Jim it would be such a treat if you can do another series of videos now in 2024 of you making contacts on the air. Watching you operate is a joy. Please give us that gift my friend

Listen to learn. 100% Jim .. New amateurs should listen to you and others who are trying to help new hams learn about HF and how it all works. I started out tuning around and listening on an old hammerlund receiver. This was in the late nineteen seventies. Eventually got licensed in the late 1980s. Listening and learning was part of the fun.

Thanks Jim. We need more instructions like this. Lessons on traditional communication and etiquette .

The operators that throw out their call like they are introducing a boxer.

@Homeskillet-mk6bj

22 күн бұрын

Guilty as charged!

Thank you, Jim. Every once in a while, I run into a ham on HF that gives his callsign with extra syllables. For example, uh-Whiskey uh-Seven uh-Bravo uh-Tango, uh-Yankee. In poor band conditions especially this habit makes "copy" very difficult. I find it one of the most annoying habits to date. It confounds me how a few of the most experienced hams are some of the worst communicators. (Hi-Hi is also a peeve...haha...)

I am a new ham and learn daily by listening to people who are obviously long-time hams. I still get confused with some terms, like last night I contacted a guy and he said that I would have the final....the final what I was wondering, so I didn't say anything. Now I know that means I will have the final word...to close the conversation, to end it up. I understand that this whole business of amateur radio is a learnt process, and yes I stumble sometimes, quite a bit actually, but with time (and some aggravation) I will get more proficient. Thank you for your insight on do's and don'ts, every little bit helps.

@johnwest7993

23 күн бұрын

Like all sorts of radio, Ham radio has some insider terminology, but not all that much, mostly shortcut hold-overs from the days when most radio communication was done with Morse Code, things like HiHI, (which is just a bunch of dits, sounding like laughter.) But nothing like the extensive CB radio lingo. I can babble a paragraph of CB lingo without a second thought, even without a first thought, but I don't. :)

@vinniec5286

23 күн бұрын

Just remember, friend, we ALL started that way. Any Ham worth his salt can empathize. It is like learning to play guitar. We all started off not being able to play a chord without practice.

@ryanjones9305

20 күн бұрын

Don’t sweat the small stuff, my friend! Just have fun with your radio! If someone has a hissy fit because you said something he doesn’t think is right, sure, take his opinion for what it’s worth to you, but do it your way. You’ll develop our own style of operating and just enjoy the hobby. This rant of the dos and don’ts is what runs new HAMS off. (Notice my capitalization of ‘ham’ just for the fuddy duddies).

Thank you so much for your years of very helpful information

Agree. Great message for all amateur radio operators. And the very reason why I avoid saying I am a "ham" radio operator and self describe as an amateur radio operator.

@ham-radio

23 күн бұрын

I try to do the same. 73, Jim

In the US and UK and Canada we are fortunate that the rest of the world comes to our language for international communication. These tips really show respect for that. Thanks Jim!

@ham-radio

22 күн бұрын

Yes David. I agree and I could have done a better job converying that during the video. Thanks, Jim W6LG

@DavidHall-o5g

20 күн бұрын

Just this morning I worked JA1CG near Tokyo. He was really struggling with English, and I heard some stations throwing ¨500 whiskes¨ at him. I give him so much credit for trying so hard and speaking just enough English to be able to make a QSO. -- W6DGH

I was very nervous when I first started a few years ago. I listened for a long time before attempting to contact someone. This gave me enough time to learn proper etiquette. I learned a lot from this channel and from Dave Casler's channel.

Information is so useful that I listened to the video twice to be sure I didn't miss anything. Thanks.

Thanks Jim, lots of good info. BTW, it's going to be 114 today in AZ, it's normal for us.

