VHF PLUS

It seems today that the focus on licensing for most new amateurs is to upgrade quickly. Perhaps, especially for younger folks, there is a bit of the gaming mentality — completing a level, checking the box, and moving on. Some even take the first two tests — or all three tests — together. If this works for you, I say go ahead. But I find too many folks who pass the General or Extra exam and then sit back and say “what do I do now?” Ham radio is a hands-on, discovering and learning environment. Book knowledge and theory are important, but so is your experience.

In my opinion, one of the best things about our hobby is the wide variety of things you can do under the umbrella of ham radio. I think this is also true when discussing why people choose to enter the hobby. For me, shortwave listening and CB radio created my interest in radio communications. Others are interested in emergency communications, radio-controlled aircraft, or just obtaining their grandfather’s callsign to keep it in the family.

Whatever the reason that gets you started, I think there is value in holding each class of license for a period of time, getting your feet on the ground, and gaining understanding. Some of the basics of using transceivers, connecting power supplies and antennas, and making your first contacts (QSOs) are the same across all bands and modes. So I’d like to make an argument for exploring the privileges of each license class, and building on that