[OT] HAM Radio Folks?

[bruce_the_loon]

Well to close it up:

I didn't have parts and pieces to build a "spider on a socket." When you have nothing to start with, a "cheap and easy" project starts to add up. So I purchased one of the J-Poles I linked to above. The guy selling them was pretty quick to get back to me (within reason) and for $46 for a proven solution, it was a good deal for me.

Today I'll actually put it up on the RV's ladder, as soon as I find my coax.

Cool news. Hope you never have to be saved by it.

 

[LBussy]

Oh - the J-Pole works awesome. Better even than standing in the yard with the radio.

 

[LBussy]

I thought I would necro-post my thread in case anyone would be interested in where this all took me:

I mentioned I am in rural Kansas, so when things happen, people notice. I heard a siren going by one day, and I wondered WTH was going on. I talked to a work buddy about scanners, trunked radio systems, etc. After a bit of research to learn more (and finding out that the local systems were not encrypted), I went on eBay and purchased a lightly used Radio Shack Pro-2096 Digital Trunking Mobile / Base Scanner.

Before that even showed up, my OCD tendencies drove me further into a rabbit hole. I ended up purchasing a Baofeng HT off Amazon. Suddenly I had two pieces of equipment sitting there and no idea how to use either. After more web searches, hilarity ensued, and I decided to get licensed. Again, OCD hit, and I did all three:

• Technician on 12/18/22
• General on 12/28/22
• Extra on 1/14/23

Keep in mind I am still living in an RV, and the HT is all I have right now. There is a "local" 70cm repeater I can hit if I walk outside, but no traffic. I chuckle, thinking about all the work to study through the Extra, and I have no HF radio.

73 de KF0LDK/AE (going to do a vanity as soon as my Extra hits the FCC database).

 

[Lalo_uy]

I thought I would necro-post my thread in case anyone would be interested in where this all took me:

I mentioned I am in rural Kansas, so when things happen, people notice. I heard a siren going by one day, and I wondered WTH was going on. I talked to a work buddy about scanners, trunked radio systems, etc. After a bit of research to learn more (and finding out that the local systems were not encrypted), I went on eBay and purchased a lightly used Radio Shack Pro-2096 Digital Trunking Mobile / Base Scanner.

Before that even showed up, my OCD tendencies drove me further into a rabbit hole. I ended up purchasing a Baofeng HT off Amazon. Suddenly I had two pieces of equipment sitting there and no idea how to use either. After more web searches, hilarity ensued, and I decided to get licensed. Again, OCD hit, and I did all three:

• Technician on 12/18/22
• General on 12/28/22
• Extra on 1/14/23

Keep in mind I am still living in an RV, and the HT is all I have right now. There is a "local" 70cm repeater I can hit if I walk outside, but no traffic. I chuckle, thinking about all the work to study through the Extra, and I have no HF radio.

73 de KF0LDK/AE (going to do a vanity as soon as my Extra hits the FCC database).

Congratulations Lee, 73 & DX when you get HF.
Lalo CX7AAB

 

[estricklin]

Congrats on punching your tickets!

They do make handheld HFs just so know, for those who are limited on space or who live a more mobile life. When I lived near Little Rock I talked to a guy in New York from his HT, and I've talked to many truckers on them as well.

Try to stay active in your local club as well, I learned a ton from my elmers, one of which is a silent key now.

73s

 

[Beerstein]

You will have a lot of fun on HF. It's kind of like a box of chocolates....

 

[passedpawn]

Congrats. I'm on the air all the time, I'll listen for your sign (update with vanity when you get it). I'm almost exclusively on HF, mostly 40/20/10m so our paths might not cross. I've been spending a ton of time on FT8, a digital mode. You can see my Icom ic-7300 below.

BTW, here's a great place to find your vanity: AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools

73s N3VG

 

[LBussy]

They do make handheld HFs just so know, for those who are limited on space or who live a more mobile life.