G/M Jim, nice to see you....... tnx for putting this out, hopefully it will be watched and applied, on HF people MUST say something at the end of their transmission to positively signal "I'm done talking, your turn".......I like "go ahead or over,over" but just letting up on the PTT switch just adds to the difficulties. Many foreign hams really only speak "ham radio english" which is 60 db better than my Russian or Japanese and greatly appreciated here so you really can't have much of a conversation other than very basic signal reports which is F/B but you have to recognize that and tailor everything about QSO accordingly. Most "seasoned" HF operators understand these things but many newcomers don't, the last thing we want to do is scare people away......stay cool, be well, 73 Mike K1FNX near Boston

Smiling! Thanks Jim: Not been a ham as long as you but remember the old timers telling us young ones about proper use of the language on the radio. Now days having 50 years under my belt, I try to tell the younger/new hams if they are saying things a bit different than they should and I do it in a friendly, joking manner but not always received well. Just the times we live in. Praying for you sir. 73 Ed

Quite right! Unfortunately too many operators DO NOT use the standard phonetics.Even though It's pure common sence, it seems that ti's rather uncommon these days. 73 de SV1SLB

Great to see you, Jim! You look and sound strong. And, as always, you are dispensing great advice for us newer hams. Thank you!

Some operators have formed habits, repetitive habits…. Our only requirement is to identify every 10 minutes. Agree, PLAIN language please.

If I'm running 100 Whiskeys, I don't think I could utter a single word 🥴

@mercster

22 күн бұрын

Or you'd utter too many.

Jim, i run whisky in weekends, not on radio. Thanks for your video. 73 LB8LG

This is great advice. I try to be honest with my signal reports for the other person, but it never really occurred to me to adjust to the speech patterns to a weaker signal on my end. This will prove useful for my new hobby of Parks on the AIr. Much easier to activate a park if they can hear you! Thanks, Jim, and to good health. 73 from W5JAZ

I Learn a Lot when i see your Videos Jim ,and pratice every time , Talk Slow ,Speek The Call Correct,Be Nice ....... i'm 61 and every time i Talk to a station i do my best to do it o.k . Think of the Advice and put it in action. In the weekend i Talk to IK5YZZ Giovanni he was Live on KZread , 20m Conditions verry bad S2 report , power 50w on my loop antenne . We got a nice Conversation 🙂 73 all the best

Good points 👉 I agree with them, being licensed 62 years and 80 years old. I was very active with our club, 2A, ENY, W2NYW, The Peekskill Cortlandt Amateur Radio Association, with 239 SSB QSO's FD weekend, most on 40, some on 20, for 30% of our Clubs QSO's, as the leading operator, which pleased me greatly, and I was complimented in our July 2024 PCARA Update newsletter, written by Malcolm, NM9J, newsletter editor, with awards in the Hudson, ARRL Division. I did have a QSO on 20 with a German Station calling CQ, in some German I know well, which pleased him too. My wife, Marylyn, KC2NKU, was there too, and we are Charter Members of PCARA, approaching 25 years of it. 73 de Ray W2CH and Marylyn, KC2NKU 😊

Great points, Jim. I heard many of those "mistakes" this past weekend trying to work the 13 Colonies OTA. That one Canadian station, in particular! 73, W6LG and the group KC0VFC

Hi Jim, You are spot with that operating advice. I'm sure that lid operators will always be with us and sunlight is probably the best medicine. I really don't think that any ham wishes to be a lid operator. My advice: before you transmitt listen, listen listen. I heard that VE station stomping on everybody when the operator was calling by the numbers. Numbers work if they are respected and a VE3 has every right to call when the US operator is calling for 3s. I did manage a clean sweep for the the 13 colonies plus the 3 bonus stations. Using FT8 is easy but for me CW was easier. It's the stinking Phone contacts I had the most trouble with. I finally got the bonus US station when he was calling by the numbers. As for the description of where the term 'ham' came from. I don't believe any of them except my ham neighbor said that ham stands for "Havent Any Money" . Sounds good to me! Regards Jim WO7V

Thank you, Jim. You are a great resource and an inspiration.

A Well done guide for a new HF operator. This should be a must watch for all of us. I will usually say "over" in poor conditions. 73

Thanks Jim. This kind of information is invaluable!! I hope you do a whole series of videos on proper conduct while on the air. There seems to be no end of newer operators that don’t know what they don’t know. REALLY appreciate your wisdom!! Hope you get a break from the heat.

