this is KO4DYC - Thx and Great advice. Just got my call sign and listened to a local net this evening, but was not so sure I knew the protocol enough to jump in. I do now and thx. 73 and thanks again.
Just passed my Technician exam last Saturday! Now, just waiting for my call sign to show in the FCC database and I’m ready to take the plunge!
Thank you for this gr8 video. Just appeared for the test on 16th Dec 2019 here at New Delhi, India and now keeping my fingers crossed until the results are declared within a month.
73
8
Thanks Kevin, much appreciated! Chris VK3TLA
Hello sir i own a pair of cp200 uhf and also another pair of cp200 vhf. My question is. I got my GMRS lisence and i got my callsing . I also have a pair of baofeng radios. Witch radios m i able to use with my gmrs lisence can i use any of my radios and programmed them and use them
Nice job, added it to my "Ham Radio Etiquette" playlist.
Very helpful...thank you!!!....KD2RUG
Expecting my license within a few day...this video really helped answer some questions I had - Thanks Kevin!
Welcome to the hobby! I hope you have many years of enjoyment with radio.
But what if I don't get any response on the local repeater frequency? How do I find another repeater frequency or net that is talking
Just the video that I needed. I just got my Tech license and wanted to know how seasoned Hams start a conversation. You explained it well. Now off to test it out. Thank you and thumbs up!
Got my ticket 3 weeks go. Very informative. Keep up the good work.
Mark KN4CWT
Thanx for the video. I just got my ticket. This video def helped me ! Ty for making the time and doing this
Great info.just got my ticket and thank you very much.
Ok, you bugged my house or something lol... My local traffic net handles larger amounts of traffic by sending some of it to a repeater the is 146.88 called be most "The 88 Repeater"
Thank you for this video. Will be testing for my Tech in a week.
Nice job. I see your TARDIS back there! KC0HIP
Is a net a open repeater? I mean, do you have to be a member of a club or is it just a bunch of people that may be members of the club and some that might not be?
Thanks so much for this video! I just got my Technician license and I used the information in this video to give me the confidence to start talking on my local repeater. It was so fun! The other HAMs were very friendly. They also recognized that I had a new callsign. So it made it very easy and inviting when they started asking me questions. It was great! I wrote down their call signs, name, and locations. My first HAM contacts. 73!
Glad it was helpful! And welcome to the hobby.
Great video for new hams. W1WAG.
Good Video. Just took and passed my Technician cpl of days ago. Now waiting for the call sign. Thanks
Congrats and welcome to the hobby. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun.
That was super helpful. Thank you!
KM6WFU
Great information, just got my ticket this morning and I was like "Hooray, now what?" Thank you, KN4QXY
Welcome to the hobby. I'm glad you found this helpful. I'm sure you're going to have a lot of fun exploring and learning radio.
great info. in 95 when I got my no code tech license. I was a nervous ham but I lost that with time. now I'm an extra. and not yet put up a big hf antenna outside of my a99. but that's a vert. its not a great antenna for the low bands. but I can work it with my Denton supertuner.
Can u make the 1st contact without a licensed. Just for a testing purpose.
Not on your own, legally. Now, if you're with another ham, he will be the control operator and you can talk on his radio.
I guess I'm different my first contact was a GOH (grumpy old Ham) who basically chewed me out for everything including being on the repeater. Needless to say I killed him with Kindness and moved over to another repeater
That's a bummer Charlie. There are a few bad eggs out there. In general though, the majority are friendly and helpful. (At least in the midwest.)
Luckily he was the only contact that I had that was a total prick. Everyone else I've come across has been cool.
Unlicense: ( ...just hearing..)
Hehehe I'm nervous here I go.. thanks for the info
If you live in the middle of nowhere can I use ham radio to call help if you have no phone signal
Sure. With a general class license, you can operate on several bands over the HF spectrum, from 1.8 up to 29 mHz. Even with low power, less than 5 watts, you can talk to people around the world.
Great Video, Kevin! Lookin' forward to applying this wisdom soon!
Awesome video thanks for the advice
Hi! will i be able to access a repeater without a license or a DMR ID just to listen in the groupTalks ? Thanks !
