Ham

Forum: water cooler
Topic: Ham
started by: Z038

Posted by Z038 on Jan. 22 2005,23:27

ke4nt1, are you a ham operator? I noticed you often sign off with "73". I googled that and came up with the current meaning "best regards". But some other historical data suggests that it came from the days of telegraph, and may have orginially meant "My love to you". Other people say that is bunk.

Whatever it means or meant, that "73" signoff got me to exploring ham sites. There are bunches of them out there. I was just wondering if any of the hams on this board might point me in the direction of a few of their recommended basic or beginner web sites about ham radio. I'd like to know how to get started in ham radio, how to get a license, what sort of equipment to get, how to interact properly with the ham community.

I think maybe someday I'd like to go mobile, but for now, I'm mainly interested in a home base station.

So, how about it. Anyone got any suggestions for me?

Posted by ke4nt1 on Jan. 23 2005,02:15

Since I don't know your country of origin, I can only share what I know
about the US licensing and testing information..

www.qrz.com is a great place to start.

My wife and kids got their licenses studying the online practice tests,
went to a testing site, and passed first time !

www.arrl.org has reams and reams of information about testing sites,
experiments, news, antennas, articles, and projects involving ham radio.

Those should keep you busy for a good while..

I enjoy APRS, GPS, Contesting, Homebrewing, Antennas, Satellites, and
just general tinkering with radio. Collecting QSL cards is fun..

Linux and Ham Radio go very well together..
There are many extensions in the repository for Amateur Radio use.
The Hams I know are very supportive, and friendly, like DSL forums.

Enjoy..

73
ke4nt

Posted by Z038 on Jan. 23 2005,02:39

ke4nt1, thanks! I'm in the US, by the way. I see that the first license level is Technician, and from all accounts, is easy to attain.

Both sites look great, and I'm sure I'll be immersed in them for many hours. The ARRL site looks particularly informative.

What sounds most interesting to me right now, besides just being able to talk to other hams, is digital packet and television, plus building my own experimental gear.

Thanks again for the info.

Posted by Del on Jan. 23 2005,04:49

Since it's started...
I've long been semi interested in ham radio. My father and I went to a church class on it years ago, learned a bit, but both became disinterested after a while. For me it was mostly due to being a teen I think, ham wasn't "cool" *chuckles*.

Anyway, I do have a real question or two. Starting off, are there usable licenses available for no-code? I know most real hams hate hearing this, and pass it off as lack of desire to learn, but I really have a hard time with learning morse code. I've tried several times in my life, and just haven't been able to grasp it yet. Same thing goes for other stuff, ie, despite my mother being a music teacher, I can't read music to save my life. I took Spanish in high school for three years, and a semester in college, and can't hardly speak a lick of it, let alone understand it.

Question two: Do you have any suggestions on learning Morse? Websites that help, books you know to be good, etc...?

Thanks

Posted by PhrozenFear on Jan. 23 2005,05:22

Morse is fun. I'm a Canadian HAM, so things are a little bit different up here. Especially since they're thinking of removing the urrent Morse requirement to get on HF. Canada's been humming and hawing on it for a while, and are going to go for a new tierage soon, but as for when, nobody knows.

Anyway, 73's, and good luck getting your ham ticket.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Jan. 23 2005,05:46

Del,

The BEST way to learn morse code is with a "Code Buddy" .
The tapes get old and familiar, and ARRL broadcast come and go quickly.
On-air learning is best for improving your skills, once you've got down the basics.
I taught my kids most of the frequently used letters, to the point that they
could make simple words, in an afternoon..

And yes, your first license, which allows you privledges in LOTS of areas,
requires no code to be used or tested. Study the online practice test at
www.qrz.com , and go take that test!

