Amateur Radio FAQ

netspec · Sep 25, 2013

Last month I purchased a new in the box FT-450 on QRZ and an end fed antenna from these folks: http://www.earchi.org/proj_homebrew.html. I've since built a homebrew "buddipole" antenna using these plans:https://sites.google.com/site/w3ffhomepage/new-homebrew-buddstick-plans. I'm looking to build this antenna next: http://www.alexloop.com/artigo36.html and then a go-box.

The real fun begins when I start to learn about propagation!

svana · Sep 25, 2013

Pockets said:
I can attest to the quality of the classes at NEM, I got my extra class license at 13 from Rolands teaching, Back then you still had to learn code!

I havent been active much lately but I enjoy old tube rigs and have a small collection and have built several tube and solid state radios.

WX3DX

You don't have to learn code anymore? We had a HAM club when I was in middle school (early 2000's), and we were having to learn it then...

K31 · Sep 25, 2013

netspec said:
Last month I purchased a new in the box FT-450 on QRZ and an end fed antenna from these folks: http://www.earchi.org/proj_homebrew.html.

After reading some of the testimonials, I may have to buy one.

I've since built a homebrew "buddipole" antenna using these plans:https://sites.google.com/site/w3ffhomepage/new-homebrew-buddstick-plans.

I'm looking to build this antenna next: http://www.alexloop.com/artigo36.html and then a go-box.

Very interesting. I've only seen loops built with huge (and probably pricey) variable caps for HF.

johnb007 · Sep 25, 2013

Great post.

KB3WYP

Pinecone · Sep 25, 2013

svana said:
You don't have to learn code anymore? We had a HAM club when I was in middle school (early 2000's), and we were having to learn it then...

Tech Plus without a code requirement came about back in the early 90s.

Morse Code requirement was dropped to 5WPM only in 2000 and dropped fullly in 2003.

johnb007 · Sep 25, 2013

Not to promote a blog, but there are some decent "budget" handheld radios out there. Baofeng and TYT come to mind. http://www.geek-prepper.com/budget-ham-radio/

netspec · Sep 25, 2013

johnb007 said:
Not to promote a blog, but there are some decent "budget" handheld radios out there. Baofeng and TYT come to mind. http://www.geek-prepper.com/budget-ham-radio/

If you do a HT, you may want to invest in a "Slim Jim" antenna:

http://www.2wayelectronix.com/

I use the Baofeng/slim jim combo to check into the Baltimore Traffic Net from time to time and have gotten good signal checks. You'd want to replace the stock antenna with this:

http://threeoldcrows.com/shop/magen...1-dual-band-144-430-mhz-flexible-antenna.html and purchase a speaker mic. The Baofeng also makes a for good mobile rig (using a 2 meter amp)

K31 · Oct 25, 2013

Looks like the St. Mary's Amateur Radio Association will offer all three classes this winter.

They say they the classes free but they are charging $14 to test.

The good news is that they are offering a free handheld radio to those who pass the Tech course.

http://k3nhk.org/2013/10/

jpo183 · Oct 25, 2013

K31 said:
Looks like the St. Mary's Amateur Radio Association will offer all three classes this winter.

They say they the classes free but they are charging $14 to test.

The good news is that they are offering a free handheld radio to those who pass the Tech course.

http://k3nhk.org/2013/10/

Hey K31, I got my tech license not to long ago. I am not ready to dump money into a rig. I am moving and will setup a system once I move. In the meantime I want something that is dirt cheap that I can talk on and learn how the bands work. Any suggestions?

KC3BCD

K31 · Oct 26, 2013

jpo183 said:
Hey K31, I got my tech license not to long ago. I am not ready to dump money into a rig. I am moving and will setup a system once I move. In the meantime I want something that is dirt cheap that I can talk on and learn how the bands work. Any suggestions?

KC3BCD

Do you have a FM UHF/VHF transceiver such as a handheld?

When you say bands, I think of HF which Techs have very limited privileges on.

For a dirt-cheap UHF/VHF hand held, you can get a ChiCom model such as:

http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Band-136-174-400-480/dp/B0097252UK

They work fairly well although the don't have the best manuals and are a pain to program without software. You can get free software but you'll need a cable.

If you plan to use it in a vehicle, you'll probably also want a detached hand mic and an antenna, A mag-mount type will be okay, just don't use it too long or it may damage your car finish.

You may also want a better antenna indoors to hit further away repeaters.

If you want to see what the HF bands are like google WebSDR and try connecting to a remote station. Unfortunately, two of the best here in the US no longer share their radios due to people being jerks.

marko12 · Oct 27, 2013

Located in New Castle De, the no tax and open carry state.

http://www.hamradio.com/locations.cfm?storeid=12

This is the one I got.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010076

jpo183 · Oct 28, 2013

marko12 said:
Located in New Castle De, the no tax and open carry state.

http://www.hamradio.com/locations.cfm?storeid=12

This is the one I got.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010076

Whats the range on it?

marko12 · Oct 29, 2013

jpo183

I'm new to all this and haven't discovered all the answers,yet.

