I will first warn you that I am a little emotional over what I have to say in this post :sad: and that my spelling and grammar are not great, but If you have either positive/negative criticism, or can relate to my situation, or can suggest what my next step should be I would greatly appreciate it. 
The story…
{Recruiting new people, & studding for the test }
When I told my friends that I was studying and reading books about ham radio It gave me the opportunity to try and explain what it was to them. Well they laughed at me when I told them what I was doing. Well, I tried to explain the importance of ham radio and how ham WAS UESD with Katrina. I tried to get them interested by talking about satellites and talking to astronauts in the international space station but I failed. Instead they made fun of me saying I was trying to contact E.T. and such.
They said, “why when we have cell phones that: are on the internet, text, have color screens, and cameras in them, that can do almost anything a radio can do. You also can both talk at the same time and hear each other. If were in a state of emergency like when hurricane Katarina hit and it gets bad enough that cell towers don’t work you’re probably screwed anyway so why get a ham license?”
So I ignored them over my Christmas break from college, and studied for my upcoming test I was excited about taking.
{Test day}
Went to the local library here this last Saturday morning and took the exam. After I passed my technician exam I asked the test administrator guys (5 of them) who were all sitting at the main table if anyone could teach me how to use a hand held radio. I said that I have no friends, family, or anyone I know that has a ham license so I could use someone to teach me how to do this and mentor me through it for a few minutes. They all stared at me for a few seconds until the guy in charge said:
"We are thinking on starting a new technician class to teach newbie’s like you how it works, but as of now we don't offer anything like that yet".
I said well I was wondering if someone could just show me today, or even tomorrow how to do this, because I’m on my own here and totally new to this. I could use help picking a first radio, and how to use one too.
Nobody, not one of them (who by the way each of them had a ht on their side) offered to show me how to use a radio.
I was shocked. :shock: I was speechless for about 10 seconds until I showed them a picture of the VX-7R and the 8R in a magizeen and asked if they would suggest one or the other for a beginner. He said:
It’s like buying a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge; they are all the same really.
I said all the Yaesu radios are all about the same??? I got no response so I said thanks and left.
{Discouraged}
I’m still shocked. No wonder why this is a slowly dying group of enthusiasts over the last what…15 years or so. They aren’t willing to show a new guy the ropes. I’m 28, I showed serious interest, and was shot down by the local guys who represented 3-4 different local groups/clubs that they were trying to solicit membership for before we took our tests. After being ridiculed by my friends and getting no support from the local club/senior hams in my area, I’m almost done trying to learn this hobby. Where is the support for a newbie?:headbang Is my experience the norm? Is this how it usually goes?
Your thoughts/ suggestions/ comments/ ideas are appreciated.
-=ben
The story…
{Recruiting new people, & studding for the test }
When I told my friends that I was studying and reading books about ham radio It gave me the opportunity to try and explain what it was to them. Well they laughed at me when I told them what I was doing. Well, I tried to explain the importance of ham radio and how ham WAS UESD with Katrina. I tried to get them interested by talking about satellites and talking to astronauts in the international space station but I failed. Instead they made fun of me saying I was trying to contact E.T. and such.
They said, “why when we have cell phones that: are on the internet, text, have color screens, and cameras in them, that can do almost anything a radio can do. You also can both talk at the same time and hear each other. If were in a state of emergency like when hurricane Katarina hit and it gets bad enough that cell towers don’t work you’re probably screwed anyway so why get a ham license?”
So I ignored them over my Christmas break from college, and studied for my upcoming test I was excited about taking.
{Test day}
Went to the local library here this last Saturday morning and took the exam. After I passed my technician exam I asked the test administrator guys (5 of them) who were all sitting at the main table if anyone could teach me how to use a hand held radio. I said that I have no friends, family, or anyone I know that has a ham license so I could use someone to teach me how to do this and mentor me through it for a few minutes. They all stared at me for a few seconds until the guy in charge said:
"We are thinking on starting a new technician class to teach newbie’s like you how it works, but as of now we don't offer anything like that yet".
I said well I was wondering if someone could just show me today, or even tomorrow how to do this, because I’m on my own here and totally new to this. I could use help picking a first radio, and how to use one too.
Nobody, not one of them (who by the way each of them had a ht on their side) offered to show me how to use a radio.
I was shocked. :shock: I was speechless for about 10 seconds until I showed them a picture of the VX-7R and the 8R in a magizeen and asked if they would suggest one or the other for a beginner. He said:
It’s like buying a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge; they are all the same really.
I said all the Yaesu radios are all about the same??? I got no response so I said thanks and left.
{Discouraged}
I’m still shocked. No wonder why this is a slowly dying group of enthusiasts over the last what…15 years or so. They aren’t willing to show a new guy the ropes. I’m 28, I showed serious interest, and was shot down by the local guys who represented 3-4 different local groups/clubs that they were trying to solicit membership for before we took our tests. After being ridiculed by my friends and getting no support from the local club/senior hams in my area, I’m almost done trying to learn this hobby. Where is the support for a newbie?:headbang Is my experience the norm? Is this how it usually goes?
Your thoughts/ suggestions/ comments/ ideas are appreciated.
-=ben
