k8te@arrl.org

11 Mar 2022

W5UR

Excellence in Amateur Radio�for Having More Fun

• Heard on the Radio
• Beyond the License Exam
• Fact Check Your Sources
• RTFM
• Share Your Experience & Knowledge
• Mentors—Educated, Trained, Ready, Willing
• OWL’s

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Heard on the Radio�Operating Procedures

• “You gotta copy?” How Copy?
• “Can you hear me clean?” How Copy?
• FM—You’re loud and clear.�Your signal is almost full quieting.
• FM—“You’re really scratchy”
• “All of a sudden the squelch opened to static”�“You were walked on with static.”
• There is No Static on FM! There Can Be Noise
• We “Squelch” or “Quiet” Noise

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Heard on the Radio�Operating Procedures

• “I don't really know what I'm talking about.”
• “ABC Clear” W5ABC Clear/Out
• ID Every 10 Minutes
• No Need to Say the Other’s Callsign on Quitting
• No Need (Mostly) to Say “Over” on FM�Use the Courtesy Tones/Timing
• Please, Please, Please Use Phonetics!
• "Roger" spoken after EVERY transmission!
• "What is your personal?"

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Heard on the Radio—Facts

• “FCC wants to charge $1,400/year for repeaters to move Amateur Radio off the radio spectrum.”
• No! “Only” 100 Sites Likely Affected per ARRL
• “#14 wire can handle 20A” (NO it Can’t)
• “UHF is inherently worse than VHF” (NO it’s Not)
• “The Internet is fading away.” (from use)
• “It must be sunspots or the weather affecting repeater operation.”

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W5UR

Heard on the Radio—Facts

• “I can't remember how to turn that darn thing off.” Yaesu WIRES-X tone.
• “You have a great signal here!” His audio was down at least 10 dB from others. (no E-mail on QRZ)
• “You have beautiful audio.” (lots of echo and a hiss)
• “When it comes to the latest technology, I am blissfully ignorant.”

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Beyond the License Exam

• The Door is Open
• We Have Barely Passed Through
• Knowledge: Information or Awareness Gained Through Experience or Education
• Understanding: Knowing or Realizing the Intended Meaning or Cause of Something
• Operating or Technical—It All Makes Sense
• Parallel Resonance for Me

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Parallel Resonance

• High Impedance?

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Beyond the License

• What Do I Know?
• What Don’t I Know? Just as Important to Know
• What Do I Need to Know? (NOT Everything)
• Where Do I Find the Answers?�QRZ.com�eham.net�Local Repeaters�Anywhere on HF�ARRL.org

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Caveat Emptor!

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Caveat Emptor

• “The Best Rig I’ve Ever Owned”
• “I Can’t Operate These Controls”
• “Why Use a Touch Screen?”
• “I Don’t Like__________Brand”

What To Do About It?

• Get a 2^nd Opinion
• Rely on Trusted Sources (QST Reviews)
• Don’t Accept the First Diagnosis
• Dig Deeper and Build on Your Knowledge
• Same for Operating, Technical, or Gear

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Your Gear—RTFM

• Get the PDF Version (Current?)
• Take Notes/Annotate the Manual
• Keep It/You Current
• New Firmware? Read Release Notes
• “How Does it Sound?”�Get a Trusted Partner�Be Specific�Use the Monitor (Internal or External)
• Accept Criticism (Most Sincere Form of Flattery)

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Share It

• Learning is Growth
• We’re In It Together
• Synergy: Two Combined Better than One
• What Kind of Mentor are YOU?�Accidental?�Intentional? �Successful?
• Let’s All Smile!

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What Are Mentors?

• Influencers
• Experienced Teachers
• Helpers
• Trusted Advisors
• Skilled Developers of Others
• Truth Sayers (K8TE’s Addition)
• From Any Age to Any Age
• Educated, Trained, Ready, Willing
• E-Mail Addresses on QRZ.com Please

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OWL’s

• What’s an Owl?

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OWL’s

• What’s an Owl?
• Older

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OWL’s

• What’s an Owl?
• Older
• Wiser

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OWL’s

• What’s an Owl?
• Older
• Wiser
• Learner Who

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OWL’s

• What’s an Owl?
• Older
• Wiser
• Learner
• Never Stops Learning
• Seeks New Learning Opportunities
• RTFM First then Seeks Help
• The WRONG Information STIFLES Learning
• We’re Always Mentoring through Our Examples!

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Summary

• Heard on the Radio
• Beyond the License Exam
• Fact Check Your Sources
• RTFM
• Share Your Experience & Knowledge
• Mentors—Educated, Trained, Ready, Willing
• OWL’s
• Questions?
• What’s Next? 73, Bill Mader, K8TE

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What’s Next

• ARRL Club Newsletter
• What Is YOUR Club Doing to Improve its Members?
• What Are YOU Doing to Improve Your Mentorship?
• Formulate Improvement Plans
• Have an Elevator Speech
• Share Your Progress
• Encourage Others’ Progress
• Have More Fun in Amateur Radio!

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References

• http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Band%20Chart%20-%2011X17%20Color.pdf
• https://www.arrl.org/files/file/conop.pdf�Considerate Operator’s Guide
• http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Get%20Licensed/Quickstart%20Guide%20EBOOK.pdf
• https://www.arrl.org/shop/Operating-Manual/
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/older-adults-are-heading-to-college-in-pursuit-of-new-opportunities
• http://www.arrl.org/club-news
• www.w8ji.com
• Helping People have Fun with Amateur Radio Mentoring by Dan, KB6NU https://vimeo.com/633786233

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The Invasion of Ugliness

• Op-Ed QST April 1995
• James Chatham, W4TNF

A friendly attitude on the air was always assumed.�That pleasant assumption is evaporating quickly.�The "rawness level" is rising.�An alarming number of people are now using Amateur Radio to vent their anger.�There is...an angry, ugly mood in the air today...in graffiti, in music, in the scathing negativism of political campaign ads, etc.�The solution is simple:  "Keep your anger off the air."�And, even more importantly, refuse to respond when the on-air venom is directed your way.  Resist the urge to fire back.  Don't delude yourself into thinking that you can "straighten out" the other fellow.  You can't.

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Amateur Radio Code

• The Radio Amateur is
• CONSIDERATE...He/[She] never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.
• LOYAL...He/[She] offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, the IARU Radio Society in his/[her] country, through which Amateur Radio in his/[her] country is represented nationally and internationally.
• PROGRESSIVE...He/[She] keeps his/[her] station up to date.  It is well-built and efficient.  His/[Her] operating practice is above reproach.
• FRIENDLY...He/[She] operates slowly and patiently when requested; offers friendly advice and counsel to beginners; kind assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the marks of the amateur spirit.
• BALANCED...Radio is a hobby, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.
• PATRIOTIC...His/[Her] station and skills are always ready for service to country and community.
• - adapted from the original Amateur's Code, written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928

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