Ham & 2meter

[wcjp]

I'm thinking of going to get my Ham license. I think the class will enable me to use 2m and 6meter after testing. Does anyone use these? If the class full of info that's good to know? How expensive is the equipment?

 

[Gifford]

Ham

You dont really need to take a class to pass the test, but it wouldnt hurt, and you might find it interesting. If you just want to pass the test, get the W5YI Gordon West technician handbook. After a few hours study you should easily able to pass the no-code technician exam. As for equipment, 2 meter (144mhz) radios are as cheap as their ever gonna get, You can get any of the major manufacturers (Icom, Kenwood,Yaesu) 2m rigs for under 150. 00. With an inexpensive 2 meter rig and good antenna you will be able to hit lots of repeaters in your area which will give you up to 150 mile or more range (I bet there are several moutain top repeaters in the Seattle area that have tremendous coverage. ) And if Washington is anything like California, there are many areas where cell phones dont cover and an amateur radio transceiver can be a lifesaver. Last August, while camping with my sons near the Carson Iceberg wilderness area, (Highland Lakes, CA) some guy fell outta his little canoe in frigid snowmelt water, he barely made it to shore and was in really bad shape from hypothermia, there were 4-5 people there with cell phones, and NONE of them worked, I was able to get out on 2 meters to a ham near a land line who was able to call for help. If you hang out in the high country like I do, a HAM radio can be a lifesaver.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Here's the setup I use in my truck - it's an Icom 706 MKIIG - covers all bands from 160-440, and currently sells for $759 delivered from Texas Towers... I run mine thru a 600 watt Ameritron solid state mobile amp, and get out pretty much as well as most home stations - the Dodge/Cummins combo is GREAT for mobile operation due to the lack of electrical noise common in other brands... As pointed out above, there are many good sources of lower cost gear than what I am running - Radio Shack sells some pretty good stuff at attractive prices. But if you anticipate eventually upgrading, an Icom like mine works well and gives full band cverage - it has a detachable faceplate and remote cable that allows the main box to be relocated to a more out of the way spot - mine is under the center seat console.



Good luck.





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[jalberring]

Gary, Are you using numerous antennas on your truck or is there one that works well for all bands?



Jason

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have a variety of antennas for various ocassions - mag mounts for 2/440, a screwdriver for all-band use, and dual mounts for Hamstick monobanders - and an SGC computerized remote autotuner for when camping/RVing...



I do lots of antenna experimenting as well - mostly along the lines of homebrew Texas Bugcatcher-style jobs for the higher power the amp puts out...

 

[jalberring]

Like WCJP, I am just getting started and don't understand a lot of things.



If the screwdriver is for all bands why do you need the others?



I can only guess that it is for increased performance.



Thanks. Jason

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The screwdriver is big, bulky and ugly - it's OK for cross-country operating, but won't fit in my garage the way it mounts on my truck - I'm working on a hidden horizontal mount for the screwdriver that will incorporate a "tilt-over" feature to be motor driven and operated from the driver seat - that way the actual whip portion of the HF and VHF/UHF antennas will pivot parallel to the bed, and clear my garage door opening... The actual screwdriver mechanism will be totally enclosed in what will appear as a light-bar type arrangement just behind the back-rear of the cab - nothing will show but the actual whips themselves...



The Hamsticks won't clear my garage door either - but they're easier to install/remove with quick-disconnects than the screwdriver currently is - the screwdriver antenna is the best overall performer of the bunch...

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by jalberring

Like WCJP, I am just getting started and don't understand a lot of things.



If the screwdriver is for all bands why do you need the others?



I can only guess that it is for increased performance.



Thanks. Jason

Be patient grasshopper, nobody knows everything about ham radio.



The "screwdriver" antenna is typically for HF only. Some will do vhf, but most are for 10-80 meters. They're called "srewdriver antennas" because the original and many of its successors use an electric screwdriver motor to change the operating frequency of the antenna. That is so you can mount one antenna and remotely control it to work any portion of any HF band.



That's why Gary has more than one antenna. He uses the others for VHF/UHF.



I have a bug-catcher for HF-which is a multi-band antenna, but you have to move the coil tap to change bands. I also use "hamstick" type mono-band antennas on HF. The hamsticks are relatively small and easier on the eyes than the multi-band(SD) and high-performance(BC) types. I use a single band 5/8 wave for 220 and a dual-band antenna for 2m/440. There are tri-band UHF/VHF configurations as well.



HF-mobile is a disease like BOMBing a CTD. It takes some time and money and attention to detail to do it right.



VHF/UHF (6/2/220/440) are much easier to do mobile because the antennas don't have to be as large and repeaters do most of the work for you.



Pick up a ARRL Operators Manual at a hamfest. I picked up a used one for a couple of bucks one year.



Get on the air... 10-year ham ticket $10, 2m rig $150, MFJ 5/8 mag mount $20, lifetime of meeting new people and learning new things--priceless.

