Jump to content
ryan_j

Ham radio

Recommended Posts

The TS-430's were good radios.  I used to have one.

 

For someone looking for a cheap 10 meter only radio....this is a radio shack HTX-10.  They are decent radios for what they are (25 watts, 10-meter only), and they go relatively cheap because they cannot be used on the CB bands.  this one is $85.

 

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/ele/4925471758.html

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There's also someone in Bethlehem PA selling a Yaesu FT-450D for $500:

 

http://allentown.craigslist.org/ele/4935063354.html

 

And this guy is selling an Icom IC-730 in Valley Forge, which is getting a little old, but it looks great and includes the power supply (which can drive any radio, not just this one) asking $355:

 

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/4884099985.html

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There's also someone in Bethlehem PA selling a Yaesu FT-450D for $500:

 

http://allentown.craigslist.org/ele/4935063354.html

 

And this guy is selling an Icom IC-730 in Valley Forge, which is getting a little old, but it looks great and includes the power supply (which can drive any radio, not just this one) asking $355:

 

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/4884099985.html

 

The IC-730 in Valley Forge is a very good deal since you are getting a power supply with it and it's a one-owner radio (likely taken care of based on the pics) :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The TS-430's were good radios.  I used to have one.

 

For someone looking for a cheap 10 meter only radio....this is a radio shack HTX-10.  They are decent radios for what they are (25 watts, 10-meter only), and they go relatively cheap because they cannot be used on the CB bands.  this one is $85.

 

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/ele/4925471758.html

 

Those are nice 10m radios.

 

Edit: I had a HTX-10 might still have it, I was going to mount it as a mobile but never got around to it.

 

I would say the IC-730 is a better deal, plenty of room to expand if you get General/Extra and even with the Tech license you can still listen to shortwave HF until getting the General or Extra.

 

Newtonian has some options, all under $400.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10 meters is just starting to come back now (from my perception).

 

Getting my 2m and 6m antennas up soon (waited on ground strap/rod components) and taking the 'General' in May.

Doggy are 6 and 10m mostly ssb or cw? One of my HTs has 6m as FM.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

"Doggy are 6 and 10m mostly ssb or cw? One of my HTs has 6m as FM."

 

10 M is all USB. Not using CW. Haven't been on 6 M yet - Yaesu FT1200 has 6 M so I'm looking forward to it. Antenna array (in addition to center fed 80 M fan dipole already up) will be 2 M / 70 CM combination vertical dipole, 2 M 3-element quad Yagi and 6M dipole all home brew. All LMR-400 cables. The Yagi is very precisely made and should have a forward gain of at least 10 db on 2 M.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Everyone,

My brother and I just purchase the Baofeng GT-3TP radios. They just arrived today actually. I wanted to obtain the license to be able to transmit does anyone know a place in South Jersey to take this course? Is the course hard to pass? I really would like to legally be able to use these radios? Also do ham radios work well in the woods for camping trips?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Everyone,

My brother and I just purchase the Baofeng GT-3TP radios. They just arrived today actually. I wanted to obtain the license to be able to transmit does anyone know a place in South Jersey to take this course? Is the course hard to pass? I really would like to legally be able to use these radios? Also do ham radios work well in the woods for camping trips?

 

That's a dual band (VHF and UHF) radio, out in the woods I would use the VHF band on those (simplex) as in radio to radio without a repeater.

 

This will help you find a test location: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

 

The entry level exam (Technician license) is 35 or so questions, very easy to pass and the FCC publishes the questions/answers for the test...

 

Here is a practice test:

http://hamexam.org/

 

:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Everyone,

My brother and I just purchase the Baofeng GT-3TP radios. They just arrived today actually. I wanted to obtain the license to be able to transmit does anyone know a place in South Jersey to take this course? Is the course hard to pass? I really would like to legally be able to use these radios? Also do ham radios work well in the woods for camping trips?

