amateur radio users-newbee needs guidance..

[Heetseeker_1]

Looking to getting into the ham radio thing but don't know squat about it. I would like to talk to one or all of you who are into it and pick your brains. I'm buying an RCI2950DX from Ranger so I can talk on CB channels while I study for the test.



Send me an email:



-- email address removed --



Thanks.

 

[weber1048]

Amature Radio

Heatseeker



Go to http://www.remote.arrl.org/



This is the site of the Amature Radio Relay League, this should answer all or almost all of your questions.



Usually start as a novice, moving to tech or general etc. Each licence requires more knowledge but gives you more privileges.



Doug

WB7SLQ

 

[ETOBICOKE]

RCI 2950dx

2950dx is a nice radio, I have been able to get out all over North America with mine, make sure you get the "export version" otherwise it does not have 11 meter. Even more important than the radio itself is a good antenna, good ground and low swr match. A good base antenna to start with is a Solarcon Imax 2000, not too expensive, easy to put up and works well. The ground plane is also part of your antenna, it is a good practice to ground the mast or antenna mounting bracket, directly to to it's own grounding rod(s). Wait a bit before you do your ham, the morse code requiremnts are suposed to be dropped entirely very soon. Here are some 11m frequencies to try when you get set up:

International call 27. 555 usb

North American call 27. 445 lsb



Next you will need to know the Q code and the phonetic alphabet you can find this on http://www.qrz.com . Also you will need to get yourself some DX numbers, Send me an email, you can join our DX group if you like, since you are in the US 48 it will be division 2, Canada is division 9, England 26 etc. Thats how you know the other operators country.



Hope this helps,

Neil

 

[Heetseeker_1]

great info

Great info guys... I have surfed both sites you recommended and ... WOW... lot to learn here. I'm going to get the books and start the study. Do any of the bands reach farther than the others? Should I look for a base radio that does it all (frequencies) or do hams stick to small locals whithin the bands?



Steve.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

You don't have to "wait" for the code requirement to be dropped - it's been history for some time in the exams... Do some searching around your local area for a ham radio club - they often have an active class in Amateur radio, and often also schedule regular exam sessions as well...

 

[jthorpe]

Well lets be clear here. The code requirement for Tech. has been gone for a long time. General and Extra however, still require a 5wpm code test. That won't be going away anytime soon, if ever. Novice doesn't exist anymore, except for grandfathered operators.



Jack - n0vld

 

[Heetseeker_1]

10 and 12 meter

Can a tech operate on 10 and 12 meters?

 

[ETOBICOKE]

10 & 12 Meter

In Canada as it is now, without code you can't go below 30Mhz, don't know exactly how it's done in the states. But I understand the technician class is only an entry level and good for only a year. Our licenses have only two classes and the only differences are the maximum transmitter power level and home built equipment. There is a very strong indication that code will be dropped by the spring here, but your ARRL has been stalling this worldwide for years now. Given the current sofistication and high quality level of currently available equipment, morse code is not near as popular as it was years ago, at one time it was the only economical way the average operator could expect to make a long distance contact.

As for how far you can get to, this depends on how strong your signal is and what the atmospheric conditions are like. It is possible to go from Ontario Canada to Australia but not on a regular bassis. On the other hand I usualy get to Texas, Oklahoma and Florida several times a week in the late afternoon after work. As for signal strength, this does not just mean power otuput, actualy the best operators keep the power levels as low as possible and instead have a very good antenna and radio set up.

Send me an email, you can join in on the DX group Yahoo chat tonight if you like.

Neil

 

[RonaldLarson]

heetseeker....

No, a tech cannot operate on 10 or 12 meters. A tech plus can operate cw and data on 10 meters and of course two meters.

Your best learning tool for your tech license is computer CD's in my opinion. ARRL should have them, or try the Gordon West CD set from Radio Shack. Great way to learn the whole test, regardless of which set of questions they test you with.

If you decide to go tech plus, ARRL has an audio CD set that works very well for learning code.

As far as a two meter transceiver, ADI has a 15/40/60 watt rig which is hard to beat for price and performance.

Study hard, it's worth it!

Ron

 

[jthorpe]

Actually, Tech + (Tech with code) may operate on the 80, 40, and 15 meter bands using CW, and on the 10 meter band using CW, voice, and digital modes. They are also authorized on all frequencies above 50mhz.



No code techs are 50mhz and above only.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

OOOOOPSSsss!



YUP - that's correct - there still IS a code "test" - if you can call 5 words per minute a real "test"...

 

[Rotty]

Or marry a extra!

I do all of the technical work and she does all of the keying and yacking

I met my wife through ham radio.

I would probably get the code if possible, but I find it is not a requirement. I have more fun with the technical and building things. Once they are working and hooked up, I let my wife do the rest.

Oh, by the way I am kd4kiy. I am more into VHF (6M and 2M) and UHF (440). she is more into HF code

The main thing I found out was pick an area that make you happy.

Good luck

 

[pnwradar]

I was just thinking that I need to dig out all my old gear and put it on eBay after the holidays. Working Dx isn't quite the same, when I can send them an email or video-conference with them.



And, the last few times I strung up a dipole and listened, it was all old geezers and wheezers -- used to just be on 160m, now they're everywhere. I suppose VHF might be worthwhile, if you lived near a city, where there's enough folks to chat regularly.



Once you get a license, feel free to operate on any band you like. Everyone else seems to, and the FCC is far too busy figuring out how to sell off the amateur frequencies, once all the operators die off (not too long, now).



-jon-

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - and the WIMPS within the FCC are seemingly powerless to do ANYTHING to curb the MANY

transgressions of the CB crowd...



AHHHhhhh, but HAMS are easy targets - they use FCC assigned callsigns, which makes them easy for the

FCC to corral, brand and slaughter... YEAH man, a Ham doesn't dare so much as turn his gain up too

high, or come too close to a band edge, and the FCC or some self-righteous "official observer" will

have us on the carpet PRONTO... . But the CBers run dirty, illegal power ANYWHERE, on any frequency

they please - and WHERE is our glorious FCC? Why, they are out selling some new portion of a ham

band to some commercial enterprise, or rapping a ham on the wrist for transmitting more than 10

minutes without IDing...



MEANWHILE, the CBers use those dandy, cute 'lil "handles", operate largely mobile, and the FCC,

Riley Hollingsworth, et al, have to actually WORK to catch them - unless someone in the Ham

community actually does the legwork for them and tells them who the naughty guys are, where they

live, and when they're home...

 

[WadePatton]

Thanks Gary

Now I don't have to say all that.