By James Austin
KG4YVA

I have some friends that I have met though ham radio. One of them, an advanced class, really enjoys making antennas. The fun thing is they work and very well I might add! Another one, a tech class, likes working on radios and fixing stuff. Yet another, a tech class, impressed me with his 6-meter loop antenna and how well it has worked for him. An extra in the group has what we call a "Wall of Honor". We have done a field day event and several VHF contest. Which are all very challenging. We will get together and go to ham fest. Go out to dinner. Or just stop and say hello. We are a small group of ham operators, but we enjoy the company and radioing.

Now I will admit. I have been in ham radio long enough now to pass my code for the general class ticket. I can even pass the written test. My thing is I have not achieved all that I want to do on the VHF and UHF bands. I am just now getting my station up and running the way I want it.

So here is my dilemma. I am getting upset with some of the code hams out there. Saying if I do not have the code I would trash up the HF bands. I gave up CB years ago. I never thought of getting back into radio until my oldest brother Bob said he was studying for his tech test. So what makes you code guys think that if I do not have the code, I will be a poor operator? I want to know what would make me worst then your own general, advanced, and extra class operators that trash 80 meters everyday. While the rest of you do nothing about it! I thought we were supposed to be self-policing? I have not heard of anyone getting involved and stopping the abuse that goes on 80 meters? Those operators are on every day and night! I am sure the FCC catches operators from time to time. I have been down on 80 meters listening. They cuss. They do not ID or ID so fast that you cannot make out the call anyway. They are rude to people that are trying to contact them. I have heard those operators tell other people that the frequency is their frequency! Since when did that become part of the rules? It cannot be no coders! We are not licensed to be on 80 meters. So if it is not generals, advanced, or extra class operators who is it? It is the operators that are already licensed to operate there.

The extra class and advanced class operators I mention in the beginning of this article are the guys that taught me the manners and the patience it takes to be a ham operator. They taught me how to be quite and listen. When the right time comes to jump into the pile up or to know when to wait. They taught me how to count then give my call sign. To get the information exchange and then get out of the way so the next ham can get the contact.

I think there are more no coders out there that respect the amateur radio service then would do it harm. I also think it is still a great time to mentor and help the newbie's and no coders. We will still need to know how to do things the right way. We still need the experienced operators to help us get there. I think the code requirement is going to be dropped. I think we will need to work even harder to continue to do amateur radio the right way. The most important thing is accountability for your own call sign.

Thanks John, Peyton, Ed, Bill, and Daryl. Thanks Bob for the push. Thanks to Roby Fritz for the education I was giving in commercial radio.

Please sent your comments by email to me: james@dbjre.com.