 

I read through the No-Nonsense Study Guides by Dan Romanchik ( And then, just took the practice exams at http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ OR http://arrlexamreview.appspot.com/ until I was reliably 80-85%.

 

If you put time in the above, you should be able to pass the Technician test no problem as it's mostly a memorization and common sense thing.  That being said, I felt I knew very little about ham radio after passing the test, but I did have my license.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I read through the No-Nonsense Study Guides by Dan Romanchik ( And then, just took the practice exams at http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ OR http://arrlexamreview.appspot.com/ until I was reliably 80-85%.

 

If you put time in the above, you should be able to pass the Technician test no problem as it's mostly a memorization and common sense thing.  That being said, I felt I knew very little about ham radio after passing the test, but I did have my license.

 

Exactly -- the goal of the testing is to ensure you have a basic level of understanding of what you're doing and don't hurt yourself or others, or make yourself an annoyance to everyone else.  The Ham License testing is really just like learning to drive a car - the drivers license test is to ensure you understand the rules of the road - it doesn't mean you're ready for NASCAR.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Exactly -- the goal of the testing is to ensure you have a basic level of understanding of what you're doing and don't hurt yourself or others, or make yourself an annoyance to everyone else.  The Ham License testing is really just like learning to drive a car - the drivers license test is to ensure you understand the rules of the road - it doesn't mean you're ready for NASCAR.

I'm ready to take my General license exam (I'm currently a Tech) and I don't think I know anything about radio either. I don't think a Technician-level licensee has to know anything about climbing antenna towers, but there are several questions on that topic. That's just one example. For the General exam they have a bunch of questions on frequencies such as "what part of the XYZ band is reserved for CW?" or "What portion of XXX band is reserved for RTTY?" I'll be honest. I simply create a mnemonic for those types of questions. If and when I use CW or RTTY or SSB on any HF band I'll have an index card in front of me with the plan for that band typed out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm ready to take my General license exam (I'm currently a Tech) and I don't think I know anything about radio either. I don't think a Technician-level licensee has to know anything about climbing antenna towers, but there are several questions on that topic. That's just one example. For the General exam they have a bunch of questions on frequencies such as "what part of the XYZ band is reserved for CW?" or "What portion of XXX band is reserved for RTTY?" I'll be honest. I simply create a mnemonic for those types of questions. If and when I use CW or RTTY or SSB on any HF band I'll have an index card in front of me with the plan for that band typed out.

 

Best thing to do is to print out the ARRL band plan and leave it in front of the radio.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Exactly. So why have people memorize that stuff? 

 

Well, knowing the rules/regulations is one thing...you wouldn't let someone drive without passing the MVC exam and having someone operate a radio without knowing the rules/regs/operating practices could be disastrous.

 

When I took my Tech exam I memorized the Q&A's and once I was on the air if I questioned something (band restrictions/mode) I would glance at the band plan to double check before transmitting, I still do this and feel no shame in not remembering every band/mode restriction off hand.

 

If you do something that isn't permissible with your license (ie out of band transmission) someone might let you know on the air or an official observer "OO" might drop you a reminder in the mail but FCC agents showing up or license suspension over occasional mistakes is unheard of.

 

Memorize the Q&A's you are stuck on, that's how they manage to push first responders through these exams in one day (memorizing the Q&A's)...but if you are unsure about something best to reference check it before Xmitting.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, knowing the rules/regulations is one thing...you wouldn't let someone drive without passing the MVC exam and having someone operate a radio without knowing the rules/regs/operating practices could be disastrous.

 

When I took my Tech exam I memorized the Q&A's and once I was on the air if I questioned something (band restrictions/mode) I would glance at the band plan to double check before transmitting, I still do this and feel no shame in not remembering every band/mode restriction off hand.

 

If you do something that isn't permissible with your license (ie out of band transmission) someone might let you know on the air or an official observer "OO" might drop you a reminder in the mail but FCC agents showing up or license suspension over occasional mistakes is unheard of.

