Talk to me about amateur shortwave radio

[TGO David]

The exclusion of Code seems to be a somewhat religious topic among Hams. You have the guys who had to do it to get their General license and feel like everyone else should have to as well. Then you've got the guys who are happy that it's no longer a requirement and believe it should be an optional pursuit.

I fall into the latter category.

[Guest uofmeet]

My wife got her general last week. Now she wants to get her extra so she can help grade tests at the monthly club meetings.

[creeky]

Stray question... but basically on topic...

If a person wanted to "get their feet wet" in ham radios what would be the minimum investment? I understand equipment cost varies with quality, and what your trying to do... but say a decent mobile hand held device and general license, etc. for use in a basic weather disaster or something along those lines? (If this makes sense?)

(Also a quick reference guide or "how to" to get started in basic HAM would be a pretty good "sticky" in the Survival Section. Not that this thread isn't good, just a one stop posting that had the basics spelled out.)

[Guest uofmeet]

talk to other people and get opinions and go to this later this month.

Field Day

great places to put some hands on some radio and find out about ham radio.

[Capbyrd]

Jeff,

We need to get together soon and talk about this some. Maybe around the next UFC. You should come out to fox with us and we can talk.

[Guest uofmeet]

come out to freeman park later this month for field day....i will be pulling an all nighters and i can prob get you on the air also. And if i watch UFC, normally go to mike's

[G27]

Jeff,

We need to get together soon and talk about this some. Maybe around the next UFC. You should come out to fox with us and we can talk.

I'm considering attending a MARA meeting (next one is this Thursday). Be good to chat with some folks who have a lot of experience in this to help clear up some stuff before diving in head first...

[Guest uofmeet]

I will not be atteding the mara meeting....got prior things to do. but there a lot of smart people thier. best thing to do is to go to a field day and operate on the goata station and see if you like it.

[kb4ns]

come out to freeman park later this month for field day....i will be pulling an all nighters and i can prob get you on the air also. And if i watch UFC, normally go to mike's

So it's back at Freeman Park now?

[Capbyrd]

come out to freeman park later this month for field day....i will be pulling an all nighters and i can prob get you on the air also. And if i watch UFC, normally go to mike's

I should be able to make it. Its only about 5 minutes from the house.

[Guest ScottD]

Stones River Amateur Radio club will be setting up at Sharp Springs Park in Smyrna.

Feel free to come out. I will be manning the digital station / satellite station this year (just look for the crazy antenna setup). If you need more information, shoot me a PM.

[TGO David]

Getting your feet wet in Amateur radio is fairly easy and if you'll just be doing local comm or bouncing off of repeaters, all you need is your Technician license and a UHF/VHF radio. The cost of the test is merely $15 plus whatever you invest in study aids.

A simple 2m hand-portable (think walkie-talkie) may be sufficient for hitting your local repeater and can be had for about $130-200 depending on what brand and model you get. I bought a Yaesu FT-270R hand-portable after the fact and spent all of $130 on it.

Portables usually issue about 5-watts power, which combined with the typical rubber ducky antenna limits you a bit on how far your signal is going to reach. A few miles, depending on terrain, typically.

Mobile UHF/VHF rigs can be had from about the same price range to upwards of $500 depending on how many bells and whistles you want. The Yaesu FT-7900R that I run in my truck only cost about $300. You also need to factor in the cost of your antenna, antenna mount, antenna coax, power wiring, etc. I think my rig cost me about $500 all together but I planned for future expansion and added in some things you could eliminate to save money.

If you want to talk to folks in other states / countries, you're going to want to pursue your General license (another $15) and invest in HF gear. The sky is the limit on the cost of the associated equipment and it all depends on how deep you want to get and how much you want to spend.

[creeky]

Getting your feet wet in Amateur radio is fairly easy and if you'll just be doing local comm or bouncing off of repeaters, all you need is your Technician license and a UHF/VHF radio. The cost of the test is merely $15 plus whatever you invest in study aids.