Good thing I watch enough aviation shows to know what “pan” means 😊

Also, agree with sticking with the International Standard Phonetic Alphabet as a your first resort... Then embellish it if your signal is not making it through. A = Alfa ... if they can't hear you, then use your own phonetics as a backup, and only as a backup, then revert to international phonetics, but never use them as a primary phonetic.

*BACK TO YOU* 😵‍💫 I prefer to hear *OVER*

@ham-radio

23 күн бұрын

QSL 73

May I add this, for CW contacts: In place of "CFM," you can just send "R." When giving information such as your name or location, it's not necessary to send "name name is,_____." Just send "name is.....," "QTH is ________," and so forth. Or just "QTH ________." Then you can repeat your name or your location, but not the words "name" and "QTH." CW contacts go faster if you avoid unnecessary repetition.

Related to the HAM or ham radio... there is conflicting information ... on the Flex radio website, they mention: The word “HAM” as applied to 1908 was the station CALL of the first amateur wireless station operated by some amateurs of the Harvard Radio Club. They were Albert S. Hyman, Bob Almy, and Poogie Murray. At first they called their station “HYMAN-ALMY-MURRAY”. They then decided to use only the first letter of each name and the station CALL became “HAM”

Thank you Jim! I'm a fairly new extra and I really enjoy learning from your videos and I appreciate your perspectives. This one has great info for newer operators and I wish some more experienced operators would take those suggestions to heart. I hope you're feeling well and staying as cool and comfortable as possible in this extreme heat. 73

Great points Jim. It's important for people to understand these things. However, remember that 73's was originated by the Old Man himself, Hiram Percy Maxim. The QSL card to prove it is out there everywhere. Looking great Jim so glad you see your videos. So glad!

Excellent video Jim! I think, like most things in life. it all goes back to a respect of and a willingness to learn good operating procedures. During the recent 13 Colonies event, I was amazed at the number of operators who, when a 13 Colonies station would call by call zones, would call even if they weren't in that call zone! It was a fun event though, and the majority of operators were great! We can all do a better job if we're just willing to learn. Thanks again Jim.

I use "back to you" extensively out in the field doing WWFF. It sounds kinda nice? And gives a moment to the other operator to mentally prepare. I use QSL only if its very weak, or as confiirmation of someone elses QSL.

@codymaly652

23 күн бұрын

I use "back to you" or "over to you".

Good to see you again Jim. Very good advice not just for new hams. I learned to operate radios and nets in the military so I still try to conform to that standard in my ham life. One issue I find a lot, no matter what band is used, is the tailing off of a sentence. They start off strong and their speech volume tails off at the end sometimes causing you to miss the last word or two. I try not to fall into that habit and encourage others to guard against it too. QSL overuse is rampant in my ham circle and I refuse to use it just because of that. I guess I'm a grouchy old ham.

Great advice from a great Elmer.

Another excellent presentation for operators new and old for sure.73

Stay cool, Jim! My last living aunt lives in Oakdale, CA. I contacted her from my QTH (Florida) just to check on her, as her husband of 50 years (my beloved uncle) passed not too long ago. Heat warnings here in Florida as well. Please take it easy and thank you for posting this video!! -73 KQ4KIO

Glad to see you doing well and putting out more great content, Jim! As a relative newcomer, I've found myself emulating a lot of what i hear. As a result, I've been guilty of an HF faux pa or two (especially the QSL one). Thanks, as usual, for clarifying the what and the why. Keep these great videos coming! 73, WZ8Q

Thank you, thank you, Jim. I hear these irregular terms every day and it seems to be getting more common than not. John KA8GKG

All good advice. Looking good Jim. All the best. KB3NG

Every ham needs to watch this. Thanks, Jim.

Double nickels means, that's all I have because I bought too much gear. Thanks, Jim. You're the best. 73.

Absolutely in agreement Jim. "hihi" on phone and "whiskey" in particular make me cringe.

Worked the 13 Colonies Event that just ended. Listening to the pileup it is obvious that many stations now are using remote SDR receivers because of the delay after QRZ. Very frustrating, because the answer comes back when everyone is calling the station. I don't use SDR's, jumped the gun, and gave GB13COL a 2-9 report when he acknowledged me. I was working every filter I had on the FTDX10 just to faintly hear the op over my S9 noise floor.

