[HCARC] Things a ham should be able to do: used to be NVIS - Local 10 meter Propagation Test

[curtiswe at ktc.com]

How about read a VOM and scope? Pass traffic? 
Sent from my BlackBerry® Smartphone by WCW

-----Original Message-----
From: "Kerry Sandstrom" <kerryk5ks at hughes.net>
Sender: hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:02:36 
To: H. Vordenbaum<tower2 at stx.rr.com>; <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>; 'Gary and Arlene Johnson'<qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
Subject: [HCARC] Things a ham should be able to do: used to be NVIS - Local
	10 meter Propagation Test

Harvey,

I understand what you're saying and it is a fun topic , but I'm afraid it 
doesn't lead anywhere useful.  Not only can't many hams solder, but for 
every extra class ham that can't solder, I bet there are a 100 electrical 
engineers who can't solder either.  How many computer software engineers do 
you think can write a program in machine language or assembly language ?  We 
have gone from a nation of "doers" to a nation of "watchers".  Its not good 
except for a few of us old retired engineers who have little trouble finding 
part time jobs because we remember what the new engineers never learned.

However, I think a worthwhile topic would be a list of things that a ham 
should be able to do.  I'll start the list off with a few items.  Feel free 
to add.

Things a ham should be able to do:

    1.  Set up his own station.

    2.  Put up a simple wire dipole that works, ie, his transmitter will 
transmit with it.

    3.  Put connectors on antenna cables.

    4.  Repair microphone connectors, Rf connectors, power supply 
connectors, etc that his rig uses.

    5.  Do simple troubleshooting on his own rig to determine if the power 
supply is good, the antenna is good and the microphone/key is good and the 
rig controls are set correctly.

    6.  Be able to select the correct frequency for what he wants to work at 
any given time.

    7.  Know proper operating procedures to make and complete a QSO.

    8.  Know and use standard amateur abbreviations and signals.

    9.  Know how to properly install his station equipment including power, 
antenna lines, and grounds.

   10.  Be able to interface his computer to his radio with or preferably 
without a commercial interface unit.

Thats a start.  You may not be able to do all these things at the beginning 
but you should be able to do a dew and as you get more experince the rest 
willcome along.  I didn't say you have to be able to solder, but you will 
find that in order to do some of these things you will have to learn to 
sloder.  Other things you will have to learn along the way is how to use 
simple test equipment like an SWR bridge and a voltmeter.  It will all come 
with time.  None of this stuff is difficult.  Note: this is not a closed 
book test!  You can use any references you want including asking someone for 
help.  Places you can get experience are the club radio station, nets 
including the FM net on Monday evenings and the SKYWARN net, field day, 
antenna parties, club meetings, tech corner before the meetings to name just 
a few.

That's enough for now,  have fun

Kerry 


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