How To Talk On Amateur (HAM) Radio, Good And Bad, Part 3 

I recently heard a conversation on a local repeater that made me think of what you were talking about here. A guy up in the rural hills with no outside contact aside from phone fired up his old ham radio and asked someone if they could help him contact his home phone provider because his phone had gone down and he had no way of calling out for help. Amateur radio operators were able to help him and make contact to help him get his phone service restored.

Thank you for teaching me how not to embarrass myself on my first day.

Hi Eric. Been watching your videos and appreciate them very much. You are giving this returning ham the much needed confidence to key up my mic and open my mouth. Keep up the great job!

Just wanted to pop in and say I made my first RF contact and Echolink contact today!

I've been licensed and listening for 2 years. This is the best video on the subject of new hams and language used I've ever seen.

I just listened to your buying guide and now this video: wow! You've made this easy and informative. I went to my local HAM club for 3 or so meetings and they just put me to sleep. Thank you for making this fun!

your stories sound so familiar. Maybe I'll plug the mic back into my radio.

Thank you! I always appreciate that at heart you always want the best for the hobby. I also appreciate your down to earth instruction, I get it, your time is much appreciated 👍🏼😀👌

I have been doing nothing but FT8 to get my feet wet. Got a new IC-7300 and figured i'd finally talk to someone. Accidentally drifted off the end of 40m from general to extra class. I was just watching the blips on the band monitor and not the freq. An honest mistake. The guy looked me up on qrz, noticed I was a general and couldn't be there. Very abruptly said, you cant be here so i'm concluding this conversation now. How about, "Hey partner, you must have drifted off band, yada yada yada." How about, "Hey man, your in the wrong park, how about we jump where you can be and I can tell you some stuff". Nope... I learned how to be here, maybe just need to learn the nuances. I didn't have an elmer, I did this on my own. Want to know why the younger generation might not want to do this? Cause you talk to them like a dick. Personally the hardest thing I find is copying peoples call signs. And I feel bad for that. W1SPS

Love your videos. Your a service to the hobby sir. Thank You

Thanks for getting down to the basics for simple folks like me. Got my technician today along with one of my grown sons.

Very interesting! I just passed the test for my Technician license Saturday. Already studying for the General license. This gave me some good info. Really looking forward to start talking on the radio.

Thanks Eric. This is a great video for new Techs. I hope it helps those new HAMs with Mic fright.

Shoot, some people could use this advice for general in-person interactions.

I really appreciate your down to earth approach. This seems like all good advice, and it seems honestly like good life advice, too....not just HAM radio advice.

Buddy I love the way, You explain , How ham Radio work’s You push me to Study for the test, Man Thank you SR For years I keep canceling, For the Test, I’m going for it...

I like this series. Good information for new hams.

I like this style of series! You had me laughing a few times on this one.

You are straight to the point. Great way to highlight these undesirable behaviours. 73!

Thank you. I needed that. My first radio just came in the mail and I’m charging it up.

Thank you Eric for posting this video. Great content. I currently have my GMRS License but i am getting ready to finally take my Technician exam in a few weeks.

One of the funniest videos I've seen...you really made me laugh. So much so...I subscribed! Very entertaining ha ha. And full of info for us debutants. Thoroughly enjoyed the last 25 mintues!!

Just got licensed waiting for my call sign. These videos are very helpful. Tell your wife thank you for giving up so much of your time to make these videos.

I'll never forget N8IQT. Doug is the kindest elmer of elmers. Thank you Doug from the bottom of my heart.

This has been an awesome series. Just ordered the manual you suggested in the first video.

My wife and i are laughing our heads off listening to this part 3 , it taught us a bunch and you made it FUN . good buddy roger doger over and out 73 on the side . ( remembering CW mcCall's movie in the 80's ) I'm a 18 wheeler tech ;) 39 years into it

I'm a pre-noob: that is, I don't have my license yet. I'm testing in six days. I have a dual-band HT and can listen, but thus far I have not heard much. This was a very useful video.

Thanks for this video. Sorely needed for newbies like me.

MY FRIEND, YOU ARE AWESOME. LOVE THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN THINGS WITH ALL THE PASSION TO TEACH AND HELP OTHERS. I'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE SOMEDAY. 73 ANIBAL

I have been guilty of at least one of those taboos. In fact, it almost sounded like you were talking about me at one point. Thank you for this enlightening video. You have improved my manners. KC7MOL

Just wanted to say Hi!!, Watched your previous videos in this series. Awesome, great job. I'm somewhat new to Amateur Radio. I have past Firefighting exp, been around radios, programmers etc. I've recently gotten interested in becoming a operator and after watching your videos, I'm hooked. I'm studying now for my Technician test now.

Excellent multi part series. Thanks Eric W4JCH

very helpful Eric. Keep em coming... good help. Thanx

What a great vid man, beaut advice there... thank you for taking the time, its been an entertainment and super value for me as a absolute total noob!