@codymaly652

23 күн бұрын

Well, your FTDX10 is an SDR. Software Defined Radio. Just saying.

@kb8vom

22 күн бұрын

@@codymaly652 remote SDR'"s with an Internet delay.

@codymaly652

22 күн бұрын

@@kb8vom I use a pre-recorded message to call CQ when doing POTA. That could be construed as "internet delay" as well. No?

@kb8vom

22 күн бұрын

@@codymaly652 no not at all. What I am referring to is when a station says QRZ and there is a 3 to 5 second delay before the pileup starts throwing out there callsigns. The station calling has acknowledged the station he is wanting and no one can hear it because of the pileup.

Good advice, I like to keep it simple and stick with the basic.

Jim: Glad to see you are looking good, continue your progress. Always look forward to your posts. Good advice for us new hams. Thank You.....Ted Bohlman MD

Another great video!! Many thanks. Robert K5 TPC

Thank you Jim. I always lean something from your channel. AC3EU

Another good(?) one... you're two two, twenty two, rifle shots. Bang Bang

Thanks so much Jim for all your information. I’ve been a ham for about two years but I’m still learning and I will continue to do so for many years. Keeping you in prayer also. KD2ZFD

Good advice!

Very good information JIM ! I like giving honest signal reports as well. And understand it may be different to the other side. Just because you hear them 5 buy 9 does not mean they hear you the same. HF funny that way . Hope the power grid holds up. many in the heat wave. 73

Great video Jim, well said

Good job Jim!

I don’t want to call anyone out here , but yesterday I was talking to a 4x station calling North America. We are pretty close so we chatted for a few minutes. As we finished our qso he continued to call cq North America , the guys in Italy were just relentless screaming there call sign. It got to the point where the 4x station yelled at them , got discouraged and switched from 15m to 20m just to get away from them. The Py guys do the same thing , drives me nuts . Anywho looking good Jim 73’

Good to see you Jim...Seymour ZS1CPT

Jim Great Content for new Operators. I would further say lots of old timers could use a brush up! 🤣 👍👍

Appreciate all the input but you ought to be down here on the sand pile where the humidity is through the ceiling. A lot of these reasons you mention there are why I would never participate in that group. It's like how many Tradesmen do we have replaced in the tradesmen's that are leaving. A lot of this is going away and mostly these are the reasons why the reasons why. 73's.

The 13 Colonies Special Event over the last week was a good example of every bad radio practice you described here and then some. The poor radio etiquette of many of the people participating was annoying to say the least. I really felt sorry for the special event operators at times. LOL, the don't need to give us certificates, they need to award the patience of the special event operators.

@kb8vom

23 күн бұрын

You mean QRZ 1's and hearing 4's, 5's, 9's etc??? Nah did hear any of that. Or the guys tuning up for 2 minutes and completely miss out on your number? Nope, didn't experience that either. Or the nice person broadcasting "Independence Day" by Martina McBride not once but at least twice. Fun event, glad it's over, bet the op's are not going to touch a radio for a year now and celebrate that it's over!!! I sure do feel for them!!!

@TallyTechandTroubleshooting

22 күн бұрын

@@kb8vom Yeah, I stayed on FT8 because I really got tired of the unprofessionalism/rudeness towards the operators AND transmitting on top of each other. I am a fairly new General operator (my first special event) and this event was not what i thought it was going to be. Felt really bad for some of those folks...-73 KQ4KIO

Good to hear you Jim, thanks, take care and 73

Thank you. Please provide more of this. K5AAF 73

Take care Jim ... 73 de AK4EC

I definitely think that more, "plain talk", would be a benefit for young folks getting into the hobby.

What gets me is 73's it's NOT it's 73.. I hear this all the time "Best 73's" this is wrong, remember 73.

Some hams need to slow down and annunciate properly when giving their call.

Nobody just ignores Jim, when they hear his call sign, they want him in the conversation!

Can you send us that cool weather 😂 ag6mh - I only have swamp coolers

Thanks Jim. N4STS

Guilty Jimmy, about using QSL too often. Since it's becoming an unconscious response in the form of a question, as if to ask, did you hear all my info. After 3 decades of the hobby, I may get sloppy here and there.Thanks for the advice as always and stay well....

