New To Ham Radio? Here’s What NOT To Do.

Both sides now.

Anyone who experienced even modest exposure to amateur radio has probably seen many articles and videos about how to get started, what equipment to buy, reading material, etc. Whether or not this advice is good is outside our purpose here. I recently noticed that of all the suggestions floating around for those new to ham radio, almost none of them discuses the other side: What not to do.

If you are a longtime amateur, don’t click away! Keep these points in mind as they will help you help others.

Don’t buy the best, most expensive equipment.

It’s tempting to shell out a lot of money on a high end radio, but for beginners that’s usually not a good idea. Such radios have many complex features and functionality that may lack utility or be confusing to a beginner. There will be plenty of opportunities to bust the bank later. Do your homework and check out the reviews and YouTubes for a middle-of-the-road model. If possible, meet up with a ham who already has one and can demonstrate it for you.

The same applies to off grid power. Do you really need to run out and buy a new 15,000 watt generator? Or a dozen or more solar panels? You might at some point, but as a beginner, not likely. Bigger is not always better.

Don’t buy the cheapest, most low-end equipment.

At the other end of the scale, buying the cheapest, most low-end equipment seldom results in a positive situation. I completely understand the appeal. The market is flush with cheaply made, cheaply priced gear that looks like a great deal to a newbie. But the cliche´ is true. You really do get what you pay for. Let me smack some sense into those who need it: There is no such thing as a decent handheld radio for sixteen dollars! Nor should you expect much from a four dollar solar controller!

The delusion ends right now. Let the fanboys on YouTube gush over their favorite flavor of cheap junk; they might even trash on me for calling them out. Off Grid Ham has no sponsors and carries water for no one, so this blog has nothing to gain by feeding its readers shovelfuls of…you know what.

There are situations when buying cheap, low-end gear may be a reasonable decision :

• Equipment that will be used only once or twice a year, such as for Field Day or a special event.
• For a kids’ science fair, school, or scout project.
• Loaner equipment that you don’t care if you get it back in one piece or not.
• Fox hunting transmitters, ballon/wind tracking, model rocketry, or any situation where there is a good chance you’ll never see the equipment again.
• Experimenting/tinkering where you don’t want to sink a lot of money into a project that may fail. new t
  

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Don’t quit over bad experiences.

Amateur radio has a long history of being a very polite and gentlemanly hobby. This reputation is accurate, but as with anything, it’s not 100%. The small minority of gatekeepers, snobs, narcissists, trolls, potty-mouths, and unhelpful, petty, unpleasant people (particularly on social media) are much louder and attract more attention than their numbers warrant.

You would not quit driving because someone cut you off in traffic or poached your parking spot, even if these offenses happened regularly (which they do). And so it is with amateur radio. When you have a negative encounter (and you will), simply brush it off and move along. It may be insensitive to say “get over it”, but yes, get over it. The concentration of numbskulls in ham radio is no greater than it is anywhere else in your life.

Amateur radio clubs can be a mixed bag too. If your local club is not a good match, and there are no others nearby, strike out on your own. Consider collaborating with a small group of carefully selected amateurs; basically your group could function as a club without formally organizing. Club affiliation is not essential to being a successful ham. Many hobbyists “fly solo”.

Don’t let yourself stagnate.

I’ve been an active ham for over four decades and still don’t know even ten percent of all there is to know about ham radio because the hobby is so deep and wide. If you simply memorize test answers to pass a licensing exam and do nothing beyond that to expand your knowledge, you’re seriously cheating yourself. There are many sub-specialties within amateur radio and chances are real good that at least one of them will excite and inspire you.

Joining a club or group is a great way to pick up (and pass along) skills. Learning on your own from YouTube and other internet sources is a great idea if there are no other options, but you will not form the personal connections and relationships that naturally evolve from face-to-face interactions. In my experience, nearly all of the people who leave the hobby soon after being licensed never made an honest effort to discover everything it has to offer.

Don’t air your (our) dirty laundry before the whole world.

You would not (or should not) blab about your relationship, workplace, or personal problems to random strangers. Yes, of course many people do it anyway. This phenomenon is endemic on social media and I honestly feel sorry for those who make the unforced error of oversharing their drama.

Amateur radio likewise has issues & problems. Talk about difficult situations on a “need to know” basis. I’m not saying everyone should be secretive or elusive. I am saying you should be aware of who is listening, where your statements could eventually go, and how they might be perceived by outsiders. Shooting your mouth off to people who cannot help resolve your concern (and may even make it worse) is pointless. And of course idle gossip and overtly provocative statements or actions are never acceptable.

I would hope any serious hobbyist would want to present a positive image of amateur radio. Keep your business, your business.

This list could be a lot longer.

Most of this list is related to human behavior and attitudes. Because of that, It could go on for hundreds of pages. Yet, the entire concept we’re trying to promulgate can be reduced to a simple statement: Use your head, and don’t be a jerk.