🤣🤣🤣 Super-heterodyne flip flop coeficient transistor!!! Now that is what makes time travel possible!!!! Good video, thanks Eric. 73, Brian WB8AM (QSL? 😁)

In a conversation, on amateur radio, just talk like you would on a telephone.

My rule for ID-ing on a local repeater is ID when the repeater IDs. Great reminder and no excessive ID-ing.

Your content & coverage is excellent. You have a natural talent for public speaking and should consider doing a TV show! :-)

This was the first of your videos I have seen. I hope they are all like this.

This phrase has served me well. "Be interested over being interesting!" A great Covey quote.

Eric this is so right amazing how radio is the same in most countries, well done great video i guess this is why for so many years i didn't get on!

I love this video I hear people using the wrong Q-codes all the time and when I am talking to people that doesn't use the the correct code I tell them I don't know what they are talking about and the great confusion begins. But I really enjoyed this video

Im new to this .. This video was very helpful thank for making the time for this. 💪💪💪 lol good video man!

Thanks a million, I needed that

Your videos are always casually informative and I like it. My first call was a long drawn out cq on my local repeater twelve years ago. That's how I met my first elmer. Also i think myself and a lot of hams should watch this. Sometimes we don't realize how we sound on the other end. I know I have been rude after a long day on the road. Everyone gets on the air for their own reasons. People are so judgemental but keep trying because you'll eventually find good ones. Check out your local club repeaters because those relationships will matter more to you than someone on the WIN system or a statewide network.

Very funny video. LOL. You nailed everything right on the head. Very entertaining. Thank-you for all your videos.

Eric! Great video. I like your recent videos. The Chinese radio impression was great 👍 I needed a good chuckle 🤭

This guy is the instructor on my Ham Test Prep course!

Thanks Eric always enjoy your videos. You're 100% correct for US but here in South Africa our regulations require the station ID at every transmission (just once tho and not at start and finish) so we tend to use our callsign as the "over" at the end of transmission to keep it to a relative minimum. 73 ZS1OSS

@21:00 ish mark, Wife in the background: Are you yelling at someone? Eric: No, just giving an example... I don't know why that was funny to me but it was, I enjoyed it.

Great videos. Helping me so much.

Well done loved your series

Thanks for the tips.

Ah...brings back memories of when I was commuting back and forth about 70 miles each way a day. We had a steady crew on two repeaters...but we encouraged people to join in. We talked about everything, and I mean everything. Admittedly, we pushed the envelope a bit...but we had FUN, and talked to anyone who wanted to join us. I got my license to meet people and talk to them. Discussing radio theory is great, I learned a lot...but we had a few who that was all they talked about.

So glad you said all that. I wasn't looking forward to learning all those Q codes.

new to radio. this was super useful. thanks!

First time watching, I really enjoyed the video. All the best from a Canadian Call Sign :)

LOL. That part about identifying your call sign is funny. I'm a newly licensed tech and before I made any calls I listened for a few days just to make sure how that call sign flowed. I was so concerned about the HAM patrol that I thought I had to do what you just made fun of lol. I understand it now though. That was funny. I paused the video to reply at that point lol.

Great video with real info!

Very Well Done Sir, Much Thanks!

GREAT ADVICE.

Great stuff Eric! 10-4 there good buddy! LMBO! Got my ticket punched in 2015 (Tech & Gen) then upgraded to AE last Aug. Hadn't done a lot on air before then, but had a bunch of fun on mobile last year and made contacts all over Europe. Seems it was only on the repeaters that folks felt the need to ID every time they keyed up, but complain when you call CQ. lol My club has a bunch of good folks and I miss going to the meetings, being on the wrong side of The Pond for a couple more months. 73

Good job Eric, Some folks are new and they needed to hear this. Cheers, Jay N6WIP

When I was in the Coast Guard, we had a distress call from the “Schidt Bird”, nobody would pronounce it over the radio, even the helo pilots... everyone spelled it phonetically.

Just got my Tech license 6 weeks ago, lots of good advice for one just getting started. It can be rather daunting picking up the mike for the first few times. We just have to do it and like everything else it will become easier. Thank you, KQ4SEB

I’m I new new ham, and kind of have taken to heart that voice conversations are called “phone,” so with little tweaks, I talk to people like I am on the phone with them.

Good job Eric.

Awesome job thank you my friend

Love your videos and Thank you for sharing bro ;)!

YOU HAD ME DIEING WITH THAT ROGER DODGER STUFF LMAOO

hi eric ..great video, made me chuckle.. and so very true on the points you make, all new ham's need all the help and encouragement they can get to enjoy this hobby, it's what keep's ham radio going, 73 from 2w0gng..south wales, uk........qsl qsl...lol

Good info ,,,,thanks eric

Very good I like your attitude and very funny. well done, good luck.

Brilliant Eric 🤣🤣.

Thx for info...cheers!

Sage advice Eric... Sage advice.

Awesome video Eric you had me cracking up all the way thru. QSL!?!? 😄

I absolutely agree with you on the Q codes.....lol 10-4!