Jim, thanks for this information. For me, it’s very timely. As I’m learning to use my Ic 7300. And doing a lot of listening. Stay as cool and comfortable as you can this week…whoa 😅!!! Way too hot 🥵 Bill - KJ7YSN Chiloquin Oregon

I just like listening to the cw(not the cw media app), but can never figure out the conversation. It’s an art, and my mind is too slow. Here in nj where I am, the cw is used on the single side band close to the cb frequencies, don’t recall the exact ones they use, but you can hear them tapping away, somewhat musical.

I have heard alot of this type of communication taking place, never thought about it. I am guilty myself after you bringing this to light. I have carried over some of the jargon to and from operating different modes. This was a great eye opener as i don't want to be a bad operator. Thank you for opening my eyes and reminding me which will improve my skills. By the way, looking good and sounding strong. We are set in Arizona to break some records this year. KA6PSD

Everything old is new again. I'm a no-code Extra, been licensed for 33 years, and I don't do HF. But all of this is the same stuff I was told 30-some years ago. At the time, most of these type of poor operating practices seemed to be carry overs from CB radio. In addition, in 1981 I started a career in law enforcement. Some agencies used 10-codes and other proprietary codes. However, the trend and instruction in my agency was to use plain language to communicate. That carried over into my use of CB radio and later Ham radio. My thought is that some people want to feel special by being part of an exclusive fraternity with secret handshakes and lingo. Amateur Radio is not the place that.

Concerning the CA fires, Juan Browne has some pieces on the fire.

Yep, I find it very frustrating.

Totally agree, simple English, less jargon, slow speech, standard phonetics and don't use hi hi as it sounds like you are a simpleton 😅. Plenty of LIDs, even down the road from me.

Heartedly agreed, Jim. The NIMS/ICS standards for disaster operations explicitly forbid the use of jargon--and that would include q signals--in favor of clear text that will not waste time being clarified. Another common error is saying "Let the repeater reset" when the international pro words for that are a simple "wait one" which takes less than half the time to see, and is a standard. In an incident involving actual bad guys or active hazards, if I don't hear "out" "wilco" or "clear" for all I know the other operator dropped their radio--or had their throat cut. Our first job is to be COMMUNICATORS and to do it clearly, quickly, and unambiguously. There are reasons for standards. When they don't seem important, you probably are missing something.

This reminds me of a question I have always wondered. I try not to be a NATO-phonetic scold, but I really don't understand deviation from the standard. That said, why do you suppose that QSB is often called "QS Baker"? Baker? Why not Bravo. Or Quebec Sierra Bravo? Thanks for the video Jim, and best of luck with your treatments! 73 Scott VA3EKR, KK7TMS

is it good radio etiquette to hold a frequency all day taking about nothing? too many high powdered stations doing nothing but sit on lower 40 ssb and wasting airspace interference without interference

Love you Jim your my youtube elmer... it's hot in nyc also

Glad that you got another video up. A while back, I talked to an Extra class operator who had no idea what a QSL card was or what to do with one. What has happened to training?

@johnwest7993

23 күн бұрын

There is no training. There are only short multiple-choice, No-Code tests followed by a government license. The Internet has succeeded in entirely bypassing the old-fashioned Noob-Elmer relationship. I met a General Class licensee a while ago who asked me what an Elmer was. As for me, I took the Tech/General/Extra exams in 1 sitting in about an hour and a quarter after studying on the web for about 10 or 15 hours and taking QRZ practice tests till I was getting over 90% correct in under 15 minutes on each test. That really teaches one next to nothing about ham radio. Fortunately I'd been a Shortwave Listener for 40 years by then, a CBer, and a LowFER builder and experimenter, but I still had a lot to learn because I bypassed working with an Elmer. They provide a great deal of information, and establish perspective on the hobby, something entirely lacking without having one. I'd say the majority of new operators couldn't tell you why the FCC created Amateur Radio in the USA, which seems like a rather important bit of info for anyone wishing to engage in the hobby. They seem to think of it as Super CB radio, and just glaze over the part about the authorization to repair, modify, design and build your own radios and antennas. They go directly to the question of what consumer radio and antenna they should buy without ever learning the first thing about RF, when the FCC created the service to act as a sandbox for those with the interest to experiment, build, and learn all about it. If listened to ham KZread channels reviewing cheap Chinese HT's and they go through al of their features and never bother to check them for harmonic levels as if they don't matter. One actually did test a Baofeng, found it was about 5 dB out of spec for harmonics, and said, "Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. But you can do what you want. I mean, who's gonna catch ya?" In a self-policing hobby that the FCC can shut down anytime they decide to, the noobs really need a good Elmer to cuff them up aside the head when they talk like that. But they aren't getting those Elmers.