I found a slim jim antenna on ebay and I'm in the process of trying it out.

netspec · Oct 29, 2013

marko12 said:
I found a slim jim antenna on ebay and I'm in the process of trying it out.

K31 · Oct 29, 2013

jpo183 said:
Whats the range on it?

Pretty much, HTs are 5W max and with the stock rubber duck antenna you can probably use repeaters 5mi or so away. But a lot depends on the terrain, intervening structures and the height of you and the repeater. I've talked through a repeater ~19mi away with a 2W HT from the top of a 5 story building.

Yaesu's are good HT's the one the other poster has is a VHF-only model. With a dual band UHF/VHF you'll have more choice in repeaters. Also, UHF is sometimes better for penetrating buildings and other ground structure.

I'm not knocking it, it has some features that say the Yaesu FT-60R dual-bander does not have like being submersible and a large speaker.

pez34a · Oct 31, 2013

Columbia Amateur Radio Association is having a Tech license training class Nov 9-10

Got this from the Columbia Amateur Radio Association the other day, thought I'd pass it along:
------------------------------------------------

The Columbia Amateur Radio Association (CARA) will be sponsoring a free, two day Amateur RadioTechnician License class on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10. The class will be held at the Howard Community College Amateur Radio Club building. I

Each day's class is broken into two four hour sessions, with a lunch break. The course and all of the study materials are free. A free license exam will be given in Laurel, MD on the following Saturday. The exams have 35, multiple choice questions and are graded on the spot. Those who fail are able to take the test over, with a different set of questions drawn from a pool of exam questions, as many times as they'd like.

While some of the topics to be covered in the course are technical in nature, they do not require an advanced degree of preparation in either math or science! We've seen students from a great variety of backgrounds of ages ranging from pre-teens through late sixties take the course and pass the exam.

For those of you who know high school and college students, regardless of their age or major field of study, I'd like to point out that the Foundation for Amateur Radio Scholarship Committee awards fifty-one scholarships, worth an aggregate of $75,000, to licensed amateurs pursuing baccalaureate and graduate degrees.

Please feel free to pass along this announcement wherever you see fit. We do request that those who plan to attend let us know. Send an email to sbuczkowski@umbc.edu or cara@columbiaara.org.

FatMuscle · Nov 3, 2013

N3FI, ARRL and LARC VE.

Founding member of Charles County Amateur Radio Club (CCARC).

We are having an exam session December 7th. No charge!

www.k3smd.org

awptickes · Nov 4, 2013

johnb007 said:
Not to promote a blog, but there are some decent "budget" handheld radios out there. Baofeng and TYT come to mind. http://www.geek-prepper.com/budget-ham-radio/

I have a Baofeng UV-5RAX+ on my hip right now.

I've got a General class license, and we use a commercial band here at work -- so it was simple to program the frequencies we use. (Yes, it's a licensed band.)

You really do need a cable to program it. The on-device menu isn't easy. The only way to program it, or change anything in memory is to use line A. Frustrating.

Here's a good review by wp4aoh:
http://wp4aoh.blogspot.com/2013/01/uv-5re-photo-1-baofeng-uv-5r-ia-multi.html

awptickes · Nov 4, 2013

K31 said:
Pretty much, HTs are 5W max and with the stock rubber duck antenna you can probably use repeaters 5mi or so away. But a lot depends on the terrain, intervening structures and the height of you and the repeater. I've talked through a repeater ~19mi away with a 2W HT from the top of a 5 story building.

Yaesu's are good HT's the one the other poster has is a VHF-only model. With a dual band UHF/VHF you'll have more choice in repeaters. Also, UHF is sometimes better for penetrating buildings and other ground structure.

I'm not knocking it, it has some features that say the Yaesu FT-60R dual-bander does not have like being submersible and a large speaker.

Please, please, please, please: If you're using a HT on any power higher than a couple mW, use a remote microphone. Holding the radiating element close to your eyes and heating them repeatedly is a bad idea. It'd be easy to exceed MPE in a day if you're active with 5W output.

It also allows you to hold the HT as high as possible, and use the remote-mic to talk thus increasing your range slightly.

Good writeup on this:
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/electrical/fcc-maximum-permissible-exposure.htm

(Not directed at anyone in general, just good guidance.)

Pinecone · Nov 5, 2013

awptickes said:
I've got a General class license, and we use a commercial band here at work -- so it was simple to program the frequencies we use. (Yes, it's a licensed band.)

Is the radio type accepted for commercial use??????

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