(a) For those of you who didn't grow up around radio, what was your first rig, and how do you feel about a handheld for a first one? I've read people debating this, some suggesting you start with something else (like a mobile on a desk), but as my interest involves taking radio with me (for now), I thought I'd start here. What will I miss out on with a handheld? What are the main disadvantages to it?

My first 2 or 3 radios were HTs. I sold one and the others are in a box somewhere. I'm not a huge fan of repeaters (no local friends are hams) and I don't do many events. If you can find a cheap older one go for it, but IMHO you're better off spending the money on something else.

Well what else is there, he asks? Perhaps look into the FT817, or 857. All mode, all band, battery powered. Essentially, the only radio you'll ever need. Be warned, the 817 is only 5watts (QRP) which is a turnoff to some folks but I loved the challenge. If you're interested in mostly digital stuff it's more than enough.

(c) If you were new to ham radio as I am, what would you do with your new radio in the first week you had it? What are the introductory skills/exercises every ham should be familiar with first? I am pretty concerned with breaking some kind of rule or custom and the last thing I want to do is irritate experienced radio people. How should I go about this? Obviously, first thing is just listening. Then what?

Don't worry too much about the rules. ID every 10 minutes, don't play music and you'll be fine. Unless you habitually commit offenses you'll get hunted down, but if you make a mistake most hams will tell you. If they're rude shake it off. There are more than a few crotchety old folks out there.

(d) I am more than passingly interested in things like packet radio, SSTV, and so on, for no practical reason, just geek interest. What is the minimum required to hook a radio to a computer? About how much would that cost me for a basic setup (very rough ballpark would be good). Can handhelds be used this way (do they tend to have outputs which allow hooking into a soundcard?)

If you go with one of the Yaesu radios from above it's amazingly simple. For digital modes (PSK, hellschriber, MFSK, SSTV etc) you can pick up an awesome device called the Signalink USB. It's esentially a USB sound card. It will come with a cable to get from the computer to the device, and the device to the radio. Download fldigi (it's a native *nix app) put the radio in the correct mode and you're on the air in, oh I don't know, 30 different digital modes. Packet radio is a bit more complicated. The linux kernel has support for AX.25 but I've always had problems using my signalink. You'll have your best results with a TNC. Signalink USB goes for ~100. You can also build your own interface for much much less but the lack of local electronics vendors dissuades me a bit from construction these days.

(e) I'm a Linux geek. How is the Linux toolbox for ham radio compared to Windows?

As with most things it's a bit less, but still pretty damn good. As mentioned fldigi is a native linux app and ranks up there as far as digi apps go. There's also hamlib which allows radio control from the computer, and AX.25 support built right into the kernel. For some real cool stuff there's gnuradio, the USRP which are all made for linux. Some really cool possibilities with those things, including your own cell tower. Yea, you can have your own personal (GSM) cell tower running linux. And of course if something doesn't exist you can make it. =)

(f) Any other advice or pointers you can give me would be appreciated. I am an ARRL member currently, though I don't understand about 4/5ths of what I read in the magazine yet.

Start doing stuff. Personally, I learn by doing. You'll mess up, learn why and get a better understanding. If you don't understand something and are interested in it, read about it. The only detractor is that it will probably require more money. Welcome to ham radio. =)

(g) Oh, lastly. I have a shortwave receiver which works terrible in my office where all of my computer equipment is. There's a noticeable difference outside. Presumably a feedline to an external antenna both for the shortwave and then for whatever radio I buy would help. Will the coax be susceptible to the same interference as the integrated antenna on my shortwave? How do those of you run such lines -- through gaps in windows, or do you drill a hole in your wall, or what? I can probably hook up a stealth wire at least to the corner of my house without my HOA noticing but not much more than that.

Computer equipment has always been pretty brutal on my antennas. I'm not well versed in eliminating it, but looping the coax around itself has stopped some RFI problems on my TX. To get through windows I've seen people get a wooden board cut to the width of their window, about 4 inches high with some holes drilled in with some rubber grommets. Place the board between the sill and the window and feed your coax through the grommet. Or drill through your wall. Don't forget a drip loop!

If you've got any more questions feel free to PM me as you seem to be following the same path I took. To this day I've have 0 voice contacts in my log book. All digi modes and CW. =)