[Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers? (Wayne Burdick)

[kl7uw at acsalaska.net]

This is the question.

OK, I discovered ham radio when discovering a Zenith Transoceanic radio sitting on a shelf at some friend's house when I was twelve.  I noticed it displayed "police" on the tuning display and said "lets see if we can pick up some police calls".  Heard nothing around 6mcs so tuned around and found a whole bunch of talking near 4mcs (75m ham band).  That excited me and somehow I found out it was ham radio.  I was determined to be a ham, built a 3-tube receiver kit, took a CW class at a nearby school (the teacher ended up giving me my Novice exam in 1958 (67 years ago)).  No one introduced ham radio to me - I discovered it.

OK, now days I mention I am a "ham" (and explain what that is if they are not familiar with it).  I invite them to see my ham station, where I can demonstrate some of how it works and what I do with it (sometimes the hardest part to is to find any activity).

To get some VHF+ activity I started club (AK VHF-Up Group) and a weekly net in 2007.

Our local club (Moosehorn ARC) nearly died during the Covis shutdown (now resurrected to 35+ members with monthly meetings).  A weekly net is held on our 2m repeater with 40-some check-ins.  We just held our FD operation at the local Harley Davidson shop on a busy highway and also held a local Hamfest.  The club sponsors transmitter hunts with a prize to the winner.  I think an active ham club helps attract new hams!

I am active on 6m FT8 and eme on several bands (so qualify as a "techie" - I guess).

73, Ed - KL7UW
https://www.kl7uw.com


Today's Topics:

1. Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers?
(Wayne Burdick)

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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:52:39 -0700
From: Wayne Burdick 
To: elecraft 
Subject: [Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to
newcomers?
Message-ID:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Hi all,

Please share any methods you've used for stirring interest in our shared
pastime. How have you communicated the science, the camaraderie, and the
intrigue of the radio art? Real-world examples would be inspiring to read
about.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


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Elecraft, Inc.


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End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 255, Issue 27
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