Operating Guidelines
Poor operating procedure is ham radio's version of original sin. It is a curse that will not go away. Hams refer to these poor operators as "lids". No one wants to be a lid or have a conversation with a lid.
It is actually easier to be a good operator than to fall prey to sloppy habits. Good operating makes ham radio more fun for everyone. In amateur radio, it is important to enjoy and take pride in your own accomplishments. The saying "it's what you do with what you've got that really counts" is especially true in Amateur Radio. To make up for any or imagined lack of equipment, concentrate on improving your own operating ability.
Good operating skills can be like making your signal ten times stronger! Hams say it is like adding 10 dB to your signal.
Rules For A Good Ham Radio Operator
1. Listen with care. Avoid distractions in your radio room. Make sure your radio is operating on the proper frequency.
2. Monitor the frequency you wish to use. Call only when a frequency is free. Make sure the station you are calling is available for contact.
3. Make short calls, with a break to listen. Speak clearly, at a steady, moderate rate. Three short calls are better than one long one.
4. Use a voice operated switch (VOX) or push-to-talk (PTT) technique and speak near the mike. Watch the modulation indicator. Keep local background noise to a minimum.
5. Take notes. Avoid missing points for comment. Jot down topics to avoid repeats.
6. Talk as you would in person. If you need, notes will help avoid mixing up subjects and thoughts. VOX and PTT techniques will help other amateurs from calling you a monologist.
7. Speak naturally. Make QSO's interesting and avoid exhibitionism. Use proper operating form to promote efficiency in communication and add respect and prestige for your station.
A phonetic alphabet or special word list is recommended to use in identifying station calls or difficult words as necessary. The list helps to avoid facetious word combinations. This makes it very acceptable to all amateurs. Use of a standard list is recommended by the ARRL. Haphazard selection of words often results in confusion. A degree of uniformity in the use of phonetic words reflects favorably on your individual operation and on the whole amateur service.
TIPS TO ACTIVE HAMS
K.Santhanam - VU2YFS
Be an active ham and come on air regularly Send QSL cards after the QSOs made. Request others to do so Request fellow ham to be so active and come on air Assist those who needs help in getting the required components Provide circuit ideas. Share your different experiences Form clubs in schools and colleges and propagate ham news Train as many students as possible Conduct Morse code practice classes Impart sufficient knowledge and information on radio theory Provide full information transmission and receiving manners and rules Encourage strangers and make them to become SWLs first.
Do experiments and researches Communicate the results and suggestions on such experiments During emergent occasion take active role and be useful to society Become a member of a club in your area Become a member in the united Indian organization Request your club also to become part of the united society Pay your subscription to your club and united society Report all your activities to your club and society Contribute by providing articles and information to the club and society bulletin Attend club meeting regularly share your thoughts and ideas.
Always keep ham directory-call sign wise, Name wise and location wise When you go out personally or officially make it a habit to visit the local hams and club Always wear a Ham lapel on your shirt or coat Advise your address change at once to your club, society and WPC When you come across such confirmed changes of fellow hams communicate similarly Enlist your name and details with the local Govt and other authorities to anvil your help When you hear new news and see new equipments discuss about that with everyone Make habit to be on air on fixed time and frequency enabling other to be in touch Do frequent discussions on technical and other subjects on air and in your club Form discussion groups for discussions on electronics, medical, Agriculture, education etc Participate, motivate and bring more ideas, facts and useful information for growth Be a responsible citizen and be useful to your neighbors, society, nation and entire world.
Promote ham activities by enlarging ham population Read articles, think, try to improve, do research, and communicate to all Don�t feel shy to disclose your mistake. It will be a lesson to others. When you need ideas help and advise don�t hesitate, ask others who can oblige Ideas, innovations, inventions, concepts, applications experiments are to be informed Your communication may be right or wrong. A capable receiver will set it right Your thoughts may be tiny and trivial. Yet it may be vital and initiative for somebody.
Disaster is unexpected. Be prepared and well equipped to face and manage it Form group of well equipped hams, possessing knowledge on management system Frequently discuss about what you did and know what others did on such occasions Include Doctors, authorities, students, nurses, transport agents. They need not be hams Inability is common. Motivation is important. Induce inactive hams to be active Many hams are not on air and inactive because they need help. Extend effectively Availability of components and circuits are main reasons to be inactive, Supply them Participate in all ham meets, festivals conventions and meetings. Encourage others also Above all, add more suggestions and advises like these and enlarge my above list.
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