My First Ham Radio Contact

I finally had my first ham radio contact! In this video, I’ll talk about my experience in getting on the air for the first time. It was a long time coming and I finally was able to get close enough to a repeater as well as get over my “mic fright.” I also cover some future projects, such as a mounting system for my ATAS-25 all band antenna.

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Episode: #28

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[AldrichCarrasco]

I passed my technician exam today. Now I'm looking for my first handheld radio.

[matadorlabsjs]

Funny you put this up. I found your channel because I was listing to your very first contact. I happened to be listening to the ARA repeaters while I drove home from lunch. I'm about 10 miles south of you on Carefree Highway. I don't have my license yet but will once I can find a class.


On the projects front lets touch base. Also a software engineer and would love to do some things to learn more about the ham side. Oh and welcome to the Valley.

[zenom]

That is the type video that should be recommended more on youtube, great video !

[oleboy]

Thanks buddy! Gonna make my first contact this weekend. Excited!

[jamesr]

Just listened to your first contact, and have just got my licence today. 73's from the UK.

[mistergamerguy]

I searched for "Ham Radio First COntact 2020" and found this, I'm a brand new HAM (Post-Exam, Pre-License). Red Tape land for me for now. But I look forward to it! BTW, that's a BIG antenna on the UV5R (which is what I bought pre-exam)

[HAMRADIODUDE]

Keep it up. Enjoy the area, I get out there often.. if you didn't know, ham radio outlet is in Peoria. They always have something good.

[anthonymaples]

Great video, Looking to take my Technician Test soon.

[Nsnsa]

Im about getting one. Thanks for sharing👍🏻

[Johnyrocket]

Simplex is more of a real contact to most folks. Unless you're skipping into a 10 meter repeater thousand of miles away. That's always fun. I skipped into a 10m repeater in upstate New York from California

[macgyver]

I remember my first contact, someone asked for a snow report!😅 4 years down the log and now I'm a net host for a technical Q&A net.

[necro]

haha just checked this old vid - fun stuff. The guy who called you after you had done the QSO was NJ7V, that was his full callsign (you probably figured that out yourself after you watched the recording, I guess). I'm cringing at the radio constantly cutting out due to the squelch being too high! hahaha :) I just got my amateur radio cert like 6mo ago but had a Baofeng to listen with stuff for a couple years before. such an awesome hobby indeed. (edit: Oh, this is hilarious, I'm just watching a newer video of yours where N7JV hits you up while you're doing SOTA on The Fortress! nice haha, guess you got in contact after all!)

[JohnHuthmaker]

What antenna is that? I have an FT-65R. Would love to get some better distance out of it.

[bobtheman]

Hello, Gaston! Can you please explain what you mean by "key to mic?" Also, what is that Morse code sound at 4:43? Thank you.

[kurt]

What is the antenna for your yeasu? Any good?

[mmm-nxof]

What antenna do you have on the yaesu? Just purchased one that radio and passed my test two days ago and looking to make my first contact once my license show up online!

[siddharth]

hi... any chance we can establish a communication on HF ?? Grid MK68vl

[bradjon]

Im not excited to the fact that your repeater can be pinpointed by an app on peoples phone. As a prepper my location is something im not happy to share.

[BluelightGaming]

How could you not have a contact for 2 years being licensed? Did you not try?!

[zachwingo]

I found that most of the old grumpy guys that made the hobby so miserable in the early and mid 2000s have been dying and with cheap chinses radios there are so many new people coming into the hobby. It's nowhere near what it was in the early 90s but much better than 10 years ago.