I have not seen any. I have seen mobile HF rigs, which is a possibility for me. Living in an RV at least gives me a DC power system that's available for a radio. I have two AGM batteries, a charger, and a solar panel. SWMBO may not appreciate a radio over the sink, but you know, compromises.

Try to stay active in your local club as well, I learned a ton from my elmers, one of which is a silent key now.

Sorry to hear about your Elmer. There's one club about 20m from here, but I am not sure how active they are. I went for a drive today and hit a couple of repeaters separated by about 30m and never heard another soul. My wife told me she heard someone "saying something like you did" while I was in the fast food place, but no answer when I called again.

Seems funny to have an Extra and never have made a contact on Ham.

You will have a lot of fun on HF. It's kind of like a box of chocolates....

Well, if I can figure out how to get one in here. As I have suggested, there's not a lot of room in here. I ordered a new truck but I'm not sure about mounting a radio in it - at least right away. Maybe there's a WiFi-controlled mobile rig I can leave in the truck and operate from in here? Seems like a stretch, maybe someone makes one.

I've been spending a ton of time on FT8, a digital mode. You can see my Icom ic-7300 below.

That Icom is the one I have been looking at. One thing confuse me about it: Why no tuner? I know guys that have been hams for a while probably have one already but it seems like a big miss to me.

I have been kicking at the idea of WSPR with one of the smaller QRP rigs for now. I know an antenna is still something i need to figure out, but surely I can find room for a QRP in here.

BTW, here's a great place to find your vanity: AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools

I have been browsing that. I found a pretty good one I am hoping will be available on Wednesday/Thursday when the database updates. I'm former Army, so I want one of the A callsigns.

 

[Jonakr]

Without being helpful at all, I thought you were supposed to put up a 100' antenna held up by two fishing lines. Is that not the case anymore? I found this: 100 foot radio tower with antennas | eBay to be even less helpful.

I hope you have a good time with a new hobby!

 

[passedpawn]

I have not seen any. I have seen mobile HF rigs, which is a possibility for me. Living in an RV at least gives me a DC power system that's available for a radio. I have two AGM batteries, a charger, and a solar panel. SWMBO may not appreciate a radio over the sink, but you know, compromises.


Sorry to hear about your Elmer. There's one club about 20m from here, but I am not sure how active they are. I went for a drive today and hit a couple of repeaters separated by about 30m and never heard another soul. My wife told me she heard someone "saying something like you did" while I was in the fast food place, but no answer when I called again.

Seems funny to have an Extra and never have made a contact on Ham.


Well, if I can figure out how to get one in here. As I have suggested, there's not a lot of room in here. I ordered a new truck but I'm not sure about mounting a radio in it - at least right away. Maybe there's a WiFi-controlled mobile rig I can leave in the truck and operate from in here? Seems like a stretch, maybe someone makes one.


That Icom is the one I have been looking at. One thing confuse me about it: Why no tuner? I know guys that have been hams for a while probably have one already but it seems like a big miss to me.

I have been kicking at the idea of WSPR with one of the smaller QRP rigs for now. I know an antenna is still something i need to figure out, but surely I can find room for a QRP in here.


I have been browsing that. I found a pretty good one I am hoping will be available on Wednesday/Thursday when the database updates. I'm former Army, so I want one of the A callsigns.

7300 has a tuner. It will bring in any antenna that is within an SWR of 3:1. Outside of that, you'd need an external tuner if your antenna isn't matched to the frequency. I don't need a tuner at all with my antennas as they are 1/2 wavelength (and I tuned them manually by adjusting the length). Mobile, probably hard to put up a 40m antenna (~ 65').

I've got a mobile HF rig here that I don't use. One day maybe, who knows. HF Yaseu radio, 500W solid state amp, tuner. I hope to mount it in my truck one day.

 

[LBussy]

Without being helpful at all [...] to be even less helpful.

Now that was funny!

7300 has a tuner.

I wonder what I was thinking about ... was there another newer one from them with no tuner?