 

Memorize the Q&A's you are stuck on, that's how they manage to push first responders through these exams in one day (memorizing the Q&A's)...but if you are unsure about something best to reference check it before Xmitting.

The reason I waited 46 years to get my license is because I respected the hobby and the airwaves. It took me several weeks after getting my license to press the XMit button. I would never allow myself to break the rules. 

 

What I'm getting at is there is no reason to have someone memorize 14.073-14.078 for some particular mode. When you get a driver's license they don't ask you to memorize the address of the MV office.

 

IMO Technician should be mostly about getting on the air and not sounding stupid as I do/did on the Tech bands. To use an analogy, you don't show up for pheasant in camo but you do for turkey :)  That's the kind of stuff I want to know. Not which belt to connect to ground 200 feet into the air. I ain't going 200 feet into the air even if I qualify for the super-super-Extra-Existential license. 

 

General should be more about theory I believe. But I'll tell you the study guides do not explain things very well. I'm using HamTest, which is great for memorizing the answers but doesn't really explain anything too much. I have a strong science background and I can't make heads or tails of a lot of the material unless I research it myself independently. And frequently I just shrug it off: "I'll learn it when I need it." Or I invent a mnemonic, like the Q about superhet receivers: it's one of the longest words in ham-dom, and the answer is the shortest one on the list. Fine. I'm done. What it is I can't tell you, except that it has the fewest characters. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What I'm getting at is there is no reason to have someone memorize 14.073-14.078 for some particular mode. When you get a driver's license they don't ask you to memorize the address of the MV office.

 

But they do ask you equally inane questions, like what's the penalty for a second dui. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you're missing it...they have questions about tower climbing because hams DO fall from towers.  its the same reason the Hunter Safety test has questions about tree stands; statistically, your highest risk when hunting is taking a snooze and falling out of your stand.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But they do ask you equally inane questions, like what's the penalty for a second dui. 

And what's your reaction time and stopping distance when driving at XX miles per hour.  

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you're missing it...they have questions about tower climbing because hams DO fall from towers.  its the same reason the Hunter Safety test has questions about tree stands; statistically, your highest risk when hunting is taking a snooze and falling out of your stand.

A deer hunter is much more likely to use a stand than a freshly minted Tech is to climb a tower, no?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A deer hunter is much more likely to use a stand than a freshly minted Tech is to climb a tower, no?

 

It depends.

 

I've been deer hunting for 30 years, and I climbed an existing tree-stand once, and I've never used a climber.

 

I've been an amateur radio op for about 18 years...I've climbed many towers, and worked as ground crew for about 3x more.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It depends.

 

I've been deer hunting for 30 years, and I climbed an existing tree-stand once, and I've never used a climber.

 

I've been an amateur radio op for about 18 years...I've climbed many towers, and worked as ground crew for about 3x more.

I've never hunted deer (next hobby/project) or climbed antenna towers (never ever will I) so I'll defer to your experience. You have to realize when I make posts like that that I'm an aging individual who was cranky from a very young age. That particular personality trait does not improve.

 

I mean, look at my avatar. Just this week I've ordered the execution of 200 of my closest friends and blood relatives. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a little of topic, but for those who plan on going for General or higher, or those who desire to learn/improve knowledge level of electronics and theory, this will help: www.jacquesricher.com/NEETS/

 

This is the complete Navy Electronics and Electricity training course material. Excellent information. I refer to it often even today.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've never hunted deer (next hobby/project) or climbed antenna towers (never ever will I) so I'll defer to your experience. You have to realize when I make posts like that that I'm an aging individual who was cranky from a very young age. That particular personality trait does not improve.

 

I mean, look at my avatar. Just this week I've ordered the execution of 200 of my closest friends and blood relatives. 

cranky is ok. ninja level paranoid.....not so much, lololol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...