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What Now?

If you just passed your basic exam, welcome to ham radio! Your lifelong learning adventure has just started. Here are a few suggested next steps, you can pursue some or all of them:

  1. Get a mentor (or in ham parlance, an “elmer”) to help you continue you continue with the next steps and help you when you get stuck, if possible the person that taught you the course associated with this text. For help on all of the items that follow, see your “elmer” first!

  2. Get a radio. Most hams start with a 2 Meter HT. You can get a brand new unit from a distributor such as www.radioworld.ca for a few hundred dollars. You can get a good used unit starting from under $100 (if you shop around) from another ham, a ham swap shop on the air or internet, or even eBay

  3. Get on the air! This is the whole point, isn’t it? The best place to start here are “nets” on local 2M repeater(s). Best advice here is “listen first, talk later”. You will quickly learn the operating practices and feel comfortable on a net

  4. Start monitoring local repeater(s) and have non net QSOs. If your HT supports it you can set it up to scan all the repeaters in your area.

  5. Answer ham’s who calls “monitoring” or call “monitoring” yourself (especially if you hear 2 hams just ending a QSO, one may come back to you if he’s not busy). Try breaking into a QSO if it is a friendly chat by saying your cal in between transmission. Also, investigate if local repeaters support linking to other repeaters via RF links or Internet Repeater Linking Project (this may require joining a club or repeater support group for access).

  6. Work Simplex, you can get the band plan from www.rac.ca . Arrange on the repeater to move to a simplex frequency if you are in range with the other station. You can tell by monitoring the input frequency of the repeater.

  7. Get a better antenna. You can increase the range of your HT with a simple “roll up antenna”, or a home made or commercial outdoor antenna and feedline.

  8. Go mobile. You can temporarily set up your HT in the car with a speaker mic, accessory socket power cord and window clip or mag mount antenna, or go all the way with a permanent dedicated mobile rig. Great if you travel a lot in your car.

  9. Build up your library. Any of the books mentioned in the references are great to have in your library for continuous self learning and reference. If you have a computer the web also has great resources, start with the sites listed in references. Setting up bookmarks to things like bandplans, reference data, regulations, operating tips is a great way to have a large “virtual library” at your fingertips

  10. Join a local ham club. Fees vary, most have regular meetings with guest speakers. You may even want to get involved in the executive.

  11. Join RAC. You can use the money you save not having to pay for your license anymore is well spent on joining Radio Amateurs of Canada, the national association in Canada. As well as getting the magazine, your dollars support lobbying the government to avoid negative changes to laws governing ham radio.

  12.  Join ARRL. The dues include a subscription to their journal, QST, which is alone worth the money. You can pick up QST at a full service newsstand.

  13. Pursue some digital modes on VHF+, such as APRS and Slow Scan TV.

  14. Pursue the 5 wpm test and get onto HF, you can work the world.

  15. Study for and pass the Advanced Test.

  16. Recruit and elmer some other new hams!

Things to Do If the Communications Aspects Are of Most Interest

  1. Field day: Hams simulate operating from a field to prepare for emergencies.

  2. Public Service Events: You can lend your communications skills to local events or others such as the Forest City Marathon and Goblin Patrol.

  3. ARES: Get involved in preparing for emergency communications during storms and other disasters.

  4. Canwarn: Learn how to spot and report potential tornadoes, this has saved lives!

Things to Do If the Technology Aspects Are of Most Interest
 

  1. Experiment with modes such as APRS, PSK31, SSTV, and others

  2. Try working some satellites, with voice or packet

  3. Build up a set of basic hand tools: screwdrives, pliers, soldering equipment

  4. Build up a set of basic test equipment: Analog Multimeter, Digital Multimeter, Audio Signal Generator. RF Signal Generator, Oscilloscope, Power Supply

  5. Conduct some electronic experiments

  6. Build some antennas

  7. Learn how to repair / restore rigs

  8. Build some radio kits

Like we have said all along, getting the basic is just the first step in a long and enjoyable journey. Have fun!

 

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