I've got a mobile HF rig here that I don't use. One day maybe, who knows. HF Yaseu radio, 500W solid state amp, tuner. I hope to mount it in my truck one day.

You can make your morning contacts AND cook your bacon at the same time.

I'm thinking I can do a lot if I get 20/40, just not sure how to pull it off. A 2/20/40 in the RV might be a good thing. Throw in weather band with an alert and I can actually replace a piece I have in here now. "Honey, it doesn't take any more room!"

 

[passedpawn]

I wonder what I was thinking about ... was there another newer one from them with no tuner?

Maybe their 9700 (VHF) does not have an internal antenna tuner. Don't know.

 

[Lalo_uy]

Seems funny to have an Extra and never have made a contact on Ham.

That’s funny. We here need to spend a year in each category and prove at least 80 contacts for each exam.

 

[LBussy]

That’s funny. We here need to spend a year in each category and prove at least 80 contacts for each exam.

There's value there of course. 80 contacts seems arbitrary though. Like, what kind? WSPR? FT8? CW? Phone? Should you have to show proficiency in each type to move on? I get it, but I think the licenses are there to allow you to prove you know the books, then go on and learn what you want in the hobby. It made sense for me to spend time studying/learning books so I can do whatever I choose (within the rules of course) when I do get a rig. If I want to do something REALLY esoteric, just let me take the exam and go do it.

I think there's a lot of very arbitrary questions in the US exam pool for that matter. There's no way the average operator memorizes a lot of this stuff for anything but the exam. It's written by people who want to play "stump the chump" which I fee does nothing to assure the competence of the applicant..

If we really want to assure ourselves of proficiency, we have technology now that allows better testing. How about connecting an applicant to a real SDR (you can do this on the Internet now) and watch them "make a contact in the 20m band." That's a lot more useful than remembering which way the trick question is written about USB vs LSB and the band edges. The test is a representation in some areas of "I had to learn this, you do too." Sort of like shaving the head of a recruit in the military. We don't have to worry about lice in the barracks anymore, so why do it?

I'm no newcomer to radio comms, having used it to do everything from order coffee to call in an air strike. It's just a few differences here and there, and the rust will flake right off. If not, some grumpy person will be there to correct me, there always is.

 

[estricklin]

Congrats. I'm on the air all the time, I'll listen for your sign (update with vanity when you get it). I'm almost exclusively on HF, mostly 40/20/10m so our paths might not cross. I've been spending a ton of time on FT8, a digital mode. You can see my Icom ic-7300 below.

BTW, here's a great place to find your vanity: AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools

73s N3VG

View attachment 810420

Very nice setup. I used a vanilla 742 for a long time. I should get back on the air, but geez too many hobbies.

 

[Beerstein]

7300 has a tuner. It will bring in any antenna that is within an SWR of 3:1. Outside of that, you'd need an external tuner if your antenna isn't matched to the frequency. I don't need a tuner at all with my antennas as they are 1/2 wavelength (and I tuned them manually by adjusting the length). Mobile, probably hard to put up a 40m antenna (~ 65').

I've got a mobile HF rig here that I don't use. One day maybe, who knows. HF Yaseu radio, 500W solid state amp, tuner. I hope to mount it in my truck one day.

I've tried using HF in a car and decided I didn't like it. Too many small contributing factors. I want to spread out.

The 7300 is a solid first rig. I have one (and an Elecraft). The 7300 is super easy to learn and has a lot of features for the money.

 

[LBussy]

The 7300 is super easy to learn and has a lot of features for the money.

I have not yet gotten to the "I can make beer and save money" -> "I just want to make better beer" stage with Ham radio yet.

 

[passedpawn]

I've tried using HF in a car and decided I didn't like it. Too many small contributing factors. I want to spread out.

The 7300 is a solid first rig. I have one (and an Elecraft). The 7300 is super easy to learn and has a lot of features for the money.

I wouldn't want to do it from inside the truck. I'd like to have a rig set up in the bed so I could back up to the ocean, plant an antenna in the sand with radials in the water, sit in a lawn chair and do some DX that way.