73
ke4nt

Posted by libretto on Jan. 23 2005,11:11

Hi there,

They've changed the licenses here in the UK recently. We've now got a three tier system. Also, there is no morse requirement anymore, more a morse 'appreciation' test. I may get around to learning morse eventually, but for now doing qrp on the hf bands (espcially the extended portion of 40m 7.1-7.2MHz) is good enough for me :laugh:

72 Nicholas 2E1LOK / GQRP 11458 / K2 #2448

P.S.: I got my license before they shuffled the levels round. Mine was the original novice license, now I'm automatically an intermeadiate, 50W power and I can build my own gear!

Posted by Z038 on Jan. 24 2005,13:22

I bought the ARRL book, "Now You're Talking" at a local bookstore yesterday to study for the Technician level license. The 35 question exam for Technician license doesn't seem like it'll be difficult. I'll be ready soon for the next exam available in my area. No Morse test required for Technician license.

However, I plan to learn Morse right away anyhow because you get some privileges on 4 of the HF bands if you pass the test (used to be called Technician Plus, but that license level is no longer given), even before taking the General level exam. And the Morse test is required for a General licence anyway.

I learned Morse code many years ago as a Boy Scout, haven't thought about it in the past 30 years, but I'm pretty sure I can pick it up again. It won't be an entirely new trick for this old dog... er, penguin.

Posted by MrBear37 on Jan. 24 2005,13:36

Kent et al,

Greetings, I am also a ham.. I have had my tech class license for about a year. Morse code is not ALL THAT hard, although it is a challenge and I have yet to chew threw it. and like all other things you will loose it if you dont use it.

We have an active group of ham users, but not a bunch of Ham teachers/tutors in our area. I personally have an interest in homebrew /QPR however I would need to some help with it. My first attempt at a homebrew crystal set was just this side of a disaster! LOL..

Anyway.. Best of luck !

Mark

Posted by tronik on Jan. 24 2005,15:14

Grr. Im so Jealous. I really want to be HAM ;p and packet radio. For Emergency Uses. Im in the National Guard and I think this kind of stuff would be interesting/valuable to my unit. GRR!!!

It makes me mad! Anyway..if we all become Hams we can talk to each other on the air, right?

Posted by ke4nt1 on Jan. 24 2005,18:27

Mark..
I'm curious why you haven't shared your callsign with us ?

I have a 5 band/ 0-5 watt-variable rig that I use for qrp.
I like to ragchew and work 10M on the tube radios,
and the Alinco DX-70 I use for contesting and mobile use..

Tronik..
Hit QRZ .. Use practice tests to study.. Lather,Rinse,Repeat..
( yes, a Linux ragchew net WOULD be cool.. )

Z038..
Somewhere.. I saw a version of an internet talk/chat program
that would let you send morse over the internet to another user.
I wonder if that program comes in a linux version ?
Finding a "code buddy" to work with would be easy with that..
It really helps get "up to speed" in preparation for the test..

libretto.. PhrozenFear
You guys are on CW ?
Why haven't we qso'd on 7.117 or 3.710 ?

Building the Amateur Radio kits is a lot of fun,
but making your own pocket rockbound TX/RX from a schematic
just "Rocks"!

- - ... ... - -
ke4nt

Posted by libretto on Jan. 24 2005,20:34

Sorry not on CW yet (won't be for the forseeable future), but hope to get PSK31 going soon!

Posted by MrBear37 on Jan. 28 2005,13:11

Kent, et al..

KGBRDV .. is my call sign. sorry I left it out. The truth is that I have not bothered because .. Although I recently bought a radio ( used) I still have yet to get a Mic / Power supply/ antenna for it. I am sort of antsy to get that done. I have an Icom (770-A I believe it is).. and Icoms have that chip/preamp in the mic. When I bought the radio and brought it back to Florida from Texas, I took it to a repair guy the local club recommended. He did a great job.. cleaned the relays up etc. He told me I should try to grab a hand mic from one of the older hams in the group who might have one at a local ham fest. This would be considerably cheaper than buting one from Icom. ( at about $100 I am told).

