Amateur Radio FAQ

[Minuteman]

Excuses are like a... never mind.

Legally, the answer is: ask an amateur to check your radio. There are ways to do it without radiating, but you probably don't have an o-scope or other instrument that goes to 140-some Mhz and that will tell if you're transmitting, and even then, not if anything useful is going out.

When you are a ham, you'll find that when you transmit into a dummy load, even though the goal is not to radiate, another radio in close proximity can usually pick up the signal. Sometimes for a block or two. Assuming it has some power behind it to begin with.

There is a winter field day event coming up next weekend. Not a lot of clubs participate but if one near you does, you could drop by and ask them to test it. Or they may even offer to be the control operator for you to test it or operate some of their equipment.

Excellent advice as usual.

I have no excuse; just too many other 'hobbies'. It's been over a year I've been trying to squeeze this in. At least I picked up some handhelds, and now (kinda) know how to use them. I do listen in from time to time. Fairly confident if I can hear them, there's a chance they could hear me if I keyed the mic.

I'll look for details on the upcoming winter field day trip. And I'll search to see where the closest HAM operator is to me, maybe have a neighbor that is one and they might check out my radios for me.

Thanks!

 

[markgrutz]

K31 (or anyone else),

Just a quick question you know the answer to, I can't find a definitive answer to. I have a HT that can receive in the house, but can't really transmit anywhere even with an upgraded antenna. I have yet to install an outdoor antenna, but I have a radio with crossband repeat function in the car.

Looking at the TMARC band plan it would seem that I can set it to link with the HT on anything in the 445.0000 - 447.0000 range since that would be the control link to the mobile as well as the simplex. Does this seem right? I think I would be ok with a single direction link, since I can hear, but not reach the repeater sites with the HT.

Thank You,
Mark

 

[K31]

K31 (or anyone else),

Just a quick question you know the answer to, I can't find a definitive answer to. I have a HT that can receive in the house, but can't really transmit anywhere even with an upgraded antenna. I have yet to install an outdoor antenna, but I have a radio with crossband repeat function in the car.

Looking at the TMARC band plan it would seem that I can set it to link with the HT on anything in the 445.0000 - 447.0000 range since that would be the control link to the mobile as well as the simplex. Does this seem right? I think I would be ok with a single direction link, since I can hear, but not reach the repeater sites with the HT.

Thank You,
Mark

It seems to me that it would work but I would keep the power low from the HT to the car. I would go ahead and crossband both transmit and receive (also keeping the power low on the mobile) so if you can't get a reply you at least know right away the mobile is still on. I'd avoid the edges 445 and 447 themselves.

Just to be sure, have you tried the HT from other locations?

 

[lonebrave]

On my goal list for 2016 is to upgrade my ticket to General.

I priced together a starter HF rig on DxEngineering.com. $1,100 for Icom 718, antenna, tuner, power supply and Signal Link USB.

Is there a cheaper way to get into digital mode HF? Should I be looking at used? I haven't asked around the local ham clubs or gone to any shows yet. I probably won't sit for the test until November.

I went through the class W2LNX teaches for my Tech in 2014. Between it, reading the ARRL book, and some Tech exam flash cards, I passed. I'd like to learn the details behind everything, which I guess means I'll get Extra somewhere in the not too distant future. ;-)

I'll be upgrading to General after the AARC General class this spring. I haven't spent much time looking at gear, yet, to get into HF, but AARC has a "Ham radio on the cheap" presentation at their meeting tonight...starts at 1930.

 

[markgrutz]

It seems to me that it would work but I would keep the power low from the HT to the car. I would go ahead and crossband both transmit and receive (also keeping the power low on the mobile) so if you can't get a reply you at least know right away the mobile is still on. I'd avoid the edges 445 and 447 themselves.

Just to be sure, have you tried the HT from other locations?

Ok. I assumed that if I stayed in that range of freqs it would probably ok since that seems to be what it earmarked for.

The problem is that this house is a giant faraday cage. The walls are double thick drywall with chicken wire in the middle of the two layers. It's almost like plaster lathe but it's not. So it's generally a radio dead zone indoors, outdoors I can hit quite a bit. If I sit by a window I can hear stuff, but still can't reach anything, so I assume the window has some sort of laminate in it as well.

Long story short, I need an outdoor antenna. I have been thinking of the Ed Fong J-pole that mounts in the PVC pipe and put that up on the roof line. Everyone seems to think it's a great little design.

