|
Jonny 290 posted:Oh, man, I had to get a hamhat at the last hamfest. I had a hamhat back when I was first licensed, I was the coolest 13-year-old.  On a related note, I just renewed my license, and holy poo poo, I've been licensed 20 years. I should maybe upgrade.
|
#
¿
Mar 27, 2012 19:06
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 11:00 |
|
|
Anybody have a recommendation for a decent, but not too expensive dual-band mobile rig? Something I can pop into my Mazda 3 for Skywarn season Otherwise it's off to eham.net to pour over reviews. Edit: Maybe something with a detachable faceplate so I can mount the rest of it in the trunk. manero fucked around with this message at 05:13 on Apr 14, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Apr 14, 2012 05:11
|
|
|
Radio Nowhere posted:Wow, you are exactly in the same situation as me! I have a Mazda 3 and I'm looking to get this, I had this page bookmarked from maybe a year or so ago: http://vesicular.livejournal.com/200067.html And now I'm looking at that IC-208H since it's the same rig in this setup  I have a Comet B-20NMO dual-band antenna that I've had laying around, and I just bought a Comet CP-5NMO mount that was discussed in the link above. It wasn't cheap 
|
|
#
¿
Apr 14, 2012 22:49
|
|
|
NotHet posted:Does impedance matching matter when receiving only? The first result on google says it is, the second one claims it does not. Of course not... ARRL Handbook posted:If the load is a pure resistance whose value equals the characteristic impedance of the line, the line is said to be matched. To current traveling along the line, such a load at the end of the line acts as though it were still more transmission line of the same characteristic impedance. In a matched transmission line, energy travels outward along the line from the source until it reaches the load, where it is completely absorbed (or radiated if the load is an antenna).
|
|
#
¿
Apr 20, 2012 03:29
|
|
|
invision posted:Hey ya'll know what makes me enjoy life? What about something like virtualbox running Win95?
|
|
#
¿
Apr 21, 2012 23:34
|
|
|
Speaking of exams, is there a place to check to see where the most current randomly assigned callsigns are for a given area? I'm curious to see what sort of callsign I'd get if I were to pass a General Exam these days.
|
|
#
¿
May 12, 2012 02:58
|
|
|
 I passed! And I only studied for a week and a half. Now I'm /AG! Honestly it took me longer to drive to and from the exam than to actually take the thing.
|
|
#
¿
May 26, 2012 15:35
|
|
|
SiB posted:Just scored a SGC SC-2020 and Icom V8000 for $300. Greybeard is liquidating some of his gear. Local? How did you find out about it? I'm eyeing an FT-450, but maybe I'll start scoping out the eham.net classifieds...
|
|
#
¿
May 29, 2012 07:53
|
|
|
SiB posted:It was on Kijiji locally. I'm realllllly tempted by a used IC-718 I see on Craigslist -- it's listed for $450. How do I not get ripped off when buying a used rig, beyond having the guy demo it to me?
|
|
#
¿
Jun 4, 2012 00:35
|
|
|
Jonny 290 posted:This is a reasonable price, it doesn't scream "hot" to me. Thanks. Turns out, my Dad's got an IC-751 that he doesn't use that he's going to let me borrow for a while. That makes it way easier, and cheaper
|
|
#
¿
Jun 6, 2012 15:17
|
|
|
Dijkstra posted:I went ahead and ordered a TH-F6A from Universal, they have them for $299. Universal is notoriously slow so we'll see how long it takes. I love my F6! I've had it for a number of years now. I'm amazed at how small HT's are these days -- my previous HT was a TH-27A, and the 78A was the HT I would always drool over as a kid. Do yourself a favor and pick up this antenna while you're at it. It's pricey, but the stock rubber duck is terrible: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4298
|
|
#
¿
Jun 26, 2012 15:39
|
|
|
I always thought it was taken from "Ham Actor" and refuse to believe otherwise 
|
|
#
¿
Jul 26, 2012 16:52
|
|
|
^^^ congrats! I'm going hiking in the Canadian Rockies (Banff area) next month, and I'm thinking of bringing my HT along, mostly for safety. Do I need to do anything special, licensewise, or can I operate with my US call?
