Ham Radio For Dummies. H. Ward Silver

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       In your community: Many of today’s hams find mentors by looking around their own neighborhoods. A ham with a tower and antenna may live near you, or you might see a car with a ham radio call sign on the license plate. If you get the opportunity, introduce yourself, and explain that you’re studying for a license. The person you’re talking to probably also needed a mentor way back when and can give you a hand or help you find one.

      

After you get your license, you’re in an excellent position to help other newcomers, because you know exactly how you felt at the start of your journey. Even if you’re just one step ahead of the person who’s asking the questions, you can be a mentor. Some hams enjoy mentoring so much that they devote much of their ham radio time to the job. You won’t find a higher compliment in ham radio than being called “my Elmer.”

      MY MENTOR EXPERIENCE

      When I started in ham radio, my mentor was Bill (then WNØDYV, now KJ7PC), a fellow high-school student who had been licensed for a year or so. I wasn’t having any trouble with the electronics but I sure needed a hand with the Morse code and some of the rules. I spent every Thursday over at Bill’s house, practicing Morse code (pounding brass) and learning to recognize my personal-nemesis characters: D, U, G, and W. Without his help, my path to getting licensed would have been considerably longer. Thanks, Bill!

      Since getting my license, I’ve required the assistance of several other mentors as I entered new aspects of ham radio. If you can count on the help of a mentor, your road to a license will be much smoother.