Amateur Radio (HAM) thread

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:15 am

It looks like there are at least a couple of us interested in getting a HAM license. Thought this might be a place we may be able to chat about it.

I have taken the sample on-line tests a handfull of times, I pass the electrical questions fine- but when it comes to the actual rules and operations of the unit I fail. It seems there are books to purchase out there, does anyone have any experience with any of them?

Talking Radios; I know a couple Search and Rescue folks, they recommend the AnyTone Dual Band Transceiver VHF/UHF AT-5888UV for a mobile unit, and the
Wouxun KG-UV6D V2 136-174 /216 - 280 MHz UHF/VHF as a great beginner hand held.

Who out there already uses a radio?

Shawn.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:58 pm

There is a weekend crash course in May that I am looking into. Fri night / half day sat then afternoon test. I'll post details on the class if anyone is interested.

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:22 pm

post the details, i'd probably be in. the radio i've been trying to pull the trigger on is a yaesu
http://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-DualBand-Tr ... p_t_1_SK7K

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:38 pm

Ya Starky post up, that would be great. I may be in too.

The mobile rig unit would be great...you get more power and I think you don't need to use a repeater as often as a hand held as a result. However, who knows what/who's rig I will be in...or leaving the vehicle to find help

- a rig unit wouldn't be much help in that scenerio... I am leaning more towards a handheld myself.

Shawn.

Mherriford · Post by **Mherriford** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:07 pm

I have had my general ticket for 4-5 years. When I decided to try for it I just took the online tests on QRZ. they use the same question pool as the actual test. So I just took the online test until I had the question pool just about memorized and then found a local club to take my test with.

QRZ online tests- it seems that you have to join qrz now but it is free
http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/

The portland group that I took the test through
http://www.w7lt.org/

And the radio I run in the truck, real basic and I would love to have a multiband unit but this got me started
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010077

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:38 pm

Holy shit!
Herriford! Where the hell have you been?

http://www.carsradio.org/
Here's the link to one of the local groups that offer classes

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:40 pm

Mherriford wrote:multiband

So here goes, ignorant questions 1 and 2;

What is multiband, and I have been looking at the Wouxun KG-UV6D radio on Amazon and noticed the same radio available with different MHz ranges...how do I know which one I would want?

Shawn.

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:39 pm

being also ignorant, i would say you need to find out what bands your friends use and what bands the repeaters are on for the areas you want to be in.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:05 pm

Arsenio wrote:being also ignorant, i would say you need to find out what bands your friends use and what bands the repeaters are on for the areas you want to be in.

Thanx...I wasn't sure how it worked.

Mherriford · Post by **Mherriford** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:19 pm

Ok so a multi band radio can transmit and receive 2 or more bands or frequency ranges.

This radio works on 4 bands
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=Di ... Archived=0

6 meter, 10 meter, 2 meter, and 1.25 meters

This is a diagram of all the available ham bands
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdf

That being said. The most common and the frequency that has the most active repeaters in this area is 2 meters. It is like the CB of the Ham bands. I keep a 2 meter rig in my truck because I know I should always be able to raise someone should the need arise.

The ARRL puts out books each year that list all of the available repeaters in any given area. Repeater list can also be found online

One of the most common around here is the 146.960 repeater. you can almost always raise someone on that repeater

That wouxun radio lists alot of different options. If you were looking for a 2 meter radio you would look for one that covers 144 to 148 Mhz

Mherriford · Post by **Mherriford** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:22 pm

STARKYPDX wrote:Holy shit!
Herriford! Where the hell have you been?

I have been riding the crazy rollercoaster of life. Things have just been interesting to say the least. But I am still around, Bronco still looks as ugly as ever. I have started driving it a little more lately and have found that it isint very happy after sitting for so long!!

Anyway how have you been??

Tom Dummer · Post by **Tom Dummer** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:41 am

[quote="STARKYPDX"]Holy shit!
Herriford! Where the hell have you been?

I thought the same thing....

Herriford still exists ! !!

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:48 am

I was recommened to go to 'hamwhisperer.com', it seems to have some good study guides and videos.

Shawn.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Fri Apr 19, 2013 2:26 pm

Ham whisperer is a good spot. Looked at it last night

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:57 am

Starky, do you have a radio?

I just ordered a couple for Teresa and I.

Shawn.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Thu May 02, 2013 8:49 pm

I do not have a radio but will invest one before your event. Going to a class this weekend. Just had to be on the nicest weekend...

