There’s an image some people have of ham radio operators: the technical wizard who can build a transceiver from spare parts, recite Ohm’s law in their sleep and fix anything with a soldering iron. Some hams are exactly that, and we’re lucky to have them.
But here’s something I’ve believed for a long time: not all ham operators are as technically buff as others. So what? It doesn’t make them any more, or any less, a good ham.
What makes a good ham
Being a good operator has more to do with how you treat the hobby and the people in it than with how much theory you can recite:
- Good operating. Listen first, identify properly, keep it courteous, and know your band plan.
- Willingness to learn. Nobody knows it all. The best hams are still learning decades in.
- Willingness to help. Lending a hand at a public service event, a field day or an emergency net matters more than any certificate on the wall.
- Knowing when to ask. Asking an Elmer for help is part of the tradition, not a sign of weakness.
The fellowship is the point
For me, ham radio has always been about the people. The fellowship at local breakfasts, coffee get-togethers and flea markets, and the sheer variety of backgrounds, interests and walks of life you meet along the way: now that is what ham radio is all about to me.
Some of the finest operators I know would tell you they’re not technical at all. They’re the ones running the nets, welcoming newcomers, driving a friend to a public service event and making sure everyone gets home safe.
About the code
For years there was a heated argument in the hobby about Morse code requirements. In Canada today, Morse code is an optional qualification, and a Basic qualification with Honours opens up the HF bands without it. Plenty of hams still love CW, and that’s great. I’m sure great-great-grandpa kicked up a fuss too when the horses went back to the barn and the family got one of them fancy automobiles. Things change, and the hobby is better for having more people in it.
If you’re thinking about getting licensed
Don’t let the idea that you need to be an electronics expert hold you back. Study the material, ask questions, find a local club and an accredited examiner, and jump in. Our Getting Your Licence page shows you how to find an examiner near you.
You’ll learn more on the air than you ever will from a book. And there will always be someone happy to help.
— Gary Wheeler, VE6CV
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