Ham radio

[ivank]

I was wondering if anyone here is into Ham radio

[breadcatcher101]

I wouldn't think muslims would be knowing their views towards pork.

Jews maybe, if it were kosher ham. :D

[ivank]

I wouldn't think muslims would be knowing their views towards pork.

Jews maybe, if it were kosher ham. :D

:har:

[SteamWake]

Heh... my how times have changed...

HAM radio got its name from 'amateur' radio broadcaster who while sending cw (morse code) like their fists were hams, in other words poorly. Really has nothing to do with the lunchmeat. :yep:

But yea I hold a ticket and am active have held an advanced ticket for a decade or so now.

Never got the extra because I dident want to be constantly pestered to administer exams.

My current station uses vintage gear.. a Heathkit HW101 (which I refurbished myself) a whopping 80 watts on a good day and a home made G5RV antenna. Very modest station.

Also I do a good deal of SWL with my Yacht Boy PE400.

Not going to post my callsign here for obvious reasons. But if you had some questions about the 'hobby' ask away.

[UnderseaLcpl]

I have no experience with HAM, but I love radios, and I'd like to get into the hobby. I still miss my old M-998 HMMWV with twin RT-1521s. :cry:

How much does a basic setup cost? Moreover, what do you have to do to get a license?

[SteamWake]

Know what... I will just direct everyone here

http://www.eham.net/newham/

Almost any question you may have can be answered there and probably more accuratly :haha:

[OneToughHerring]

Jews maybe, if it were kosher ham. :D

No such thing.

[ivank]

I was thinking of asking my parents for a set as a late birthday gift, and was wondering the price, but I need a licence?

[SteamWake]

Yes a license is required. The bands are sort of 'self regulated' and if you broadcast in an unlicensed portion of the band or go on the air without a license almost assuredly someone will pick up on it and you will end up in big trouble.

Anyhow the link I gave above to ehams 'new to ham' web page can answer all your questions including costs involved.

I get all my gear second hand often in non operating condition and restore it myself. I have picked up rigs for as little as 50 bucks. Of course you can spend 10's of thousands of dollars if you wish.

Another thing to consider is real estate... Do you have enough physical room to put up an HF antenna? My HF antenna is 102'-0" long and thats only a modest set up.

Of course there is the VHF portions that 'novice' licenses have access to and I made my two meter 'J Pole' out of old copper tubing and it takes up very little room. But it goes unused for the most part and right now is laying on its side atop my shed :haha:

[razark]

It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. My first radio was given to me for free by the guy who gave me the exam.

As for the license, there's two ways to go about getting it. You can get a really good book that goes into the what and why and explains everything in detail, or you can download the questions and answers and memorize them.

If you want to, you can build your own equipment. I've built a few simple antennas for VHF. As with the cost, you can get as simple or as complicated as you want.

I'd suggest trying to find a club in your area, and dropping by one of their meetings. Talk to some people, find out about what they do, what sort of activity there is in your area, attend a few events if you can. It can be a very interesting hobby.

[Tchocky]

Of course there is the VHF portions that 'novice' licenses have access to and I made my two meter 'J Pole' out of old copper tubing and it takes up very little room.
Huh, what VHF freqs are open to novices?

[August]

Back in the late 70's I just to chat with ham operators in the states from Germany using my AN/GRC 106.

http://www.hilltoparmyradios.com/106-522-1a.jpg
(http://www.hilltoparmyradios.com/106-522-1a.jpg)

[SteamWake]

Huh, what VHF freqs are open to novices?

I misspoke meant 'technician' and 2 meters 440mhz are popular there are others.

Since they removed the code requirements a big stumbling block was removed.

I learned code when I was a young child and still copy in the order of 20 wpm and occassionaly get down on the low end of the bands. ;)