Amateur Radio FAQ

[JamesH]

If you want 2m/70cm and x-band repeat, check out the Kenwood TM-V71. Solid rig, reasonable price. For x-band repeat, it has a built-in IDer. The comparable Yaesu has no IDer for x-band repeat, so it's a pain to use legally.

 

[gamer_jim]

I've decided to toss out x-band repeat as a requirement.

The more I read up on satellite operating the more intrigued I get by it. I've seen a youtube video of someone operating satellites with the same handheld I have, FT-60R. He was holding a yagi antenna in one hand in and changing the frequencies in the other.

I've got a lot more reading to do before deciding what to purchase.

 

[K31]

I've decided to toss out x-band repeat as a requirement.

The more I read up on satellite operating the more intrigued I get by it. I've seen a youtube video of someone operating satellites with the same handheld I have, FT-60R. He was holding a yagi antenna in one hand in and changing the frequencies in the other.

I've got a lot more reading to do before deciding what to purchase.

I've done that and it works. Most "vocal" folks on QRZ want you to use two HTs so you can listen to yourself through the satellite. I cheap chicom is apparently usable for this. A dual receiver HT apparently does not have enough separation for this.

I'd also recommend a headset and recorder. The headset because your hands are busy and the recorder so you don't have to hand copy QSLs.

I found an intriguing use of an HT and mobile simultaneously with a homebrew antenna. I want to try it when I get more time.

When you get a HF rig, if you get one with 2M/70cm, some can be controlled by satellite programs such as the one in Ham Radio Deluxe that calculate and adjust the doppler shift for you on the fly.

 

[BigCity]

Well, it is official. My new vanity sign was on ULS today.

KC3EOY is now N2JKA

 

[gamer_jim]

Congrats BigCity!

Just ordered my new rig:

Yaesu FT-2900R
MFJ 4225MV
Signalink USB

 

[jasonk1229]

Thanks for the response. You gave me a lot to think about.

Right now the ARPS and digital formats are not something I am interested in. What I am interested in are:

* local 2m/70cm talk.
* x-band repeat (for my HT)

(nice to have)
* would love to get into satellites
* packet radio.

the FT-8800R does all of these. Right now on sale at HRO for $300. I would only need a power supply, so another $100.

Am I missing anything?

edited: saw you went with another rig let us know how she treats ya i have the 8900 and the interface frankly sucks. I dont use it every day but when i do if i dont have the manual its a huge pain like when traveling ( so basically i just keep it scanning the nearby repeaters on my list). I just liked the options for additional coverage although i run it mobile, no ham shack yet. Alot of rag chewers on the morning/afternoon commutes.

alot of the younger than 60(no offense older hams) are into digital so you can do alot with your pc as well.

I really like the yaesu ftm-400xd looks like the mac daddy of mobile one day i suppose

 

[jasonk1229]

Well, it is official. My new vanity sign was on ULS today.

KC3EOY is now N2JKA

Fancy pants

 

[gamer_jim]

edited: saw you went with another rig let us know how she treats ya i have the 8900 and the interface frankly sucks. I dont use it every day but when i do if i dont have the manual its a huge pain like when traveling ( so basically i just keep it scanning the nearby repeaters on my list). I just liked the options for additional coverage although i run it mobile, no ham shack yet. Alot of rag chewers on the morning/afternoon commutes.

alot of the younger than 60(no offense older hams) are into digital so you can do alot with your pc as well.

I really like the yaesu ftm-400xd looks like the mac daddy of mobile one day i suppose

UPS says: "Out For Delivery"

I cannot wait. My wife has something going on tonight so that will give me some time to get acquainted with my new girlfriend, er, radio. The only antenna I have with PL-259 is my mag-mount on my car. So I'm gonna slap it on the rain gutter and see what I can do tonight.

I have on order 75 feet of LMR-400. Hopefully I got the right connector ends. Now I am in negotiations with the approval committee on where to put the antenna and how to route the wire.

