Ham licensing

8/19/2017 | canalabamian

[usconservative]

I only got into the hobby about 11 years ago now as an adult. I frankly love it, I really do. I've made contacts in over 150 countries around the world and had some really interesting conversations.

I did try as a teenager to learn morse code and earn my license, the problem is I'm partially tone deaf (and am now losing the high end of my hearing) so learning morse is pretty much out for me. I became a ham after the morse code requirement was dropped and as a result some of the old timers tend to "look down" on me as a no-coder.

When they figure out I know my stuff where antenna's and computer integration with Amateur Radio is concerned though, they start to quickly tap into what I know and want to learn themselves.

I think the best story I have about my amateur radio experiences is the one 83 year old ham that I know really didn't like me much after he first met me because I was a "no coder." I knew he didn't like me and frankly didn't care that he didn't. I had respect for him and what he himself knew. He had trouble with one of his antenna's so I showed up at his house one day with a few fellow hams and helped fix it for him.

Armed with an antenna analyzer and a deep understanding of how antenna's work we had him back in business in less than two hours. He was very kind and gracious to me that day and let me know he changed his opinion of me. Later on he wanted to learn JT-65, HRD and a few other things that required his computer and rig be connected together. So I did that for him, spent a few weeks teaching him how to log his calls with HRD and make contacts with JT-65 and he's been a good friend and mentor back to me since.

I honestly love the amateur radio community. Sure we have our share of jerks and free-bander idiots that disrupt things but for the most part it's one of the friendliest and most helpful hobbies I've had the good pleasure to be involved with.

Most of my antenna's that I have were given to me free, including my Mosley TA-33SR which I've used to make thousands of contacts over the last 11 years.

That's a Mosley TA-33SR at 60', a Cushcraft 13B2 2m beam above it, and above that is a 2m/440mhz dual-band omni, the tip of which is at 85'.

Below the Mosley is an Alpha-Delta DXLB Plus (10-160) fan dipole that I added 6m and 17m to and replaced the crappy Alpha-Delta galvanized hardware and connections with all stainless steel. Been perfect since.

[usconservative]

Dead hobby? No. Amateurs cross the country are active as volunteers within ICS (the Incident Command System).

Amateur Radio is far from a dead hobby despite what many people think. The digital modes have sparked a renewed interest in the hobby among younger members and the elimination of the morse code requirement also helped.

There are now numerically speaking, more Amateur Radio Operators here in the United States than there have ever been.

Dead hobby? Hardly!

[AlabamaLiving]

I got my tech HAM license 10 years ago, and I’m still learning. I’m a slow starter, but I finally setup a scanner, CB, and HAM station including all 3 antennas. One book that motivated me was from Sparks31 (sparks31.wordpress.com) called “Communications For 3%ers and Survivalists.” It details equipment and uses.

Use it or lose it. Enjoy!

[Mogger]

If you want a real interesting time. once you are a ham, volunteer for doing communications at rallies.

I do the New England Forest Rally every year, rally sprints, and sometimes rallies in New York.

This year, and in 3 years did and will do the Climb to the Clouds, the oldest auto race in the USA, to the top of Mount Washington.

Travis Pastrana beat his own record with 5 minutes,44.7 seconds to the top. Higgins wrecked his car.

Ken Block, and other world class drivers come to compete in NEFR on closed logging roads at well over 10 MPH.

Two days of a real life "disaster training".

We also do things like the Wildman biathalon. Hams do the Boston Marathon and the NYC one.

[SealSeven]

Love CW. We should have a get together on 40 or 80 meters.

[canalabamian]

Thanks, y'all. Too may replies to answer individually. I appreciate the input and advice. I knew there would be wisdom here on FR.

[canalabamian]

Wire antennas (military commo wire) are best and nearly invisible.

This! Not looking for anything clandestine, but inexpensive, practical, and fundamentally based. I like the idea of going abck to basics. Code doesn't intimidate me, I figure it's not as difficult as learning Korean or Chinese!

[canalabamian]

Sweet!

[canalabamian]

Thanks, logi. Much appreciated.

[canalabamian]

Thanks, both of you.

[canalabamian]

Thanks, Grammy. Appreciated!

[canalabamian]

Thank you. Already bookmarked Code Quick. I appreciate this.

[xrmusn]

Finally, on the 3rd attempt, I jut barely made it.

= = = = = =

I picked it up like a duck to water...<: <:

I copied Morse Code for many years

Didn’t bother me a bit...didit didit didit didit <: <:

[RFEngineer]

One thing you may not have heard about ham radio is: Prepare for more interest from the opposite sex than you ever dreamed possible......

No, wait, I meant the opposite.

[mad_as_he$$]

Ahh the old recruiting “story”. ;-)

[AlabamaLiving]

Now I know you. What a shame. Your moderate agenda will be to your failing.

[ptsal]

Three exceptionally good study guides published by AD7FO that provide the question, the RIGHT answer, and the explaination of the right answer.

<>Question
<>Right answer
<>Explanation

73s

[mylife]

Anyone can do Morse with a simple app nowadays RTTY and all that

It’s off the radar cause its so easy

Someone figure out these numbers stations LOL

Uno.. Ocho..

[mylife]

Its called a parasitic diode juction, its done a as preventative protective precaution but as we all know, things work in many ways...

[mylife]

When the computers fail, Morse code and a Spark gap generator will roll on