[SixClub] Newly Licensed Operators & Sticker Shock

[Steven Coles]

Roger,

As the selective reading arises primarily from the large specialized groups 
being easiest for new hams to find, experienced hams wanting to better 
"Elmer" new hams can easily improve the situation in at least a few easy 
ways:  Ask how much the new ham is budgeting for a station.  Before price 
escalation gets out of hand, suggest a mentoring forum such as

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new_ham2005/

(There could easily be a more active one I don't know about.)  Help answer 
questions on the mentoring forums.  Make a serious effort to understand the 
new ham's interests.  Gently remind established hams not to scare off 
newcomers.

Miscommunications kept me completely off the air for some months.  From my 
early days I assumed many hams getting a new rigs sit down with the 
schematic, estimate the DC biases and waveforms, pop the top, check their 
estimates against meter and scope, and take notes.  I wouldn't think of 
owning a rig I couldn't "psych" the schematic of.  Psyching the schematics 
is my passion.  Preferably I build the thing from a schematic so I know 
where every component is.  No one in the "Elmering" group I first joined 
could understand what I was asking for in the way of rig suggestions.  To me 
they seemed to be suggesting soaped up CB transceivers.  Hopefully, I'm 
clearer now that I know my thing has become uncommon.

Best regards,

Steven, KD7YTE