|
|
#
¿
Aug 7, 2012 20:15
|
|
|
Vir posted:According to this as a code-less Amateur General licensee, you can operate like a Canadian with a Basic Qualification with your US callsign, which should suffice for an HT. They just ask you to state your location in each contact, and follow the Canadian rules and band plan as a Canadian Basic would (>30 MHz, 250 watt DC input power). Aha, thanks! I also found this page which says I also need to add something like /VE6 to the end of my US call.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 10, 2012 02:24
|
|
|
Is the FT-7900R any good? Reviews on eHam seem relatively positive. Local Ham shop has it at 327.00, comes with an antenna, and it looks like there's a $20 Yaesu rebate right now until Halloween. Is $307 a good deal for this rig? Otherwise, I was considering the Kenwood TM-V71A to throw in my Mazda3 to use for skywarn next spring. Edit: hamradio.com has it for 285 or so after rebate, hmm... http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010079 manero fucked around with this message at 02:11 on Oct 25, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Oct 25, 2012 02:09
|
|
|
Greybeards, I've finally bought my first HF rig! Kenwood TS-590, Astron power supply, Diamond SX-200 meter, and a 10-40m G5RV Jr. Now the stuff just needs to get here! Edit: meters not MHz dammit manero fucked around with this message at 03:29 on Nov 25, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Nov 23, 2012 23:20
|
|
|
Hummer Driving human being posted:Has anyone been using a software defined radio? In particular, would it be possible to make something like a Raspberry Pi into a fully functional digital 2-way radio? I know as much as SDRs replace a lot of the radio specific hardware with programs that do the same thing but I don't understand what the limits are or what additions need to be make to a normal computer to have it function as a radio. This has been going around lately, it's a cheap TV dongle that you can turn into an SDR: http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr I think one of the latest issues of QST covers it, too.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 19, 2012 19:09
|
|
|
Hummer Driving human being posted:Is this receive only? Is there a transceiver in the same vein? Ah, I totally missed the "2-way" part. Not anything this cheap, I think.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 19, 2012 22:54
|
|
|
10 meters was open this afternoon, and apparently my antenna is directly broadside to St Helena Island: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helena Got a 5/5 signal report from ZD7FT. 6800 miles, my 4th QSO and 1st DX. Amazing 
|
|
#
¿
Jan 5, 2013 22:23
|
|
|
Vir posted:One of the big advantages of the TH-F6A/F7E is that it actually has single sideband on it. Sure, you can't transmit on HF, but it suddenly becomes feasible to monitor HF while you trek around and don't have your HF station up. I've had my F6A for a number of years and love it. Newer editions of the model come with a slightly higher-capacity battery too. It doesn't have all the fancy data/GPS features of the D72, but it's a great HT. Get this antenna to go with it and you're set: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4298
|
|
#
¿
Feb 28, 2013 00:20
|
|
|
I've got a TH-F6A that I've had for about 9 years. Bought it in 2004, and I just replaced the battery. I've got a tri-band Maldol antenna to go along with the radio when I bought it. These days, it's looking a little, uh, droopy, when I hold it.  I think it took an accidental bend one day. It still seems to work; I don't lose reception or anything, when I wiggle it a bit or the antenna bounces. Is the only way to know for sure to hook it up to a meter and check the SWR? Is it even worth it for an HT antenna?
