Amateur Radio FAQ

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    Deep Thought

    Deep Thought

    Active Member
    Jan 27, 2013
    575
    Columbia, MD
    gamer_jim said:
    My friend came over Saturday and we played with VHF digital a bit more.

    We were able to reliably transmit 3.8 miles to each other. He has a 5 watt Baofeng, and I have a 75 watt Yaesu FT-2900.

    When he went to the next highest hill away, about 6 miles, he could get enough signal from me to break squelch and pick up some text but mostly gibberish. I could not get any signal from him to break squelch.

    I don't know if we are using the wrong digital mode or if this just isn't possible. It seems to me that if I am blasting 75 watts he should be able to hear me at 6 miles away.
    Click to expand...

    gamer_jim said:
    No. I have an Ed Fong antenna mounted on my roof, so it's about 20 feet off the ground. I'm also on the north side of a hill.

    My friend was using an antenna external to his car for this experiment. I don't know the particular model but it's at least outside the vehicle.

    At this point I wonder if we are trying to do the impossible.

    What's it called again where you blast 6M into the sky in order to reach a small local area?
    Click to expand...

    Ed Fong makes a mighty fine antenna, but a Yaesu FT-2900 does not do VHF digital modes (or even SSB) at least natively. What TNC or mode were you trying out? 75 watts at even 6 miles should be easily doable on 2M (absent terrain obstructions).
     
    gamer_jim

    gamer_jim

    Podcaster
    Feb 12, 2008
    13,363
    Hanover, PA
    Is anyone on this forum involved with Carroll County Amateur Radio Club?

    I have next Saturday free so I'm looking for a club to participate in Field Day this year.
     
    gamer_jim

    gamer_jim

    Podcaster
    Feb 12, 2008
    13,363
    Hanover, PA
    Deep Thought said:
    Ed Fong makes a mighty fine antenna, but a Yaesu FT-2900 does not do VHF digital modes (or even SSB) at least natively. What TNC or mode were you trying out? 75 watts at even 6 miles should be easily doable on 2M (absent terrain obstructions).
    Click to expand...
    I am using a SignaLink, I forget what my friend was using, but something cheaper.

    gamer_jim said:
    Is anyone on this forum involved with Carroll County Amateur Radio Club?

    I have next Saturday free so I'm looking for a club to participate in Field Day this year.
    Click to expand...

    Received a reply from Andy that CCARC isn't doing anything formal for Field Day this year.

    I really want to get involved and back into the hobby.

    Is anyone else here doing something for Field Day and mind if I stop by?
     
    Hyper-W

    Hyper-W

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 24, 2010
    1,189
    Cooksville
    Columbia Amateur Radio Association and Potomac Valley Radio Club put on one of (if not THE) largest field day setups. I was there a couple years ago and they had 28 stations set up. They do it at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School at the corner of Folly Quarter and Triadelphia Roads in Ellicott City.

    Reach out to info@columbiaara.org if you're interested.


    gamer_jim said:
    I am using a SignaLink, I forget what my friend was using, but something cheaper.



    Received a reply from Andy that CCARC isn't doing anything formal for Field Day this year.

    I really want to get involved and back into the hobby.

    Is anyone else here doing something for Field Day and mind if I stop by?
    Click to expand...
     
    gamer_jim

    gamer_jim

    Podcaster
    Feb 12, 2008
    13,363
    Hanover, PA
    Hyper-W said:
    Columbia Amateur Radio Association and Potomac Valley Radio Club put on one of (if not THE) largest field day setups. I was there a couple years ago and they had 28 stations set up. They do it at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School at the corner of Folly Quarter and Triadelphia Roads in Ellicott City.

    Reach out to info@columbiaara.org if you're interested.
    Click to expand...

    Thanks for the tip.

    The group in Frederick responded and invited me to stop by.

    I really have the itch now to buy more equipment and study for General.
     
    vette97

    vette97

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 9, 2008
    1,915
    Carroll County, Maryland
    gamer_jim said:
    Does anyone own a Buddipole? The commercial one, not a homebrew.

    If so, then how did you like it? worth the money?
    Click to expand...

    Hey Jim! Long time no chat. I've been away from the board too long.

    When Budd was "inventing" the Buddipole, I was part of a QRP portable group where a bunch of us would meet on the air and chat. Budd and I had a free schedule and I'd give him nightly reports from Eldersburg to Reading, CA as he was testing the antenna. We were both operating 5w, coast to coast, when conditions were good. I was using a G5RV with him on his Buddipole. I don't own one, but I can tell you that Budd put a good solid year into nightly testing in order to get this right, before he found a supplier that could help him make an antenna that lasts. I believe it's a compromise (anything with a coil or cap is) but that it is a great product from a very passionate man who cared enough about his personal design, to see it through to production. The original W3FF antenna was a home-built and was published in QST magazine. The commercial is nothing like it, but something better.
     
    vette97

    vette97

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 9, 2008
    1,915
    Carroll County, Maryland
    Hyper-W said:
    Columbia Amateur Radio Association and Potomac Valley Radio Club put on one of (if not THE) largest field day setups. I was there a couple years ago and they had 28 stations set up. They do it at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School at the corner of Folly Quarter and Triadelphia Roads in Ellicott City.
    Click to expand...

    I took a trip down to W3AO and got to see their 16 station setup. Never visited before. I was working FD from home, battery power, and made roughly 300 QSOs. It was great to see W3AO in person and get a good tour. Their GOTA station was queued up with about 5 different people waiting to operate and they had 3-4 generators keeping everything powered. One tent even had a heat pump creating A/C. They went all out. :party29:
     
    gamer_jim

    gamer_jim

    Podcaster
    Feb 12, 2008
    13,363
    Hanover, PA
    vette97 said:
    Hey Jim! Long time no chat. I've been away from the board too long.

    When Budd was "inventing" the Buddipole, I was part of a QRP portable group where a bunch of us would meet on the air and chat. Budd and I had a free schedule and I'd give him nightly reports from Eldersburg to Reading, CA as he was testing the antenna. We were both operating 5w, coast to coast, when conditions were good. I was using a G5RV with him on his Buddipole. I don't own one, but I can tell you that Budd put a good solid year into nightly testing in order to get this right, before he found a supplier that could help him make an antenna that lasts. I believe it's a compromise (anything with a coil or cap is) but that it is a great product from a very passionate man who cared enough about his personal design, to see it through to production. The original W3FF antenna was a home-built and was published in QST magazine. The commercial is nothing like it, but something better.
    Click to expand...

    Hey! Thanks. This is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.

    I think I am going to save up for the deluxe model. $400 including everything. I seem to have more opportunity to operate portable than fixed so this would be really useful to me.
     
    cms1528

    cms1528

    Active Member
    Feb 26, 2013
    802
    Upcoming Technician Class for anyone interested: very good class and it's free

    Technician Class Course - Fall 2017
    Submitted by WA3AER on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 15:07
    Free seven (7) week Technician Class. Students must provide their own current ARRL HAM Radio License Manual - 3rd Edition.

    When: Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Starting Thursday, September 7, 2017
    Where: National Electronics Museum - 1745 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 20190

    Space accommodations are limited, so please RSVP to reserve a spot in this class.

    For information or to RVSP, please email Rol Anders at: roland.anders@comcast.net or call (410) 796-4792.
     
    Biggfoot44

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    33,217
    Heck, just ordered 3 .

    Added - Stand by for a plea next week concerning ( whatever needs to be done with/ to them to make them talk to each other . I'm in touch with and comfortable in my Luddite-ness .)
     
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