Another one that goes right up my spine is when operators use "we" instead of "I" when referring to themselves. I always want to ask if they suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder. Or when someone gives his callsign and says it's "for ID".Yeah, we know. Any time you give your callsign, it's for ID. I could go on, but I won't. LOL. 73 de W5GFO.

@ham-radio

23 күн бұрын

We agree. I had to say that! 73, Jim

@TimKreitzAdventures

22 күн бұрын

@@ham-radio Hahaha!

Stay cool my friend, AI5NQ.

Being a CW guy the original laugh was HEE HEE. If one thinks about it HI HI doesn't make much sense. When you roger on CW send the letter R not EN! awhere this came from I have no idea. I only use straight keys and bugs as I am a purist. 73!

The whiskeys substitute for watts does sound kind of foolish. I hear things like I’m running 1,000 (or higher) whiskeys. I never hear I’m running 5 whiskeys. 😂

QSL

I even use "Back to You" on Zoom calls. It avoids the all too common pattern when two people start to talk at once and then both stop to let the other go ahead, but then both start talking again after the awkward silence.

Thanks, Elmer Jim. Good training. Plain speech works great every time.

Always learn insight and something new. Thanks, Jim.

THANK YOU for some common sense reminders regarding HF communication language usage. After all, the bottom line is making ourselves clearly understood. Language is certainly fluid, and changes over time, but sometimes consistency (and courtesy) really enhances communication. Great topic and suggestions… stay cool out there! 73, Ron W9RSS

A lot of these bad habits are carry overs from the 11 meter crowd who got newly licensed.

I'm seeing the same thing with CW, only some operators are using BK as K when calling CQ, totally wrong. CQ CQ de LID BK. As you know BK is a CW pro sign for break.

@BobGarrett66

23 күн бұрын

@ai5dd Thanks for this info. I’ve been teaching myself CW and looking for good information about conducting a QSO correctly. Easier than relearning bad habits! Do you know of reliable resources (other than W6LG 😊) for CW operation? Reliable videos or websites, either one? Thanks!!

Jim, You look great and sound strong. That is awesome. Great advise, as always. Stay cool and 73, JR

I never understood the "hi hi". Could "ha ha" not been keyed out? Maybe I'm too young to understand and no, I do not do CW. KT5CCM

@hankhalbert6542

22 күн бұрын

Dumb, right?

@randallschad5025

22 күн бұрын

My understanding on this was that .... .. sounds like laughter. And I suppose the I is shorter than the A. I don't have any foundation for this theory of mine, but languages tend to evolve to be shorter and easier, so I wouldn't be surprised if the A morphed into an I over time in the really early days of telegraphy.

I have to admit, I am often more than just annoyed by this incessant QSL here, QSL there. It drives me crazy and I ask myself who actually started it? Granted, I was out for almost 30 years, but I never learned it that way when I was preparing for my license in 1979 and never heard it in the years that followed. Have a feeling it's getting worse and worse. So „Listen, listen, listen“ is obviously just not necessarily the best choice for the newbies? Unfortunately not in this case. By the way: With as much whisky as is “consumed” on the bands, you'd think 50% of the OM's were alcoholics ;-) 73, Stefan

Hello Jim. I hope you're feeling well. You're having what we consider to be typical summer temperatures here in Arizona. Not sure of your weather history, but this is completely normal for us.

And new contestors on phone, stop the "please copy"