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Ham Radio Operators - Any out here?

Rod

Rod

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Location
Upland, CA
First Name
Todd
I know I've asked this once before (long time ago), but I thought I'd ask again.

Are there any Ham's out here? Radio Op's that is! :) I know I'm not the only one!

Rod
 
I have really considered getting my license. I have messed around learning the regulations for it. In the Coast Guard I am an Electronics Technician and had spent countless hours maintaining MF/HF/VHF/UHF transceivers. While we don't have any antenna systems capable of DX'ing here in Key West, we do have some complex VHF LOS systems and UHF LOS and SATCOM. Primarily we just deal with groundwave, although I have a couple neat antenna systems that are portable. Unfortunately the only systems that have any power over 125 watts are fixed installations. I did borrow air time on the 1kw radio when I was doing maintainence and talked to a couble buddies up in Norfolk though. I probably will get it when I am stationed on my ship this fall. Too much time being spent fishing here in beautiful Key West.

Emo
 
I'm licensed for all HF bands, and it is nice. I can easily talk across the world on 100 watts on a vertical antenna. They key is to having a really good antenna, and having it tuned with a very low SWR. I don't bother with VHF/UHF anymore, not into the local bands. But HF is alot of fun, and so is code.

10 Meters is wide open now. You can typically talk back east and also down to South America, no problem. On a good day, you may even get out to Europe or Asia.

Rod
 
I never learned the meter to freq conversion. I have the formula to figure it out but am too lazy, and I know there is a chart in one of my books somewhere. What freq. range is that? At work we have 2 bi-directional antennas for basic N-S E-W orientation, an inverted V that has almost no ground wave but 1 hell of a skip zone. The way it is orientated the first bounce is somewhere between Cuba or we can make the first bounce out to Puerto Rico depending on the freq and time of day. We think the second bounce is somewhere on the west coast of Africa but never really mess around trying to talk to people on the Coast Guards dime.

We don't worry about VSWR too much because of the frequency plan we stick to. But were are going to by installing tuning couplers to the 2 bi-directionals, so VSWR will basicly be flat, except for any interaction with the nearby structures. Unfortunately the antenna's are pretty cheaply deisgned in the fact we only get about 6 dB gain. I guess I should get my license, as I know just about everything except the regulations.

Emo
 
KD4JXZ at your service, Rod!

Been a no-code Tech for 11 years now! Mainly on 2 meters. Just did some QRP DX while on the Appalachian Trail, boy what an antenna!!

73

Leebo

:D :D :D
 
What freq range is 2 meters and 10 meters? So what do you do for a living Leebo? I live and breathe Communications of all types at work.

Emo
 
KD4JXZ de KE6MGB

General Class  :)

Get your General so we can talk on HF! I don't know if I can work you on 6M USB. That would be some real DX!

I once (during the summer about 5 years ago) spoke to a guy in Hawaii, from California - on 2M FM! It was some really nice tropospheric ducting. That typically happens only during the summer, but doesn't last long. I was operating about 1 1/2 watts out of a small kenwood HT.

73,

Rod  :D
 
emodx said:
What freq range is 2 meters and 10 meters? So what do you do for a living Leebo? I live and breathe Communications of all types at work.

Emo
Click to expand...
2M - 144.000MHz - 148.000MHz

10M - 28.000MHz - 30.000MHz

EMO, get your license and let's talk on the air! :)

Rod
 
Yeah, horse!

I once had a friend tell me that ham radio was a hobby for geeks! LoL

It's a very hi-tech hobby but much fun~

I want to get my general class, especially since they dropped the code requirements! I think I can do 5wpm. I remember talking third party with my buddy who got me started in it. Talked all over the world on 10 meters!

Rod, I also had some good dx in ducting conditions, talked to a guy in Coney Island, NY from Richmond, VA on 5 watts!

What a small world! I may have to get going on that code!!

Leebo
 
You'll have no problem with the code. When I took the test it was 13 wpm. However I was doing over 20 wpm, and 13 seemed so slow. You can imagine was 5 wpm was like! Just learn code at a faster rate than they expect, and you'll have no problem. I used the tapes from radio shack by Gordon West. They worked really well.

Rod
 
How difficult is it to learn to operate a Ham Radio? I have thought of doing it but am to lazy, at this point in life, to spend hours on end learing HEAVY technical stuff. So on a scale of 1-10 (1 being all you do is pick up a microphone and scan for folks to talk with all around the world to 10 needing to be a physics and calculus master, where does it lie?

Deb
 
Deb,

It all depends on what you want to do with it. There are alot of things you can do with ham radio, from setting up your own amateur radio TV station (yes, with full video and audio), to doing moon bouncing (bouncing your signal off the moon and have it hit a location on earth), utilizing amateur radio satellites, etc...

If you just want to talk to people the "normal" way around the world, than you'll need to get a General Class license. I believe the code is only 5wpm. You'll probably want to start out with the technician class license. There are no code requirements for this license. Get the book, take the test, and you can talk to people in your area (VHF/UHF). This license also lets you talk on 6M, which means you can probably talk across the country at times.

To sum it all up, I'd say it's a 3 on your scale, if you just want to talk to people via voice. Start with the technician license, get a good base station (2M & 6M), and go on from there. What city/state do you live in? There is a big ham event that happens every June called Field Day. All the clubs around the world get together for a weekend, and operate their radios 24 hours non stop. It helps demonstrate ham radio, and get's people involved. I can tell you where it's located in your area if you like...

Rod
 
Yep, it all depends on what you want to do. Another facinating aspect of Amateur Radio is experimenting with and building things like antennas, radios, etc.

I actually bought a Radio Shack FM antenna for use with FM radio. I converted it into a 2 meter beam and that baby is just as good as any 5 element beams on the market!

Rod, I am actually coming into a little inheritance sometime in the future and I think I will get myself an old hf tube rig and a dipole. Then, once I start listening to all of the action, I'll get pumped to study for the exam!!

I look forward to calling cq!

Leebo
 
Sure thing

Try www.arrl.org. This is an organization that many hams belong to and they provide valuable services to hams and others alike. There should be lots of info on their site as well as links to other ham related sites.

Then, if your interested...........you can actually take practice tests online to get yourself ready for the actual test. There should be testers and clubs in your area.

Hope this helps!

Leebo :D
 
Leebo,

I can't wait for you to get on HF. That would be alot of fun, then I'd have a friend across the country to talk to, and even a fellow cigar buddy! I haven't on HF for quite a while now, so get that upgrade and I'll be on all the time.

Deb,

I'm getting ready to launch a ham radio website very shortly. I'll let you know once it's launched. It's gonna be cool. :)

Rod
 
Now you're talkin'!

I really want that hf now! I could set there for hours listening and jawin'!

I think I'm going to start looking on ebay!

Leebo :D
 
I have the Yaesu FT-840 HF. It's a really nice radio, take a look at it.
 
Wow you guys, this sounds nothing like the little kit my father bought me when I was just a wee lad :D But the thread is sure interesting :0 :thumbs: Do you all have the big antennas on your cars and houses ;)
 
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