[OMIK] Getting Started again

Sat Aug 15 22:43:52 EDT 2026

Leandra,

What types of ham activities are you interested?  That should be your guide on building a station.  You will wont to build modularly over time based on your interest and activities.

I watched the video and one thing stood out.  This is a video from 2 years ago.  He talks about 10M for technicians.  We are on the down side of the solar cycle.   The 10M band will have limited openings on the down side of a solar cycle.   Now is not the time to by a 10M only rig like he mentions.

It's good to see you will be visiting a hamfest. I see three upcoming in MD.  The Hagerstown TailgateFest will have Q&A forum for new hams.  The others do not list if they will have any forums/presentations.  If they do sit in on those.  While it's ok to walk around and window shop, I would not advise a new ham making purchases alone.

Have you tried visiting any clubs near you?  The three hosting hamfest in October likely welcome visitors to their meeting.  It's ok to visit and not join.  Only join a group you feel comfortable.

Benefits of a local ...
  -> Experienced operators that can answer your questions
  -> Members willing to loan or sell you equipment.  This is less risky compared to the hamfest vendor you may never see again.
  -> Some clubs have stations members can operate locally and/or remotely. 

Let us know what you want to do with ham radio or radio in general.  That will allow folks to offer suggestions that fit your needs vs generic recommendations.

Court Smith
KD2SPJ
K0MIK Trustee
________________________________________
From: omik-bounces at mailman.qth.net <omik-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Leandra Ollie via OMIK <OMIK at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2026 9:22 PM
To: Marilyn Teague <mizteasigns at gmail.com>
Cc: OMIK at mailman.qth.net <OMIK at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [OMIK] Getting Started again

Ditto Miss Marilyn - I have the same question regarding a beginner group -
but near Baltimore, MD?

I have been looking at youtube videos to see about setting up a home radio
station in preparation for the region's upcoming hamfest so I know what to
buy.

If anyone is willing to watch this video to let me know if it is a good
video to emulate for set up, I'd appreciate it. If anyone has other youtube
video suggestions for initial station set up, I am happy to take the
suggestion!

https://youtu.be/aniGkEl5aDU?is=bxu6x46MMBWIPuTw

On another note, does anyone also have their GRMS licence?

Many thanks for your guidance!

Kind regards,

Leandra

On Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 3:46 PM Marilyn Teague via OMIK <omik at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Hello.  I am here. Trying to get my foot in the door. Following the emails
> here. Not getting anywhere.
> I am an older Black lady in Atlanta, GA. I don’t know where to start.  I
> know a couple of licensed operators but they are busy.
> Is there a beginners group in METRO Atlanta that I could meet up with? I
> know that I  was a member of ARRL for a while. But I dropped out.
> I’m not a student (I am in my 70’s.)  But I don’t let that stop me. I’m
> very active and volunteer for a lot of civic events and I’m still working.
> Suggestions welcomed!
>
> Marilyn Teague
>
> On Fri, Aug 14, 2026 at 1:25 PM TwelveVDC--- via OMIK <
> omik at mailman.qth.net>
> wrote:
>
> > OMIK Friends,
> >
> > QCWA offers around $50k in completely unrestricted Scholarships annually.
> > Many times we don’t get enough applicants, greatly increasing your odds
> of
> > success.
> >
> > It is now administered by the ARRL since FAR dissolved 3 years ago.
> >
> > There are a few easy pieces of criteria to meet in order to earn a QCWA
> > Scholarship:
> >
> > • The student must be a licensed Amateur enrolled at any accredited
> > College or University. (GPA or chosen course of study is not a
> > consideration.)
> >
> > • The student must be endorsed by an Active QCWA Member. They need not
> > know one another personally, but it is beneficial for both the candidate
> > and Member to arrange an introduction in order to earn that Member’s
> > recommendation and have another tenured Elmer invested in her or his
> > success.
> >
> > Any current Member may be contacted for this worthy deed. In fact, it is
> > the highest honor a Member can offer a young ham and is historically a
> > Premier QCWA Benefit.
> >
> > Hams of color are underrepresented in QCWA despite wide attempts at
> > outreach. All that is required is that you were licensed at least 25
> years
> > ago, (anytime before 2002) and are licensed today. Breaks in Service are
> > not considered.
> >
> > Dues are very reasonable. There will be a QCWA Booth at Huntsville where
> > friendly staff will answer your questions. Otherwise, see the website for
> > more information at QCWA.org
> >
> > Vy 73, Pete / NL7XM
> > OMIK Member
> >
> >
> > > On Aug 12, 2026, at 4:38 PM, Frank Decuire via OMIK <
> > omik at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> > >> From: Arthur F Clemons <n8blk at aol.com>
> > >> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:57:16 -0400
> > >>
> > >> Subject: Why so few of us?
> > >>
> > >> I looked at the list of recent ARRL scholarship recipients and noticed
> > a distinct lack of us among the recipients. I then thought of all the
> > people I have seen test, and how few I see.
> > >>
> > >> I have to ask, what are we doing or not doing for that result? What
> can
> > we do to attract young folks, what can we do to attract older folks? I
> hope
> > for suggestions that work and can be applied. -art clemons- N8BLK/3
> > >>
> > >> Lloyd M Mitchell KO4L
> > ______________________________________________________________
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