The Ham Law's

     These laws were passed along to me, KN1DEU, in 1957 by the Teachers of the Hoosac Valley Radio Club in North Adams, MA and verified by its members who were operating the Long Wave frequencies way before there was any FCC or ARRL. By virtue of transmitter and receiver performance in these early Spark Gap Days, there was even more of a QRM problem between stations than there is today.  Obviously these are only private suggestions.  Also see the " Channel Spacing " article on main page.
    

     2. Amateurs should devote 80% of their time and money to the antenna system. Included in an antenna system are feed lines, tuners and wooden towers. Courtesy requires transmitting a strong signal that is easily copied by all.

     3. Amateurs know, "the weaker they are, the longer they talk." Thus, amateurs who know they have weak signals regardless of their excitement should show consideration for those who receive their transmissions. They should keep their transmissions very short.

     4. A good operator should be able to put on many different operating uniforms allowing all styles; Long winded (blown away) transmissions, Short break-ins and Net Control duty.  And not have the fear of being in public and  being interrupted  or confronted  and asked a direct question that they might not be able to answer. And should be easily able to say "I'm sorry but I don't know".  An operator should have all of these operating shirts and be able to pull them up instantly anytime and even mix them together at  anytime in QSO's.

     5. Amateurs should manly use the equipment they construct and repair. Purchasing factory built receivers is sometimes allowed.  All are encouraged to build their own transmitters.
    

     6. Amateurs should not seek sympathy by using the air waves to repeatedly vent their personal frustrations.

     7. Amateurs should listen for a fair period and ask if the frequency is in use before transmitting initially.

     8. All have an equal voice in ham radio regardless of age or position. Thus, a janitor has as much say, and vote, as a company president, and a teenager as much as an octogenarian. Everyone is addressed by his or her handle ( chosen nickname ) and call sign. Note: As a young kid, I thought it great-- but scary, that I didn't have to wait until I was 18 to learn, think, ask questions, and vote responsibly !

     9. Amateurs should not require money to help others become radio amateurs, but should exact a promise from the person helped that they also will help others even strangers without monetary compensation.

      10. As you construct your experiments, always remember that its absolutely normal for most of them not to function. This abstract is necessary to learn, as most good things in life come slowly with patience.

      11. Discussions of Politics and Religion are only for some.

      12. Never recognize tuner uppers or jammers.   

In 1957  the Hoosac Valley Radio Club in North Adams, MA was actively seeking out local normal citizens and even kids and helping them with their start in HAM Radio.  I was in a small class of about 10 in 1957 meeting in a school basement. Nine of us received our Novice licenses several months later with myself and a close buddy receiving the strange newer prefix calls KN1DEU and KN1DOW. All the others received WN1 calls ( re-issued W1 calls). Strangely, but perhaps only  because Russ and I received the full brunt of all the funny " K "  initiation prefix teasing, within 3 months only Russ and I had passed our General Class Exams at FCC, 1600 Customs House, Boston, Massachusetts.  All the others only became Technician Class W1's stuck forever on 6 meters and higher like my buddy Mike, W1HHB.

05/22/2007           Back to Ham Index Page       Back to Home page     My BIO on Green Mountain Net Page