Amateur Radio FAQ

[bmkoenig]

The N3EJT machine west of Thurmont is at a great location on the mountain.

The freq for that is 147.195+ with a PL of 179.9.

 

[Armed Citizen]

Got my Baofeng handheld today! been playing around with it trying to see how it works (being sure not to send signals of course) is it possible to listen to FM stations or police/emergency frequencies like old scanners? Or are those frequencies not in the allowable range of these handhelds?

 

[K31]

Got my Baofeng handheld today! been playing around with it trying to see how it works (being sure not to send signals of course) is it possible to listen to FM stations or police/emergency frequencies like old scanners? Or are those frequencies not in the allowable range of these handhelds?

Since you don't say what radio you got, I can't answer about the FM (assuming you mean broadcast commercial FM) for the rest of your answer you may want to peruse this post:

http://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=2454115&postcount=1 see: Can I use my amateur transceiver as a scanner to hear police, fire, aviation, railroad, weather, etc frequencies?


Edit: if it is a UV5R then yes. it does receive commercial broadcast FM.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/baofeng_uv5r/info

 

[awptickes]

Well, I got the 718 on the 17th for my birthday present, and promptly made a bunch of contacts in europe this week while I was in NY. Noise level up there was s0 on just about every band.

The only problem was the plasma tv.


my fiancee got me a Softrock Ensemble RXTX 6.2 for christmas, so there are going to be some fun nights ahead of me.

 

[Armed Citizen]

ah yes sorry, it is the UV-5R. thanks for the help!

Since you don't say what radio you got, I can't answer about the FM (assuming you mean broadcast commercial FM) for the rest of your answer you may want to peruse this post:

http://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=2454115&postcount=1 see: Can I use my amateur transceiver as a scanner to hear police, fire, aviation, railroad, weather, etc frequencies?


Edit: if it is a UV5R then yes. it does receive commercial broadcast FM.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/baofeng_uv5r/info

 

[gamer_jim]

I need to get back into this. I've done virtually nothing with my license since I got it earlier this year. Talked to my dad yesterday and he asked me what I've been doing with it and my response was nothing. Going to charge it tonight and start carrying it with me more often.

 

[K31]

I need to get back into this. I've done virtually nothing with my license since I got it earlier this year. Talked to my dad yesterday and he asked me what I've been doing with it and my response was nothing. Going to charge it tonight and start carrying it with me more often.

I take it this is an HT. Do you have a mic and antenna for the car?

 

[gamer_jim]

I take it this is an HT. Do you have a mic and antenna for the car?

Yes on the HT, no on car accessories. Although my friend who lent the HT to me does have them I just need to go to his place to pick them up.

I did however just order a Maxpedition CP-L radio carrier so I can look cool while walking to work and back with it on my man-purse.

 

[K31]

Yes on the HT, no on car accessories. Although my friend who lent the HT to me does have them I just need to go to his place to pick them up.

You may want to start listening on your commute to local repeaters.

I did however just order a Maxpedition CP-L radio carrier so I can look cool while walking to work and back with it on my man-purse.

Maxpedition is the Louis Vuitton of tactical gear.

 

[awptickes]

Has anyone had QSL cards printed locally?

 

[K31]

Has anyone had QSL cards printed locally?

Not locally.

 

[netspec]

I purchased a Yaesu FT-1500M the other day:

htttp://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/829

Looks to be a good mobile or ECOMM box rig due to its size (almost 5" square). Easy to program.

 

[garym]

Has anyone had QSL cards printed locally?

Not local but I have used W4MPY several times:
http://www.w4mpy.com/

 

[garym]

Anyone for some MDS HF contacts?

 

[vette97]

Has anyone had QSL cards printed locally?

This guy is out of Hampstead:
http://kb3ifh.homestead.com/

 

[awptickes]

Anyone for some MDS HF contacts?

Sure.

When I get home from work I'll hop on 40m.

 

[jpo183]

Hey whats the rule on doing a "talk show" on a set frequency just like a normal one would be on the radio but no music?

 

[awptickes]

Hey whats the rule on doing a "talk show" on a set frequency just like a normal one would be on the radio but no music?

reread your tech manual.

People express opinions all the time, but the spirit of the hobby isn't to just talk and not care if people are listening.

Out of curiosity, and all legalities aside, what frequency would you be doing this on? 10m?

 

[Pinecone]

"Broadcasting" is not legal on ham bands.

Broadcasting being one way transmission.

Ham is for two way communications only.

Not to say that some people have not spent some time expounding their views, but always in a "conversation" with others.

 

[bkraft]

Can't believe I just saw this thread.

My FT-7800 is currently down for the count. With only a basic HT I'm not getting out much currently.

Radio was fine a couple weeks ago, then the battery in my truck died. (I was 20 miles from home and at a gas station, so I let them handle the replacement - something I don't typically do.) Anyway, just plugged the face plate in for the first time since the other day, and nothing

I checked the leads to the battery in the engine compartment and they look good. I can't get to the actual radio w/o pulling the seat, though, and its been too cold for me to want to go out and mess with it. Likely be a few weeks before I can look into it. I'm hoping it's one of the line fuses or something simple and there was no damage to the radio internals.