 

[n7gxz]

WCJP,



The Mike & Key Ham club will be holding their anual swap meet on March 8, 2003 where you can take your test and browse new and used equipment all day if you want. Here is a link to their web site on the swap meet.



http://www.mikeandkey.com/flea.htm



Kevin

 

[Gifford]

arrl bloated buraeucracy

Dont get anything with ARRL on it. They are just a huge bloated quasi-govt. lobbying agency whose sole purpose is in increasing its influence and income. Just get a W5YI book which will quickly allow you to pass the test. (You dont even have to buy anything as there are several websites that teach HAM theory and have the sctual test questions you will see on the real test. If you are interested in more than the basics of electronics and RF, you can always go further in your studies later.

 

[WadePatton]

ARRL

ARRL is to hams what the NRA is to gun-owners--sorta.



I recognize the value of some of their publications and some of their work, but have never joined and don't push membership. I agree that it is a bit overblown.



I get plenty of "QST's" from friends who are members.



W1ADE

 

[watt]

ham radio

Hi just bought book to study can anybody tell me if there is a club in the north east like mass. or ct and if they hold swap meets and such ? also can somone lead me to the web sites that have test questions that you can dwn load ? Thanks bob

 

[Gifford]

my favorite test site:

http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/

 

[WadePatton]

There's a ham club in just about every town with a population as big as the TDR.



Let me go look around a bit.



No need to download questions, just take online exams. Automatically randomized and graded--almost like being there.



Okay 18 CT and 31 MA clubs listed at QRZ.com

http://199.245.125.13/clubs/first.html#Massachusetts



TONS of other info at QRZ.com and that's just a snowflake off the iceberg. Online exams at QRZ as well.



HAM it up!

 

[George O]

Gary KJ6Q, Do you get any noise from the comp? I have an EZ and when I turn the key on I get about an S8 noise level on my 706. Havent even bumped the starter yet.



I think I remember you having troubles earlier from the altenator. but this is different.



Havent taken the time yet to uplug the EZ and try it again, but will as soon as I get a chance.



KC5TY

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No George, my setup was dead quiet before the Comp install, and still is after... I WAS having RFI problems when operating 20 meter SSB at the 100 watt level, which was preventing the install of my Ameritron 500 watt amp - but after LOTS of deadends in extra grounding, $100 worth of ferrite RF chokes and such, the cure turned out to be to carefully wind 3-4 turns of the extra length sensor and such cables of the Comp thru the chokes right at each sensor or cable they attached to - my problem is completely gone, and THIS is now installed:



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Works great, picked up about 2 "S" units on transmit...

 

[KD7GYJ]

WCJP,



You've opened a good dialog here. You really don't need the class. But to be honest with you, it will push you to learn, where if you buy the book, you will have to dedicate yourself to study it. Go to the class, it's great learning about amateur radio.



When you get your first Technician license, you will need a dual bander, 2meter and 70cm radio. Very devoted people use 6 meter with very few repeaters. You will catch most of the local action with 2 meter or 70 centimeter. You'll just need a simple dual band antenae ($69. 00), remote kit, wire, bracket to mount antenae onto truck, place to mount radio face, installing electrical for power, etc. Good Saturday project.

When you progress and get your General or Extra license, you'll need the bigger, beefier radio's (HF/VHF) and gear. Quite pricey. The antenae's are about one third to half the price of the radio.



Good luck on getting your Ham radio license. You will thoroughly enjoy it.



Blair

KD7GYJ



PS: Plan on spending about $500-550. 00 for your dual band system.

 

[WadePatton]

On the noise question. My DDUFM (aka COMP) puts some nasty noise in the AM broadcast band. Don't have the HF rig hooked up yet.



On dual-band. It's nice to have the extra band, especially if your area has enough FM repeater traffic to warrant it. In my area many high-profile 2m repeaters are barely used. The 70cm band has about half as many repeaters and one quarter the traffic. Our Skywarn system is 70cm based, but is linked to 2m.



But I would never say that dual-band is necessary to get on the air. Like I said in another post $150 2m rig, $25 MFJ mag-mount, $10 license--and you're ON THE AIR! Feel free to spend more, but it ain't necessary.



Oh yeah 6-meters FM. It's useless around here too. There's only a couple of repeaters in the state. What 6m is all about is SSB and DX. That way the no-coders can have fun learning about propagation and work the continent. Almost like HF, but not quite.



Well, I have transmitted 6m FM, but it was into a remote base for 220mHz also linked into 2m.



W1ADE

 

[wcjp]

Thanks for all the great advice. What brands should I look out for in the used market? Any I should avoid?

 

[KD7GYJ]

There are the big three, Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood. You can't go wrong with the giants. There are others out there that are also good.



I have a Kenwood dual bander in my truck and a couple Yaesu VX-5R tri banders for handi-talkies. Great units. Now on sale for $219. 00 for the silver model. $239. 00 for the black one. Silver doesn't show the scratches like the black one does.



Food for thought.



Blair