I had planned on getting the programming cable for the 2900. For now this will mainly sit next to my computer and I don't have plans to put it in my car, for now.

I would appreciate any advice or URL's for websites explaining how to get into packet radio. I've found a bunch but either they don't explain enough, explain too much or don't make sense to my dinosaur brain. I downloaded several free software packages.

Anyone own or experience Ham Radio Deluxe?

 

[K31]

Anyone own or experience Ham Radio Deluxe?

I've used HRD for a number of years. It's great software. Unfortunately it is geared more towards radios that have the capability for full rig control via a PC attached serial cable or CAT (Computer Aided Tuning). FT2900 isn't listed as a supported radio.

http://ham-radio-deluxe.com/supported_radios.html

It might be possible to still use the digital portion of the program suite DM780 to do digital modes such as PSK31 but it would be a waste since there are many programs out there to to just that and other digital modes. Without the integration it's not worth spending the money IMO.

Around Christmas time IIRC, HRD was on sale for half off. So you may want to wait until you have or are intending on getting a more capable transceiver such and see if it goes on sale again.

 

[K31]

BUMP

Coming up this weekend/next week:


Licensing Class
02/27/2016 | Davidsonville MD 21035

Start/End Dates: 02/27/2016 - 04/09/2016
Times: Saturday's 8:30 AM - 12 Noon
# of Sessions: 6
Class level: Technician
Instructor: AE3D
Contact: Keith Miller AE3D
Email: ae3d@w3vpr.net
Location: Davidsonville Family Recreation Center
3789 Queen Anne Bridge Road
Davidsonville, MD 21035
Additional Information: The Anne Arundel Radio club class is FREE. Tests following the final class are also FREE. ARRL License Manual includes chapters on every aspect of the licensing exam and includes the entire pool of test questions. http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Ham-Ra...l-3rd-Edition/ YOU can be an amateur radio operator! No electronics background required. No Morse Code requirement!!! See www.w3vpr.org/ for details

Licensing Class
04/02/2016 | Rockville MD 20850

Start/End Dates: 04/02/2016 - 05/07/2016
Times: 9 AM to 12 Noon
# of Sessions: 6
Class level: Technician
Instructor: W2LNX
Contact: David Bern W2LNX
Email: education@marcclub.org
Location: Science Center building
Montgomery College
51 Mannakee Street
Rockville, MD 20850
Additional Information: http://www.marcclub.org/mweb/educati...ses/index.html Please register by email. VE exam session: Saturday, May 14, 2016, 9 AM to 12 Noon Science Center building Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD.

 

[6-Pack]

I'm just putting this out there: a petition for rulemaking was filed with the FCC to try to change amateur radio license terms from 10 years to the lifetime of the licensee. Comments are still being accepted: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=RM-11760

 

[JamesH]

I'm just putting this out there: a petition for rulemaking was filed with the FCC to try to change amateur radio license terms from 10 years to the lifetime of the licensee. Comments are still being accepted: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=RM-11760

I appreciate the sentiment here, but you wouldn't believe how many people have become Silent Keys and FCC doesn't figure it out until the license comes up for renewal. Without a renewal period of some amount of time, the license database will be full of SKs whose families had no idea how to notify FCC to cancel the license. And don't forget, call signs are a limited resource.

Honestly, how hard is it to click a box online for free once every 10 years to let FCC know you're still able to click a button?

 

[BigCity]

Now that you put it that way, I agree with you on your reasoning.

 

[Minuteman]

Im not yet a ham, but I do occasionally listen in, own a few HTs, attend ham events and meetings.

I read all of the current comment submission: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment_search/execute?proceeding=RM-11760

It seems like all but one comment supported changing it to lifetime. Most (if not all) radio licenses are already lifetime. It reduces administrative burden and cost to both hams and the governing agencies. Changes in status are already required to be filed. It's more likely someone will forget to renew (it is 10 years to track, remember, and worry about), than someone will die, and someone else will fraudulently begin using their call sign. That's already not allowed, and someone could improperly do that now.

