A new batch of hams

It had been a busy fortnight since I last blogged, and many events had taken place since. Time really flies, but only when you are occupied. You will feel the satisfaction when tasks were completed. Like removing a rucksack from your back.

First of all, good news from the ham radio community in Malaysia. The results for the last RAE held in November 4, 2004 was release on Christmas Eve. This means a lot to many people as this could be one of their best Christmas gifts. These people studied hard, worked hard with their elmers, and of course, listened to QSO to gain real life experience. I share their pride and joy too.

Congratulations! Good job! Well done! Excellect! Fantanstic!

You may find the RAE 2004 results here. Find your national registration identity card (NRIC) number and good luck! For those who failed, this is not the end of the world. Try again. These two words "try again" makes me think about the "snake and ladder" game. There is no loser, someone might reach the 100th square first, but if you keep the dice rolling, you will reach there everntually. You might reach there a little later than some people, but there are also others who haven't reached yet. Life is full of ups and downs, so does the game which is full of snakes and ladders.

Thomas Alva Edison once said, "Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework". If you did your homework, and had given your best, no problem, there is always another RAE on the way.

If you didn't do your homework, then shame on you! Even though you passed your RAE by luck, please don't go on air! Well, I understand that you are a newbie, and you may ask "anything" that you want to know, BUT not those already in the RAE syllabus. It shows that you know nothing and your ham license is just a piece of worthless toilet paper full of shit. Hey, many people are monitoring out there. Foreigners who are monitroing might think that either you bribed the officer at the tuck shop or Malaysian hams have no standard at all. What a disgrace? Please QRT and sell your rig off immediately. Use FRS radio instead.

Back to good news. Those who have a rig before the ticket (license), it is time to press the PTT button. I know you have waited for quite sometime and can't resist the temptation to start talking. Go ahead man, make a general call, CQ CQ CQ. The ham community likes to talk to people with new callsign. This is a hobby that you can make friends over the air. Ham radio has been around long time before the arrival of the Internet. One of the major difference is that all hams are licensed whereas virtually anyone can open a account with ICQ. Since all of us have to go through stringent test, you can be sure most of the hams are enthusiasts in homebrewing gadgets and antenna. There are a lot of things to be learned from those experienced old men out there. Enjoy this hobby!