Dude, your a class act, thanks...

Good stuff. well grounded.

A honest, insightful video as always. I don't think you're ranting, I think you're informing about a touchy subject. 73's, Xander NL134

Appreciate the help

super explanation Sir very kind of you 🌷🙏

Hi Eric, first and foremost I wish you and your family a very happy new year. This was a very informative and helpful video indeed. There are plethora of information and videos about training and preparations for appearing the test and getting the licence to operate ham radios. In contrast, there are no worthwhile information or videos on how to pick the mic and get on air with the best practices and mannerisms in ham radio communication. I am a new ham, got my license on November last. Initially, used to listen to the local repeaters to get a feel during the evening regular VHF Net check-ins. During these time I used to note the callsigns of the Net Controller and other hams who used to come on the band. On 24th December was my maiden appearance over the repeater during the regular evening net from 09:00pm. I felt pretty satisfied the way I started and concluded the call. Since 25 Dec I have been travelling. First it was to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) where I used to check-in to two VHF Nets conducted in separate repeaters. Yes, I was using those cheap handies, but interestingly was able to trigger the repeaters with 4 & 8. It was fun as well as giving me a lot of confidence too, besides making new ham friends from that City of Joy. I have now come on a visit to this Garden City alias, Bangalore. I was able to trigger a couple of repeaters and have been checking-in to most of the Nets conducted at breakfast time as well as in the evening hours. This video of yours which I treasure it, will help me to correct all the flaws and improve in my communication. Thanks-za-ton once again Eric and have a blessed day ahead. Greetings from Bangalore, India. VU3TQT 73s (I am yet to put my profile in qrz.com)

I have to say I couldn't stop laughing, it's so true, I have been on cb for years in Australia, and listened a lot on HF but of course not key up. I'm going for my Foundation Sunday 11th June 2023. I set up my gear a year ago for Ham, as you know CB is wild and you get a lot of, what the bloody hell are you doing with the Roger beep of *#@#! :) Your clipping the repeater @!!hole :) Great tips thank you, I think if it happens to me now I would crack up and start laughing. great shows mate and I am a big fan, easy to listen to, and you have a kind demeanour, look forward to more videos. I know its a couple of years old, but it doesn't get old, i loved it :) Joey

Using both callsigns at the start of the transmission and your own call sign at the end comes from working busy nets, using formal radio telephone procedure. The most obvious example to me is a military net where you might have 30 callsigns on the net all ussing a single frequency.

Thank you for this video! I really enjoyed how you tackled the subjects and made it entertaining. "Smashed" the like button! 9W2YGF Malaysia

I just discovered your video-I'll be back. Very good common sense advice for new and old hams(like me). I left CB 42 years ago and I absolutely cringe when I hear it. WD9ARK, 73.

I wonder what I sounded like on the radio in middle school........ It would have certainly been funny to hear a little kid on HF or the local repeater. I do remember biting my tongue and forgetting to press the PTT. Thank you for the great videos Eric. Mike N6IMY

I am new to Ham and learning all the time about amateur radio. Great videos very informative nice job thanks A+++ have seen alot of yours. ps nice to hear from someone around Space Coast of FL Satellite Beach, FL

9:14 Haha haha LOL here. Dude Thanks 🙏 for sharing 💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You had me at "Super-heterodyne macho man who's just erected himself on the repeater!" HAHAHAHAHA You da man, Eric. You da man!

Just a little wisecracking: you do know that the cops in Florida (I think 😬) do in fact use “QSL” instead of “10-4” don’t you? 🤣🤣 I don’t think you should stop “rambling” And I’m quite sure I won’t be the only one being THANKFUL for your HONESTY and your way of “just letting it out”! Please stay that way! Remember that good advice is never limited to new HAMs only. I would not exactly call myself a “seasoned HAM” FAR FROM IT but licensed almost 3 years now I had the opportunity to listen to quite some BULL... to be honest, YOUR JIBBER-JABBERS IS NOT! Thanks again! Best 64 +/-9 de DO1MBL 🖖

I sub'd your channel because of this video! thank you

I have been a ham since 1977. I have had some very interesting chats on hf, vhf. One was with a David Lean, who wrote the best book on the epson dot matric printer. I was using the TRS-80 model one at the time. I had great sales for about 4 or so years. David said he worked with Tandy Radio shack and he remembered a meeting that asked if he thought they could sell even 1000 of them. Of course many more then that.

Excellent.

Eric; Thank you for the information, you are so Right!

Like the info. From the UK and on a intermediate licence and haven't been on air yet. Seems I've made or heard of most of the difficulties you advice which has put me off getting on air. Started in 2016 and wanted to get my grandson into it a bit later as he's now 4. Time running away already!!!! It will happen at some point but I guess the longer I wait the more water under the bridge passes and the bigger the distance to reestablish the learning. Ta again.

You saved me a lot of angst when I turn that transceiver for the first time.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us new tech’s I’m in west central Arkansas in the river valley. KJ5CRI 73’s 🇺🇸