I Don’t Have the Experience
I have come across many a new ham who was afraid to get on the air or perform a ham radio related task. “I don’t have the experience” is an oft-quoted line. Some new hams have mike fright. This is normal.
I would like to share some of my own personal experiences. I received my license in 2008. Some months after receiving my license, I bought my first handy-talkie or HT. I tried programming it using the directions in the manual. I succeeded in entering a few frequencies. One of them was the GARS 147.075 frequency. I slowly keyed the HT push-to-talk (PTT) button and sent out my call letters. Now, I will explain something. I had served twenty years in the U. S. Air Force as a communications person. I have talked on HF, VHF and UHF frequencies many times during my career. However pressing the PTT on my HT and throwing out my call sign as a ham radio operator was a new experience for me! Well after doing that, someone came back to me with his call sign. “What do I do now?” I thought. Clumsily, I made my first communication (QSO) as an amateur radio operator. Despite all those years of communicating in the military, I was unprepared for my first ham radio QSO, yet got through it. I proceeded on to where it is now second nature to me.
I have recently heard a young 13-year-old ham on the radio. He is a newly licensed ham. Yet despite his young age, he carries on like a professional. Everyone on the air is glad to hear him and has been totally supportive of his ham radio adventures. He had his “first time” just in the last few months.
Running a net. It can be foreboding. I know. I remember the first time I did it. I was very nervous. I had the script in front of me and followed it to the letter. Someone came back to me and said that they could barely hear me. Oh well, at least I tried. I learned later that my outdoor antenna had fallen down and was on the ground. No wonder no one could hear me!
My second attempt at running a new was much more successful. I had repaired my antenna. That helped, but I now had experience in running a net. Certainly it was a bit rough, but no one criticized my efforts. That Gwinnett ARES Net can be a bit tough because it is not a hobby net and you know everyone is listening. You know that many people who will be on that net have had more experience than you have. Yet when it is your turn, you have the script. You read it and follow it to the best of your ability. You know that if you stumble or miss something that no one is going to chew you out. Why? First of all, running a net is voluntary. You will not be punished or even ridiculed for making a mistake. Second, everyone else on whatever net you are running has had a “first time” running a net. If you are still hesitant, try saying something like, “This is my first time running this net. Please bear with me.” This will alert everyone listening that you are new and you are a bit nervous. It also will set yourself at ease as well. Try it. I did. It works.
My point in this is this: never be afraid of doing something new in ham radio, whether is it speaking on the radio, running a net, volunteering for an event, or whatever. Every ham you hear on the air has had their “firsts”. Nearly everyone remembers their firsts and will often bend over backwards to help you feel comfortable.
I am getting more into digital radio. I am about to have some more firsts of my own. It will be another adventure for me. You can bet that if I am unsure about what I am doing, I will be typing, “Please bear with me. This is my first time.” Then my fun in amateur radio will continue. Someone will always be there to help.
73,
David Harden,
KJ4CMY