HAM Amateur radio license

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by twinhauler

More Naxja members should get there ham licenses. The study guides are good but I think the practice test are very useful. Check for local Nets and that's a great way to listen and understand how it all works. KK6ONF

I'm all for the practice tests. It's what I used and waht I recommend.

At the end of the day for what we do you only need to know three things. Frequency (the "channel"), Offset (only applies to repeaters, sometimes you're actually transmitting/talking and receiving/listening on different frequencies, this is the offset.), and Tone (a sound that the human ear cannot hear. Used to filter out real transmissions from fake, most repeaters use this so you cannot talk on the repeater unless you transmit this tone).



Everything else in the test, while useful, isn't a primary skill necessary like the three above.

[xjtrailrider]

Originally Posted by Anak

What price range and what features?

I am very happy with my Kenwood TM-V71A and Diamond NR770HAB.

This is a dual-band setup. 2M & 70cm. I think the TM-V71A was about $400 and the antenna about $60.

The detachable front off the Kenwood mounts nicely in the little tray in the front of my console ('96). The radio itself is under the seat. I have the antenna mounted to a brace for the rub rail on my quarter armor.

I don't have that much to spend, maybe 300 max

[Anak]

Then I would look at either the Kenwood TM-281A or the Yaesu FT-2900R. Those are 2M only, and most of the features are buried in menus (personal pet peeve), but they are solid radios.

[bridgerx]

Agreed on getting a basic Kenwood or Yaesu 2m rig for your first one. Maybe see if you have a local Ham club, lots of guys have old radios sitting around they'd sell cheap and help you tune your antenna. Also good to check in there and find out if there is activity on the 70cm band in your area. If you decide to get more involved in the hobby and want dual band, cross band repeat, APRS etc... you'll find a use for that basic 2m rig as a home base station, 2nd radio, 2nd vehicle, go box etc. Save money for good coax and a good antenna. Nothing wrong with a Yaesu 1900.

The cheap chinese HT's work well, hold up fine for the price, and have their place, but I'd get a quality basic name brand mobile unit first.

[xjtrailrider]

Originally Posted by bridgerx

Agreed on getting a basic Kenwood or Yaesu 2m rig for your first one. Maybe see if you have a local Ham club, lots of guys have old radios sitting around they'd sell cheap and help you tune your antenna. Also good to check in there and find out if there is activity on the 70cm band in your area. If you decide to get more involved in the hobby and want dual band, cross band repeat, APRS etc... you'll find a use for that basic 2m rig as a home base station, 2nd radio, 2nd vehicle, go box etc. Save money for good coax and a good antenna. Nothing wrong with a Yaesu 1900.

The cheap chinese HT's work well, hold up fine for the price, and have their place, but I'd get a quality basic name brand mobile unit first.

We do have a local club, they have a repeater that is free to use w/o being a member. Some of those local members also have their own repeaters.

The problem I'm having is finding someone in that club that wants to mentor me. My boss is also a HAM but he doesn't have time right now.

Its frustrating.

[xjtrailrider]

Radio recommendations, which one of the three is the best for a beginner:

Icom

Kenwood

Yaesu

The Icom does not come with an antenna, what is a good antenna for this radio or any of the radios mentioned above?

[Anak]

The Icom is the one of the three that I don't own (well, my Kenwood is the TM-271, but is nearly identical), and I think the Icom will probably be your best bet. The Kenwood and the Yaesu have too many functions buried in menus. It looks like the Icom gives you quicker access, and especially on the mic.

ETA: Regarding an antenna, I am happy with the Diamond NR770*** (asterixes for the various configurations and finishes available). It is a radial-less design, meaning it does not require a ground plane. This gives you more flexibility for mounting on things like a spare tire carrier or above a tail light. You will need to figure out what sort of mount you intend to use before you order an antenna. If you go for a hole in your roof then you probably will want an NMO mount, but if going along the edge of the vehicle then you probably want a PL-259. I think most of what I have seen in mag mounts is also PL-259. However, if you want to run a mag mount you are probably better off selecting an antenna that comes with a mag mount. For an example, I have an MFJ-1729 that is a mag-mount and comes with the base and coax. I don't use it on my mobile setup though, so I can't really give you are recommendation up or down. I got it for hiding transmitters and have only used it once. It was a cheap solution. Mag mounts don't tend to like off road activity.

I would recommend a solid mount. Do some research on your mount before you spring for an antenna.

[burntkat]

Gents-

I do know better, but I don't want to spend a ton of money on the gear.

Yaesu and ICOM, et al are surely good- but expensive.

Is there anything like the Bae Fang (don't ask me how to spell it, no speakie Chinessey) radios that are inexpensive and will allow 2m/440 operation in a mobile environment? How about others?

I have a 10m rig, but can't xmit on it as it's out of license for me. I need to get my General.

[w_howey]

Originally Posted by burntkat

Gents-

I do know better, but I don't want to spend a ton of money on the gear.

Yaesu and ICOM, et al are surely good- but expensive.

Is there anything like the Bae Fang (don't ask me how to spell it, no speakie Chinessey) radios that are inexpensive and will allow 2m/440 operation in a mobile environment? How about others?

I have a 10m rig, but can't xmit on it as it's out of license for me. I need to get my General.

You can transmit on it with a tech. You have to be in the old Novice portion. 28.0-28.5Mhz 200w PEP. 28.0-28.3 is data and cw. 28.3-28.5 is phone.

Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk

[burntkat]

Interesting. Has this changed in the last 10 or so years?

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by burntkat

Gents-

I do know better, but I don't want to spend a ton of money on the gear.

Yaesu and ICOM, et al are surely good- but expensive.

Is there anything like the Bae Fang (don't ask me how to spell it, no speakie Chinessey) radios that are inexpensive and will allow 2m/440 operation in a mobile environment? How about others?

I have a 10m rig, but can't xmit on it as it's out of license for me. I need to get my General.

Yes there are cheap Chicom mobile rigs, TYT is one of them. I'd avoid them.

The issue with the Chicom radios is they are dirty. They tend to transmit on neighboring frequencies as well as your designated one. Since you're only dealing with a five watt radio this isn't a terribly big deal. When you get this on a 50+ watt radio it becomes a serious issue.

On top of that I do own a TYT I was going to use for a temporary remote repeater. It was brand new and I had a lot of very strange issues with it that lead me to believe the transmitter was wondering around on frequency. I have not tested that but I quickly replaced the radio with a Yaesu FT2900R.

Mobile rigs are pretty cheap already, the FT2900R is a 75 watt radio that can be had for about $125 - $150. You can save a little bit of money and get the FT1900R and you have a 55 watt radio (still plenty for most work).

As for the original question as stated I have an FT2900R and love it. I also have an FT1900R that needs repair (may have been damaged by an antenna issue) and an FT8800R. For handhelds I have a Yaesu VX5r and several Baofengs.

[xjtrailrider]

I just picked up a Yaesu 5100 for $100. Its been a base station its whole life and in great shape.

Did I do good? I hear they are great radios

[Anak]

I would say so.

I have one that I picked up a swap meet for about the same price with a known burnt out light behind one side of the display. Mine works with everything except for what I wanted it to do: It won't work as a hidden transmitter because it won't key off under a PicCon controller. It is a nice, compact package. I need to either figure out why it won't work with a PicCon or install it in a vehicle.

[w_howey]

Isn't that the one that had the reputation of burning up the pa amp if you used it on high power for extended periods?

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

[xjtrailrider]

Originally Posted by w_howey

Isn't that the one that had the reputation of burning up the pa amp if you used it on high power for extended periods?

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

Tell me more before i pick it up this weekend