Mark

 

[lonebrave]

Thanks, I think that's my favorite joke of all time. A monkey in a leisure suit telling penguin jokes.

Do you happen to have a 2M/440 list somewhere?

Not sure what your desired coverage area is, but AARC's list is a start.

 

[gamer_jim]

Not sure what your desired coverage area is, but AARC's list is a start.

Thanks, did some googling and found ARRL has a nice list too:

http://www.arrl.org/arrl-net-directory-search

 

[JamesH]

When you are a ham, you'll find that when you transmit into a dummy load, even though the goal is not to radiate, another radio in close proximity can usually pick up the signal. Sometimes for a block or two. Assuming it has some power behind it to begin with.

Or even less than some power. I have a dummy load that I can load with about 0.6W on 2m and be heard full quieting about a half-mile away.

 

[K31]

Or even less than some power. I have a dummy load that I can load with about 0.6W on 2m and be heard full quieting about a half-mile away.

I put together a fox transmitter with an HT that would do at most 2W and on low power I believe is 500mW. I put a dummy load on that in place of the antenna so I could attenuate it enough to test a directional antenna. I had to move as far away from it as I could on my property to test it even though it was in the house using a dummy load otherwise it just overloaded the receiver and there was no directionality to it at all.

 

[Intarsiac]

The Fort Washington Amateur Radio Club (FWARC) http://www.fwarc.net members plan to check in this evening (1/22/16) at 5pm on either 28.400MHz (10M)or 147.555MHz (2M) Simplex, and will likely be monitoring those as well as other frequencies during the event. Note: the new FWARC 70cm repeater is on the air, for those in the vicinity of Ft. Washington MD (448.5250MHz, negative offset, PL of 110.9). Join us to participate or listen in! All listed frequencies are within Technician privileges.

 

[K31]

Ok. I assumed that if I stayed in that range of freqs it would probably ok since that seems to be what it earmarked for.

The problem is that this house is a giant faraday cage. The walls are double thick drywall with chicken wire in the middle of the two layers. It's almost like plaster lathe but it's not. So it's generally a radio dead zone indoors, outdoors I can hit quite a bit. If I sit by a window I can hear stuff, but still can't reach anything, so I assume the window has some sort of laminate in it as well.

Long story short, I need an outdoor antenna. I have been thinking of the Ed Fong J-pole that mounts in the PVC pipe and put that up on the roof line. Everyone seems to think it's a great little design.

Mark

The J-pole is a good antenna, I'm not familiar with Ed Fong's antennas. I've known some people who've used the Arrow antenna that is a J-pole design and were very happy with it. Of course you can build your own J-pole using copper pipe or wire. There are many plans for them on the net.

 

[Pinecone]

Heck. Just make a virus. Quick, easy, effective.

5 pieces of wire (coat hangers works fine, welding rod is great), 39 inches long (for 2 m). 1 each SO-239 panel mount coax connector. Solder 4 wires to the corner holes, one wire to the center connection. Bend the corner wires down 45 degrees.

Hook up coax, mount to some sort of pipe. I typically use PVC, and run the coax down the pipe, and use RTV to glue the antenna to the top of the PVC.

I have hit the Columbia repeater from my yard in Aberdeen with an HT with one of these.

 

[E.Shell]

I'm running almost the same thing, but a 1/4 wave on 2 meters (which is what your illustration's formula renders), suspended in a tree at 40' AGL, putting it at about 400' ASL. I can reach the Bluemont repeater (74 miles) with a 5 watt HT on this antenna, although I normally run a 50w Yaesu/60w Kenwood mobile from the house. For simplicity and efficiency, it is hard to beat this type of antenna for a first homebrew project.

 

[gamer_jim]

Scanning the 2M and getting some tropospheric inducting.

Listening to a conversation from Tennessee.

 

[fightinbluhen51]

So, good stuff here guys. I've still be operating mobile quite frequently, but with a pending move happening soon, the ham stuff has taken a bit of a back seat.

I will upgrade to general in '16. If time allows, I'll actually burn the code practice up too (but probably not until Q3 or Q4).

First order of biz is to get a 2m/70cm base set up when funds allow. I was thinking about doing a yagi on a rotor on top of the roof (as my elevation will be about 475'). Thanks Ed & Pinecone for letting me know the range of the Virus. With that kind of Elevation along with putting it up on the chimney, I think I'll be able to hit most of the repeaters I'll want to access without issue.