One of the things that is missing locally is a great deal of Ham mentoring. I am pretty much a hands on sort of learner.
I need to touch/feel and to a certain degree be guided through some of the QRP that I am dying to get into. The ideal of stuffing a Tx/Rx unit into a sucrets tin just totally Rocks !

OK I will shut up now !

Posted by Z038 on Jan. 29 2005,18:45

I just bought a Kenwood TS530-S with mic and an antenna tuner. I know this is a slightly premature purchase since I don't have my license yet. In fact, this transceiver covers the 10 meter to 160 meter HF bands, which means I'll have to wait until I have my General license to transmit SSB. Technician class with the CW test will get me CW privileges on small parts of four of the HF bands.

But anyway, I'll be able to listen on the HF bands until I get my General license, and I'll get to learn how more experienced hams communicate.

Anyone got a recommendation for a reliable but inexpensive transceiver that operates on the 6 and/or 2 meter bands? Or an inexpensive 6 meter kit radio? I'm not up to building one from schematics, but I figure I might be able to manage a kit.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Jan. 29 2005,19:50

Ah yes.. the old faithful .. Kenwood Battleship.

I have a TS-530SP here, only difference is that the SP version
has a nice adjustable notch filter on it, for killing those heterodynes
you often find interfering with your CW copy in the shortwave portions
of the 40 and 80 meter bands..

Here is a rough pic of mine.. the blowup wigged it.. but you'll recognize it..

Die-hard rigs, easy to repair, tubes plentiful.
Usually a little weak on 10 meters, (75W) .
I let mine loaf at 50W on most all bands, and run 10W frequently..
( works just as well, and less QRM on the band .. )
I highly suggest replacing all 3 tubes if they have not been replaced recently.
They are cheap ( conparatively ) , and should last years.
You will need to get either a tech or an old-timer to 'neutralize'
your finals circuit after the tube change before you fire it up.
Otherwise, it can oscillate/feedback, and destroy your relays/load resistors.

I have scored quite well in many contests using that ol' rig.
I love the analog dial, and the great audio.
The receiver is OK, some birdies, but will provide you with hours and hours
of great listening enjoyment until you get those test passed, and a callsign.

10 meters is pretty much dead till 2009 , but you can catch some
brief spurts of skip activity during the summer
( with a wire antenna, check amsat.org for some satellite schedules.
You can hear the beacons of many satellites on 10M as they fly overhead.)
Use the gsat program in the repository to plot their passes visually.
( 29.5 - 29.7 )

15 is a little better.
During the daytime, when conditions are good, you can easily hear
11,000+ mile paths on little or no antenna and low wattage.

20 is your workhorse..
Tune in around 14.300 for the marine net on weekends.
( lots of nets on the weekends )
14.230-14.236 you can hear the ssb warbles of SSTV,
usually real active on weekend mornings..
connect the output of the headphone jack to your soundcard input at a
very LOW level, and use the qsstv program in DSL to capture the pics.
Also, check 14.070.2 for tones ..these are PSK31 ops.
Same headphone connection can bring you lots of monitoring of
QSO's using the Gpsk31 program in the repository.
And always some good QSO's between 14.150 and 14.300
Day or Night..

40 is your nighttime band, although you'll catch a lot of CW activity
in the 7.100-7.150 band most anytime.. newb CW ops. I hang out here..
The shortwave stations really tear it up at night, but you can find some
activity between 7.150 and 7.250 in between stations.
More PSK-31 around 7.070.. RTTY as well..

80 ...another nighttime band.. gets real noisy sometimes.
We have several local chats at 3861, etc.. SSB,
but mostly what you hear at night is a bunch of pig farmers cussin and rantin.
So, be selective about where you park it.. listen for 'intelligent' QSO's..
The CW portions are very active - 3.803-3.850+ depending on conditions.
( There are several good nets on 80 as well - hurricane net, ice cream net, etc. )

40 and 80 are my favs for CW ops.. 30 meters ( 10.100-10.150) is good too.

