4 Topic Ideas for Rag-Chew & Round-Table Nets

Ham operators don’t ever seem to run out of things to talk about when checked into rag –chew and round-table nets. That said, there may be times when the cat gets the better of your tongue because you suddenly don’t know what to say. Here are some conversation Ideas if this ever happens to you.

The first thing that comes to mind is cars. You can bring up your favorite car of all time, or maybe even your first car. This never fails to draw people in.

Something else I find pretty easy for hams to talk about is a first camera. Mine was a Kodak 110 that came in a kit. This was back in the mid ‘70s.

A third conversation idea is guns. Talk about an old shotgun that you or your dad once owned. This topic is also popular with many hams.

One last topic idea for you is something all hams love. That would be food! Think about it, what ham that you know, doesn’t like food? Talk about your favorite, or a recipe you like to use. Believe it or not, many hams not only like to eat, they like to talk about food too.

There you go, some topic ideas for those occasions when you can’t think of any thing to say.

Good luck on the bands, and maybe I’ll catch you down the log.

3 Reasons for using Standard ITU Phonetics

When I was a signal soldier in the Army, we only used standard ITU phonetics. Standardized phonetics served some important purposes.

1. They reduced reception errors
2. They increased reception and overall traffic speed
3. They reminded us that formal traffic handling was serious business

I’m not saying hams should never use ‘more interesting’ phonetics with their call signs. I’m not saying that at all. Many times I can be heard signing with “King Edward’s 5 Ugly Toe Nails” for KE5UTN.

You won’t, however, hear me identify with this on any ARES net, or Traffic net. Those nets are not the place for anything other than standard ITU phonetics.

I understand it is easier to sometimes say calls by switching phonetic sounds, but those substitutions (if made enough) will become a bad habit, and here is why:

There have been times when my reception of traffic ‘hiccupped’ because someone threw a phonetic at me that my mind wasn’t ready to process. I thought, was that a letter or a word? Then I had to get a fill on the message stalling out the entire net.

You see, slow operators like me can be thrown off by non-standard phonetics. It’s similar to rearranging all the letters on a typists’ keyboard and expecting no change in typing speed.

I say have fun with your nonstandard phonetics, but please save them for rag-chews and round-tables.

Here are the Standard ITU phonetics. Please use them in traffic and ARES nets.
A-ALPHA
B-BRAVO
C-CHARLIE
D-DELTA
E-ECHO
F-FOXTROT
G-GOLF
H-HOTEL
I-INDIA
J-JULIET
K-KILO
L-LIMA
M-MIKE
N-NOVEMBER
O-OSCAR
P-PAPA
Q-QUÉBEC
R-ROMEO
S-SIERRA
T-TANGO
U-UNIFORM
V-VICTOR
W-WHISKY
X-X-RAY
Y-YANKEE
Z-ZULU

Region 5 Traffic Net Needs Operators

By KE5UTN

The Region 5 Traffic net covers the following sections:

Alabama, Arkansas, North Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Texas, South Texas, and West Texas.I serve as net control for the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon nets, and find that due to a lack of section operators, we often have traffic we can’t move. Most often we have shortages of ham operators in every one of those sections except Louisiana.

Traffic handling is a scary proposition for operators who haven’t ever done it, I know. However with just a little practice (practice you get by simply listening at first) you can go a long way in alleviating fear.

The ability to send and receive traffic is invaluable in crisis situations. That said, you will feel immense pride when you pass important health and welfare traffic.

Granted, most traffic sent on traffic nets is somewhat less than priority, it is appreciated none-the-less. When the recipients are called on the phone and given a message he/she is quite impressed and often express their gratitude.

To sum this up, show up on the Region 5 traffic net! Listen to how it is done and then GET INVOLVED! We need you on the air.

The Region 5 net meets Monday thru Saturday at 10:30am on 7.280mhz (for cycle 1) and 3:30 pm on 7.243mhz (for cycle 2) All times are Central Time Zone

On Sunday the time for cycle 1 is changed to 1:30pm, but the frequency is the same for this cycle.

Thanks, and I’ll see you on the net!

Courtesy on the Air

When I think of Amateur radio, it conjures up images of intelligent, thoughtful people enjoying a hobby they’ve earned the right to participate in. That said, it is extremely frustrating and disappointing when I encounter people intentionally interfering on the amateur bands.

One might think a person causing pointless interference would have better things to do, but all too often someone tunes up on frequency, or maliciously leans on their CW key for no apparent reason.

This is troubling because in weak signal environments of summer, any RF carrier can disrupt important communications and traffic nets.

When I got interested in becoming a ham, all I heard was antidotes about being courteous on the air, and most of the time people are courteous to the point of being annoying.

This is great when it happens. I often hear much doubling with people yelling, “Relay”.

Maybe the requirements for becoming a ham have become too lax. Maybe if people don’t feel they’ve earned the privilege of operating on the ham bands they are more likely to abuse it.

I think it’s up to all of us to preach to the up-and-comers to be courteous. This might seem like a hassle sometimes, but it serves a purpose, especially in emergency operations.

What are your thoughts?

Click my guestbook button and tell me. Let me know you were here.

As always, please consider visiting one of the Google ads on this page. Doing so will help me earn some money. Thanks.

3 Steps to Become a Ham Radio Operator

By Daniel Taverne

If you are seeking information and advice on becoming a ham radio operator, let me tell you the first level license is called the “technician class” license.

Note: By no means is the order of the following list mandatory. For example, you can start studying first, or wait till you meet your area club.

Step 1:  Find an Amateur Radio Club in your area.

I’m pretty sure when I say just about every A.R. Club in the Nation has a web site. You can google something like “your city amateur radio club” and see what comes up. Ask them when the next technician exam is so you know how much time you’ll have to study.

Step 2: Find out what you need to study.

Some clubs offer classes preparation for the Tech exam, and other clubs have study materials they‘ll loan out. Still others may not have any materials to help you, so it’ll be up to you to get the materials. You can also look on qrz.com for practice tests, and arrl.com for study materials you can purchase..

Step 3: Take the test

Your test will be given by volunteer examiners and could take place anywhere. Testers I know  have given them at libraries, MacDonalds, at churches and just about anywere.

That’s all there is to it. Just three little steps and you’ll be an FCC licensed Amateur radio operator.

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