|
|
#
¿
Mar 31, 2013 02:32
|
|
|
I FINALLY got the display of my 7900R mounted. My mobile project is almost complete: I'm not super thrilled with the position, since it blocks the glove compartment. I ordered the bracket from ProClipUSA (same manufacturer as the iPhone mount you see up by the air vent). It just wedges between the stereo and the side panel. It was $30.. a bit steep for a piece of plastic. I just need to find a spot for an external speaker, since the rest of the radio is mounted in my trunk.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 18, 2013 21:00
|
|
|
eddiewalker posted:If you decide you want the face further out of the way, this mount works really well for putting a remote face above a rearview mirror. Still annoyingly pricey, though. Yeah, the mic only plugs into the face, and I don't really like the idea of having the radio up that high. My other option was to maybe just tape the display bracket on the panel that that cigarette lighter is on, but there's no easy access for the cable from the radio body, since it plugs into the back of the display.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 18, 2013 21:55
|
|
|
movax posted:What's the verdict on test prep books from the likes of ARRL? After putting it off I want to finally sit down, study and jump to Extra in one sitting. I went through the ARRL book to upgrade to General last spring, and I'm using the Gordon West book to study for my Extra this spring. The Gordon West book is basically each question, and the correct answer, and a brief description of the answer. In contrast, the ARRL General book reads more like a textbook, which I think I liked better. The Gordon West book sometimes devolves into "just remember this is the correct answer," which is fine for some people, but it annoys me a bit I really do like to understand the theory behind things.I'll probably keep plowing through with Gordon's book, but if it keeps annoying me once I start taking practice tests, I'll probably supplement with the ARRL Extra book.
|
|
#
¿
May 1, 2013 23:41
|
|
|
Crankit posted:Can anyone tell me what this sample it sounds to me like the repeater is sharting, but I guess it's a data mode? How do I decode it on my PC? Just sounds like intermod to me
|
|
#
¿
Aug 9, 2013 23:26
|
|
|
So I've got this going on with HRD, my TS590, my laptop and my imac, which is functioning as my external display via mini displayport. It might be a little bit hard to see, but I've got noise at 60hz, and every 60hz after that. It goes away as soon as I unplug from the imac, which leads me to believe the imac's power supply is either malfunctioning, or just noisy and transmitting the noise back up the displayport cable. I tried some ferrite beads on the displayport cable but that didn't help. TS-590S -- USB --> macbook pro -- Displayport --> iMac I'm guessing either replace the imac's power supply, or ditch the imac altogether as an external display? Any other ideas for mitigating this noise?
|
|
#
¿
Sep 14, 2013 03:23
|
|
|
MisterOblivious posted:That sounds an awful lot like a ground loop. Yep- no difference. It goes away as soon as I unplug my laptop from the iMac. I've read a bunch of stuff online about my specific iMac with faulty power supplies, so I was starting to go down that route. The only other things I could think of are to try a normal monitor, or temporarily disconnect my station ground and see if that eliminates the loop. Thanks for the suggestion!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 14, 2013 04:58
|
|
|
Pham Nuwen posted:The ZS6BKW antenna looks pretty good. Does the ladder line need to be vertical as in the diagrams, or can it be run along the side of the house to get it to my posting station? I'm thinking I may be able to stick it up along the side of the house if the ladder line's orientation doesn't matter. The hardware store in town should have everything I need to build it, including insulators for mounting. You could also try a G5RV jr. I've got a long skinny yard and not a ton of room, and I managed to get one up -- I think you need maybe 51 feet or so. It won't tune up on 80, but I've managed to land some awesome dx out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The antenna isn't even up that high, and the legs are definitely not straight. It's by no means the best antenna, but it will definitely get you in the air, and a prebuilt one won't run you that much. Edit to fix screwy formatting manero fucked around with this message at 01:44 on Oct 2, 2013 |
|
#
¿
Oct 1, 2013 05:10
|
|
|
Passed my Extra! I was the only upgrade at the exam today, there were 3 or 4 other guys sitting for their techs. Pretty sure they all passed... unfortunately with the shutdown, they'll probably be waiting a while for their calls In other news, I sunk a proper ground rod and that managed to clear up my ground loop problems.. time to hook up the Signalink!