160 - the gentlemen's band ( top band )
If you like a challenge , this is it.
You'll need a bit more than a "wire in a tree" to do well here.
Lots of static and mother nature doing her thing ( thunderstorms )
Unless it's wintertime, or local, expect to hear little here.
Sometimes 1.830-1/835 you can hear some CW coming "over the pond" (EU)

Hope it helps.. listening is a lot of fun..

73
ke4nt

Posted by libretto on Jan. 30 2005,23:45

Good old Kenwoods! On several days I've had contacts and they were all using kenwoods! (830s, 540s etc...) :laugh:

Although my station is a bit more QRP!

HF Elecraft K2 (#2448)
6M Walford Electronics transverter
4M converted PMR
VHF/UHF handheld
VHF/UHF Yaesu FT8000 mobile rig (to be used as base station)

Antennas for HF/4m/6m are homebrew from screw terminal blocks, earth wire and RG58 coax (from networks! comes preterminated :;):

)

As for 6m kits don't know many stateside. Don't Tentec do one or a transverter?

72 Nicholas GQRP 11458

Posted by Z038 on Feb. 01 2005,02:50

That's a really nice ham shack you have there, ke4nt1. Thanks for all the tips, too. Is it the status of the sunspot cycle that makes 10 meter dead until 2009? It's an 11 year cycle, right? When the band opens up, how many years does it stay open? Are the lower frequencies affected too?

libretto, this is all new to me, but from what I've read, the Elecraft K2 is a top of the line multi-band QRP rig, and a fairly major building project. I'd love to try my hand at building one of those some day, but not anytime soon. It looks like a job for an experienced builder. Too expensive if you botch it, and I probably would.

I've been reading up on low power operations the past few days, and I find myself greatly intrigued. Imagine DX contacts on 5 watts and less.

I've found a variety of QRP kits from Wilderness Radio, Oak Hills Research, Small Wonders Labs, MicroMoutaineers, and Elecraft. I'm thinking about building a Wilderness Radio NorCal40A as my first foray into kit building. It looks like it would be fairly easy to build. I can look for ke4nt1 on the 7.100 to 7.150 MHz part of the 40 meter band once I pass my Technician test and my code test.

BTW, I haven't found a 6 meter kit. Ten Tec discontinued their model 1360 kit. They have a two meter kit, though, and a 6 meter transverter. Elecraft has a 6 meter transverter kit too.

Now, back to my ARRL books...

Posted by ke4nt1 on Feb. 01 2005,04:08

The best thing I have found for 6 meters is to pick up a used Alinco DX70.
You can find them easily enough, but like any digital transceiver, expect to
pay 300.00 and up for a nice one.
It has all the HF bands + 6 Meters built in, and enough output
to drive a small 150W brick amp. If you find a DX-70 TH model, it does 100W
on all bands 'including' 6 meters, all by itself..
Another hot item is the Icom 706MKII .. which also adds 2Meters to the mix..
A nice rig to startup a decent 2M/6M SSB operation.. expect to pay more..

73
ke4nt

Posted by MrBear37 on June 24 2005,14:46

Kent..et al..

I was reading back through my post.. did a fat finger on the call sign.. KG4RDV is what it should have read. I have another old battleship.. ICOM 720-A Still have not gotten through to learning the code as I have been busy with a ton of other little projects.. like studying Japanese.. Namae wa Maku desu ... dozo yorushiku !

Anyway.. my local ham club is getting ready to sponsor a code class to get those of us who have been slacking up to speed enough to pass the test. If I know these guys they will not be happy with just getting us to recognize code audibly they will be putting us through some practical testing as well. Torture ! I cant wait !

actually looking forward to it.. now if I only had a QRP mentor locally to blow stuff up with

Mark