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.
1. Before starting out, amateurs should develop their own unique "HAM" character personalities to entertain others. Their ham personalities should be far more engaging than their normal off air personalities.
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 mainly 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 and should be limited to the 75 meter Phone band.
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.
OK, reading further, now I understand what he means by "traditional ham initiations". As he says they are only private suggestions, but coming from an olde buzzard Elmer, they would seem like "laws". Also I see they are from a group in Massachusetts and have a certain non-nonsense, Yankee sensibility.
I think most hams are/were highly influenced by their Elmers. One tends to adopt Elmer's opinions and pick up some of his quirks.
Before starting out, amateurs should develop their own unique "HAM" character personalities to entertain others.
Probably better to just be yourself. But I can see how the olde hams endowed a sense of drama to ham radio, e.g. "this is K9XXX, the voice of Podunk"
Amateurs should devote 80% of their time and money to the antenna system
Has since been verified a plain comon sense.
Amateurs know, "the weaker they are, the longer they talk."
True, and an oft-repeated joke.
A good operator should be able to put on many different operating uniforms/styles
The old timers were quite flexible, most could handle net control duties as well as ragchew with the best of them.
Amateurs should mainly use the equipment they construct and repair.
Agree, but this applies to a time when state of the art ham equipment could actually be built at home.
Amateurs should not seek sympathy by using the air waves to repeatedly vent their personal frustrations.
Unless it is charmingly done, a la Timtron.
Amateurs should listen for a fair period and ask if the frequency is in use before transmitting initially.
Agree, courtesy is key.
All have an equal voice in ham radio regardless of age or position
A kid in his parent's basement could talk to Barry Goldwater or King Hussein. This was always one of the cool things about ham radio.
Amateurs should not require money to help others become radio amateur
Elmering: a pretty good tradition.
As you construct your experiments, always remember that its absolutely normal for most of them not to function.
Wish I'd heard this sooner. It would have saved a lot of frustration.
Discussions of Politics and Religion are only for some and should be limited to the 75 meter Phone band.
I don't mind the religious nets, but the political stuff attracts jammers and troublemakers.