|
|
#
¿
Oct 5, 2013 18:24
|
|
|
SiB posted:I'm having a real hard time getting the courage to punch holes in my brand new house. Help. Just do it! Nothing a little expanding spray-foam or silicone sealant can't fix. Otherwise drill some holes in a 2x4 cut to length and use it as a window passthrough, with a couple of those female-to-female coax connectors. I think a 5/8" hole is just the right size.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 4, 2013 21:24
|
|
|
DJ Commie posted:Since I work in the communications industry (LMR racing communications), I picked up my Technician license a few weeks ago. KK6HHO! Congrats! In other news, one of the legs of my G5RV Jr snapped after a snowstorm. Not entirely sure what caused it, since it wasn't all that windy, so maybe it was the cold and ice. Off the air on HF for now until I pull the antenna down and fix it.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 7, 2013 19:07
|
|
|
I've started to notice some nasty EMI on 40 and 10 meters. I think I've got two sources of interference. The first is an intermittent, random clicking, which is probably some equipment arcing somewhere nearby. Time to brush up my RDF skills The other is a fairly persistent hum. I've shut off all the power in the house, and I hear both. My question is, could my antenna being roughly the same height and parallel to the power line drop to my house be causing the hum? It's perhaps 20 feet away. Unfortunately the power drop from the pole in my backyard cuts straight through the length of my lot, and my G5RV is in pretty much the only place I can manage an antenna on my lot. The noiseblanker on my radio handles most of the noise, but it's pretty annoying.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 25, 2013 04:52
|
|
|
Motronic posted:It may not be the cause of these particular issues if they are new, but that's really, really bad antenna placement. The antenna (and power) run north-south through my lot, with the south end lower and closer and the north end higher and further away, but roughly following the height of the power line. I may try dropping the north end and shooting for an inverted vee. I'd love to put something on my roof but it's pitched pretty steeply, and the guy who owned my house in the 80's actually fell off it and died
|
|
#
¿
Nov 25, 2013 05:45
|
|
|
eddiewalker posted:If you're going to stick a mag mount to the same spot, just buy a sample square of 3M paint protection film and apply it first. I didn't notice any performance hit to the antenna and when I decided to just drill a hole, the film peeled right off with no paint damage after two years of mag mount use. I think the January QST had a thing about this. The trick was to apply a bumper sticker to the magnet side, and then trim around the base of the magnet.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 17, 2014 15:50
|
|
|
This weekend I worked RX0AK in Siberia on 20m around 9pm local time: My G5RV is definitely not pointed north, so I was quite surprised to have made the contact. Any chance the aurora over the north pole helped the contact?
|
|
#
¿
Feb 24, 2014 19:41
|
|
|
Motronic posted:SSB or digital? I pretty routinely work that part of the world at 30-40 watts PSK31 and my antenna (ZS6BKW) is definitely not oriented in an efficient way to do so. SSB, I had to crank up to 95w.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 24, 2014 21:28
|
|
|
Motronic posted:NICE, that's a good contact for the direction your antenna was facing. I was having all kinda of noise on 20 and 75 last night. I did manage to make some decent contacts on 40, but the band was coming and going. It was maybe a little fluttery. Definitely not raspy, but the signal was also not super strong, so it was hard to tell. I really wish I had that QSO recorded!
|
|
#
¿
Feb 24, 2014 21:44
|
|
|
Vir posted:Have you tried using a propagation predictor with the the time, date and solar date of your contact and seen if regular ionspheric conditions would predict the propagation. I have not. Is there one online somewhere? For the record, I worked J85K (St Vincent/Grenadines) about 40 minutes earlier, at 02:08 UTC on the 23rd.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 25, 2014 02:04
|
|
|
Llyr posted:The chatter was very distorted and bleeding across multiple channels. Probably using (illegal?) amps! Actually I don't know what the laws are like in Canada.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 1, 2014 23:35
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 11:00 |
|
|
Bitchkrieg posted:PS -- is there an SA net or sked that any of y'all participate in? I'd be down to try to talk to some of you, even if just for awkward mouth breathing before announcing callsigns, if it means getting practice on the air. 40m goonnet. Let's do this.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 17, 2014 04:46
|
|