The only unsettled question to me at this time, is how to recycle 'vanity' call signs, if a person doesn't file that they no longer need it, or pass away. A possible solution, that is much simpler and cheaper could be that if a person believes a call sign (vanity), that they want is no longer in use (like 10 years not in use), they can simply contact the registered holder (or their family, or government), and ask that it be released and reissued. This way it takes the burden off ever licensed ham operator to do something every 10 years, and puts a minimal burden only on those that have found an unused and popular vanity call sign.

 

[K31]

It would seem like a simple solution would be that you lose your callsign after 10 years (or whatever) if you do nothing, and have to apply for another without retesting. New callsigns can usually be generated in a day or two from what I've seen. Maybe even faster for this process since the only check that's needed is to see it the person exists in the system.

 

[gamer_jim]

Im not yet a ham, but I do occasionally listen in, own a few HTs, attend ham events and meetings.

LOL
You do more as a non-ham than I do as a ham.

I really need to get involved more.

 

[JamesH]

Most (if not all) radio licenses are already lifetime.

The only radio license I can think of that is lifetime is GROL, which is what the petitioner mentions. The GROL doesn't have a callsign attached, though. It's more like a driver's license than a ham license. All others, whether commercial broadcast, business LMR, or GMRS have a limited term. What other radio license is lifetime? (CB and FRS are unlicensed, do those count?)

Coming up with a complicated scheme for testing the existence of a licensee is much more burdensome than the current system, which is almost entirely automated or run by volunteers.

Frankly, given the problems I've had with SKs as a card sorter for the QSL bureau and as a traffic handler, I'd much rather have the license term shortened to 5 years.

 

[Baccusboy]

Some recent HAM events for me in Korea:

1. I'm on Echolink. There is a new Echolink repeater here in Seoul that I just started using. It's under Locations/Asia/Korea, and is near the bottom 1/4 of the list. It's named HL0HQ-R, if you want to set up a QSO sometime.

2. I ordered a new VHF/UHF radio. Just for shnits and giggles, I ordered a TYT9800+ off of Aliexpress.com in China. Let's hope I get a good one. It's a clone of the Yaesu 8800, if memory serves.

3. HL1FB gave me a 6 meter tall Diamond brand antenna for VHF/UHF, which was very kind of him. I need to get more cable next week to reach my floor. I have it installed already. He had it at work, but retired, so doesn't need it anymore. It's about 10 years old.

4. I am in the middle of building a rotatable diopole. I have all of the parts, and might have time to finish it this weekend.

 

[Weak_Hand_Only]

Congrats BigCity!

Just ordered my new rig:

Yaesu FT-2900R
MFJ 4225MV
Signalink USB

I received my FT-2900r about a week ago and so far I love it. Heavy as hell, built like a tank, the entire chassis is basically a huge heat sink. I have it connected to a home made 2m 1/4 wavelength ground plane in the attic. Instructions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkmD3Sgz7Q0

Setting it up is fairly easy and the best video i've seen is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_vA0sfWUQ

I have no plans on upgrading the mic or speaker, both work great and I've had good feedback from QSO's. You'll need that MFJ power supply if you ever have the need to crank it up to 75 watts.

 

[gamer_jim]

I received my FT-2900r about a week ago and so far I love it. Heavy as hell, built like a tank, the entire chassis is basically a huge heat sink. I have it connected to a home made 2m 1/4 wavelength ground plane in the attic. Instructions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkmD3Sgz7Q0

Setting it up is fairly easy and the best video i've seen is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_vA0sfWUQ

I have no plans on upgrading the mic or speaker, both work great and I've had good feedback from QSO's. You'll need that MFJ power supply if you ever have the need to crank it up to 75 watts.

What power supply are you using?