 

[LBussy]

I'd like to have a rig set up in the bed so I could back up to the ocean, plant an antenna in the sand with radials in the water, sit in a lawn chair and do some DX that way.

You throw in a fishing pole and a cooler, and that sounds about perfect.

 

[Beerstein]

I wouldn't want to do it from inside the truck. I'd like to have a rig set up in the bed so I could back up to the ocean, plant an antenna in the sand with radials in the water, sit in a lawn chair and do some DX that way.

I get you. Yeah, I kind of do something similar. I have a super antenna that can clamp the rail of my truck, then I put my kx3 on the gate or a camping table.

I really like the super antenna. So much so I sold my complete buddipole kit.

BTW, kx3+raspberry pi for FT8 is the bomb! I use an ipad as the interface. I can be dozens or more feet away.

 

[Beerstein]

I have not yet gotten to the "I can make beer and save money" -> "I just want to make better beer" stage with Ham radio yet.

When you get there, consider this rig. I have a FT857, kx3, and Elecraft K3. The 7300 is the easiest to use, setup, wire, etc.

 

[LBussy]

I did order a 20m WWoT from TAPR (WISPR hat for a Pi). I figure I can use the quonset hut as an antenna if nothing else.

 

[day_trippr]

Nah - put a mast on top with a big steerable beam. Use that hut as an epic ground plane. Plus it will double as a lightning collector for the vicinity

 

[passedpawn]

One of my BIG goals is to make a contact with the ISS. I've got a buddy that did so - I saw the video to prove it. I've got some more VHF equipment to put together this year to get to that point (Icom ic9700, az-el rotor). Then I'll be hammering the space station every pass

 

[LBussy]

Nah - put a mast on top with a big steerable beam. Use that hut as an epic ground plane. Plus it will double as a lightning collector for the vicinity

I have a big copper J-Pole on the back now. It's for my weather radio but the irony of possibly getting hit by lightning because I need a weather radio antenna is not lost on me.

One of my BIG goals is to make a contact with the ISS. I've got a buddy that did so - I saw the video to prove it. I've got some more VHF equipment to put together this year to get to that point (Icom ic9700, az-el rotor). Then I'll be hammering the space station every pass

Some dude on YouTube did it with a homebrew handheld Yagi. Or I guess he hit the repeater, and you want to actually get them as a contact? Yeah that's a short list I am sure. Can you imagine the pileup when they start working?

 

[passedpawn]

Some dude on YouTube did it with a homebrew handheld Yagi. Or I guess he hit the repeater, and you want to actually get them as a contact? Yeah that's a short list I am sure. Can you imagine the pileup when they start working?

Yea it's a pileup.

BTW, regarding HF goals, there's an island near antarctica that is the white whale for many hams - Bouvet Island. There's a ship headed there right now, loaded with ham equipment, and when it lands they will set up and start transmitting over all bands, digital and phone. I'll be on FT8 with my antennas headed south.

Here's some info, lots more available.


Boat is on the way right now...
https://share.garmin.com/3y0j?fbclid=IwAR1sidCR_36Mhr3lfB_BgQih2WHczKn6cy9aTdFF9uZZOl5Dcwqrro4f-Dg

 

[LBussy]

BTW, regarding HF goals, there's an island near antarctica that is the white whale for many hams - Bouvet Island. There's a ship headed there right now, loaded with ham equipment, and when it lands they will set up and start transmitting over all bands, digital and phone. I'll be on FT8 with my antennas headed south.

"But honey, I NEED this now!"

 

[passedpawn]

"But honey, I NEED this now!"

One day, someone will sneak into North Korea and start transmitting. That is the one country that is the hardest to get a QSO. So if you miss bouvet, maybe you'll be ready when the NK event occurs.

 

[LBussy]

I hope it's HF and not EMP we get from NK.

 

[LBussy]

Maybe their 9700 (VHF) does not have an internal antenna tuner. Don't know.

I re-found it: It was the IC-705 I was thinking about.