Amateur Radio FAQ

[Fordracer2082]

I got a email from ARRL to send email to our senator's to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act. We should all send the emails. Here is the link .
http://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act

 

[K31]

I got a email from ARRL to send email to our senator's to support the Amateur Radio Parity Act. We should all send the emails. Here is the link .
http://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act

In case others don't know, this is a proposed Federal law that allows licensed Amateur radio operators to erect "effective" outside antennas on their property even if their HOAs have rules against outdoor antennas.

The HOA can still make rules regarding height and aesthetics and other things but they can no longer simply say no.

The real estate industry fought hard against his in the beginning, even publishing lies about the use of amateur radio for emergency uses.

It's not a perfect law but for those living in HOA-hell (and who knows, you may not live under their thumb now but more-and-more it's hard to avoid) it's a big step forward.

 

[gamer_jim]

ordered the ARRL general license study guide. Hope to pass by the end of this year.

 

[POP57]

ordered the ARRL general license study guide. Hope to pass by the end of this year.

Study guides are fine, but try to understand the theory as well. Best of luck.

 

[gamer_jim]

Study guides are fine, but try to understand the theory as well. Best of luck.

It's this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X6F8DRS/

and yes I agree. I have a friend who passed his tech license through one of those cram classes. We talk about ham and I bring up points that were covered in the tech exam and he says he doesn't know that.

Can you recommend any other books? There are a few in the ARRL's suggested reading list that I might get as well, like the antenna guide.

I'm fascinated with digital modes. I've been scanning the lower end of 2M all this week and not finding anything other than APRS traffic on 144.390. I know most people don't do digital in VHF but there's got to be something out there.

 

[JamesH]

I'm fascinated with digital modes. I've been scanning the lower end of 2M all this week and not finding anything other than APRS traffic on 144.390. I know most people don't do digital in VHF but there's got to be something out there.

There's very little digital going on above 6m these days, but there is some. Some ARES groups use NBEMS to do message traffic on VHF, but that's not (as far as I know) on any standardized frequencies, just up to local preference. I think there's some moonbounce that uses digital modes like JT65 on 2m. Probably the most active other than APRS is Winlink (www.winlink.org). It's commonly on 145.01 or 145.03, but in PG we have a number of Winlink nodes in 145.75. Winlink is used for radio email, which can either stay in RF or be relayed via Internet. There are both VHF and HF modes for Winlink.

 

[K31]

I'm fascinated with digital modes. I've been scanning the lower end of 2M all this week and not finding anything other than APRS traffic on 144.390. I know most people don't do digital in VHF but there's got to be something out there.

Do you have a 2M rig capable of SSB or are you just trying using a HT with FM-only?

 

[gamer_jim]

There's very little digital going on above 6m these days, but there is some. Some ARES groups use NBEMS to do message traffic on VHF, but that's not (as far as I know) on any standardized frequencies, just up to local preference. I think there's some moonbounce that uses digital modes like JT65 on 2m. Probably the most active other than APRS is Winlink (www.winlink.org). It's commonly on 145.01 or 145.03, but in PG we have a number of Winlink nodes in 145.75. Winlink is used for radio email, which can either stay in RF or be relayed via Internet. There are both VHF and HF modes for Winlink.

Thanks, I'll check that program out.

Do you have a 2M rig capable of SSB or are you just trying using a HT with FM-only?

I have a 2M FM rig, Yaesu 2900. I also have a hand-held, Yaesu FT-90r, which can do AM on 2M/70cm. Is the AM mode on the HT SSB?

I can hook my HT to the outside antenna if need be.

I'm still saving for an HF rig.

 

[JamesH]

I also have a hand-held, Yaesu FT-90r, which can do AM on 2M/70cm. Is the AM mode on the HT SSB?

AM and SSB are related, but not identical. AM has both side-bands (the portion that carries sound) and a center carrier. SSB takes that AM signal and drops one of the side-bands and the carrier. The net result is that you can listen to AM with an SSB receiver, but you typically won't have good results trying to listen to SSB on an AM receiver.

