Bill Freeman (KE1G)

How long have you been a Ham?

It depends on what you count.  My novice ticket arrived in the mail on March 5, 1963, when I was 13.  But the Novice was good for one year and was not renewable.  So I was off the air from then until I got my Technician in, I believe, 1972.  So, 60 years, or 51 years, take your pick.

What mode(s) within Amateur Radio do you enjoy operating?

I made a few CW contacts as a Novice and then, years later, at a GSARA field day (the last one at the old FD site), but I don't remember any in between.  I have the ARRL code proficiency certificate, endorsed for 15 WPM, so it shows you what that's good for.  I want to add regular CW to my hamming.  I'd also like to do some CW POTA (K4SWL is an inspiration).  I think that with my knees and back, SOTA isn't in the cards (yes, I know there are drive-up summits, but it doesn't feel like it should count).  I want to be better prepared to help in a grid-down situation.  I want to build a choppin antenna pair and beat all you whipper snappers at a fox hunt.  I want to run a 40m fox hunt, like I saw in QST in my youth.  I think I was among the first in the club to do FT8, and I might still be the only one who has done JS8-CALL.  I guess I want to figure out how to take advantage of my APRS-capable radios.  HF packet might be fun, but will I find anyone else out there?  I'm slow to get around to stuff, but I have too many other hobbies, particularly dancing.

Describe your involvement with GSARA.

I try to attend meetings, both official and the Wednesday/Saturday ones.  Nightly net too.  I try to help out at Field Day (I did provide a station that Eric used in his first year with the club). I mentor (Elmer) when I can.  I did a monthly presentation on Python.  I'd like to be involved in a CW class/practice session, like Dennis ran in the time BC (before COVID).

What is one piece of advice you would give a new Ham?

I'm not going to stick to one piece: Don't just memorize the question pool, but try to learn the material that would have let you answer the question if you didn't have access to the question pool (don't let things be "magic").  Don't spend money on patented antennas that work by magic secrets that you don't understand (no, I'm not asking you to do calculus). Give CW an occasional chance.  Don't say the bands are dead unless you have spend at least 5 minutes on each of several of them calling CQ yourself, instead of just listening for others to call.  Use (standard) phonetics, even on FM or (especially) DV on your reply to a CQ or net callup - once you've been correctly recognized you can switch to just letters (it doesn't save much time though).  Don't answer a call that you can't hear (part of don't be a jerk).  Make your call the last thing that you say, e.g.; "N1QC and the group, (this is) KE1G", not "KE1G back to N1QC".  ID often enough: if the round on the net takes a long time, then every transmission should be heard.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Come dancing.