Got caught in a NET today.

[WSAA635]

I was checking repeaters today to see which ones I could hit and got into a repeater net gathering. The controller was a nice guy and very welcoming. There was a few of us on and we played a game of "Appliance Operator or HAM?" where we were given a scenario and ask if it was something an Appliance Operator would do or a HAM.

Anyway, that was my first contact on HAM and it was fun. Just wanted to share with ya'll.

[Davichko5650]

12 hours ago, WSAA635 said:

 "Appliance Operator or HAM?" where we were given a scenario and ask if it was something an Appliance Operator would do or a HAM.

 

Examples?  Many Amateur Operators are what can be called "Appliance Operators" They know how things work, especially radios, but not why they work.

Enjoy the world of Amateur Radio, it's been a fun ride for me since '92 although my work with two way radios goes back into the mid 70's. Every contact you make can bring you new things!

[TrikeRadio]

That's cool that you had a fun experience on that net.
I love that radio can bring people together for fun - people who would otherwise never meet. 

And just for the record I do not (yet?) have a "HAM" license... before I say this... 

I understand the meaning of the term "Appliance Operator" - someone who knows how to use their radio but does not know how to build, fix or explain the inner workings of radio... fine

but I wonder if you can really say that someone licensed with an Amateur Radio License is either an Appliance Operator or a HAM.

it sounds like "yeah you have an Amateur Radio License but ... you are not really a HAM. which also feels very "Sad ham" to me.

But that is just me maybe.