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Sat May 04, 2013 4:10 pm

Ok there are now 2 more hams. We passed the tech lic. class today.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Sat May 04, 2013 4:26 pm

Okay, so make sure you do your homework before just going and getting a radio

I ordered two 2m/1.25m radios cause someone sent me a link, and when I checked it out, THEY WERE ON SALE

! After I placed the order I started doing some research..and after I questioned said teller his reply was "Ooops, sent you the wrong link".- Oh well, my fault for just jumping the gun. Seems the 1.25m (220) band isn't used that often...Oh well, less traffic.

BUT, I ran into HAM Radio Outlet in Portland (AWESOME customer service [even if you don't know what you are talking about as I] and they were busy!) for some antenna inquiry/upgrades. Come to find out, 2m and 70cm has many manufacturers and choices to choose from to be able to use the same antenna, but finding a 2m and 1.25m in the same antenna are not as common and are more expensive.

I wanted to have external antennas on our vehicles to be able to connect to our HT's. So this is what we are running for now X2; Wouxun KG-UV6D V2 136-174 /216 - 280 radio, MFJ 1728b mag mount antenna, and HS-05 adapter. This antenna is for 2M so I will need to to see what I want to do about upgrading the 220 side. The antennas I ended up with were like $30 each and the adapter $15. They did have a 2m/1.25 one there, but it was like $70 without the mounting hardware...and since I would need to buy two of everything I decided on the 2m stuff for now.

Shawn.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Sat May 04, 2013 4:26 pm

STARKYPDX wrote:Ok there are now 2 more hams. We passed the tech lic. class today.

Sweet!

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Sat May 04, 2013 4:47 pm

So for your event you will probably be running 2m band?

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Sat May 04, 2013 4:56 pm

STARKYPDX wrote:So for your event you will probably be running 2m band?

Yes.
I know last year the Search and Rescue were running through the South Saddle Mountain machine.

Shawn.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Mon May 06, 2013 9:28 pm

Yaesu ft-60 r/e. 2m 70cm. Ready for this fall!

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Tue May 07, 2013 9:30 am

that is one of the ones im kind of leaning towards right now.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Tue May 07, 2013 9:54 pm

Easy to program. You can clone mine if you end up with the same mod. Was listening to PDX air traffic tonight. Then we would see the plane fly over a few minutes later.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Wed May 08, 2013 9:30 am

STARKYPDX wrote:Was listening to PDX air traffic tonight.

I can't do that

...wait, think I figured it out- but don't have my programming cable with me.

Clackamas county sheriff freq has some neat stuff sometimes.
There is a cool phone app at repeaterbook .com that gives you the repeaters around you.

Stock 68 · Post by **Stock 68** » Wed May 08, 2013 10:32 am

It would be cool if you guys bring some of this stuff to our next gathering. I'd love to see.

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Wed May 08, 2013 7:00 pm

where'd you buy from. did you get the lap top cable and the cloning cable? trying to figure out a reason to drive out to ham radio outlet.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Wed May 08, 2013 8:11 pm

Hro. Just manually programming.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 7:19 pm

I'm official...well in a couple weeks

. Finally got out to take the exam and passed the Technician. Tried for the General while I was there for the heck of it (hadn't ANY idea what the questions were going to be) and only got about half correct. Oh well, would have just been more money to buy the extra cool stuff.

Shawn.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 7:41 pm

Sweet! I was gonna ask if you we're able to take the test this weekend. Now you just gotta wait for the gov. Let us know your call sign when you get it!

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:55 am

STARKYPDX wrote:Let us know your call sign when you get it!

KG7EDC

Shawn.

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:01 pm

KG7DLW

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:20 pm

I think we're geeks now...
73's
KG7DLX

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:29 pm

only if you put an antenna and base station at your house and start hosting nets.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:08 pm

Geeks.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:48 pm

I did listen to the insomniac net last night on my way back from Seattle.

Arsenio · Post by **Arsenio** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:00 pm

i listen to a couple things every now and again but i dont' get anyone talking about anything but radios. it like standing around a group of bronco guys single minded.

STARKYPDX · Post by **STARKYPDX** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:51 pm

I checked into a local net in the la grande area and yesterday visited with someone that was participating in field day.

SHAWN · Post by **SHAWN** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:13 pm

After 'lurking' in on ragchews and nets for the last month, I finally checked into a local net tonight- it was the sandy-clackamas-timber connection...I can't believe I was nervous

My neighbor has a 100'+ tower 6 beam Yagi he uses for HF stuff and says I can run an antenna up it...but I am already a geek

Shawn.

Stock 68 · Post by **Stock 68** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:42 am

Looking forward to a quick tutorial on Saturday. I'd love to see what you guys are doin.