A simple 2m hand-portable (think walkie-talkie) may be sufficient for hitting your local repeater and can be had for about $130-200 depending on what brand and model you get. I bought a Yaesu FT-270R hand-portable after the fact and spent all of $130 on it.

Portables usually issue about 5-watts power, which combined with the typical rubber ducky antenna limits you a bit on how far your signal is going to reach. A few miles, depending on terrain, typically.

Mobile UHF/VHF rigs can be had from about the same price range to upwards of $500 depending on how many bells and whistles you want. The Yaesu FT-7900R that I run in my truck only cost about $300. You also need to factor in the cost of your antenna, antenna mount, antenna coax, power wiring, etc. I think my rig cost me about $500 all together but I planned for future expansion and added in some things you could eliminate to save money.

If you want to talk to folks in other states / countries, you're going to want to pursue your General license (another $15) and invest in HF gear. The sky is the limit on the cost of the associated equipment and it all depends on how deep you want to get and how much you want to spend.

Thanks David... this is just the type of info I was looking for.

[TGO David]

Thanks David... this is just the type of info I was looking for.

For what it's worth, the Heart of Tennessee Amateur Radio Emergency Service (HOT ARES) has a linked repeater in Joelton that you can probably hit using a 5W portable. I used my portable last night to hit the Smyrna repeater and participate in one of their training nets. No problems.

You're still going to want something in your car, though. More power, better range... more fun.

[Guest Ken]

First post. Wish I had seen this thread much earlier. Glad we have so many Hams in group. I haven't been active in long while but still keep Gen. license current. Moved into condo 5 yrs ago. no ant. etc. .

David, I didn't see if you had an HF rig at home. I've got a Kenwood TS430 and PS taking up closet space you can use until you decide which way you want to go. This rig is fairly big but I ran it mobile in motorhome

for years, but it's also a nice base..General coverage, 10m FM.

I may get back into 2m/70cm for emergency mobile later. Keep the thread going, it's interesting.

Ken

[hardknox00001]

Moved into condo 5 yrs ago. no ant. etc.

There are ways to "stealth" an antenna. Really thin wire in a handy tree, or using one of the screwdriver antennas on a tripod with a counterpoise would probably work great, and easy to put up when done.

[TGO David]

I'm still trying to decide what sort of antenna setup I'd want to use at the house. I'm leaning toward a simple, short tower to get the antenna up above the roof lines. Beyond that, I'm still pondering my options. Amp, no amp... what bands do I want to work... etc.

My grandfather had a 75' tower at his house for CB back in the 70s and 80s, base station, [illegal] linear amplifier, etc. He loved using that rig.

[Guest Ken]

David, I've used my Butternut Vertical mounted on a 10ft. mast attached to the facia board on edge of roof. Vert. is about 20 feet tall and it works very well. Must have good ground. Simple installation and works till you get into your 200ft. tower and Beams. Hi!

Ken

[Guest uofmeet]

So it's back at Freeman Park now?

Yup, we gonna try it again, and if the club doesn't like it, we may go somewhere else or may join back up with mara.

I also plan on doing some digital also since the main CW person will be with Mara at WKNO.

Digital and CW are worth the same in points.....

[enfield]

I'm still trying to decide what sort of antenna setup I'd want to use at the house. I'm leaning toward a simple, short tower to get the antenna up above the roof lines. Beyond that, I'm still pondering my options. Amp, no amp... what bands do I want to work... etc.

My grandfather had a 75' tower at his house for CB back in the 70s and 80s, base station, [illegal] linear amplifier, etc. He loved using that rig.

I worked 50 states and over 100 countries with a home-made, ladder-line fed, 80 meter dipole that ran from the rear corner of my garage roof, over the peak of the house (and thru a pulley attached to the chimney) and ending at the ash tree on the other side of my front sidewalk. Center height was no more than 30 feet with the ends about 15-20 feet lower.

With a good antenna tuner it would put out a signal on any band from 80 to 6 meters.

I'm now running a 40 thru 10 vertical antenna (Cushcraft R7) and a 40/80M trap dipole in an inverted-V configuration.

I have the room for a tower now but decided I don't really need one anymore. Heck, I never did need one.