John Doe yes just can’t transmit
Field day is coming up and I'm concerned about operating in such close proximity to other radios any experience with this? What can be done to ensure that I don't damage my radio? I'm using a 991A Yaesu
It's not proximity to the radios you need to worry about, it's the proximity of the antennas to each other. Try to keep the antennas at least a wavelength apart and not parallel to each other and you'll reduce interference.
No worries about damaging the rigs. But you will see desense. Strong nearby signals will bleed through as noise.
Hello sir how do I use my baofeng radio to call other countries. Like using Allstars or echolink. Can I program my boafen to dothat without using a computer
Find a repeater in your area with echolink available. Check with local hams for details on how to access it.
"listening on 91"
How does this work? Is 91 the last 2 digits on the frequency?
Yes. A common practice.
Hi , i just passed my general (took technician an general at the same time) and my callsign just appeared an hour ago. Plan on taking the extra since i tried the exam anyway and got 18 right without studying, so figure i will give it a try. About to make my first contact after watching your video!
Welcome to the hobby. You'll get over any nerves pretty quick and start making new local friends. Let me know how that first contact went. 73.
@@loughkb just got off with my first contact. I was his first ham newbie so he thought that was cool. I wasn't sure if I had the repeater settings correct but I did. I was even able to bring up the repeater on broadcastify so I know it worked. He was friendly, have me some times and repeaters with group meeting. A nice first call to get my feet wet!
Great! If you have a local club, check them out. Clubs sometimes have events that are fun like fox hunts, QRP adventures, cookouts, and field day.
Have fun, there's lot's to explore in this hobby.
How do you program a tone that says DPL073 there is a frequency on papa system and it says that. I have a baofeng radio
It's a digital coded squelch. Your radio may not support it.
Hi, I just passed technician and general together. I inherited my radio, it's an htx-100 ten meter rig with a mobile antenna. First off I have to wait for my license because of the government shutdown. In the meantime, I've been listening a couple times a day to the ten meter band. Bad time of year and bad solar cycle, I have yet to hear a modulated signal of any kind. The band is relatively "dead." (Plenty of continuous wave tones, what causes those?) My plan is to perservere and try to make contact locally when I get my call letters. It's the only radio I have. Any advice here would be helpful, although I still picked up some good points from your repeater video. Should I use a calling frequency?
Did what you said, got my first contact tonight 30 miles away. Was in house on a Yaesu Ft70D. Received a great welcome. Invited to tech night and monthly breakfast... Thanks for the helpful video. Great you focused on how to help a new ham...
When I got my ticket the first person I made contact with on 91 was horrible, made me leave the hobbie for a short time. Just the down talk he did made you feel not welcomed. Im slowly getting back into it. There are alot of good guys out there. Just don't let one person or 2 ruin it for you.
Do I have to tune my radio to the repeater ? Or can I transmit on any 2m frequency and the repeater picks it up?
Repeaters listen on a specific frequency.
Thanks Kevin. This is very helpful!
Nicholas N1KOP out of Portland, ME
Very interesting video and thanks , going to start studying for my Technician license. Going too check your other videos as well . Thanks
Help me get fcc to do their job is on cb.we have local qrm on channel 17 here on the west coast. Iegal operations. 1000 watt cb radio and constant rag chewing to only to four foul mouth operators.
This really helps... thanks. Still a little nervous cause I don't want to mess up. Very interested in the emergency preparedness aspect of amateur radio... especially since we are having severe flooding right now in Missouri. KE0UXE - no contact yet
Used to have a Icom very similar to that mobile unit I'm getting ready to get back into the hobby I've been away since 2012 I got Dad's call sign and I couldn't see anybody else using dad's callsign the radio I am looking at is the Yaesu ft 857 Delta along with the matching screwdriver antenna I think it is atsa 120a because I've never operated on 440 or 6m never operated on 10 I have only operated 20 m one time and that was at field day it was a nice contact don't get me wrong 73 s for now n0spw I used to be kb0swi
Good video! Thank you. I just got my technician license and getting ready to make contact in the next couple of days
Nice video, from Bill I just got my ticket KJ7HWV in Spokane Valley Washington.