Now...just wait until I tell the XYL that I'd like to put up a hex beam or log period at some point...gulp.

 

[fightinbluhen51]

Also, for anyone that works VHF/UHF line of sight (to repeaters or others on simplex) you might want to be aware of this...

http://www.heywhatsthat.com/profiler.html

 

[Pinecone]

You really don't need a yagi unless you are hitting serious fringe areas.

The virus is good and cheap. A J-pole is good and not that expensive.

Or a commercial vertical dual band (I have a Comet up) if you want to spend more, but get a bit better performance.

People tend to over antenna for many uses.

OTOH, I have seen people put up quality, high gain antennas, then run cheap coax and connectors that costs them more in power than the antenna gain gives them back. I run N connectors and low loss coax for VHF and UHF.

 

[Hyper-W]

K31 (or anyone else),

Just a quick question you know the answer to, I can't find a definitive answer to. I have a HT that can receive in the house, but can't really transmit anywhere even with an upgraded antenna. I have yet to install an outdoor antenna, but I have a radio with crossband repeat function in the car.

Looking at the TMARC band plan it would seem that I can set it to link with the HT on anything in the 445.0000 - 447.0000 range since that would be the control link to the mobile as well as the simplex. Does this seem right? I think I would be ok with a single direction link, since I can hear, but not reach the repeater sites with the HT.

Thank You,
Mark

Ok. I assumed that if I stayed in that range of freqs it would probably ok since that seems to be what it earmarked for.

The problem is that this house is a giant faraday cage. The walls are double thick drywall with chicken wire in the middle of the two layers. It's almost like plaster lathe but it's not. So it's generally a radio dead zone indoors, outdoors I can hit quite a bit. If I sit by a window I can hear stuff, but still can't reach anything, so I assume the window has some sort of laminate in it as well.

Long story short, I need an outdoor antenna. I have been thinking of the Ed Fong J-pole that mounts in the PVC pipe and put that up on the roof line. Everyone seems to think it's a great little design.

Mark

Look into a "Passive Repeater". I talked to a guy one day (can't remember who or when) that had a similar problem. He put an antenna up outside and connected the other end of the feedline to another antenna that was indoors. The principle is that when he keys the HT that the indoor antenna picks up the signal which gets carried (albeit with a TON of loss) up to the other antenna. My disclaimer is that I've never tried it and cannot vouch for the effectiveness.

All of my antennas are in my attic. They work fine. As for J-Poles - HAMs in general seem to love them. I don't get the attraction. I was operating for a public service event one day and had two antennas up on masts. A J-Pole 16 feet up with 100' of feedline and a mobile with a ground plane kit about 11 feet up with 50' of feedline. I couldn't pick up or key a repeater on the JPole but the mobile worked fine (with about an S7). I didn't swap feedlines, so it isn't a definitive test. All I know is that I found the mobile with the ground plane kit to be WAY more effective. It's possible that I'm missing something or I just don't get it.

Hope this helps!

 

[E.Shell]

...As for J-Poles - HAMs in general seem to love them. I don't get the attraction....

I would not bother with a rigid J-Pole, but for an expedient improvement over an HT's stock antenna, a twin-lead J-Pole works great and travels well. I have mine set up with a binder clip on the end and can hang it almost anyplace, so for my forays out of town I use it a lot.

 

[Pinecone]

Look into a "Passive Repeater". I talked to a guy one day (can't remember who or when) that had a similar problem. He put an antenna up outside and connected the other end of the feedline to another antenna that was indoors. The principle is that when he keys the HT that the indoor antenna picks up the signal which gets carried (albeit with a TON of loss) up to the other antenna. My disclaimer is that I've never tried it and cannot vouch for the effectiveness.

All of my antennas are in my attic. They work fine. As for J-Poles - HAMs in general seem to love them. I don't get the attraction. I was operating for a public service event one day and had two antennas up on masts. A J-Pole 16 feet up with 100' of feedline and a mobile with a ground plane kit about 11 feet up with 50' of feedline. I couldn't pick up or key a repeater on the JPole but the mobile worked fine (with about an S7). I didn't swap feedlines, so it isn't a definitive test. All I know is that I found the mobile with the ground plane kit to be WAY more effective. It's possible that I'm missing something or I just don't get it.

Hope this helps!

Twice as much feed line is double the loss, IF both feed lines are the same.

That is a 3 dB reduction in output right there.

If different quality of feed line, that could be another 3 dB or more.