Also, I thought that the Yaesu only does AM in the aircraft band, and only for reception. I don't think it transmits AM. But I could have that wrong, and Yaesu's manuals aren't always crystal clear about such things.

 

[K31]

Thanks, I'll check that program out.



I have a 2M FM rig, Yaesu 2900. I also have a hand-held, Yaesu FT-90r, which can do AM on 2M/70cm. Is the AM mode on the HT SSB?

I can hook my HT to the outside antenna if need be.

I'm still saving for an HF rig.

No, AM is both sidebands and a carrier although I think some older radios did both side bands with a suppressed carrier and called it AM.

 

[POP57]

It's this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X6F8DRS/

and yes I agree. I have a friend who passed his tech license through one of those cram classes. We talk about ham and I bring up points that were covered in the tech exam and he says he doesn't know that.

Can you recommend any other books? There are a few in the ARRL's suggested reading list that I might get as well, like the antenna guide.

I'm fascinated with digital modes. I've been scanning the lower end of 2M all this week and not finding anything other than APRS traffic on 144.390. I know most people don't do digital in VHF but there's got to be something out there.

Sorry that I missed your comment. I'm not up on all the latest and greatest study guides. I got my Tech license in 1987 and my General not long after that. I haven't been very active in a number of years, but the theory doesn't change much.

 

[gamer_jim]

AM and SSB are related, but not identical. AM has both side-bands (the portion that carries sound) and a center carrier. SSB takes that AM signal and drops one of the side-bands and the carrier. The net result is that you can listen to AM with an SSB receiver, but you typically won't have good results trying to listen to SSB on an AM receiver.

Also, I thought that the Yaesu only does AM in the aircraft band, and only for reception. I don't think it transmits AM. But I could have that wrong, and Yaesu's manuals aren't always crystal clear about such things.

Correction, it's an FT-60R, not 90.

I just checked the manual and it looks like it can receive AM on any frequency but only transmit FM on the 2M ham frequencies.

So to do digital on 2M i need a rig that can do SSB?

 

[POP57]

Correction, it's an FT-60R, not 90.

I just checked the manual and it looks like it can receive AM on any frequency but only transmit FM on the 2M ham frequencies.

So to do digital on 2M i need a rig that can do SSB?

SSB is considered a weak signal mode just as CW is. Moon bounce uses both. AM is most likely to receive aircraft frequencies.

 

[JamesH]

So to do digital on 2M i need a rig that can do SSB?

It depends on the specific digital mode. On VHF, there are some folks doing NBEMS over FM. And packet (like APRS and other AX.25 applications, like the old-school BBSes and current Winlink) is typically done on FM. The long-range VHF stuff, like satellites and moonbounce and even VHF DXing with terrestrial propagation, all tend toward SSB with extravagant antennas.

 

[mac1_131]

The VHF contests are really cool. So many bands and modes to play with. Tower space was at a premium though so I figured out a way to use my VHF, 220, and 440 beams both horizontal and vertical by moving them with pneumatic cylinders.



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You are not the first to do that. I knew someone who had the air lines running all the way out to his tower. Very cool idea, and not affected by RF.

 

[StickShaker]

You are not the first to do that. I knew someone who had the air lines running all the way out to his tower. Very cool idea, and not affected by RF.

My tower was just a few feet from the house. Tiny little lines too, 3/16 OD black nylon. It didn't take much air flow and the antennas would change position in about 5 seconds.

 

[6-Pack]

Hamfest this Sunday (10/9) at the Howard County fairgrounds. This is a pretty good event and one of my favorites.

http://www.carafest.org

 

[POP57]

No, AM is both sidebands and a carrier although I think some older radios did both side bands with a suppressed carrier and called it AM.

Actually it was referred to as DSB, Double Side Band.

 

[K31]

ARRL Chirp Webinar on Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The ARRL will host a CHIRP Radio Programming webinar on Wednesday,
October 19, at 8 PM Eastern Time.

This presentation will offer a brief overview of the free, open-source
CHIRP software, which can be used to program most radios.

You may register by clicking on:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/693479953177190401

 

[K31]

Mason-Dixon Hamfest this Sunday

http://www.qis.net/~k3pzn/hamfest.html