Can you make a video on ways to properly END a conversation? What’s the lingo? Thanks
I’m new to radio and this was very helpful. Thanks.
Excellent video. Low on mature jargon and easy for a new ham to follow. Thanks for the guidance.
Great video - thanks for your channel. I'm learning so much from you. My father in-law held an Advanced licence and had been involved in radios since the '70's. He passed in June and I've inherited his equipment. So I've been listening in to one of our local repeaters, joined a club and am slowly setting up my radio space in the house. My Foundation licence exam is this Friday and I'm looking forward to making my first contact!
I heard that about Jim
Good day . I am working on getting licensed when this craziness settles a bit . There is a lot I have to learn . I have a question please sir . The number in the call sign ( I.e. the 9 in your call sign ) is for the region correct and has to be incorporated into any call sign regardless of rank of license ? Thank you very much . I am trying to learn the lingo as to perform call correctly once allowed .
Hi Charles, Yes, the number is the region. It used to be strictly enforced and moving to another region meant getting a new call sign. They relaxed that requirement some years ago.
All valid US ham calls will have a number.
@@loughkb Thank you sir
Good video. I bought me a new 10 meter radio to start and ordered my study materials. Can't wait to get started 👌
Hey love your doctor who Tardis wall decor behind you
That's a light switch cover I 3D printed. There's a few of them up on thingiverse if you have a printer.
Great video Kevin, lots of good info to take ease the nervousness. I've had my ticket for a few months, (Tech & General), but i'm finally getting around to installing my radio in my Jeep. Looking forward to my 1st contact.
Bill, 73, W6BKM
Ok so i tun on my radio and the red light on my radio is blinking. I oress one the side assign buttoms on my cp200 motorolla and im ablemto hear conversation. but as soon i let go of that buttom i dont hear anything but the light keeps blinkin so the conversation still there but i have to press the side buttom. Not the ptt buttom but the lower bottom side buttoms . How can i listen continuous without presssing the side buttom.
You probably have a PL tone on for RX, or DCSS enabled. These are methods of preventing reception of repeaters you don't want to hear on the same channel as one you do. They insert a very low frequency sub-audible tone, different for each repeater and your radio only opens the squelch when it hears the tone you've set.
Turn off the PL tone or DCSS and it should always open the squelch when there's a signal.
@@loughkb yes the repeater has a tpl tone rhat i have entered on the radio so if i take off the tone i might be able to even use the radios i have for talking but i will give it a try . Im a newby on this so im learning
Thank you.
Thank you for posting this video. I just got my license KC3MGQ on 10/25/2018.
Thanks for the video. I just got my call sign this week KJ7FUF and I'm looking forward to making my first contact. Your video was very helpful.
Just got my license and trying to figure this all out. Newbie question. when announcing on a repeater freq of 447.280, do I say 'listening on 80' or listening on '28'. Not sure what the short hand rule is. Thank you.
You could just say 'listening' and be fine. Sometimes people include the freq or part of it for the benefit of someone who's within earshot of their radio, which could be scanning multiple machines. That gives a clue as to which machine they heard you on. But it's not strictly necessary.
@@loughkb Thanks. First contact was yesterday. Success!
@@coffeemocha Welcome to the hobby Dan.
Nice tutorial
This was a good video, you have a reassuring tone, kind. Thanks
Wow. This is an excellent tip! I hear so many new hams say, "Well, I didn't really know what to say or how to say it and that's why it took me so long to get on the air". Excellent video Kevin. Hats off to ya. This should be mandatory viewing for all new hams. It should be mandatory for all old hams that are getting on a 2 meter repeater for the first time too.73 DE K7RMJ Frank
Thanks Frank. If you have a VE group or club in your area, send them a link to the vid. Maybe they can use it.
Thanks for watching!
I already did LOL
People love talking about themselves. Ask not too personal questions like what kinda work they do, where they grew up, etc.. Also don't just limit yourself to two meters, 440 and 220 are also great bands !
What’s the proper way to end a conversation?
Your normal cordial farewell, whatever that may be, and at least your call sign followed by "clear" or something to let people know you're done transmitting.