Posted on 01/30/2017 12:34:13 PM PST by tbw2
A high quality, low cost ham radio communication set up demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN-jELK0Wq0&t=203s
I am a ham, don’t do contests very often.
The newest thing I’ve seen is using some of the ham radio PCB antennas for use in drones. Wifi is a secondary application for them.
I’ve noticed a big shift to software defined radios. They assume a really big antenna or array of antennas, the software is enough to compensate for any type of hardware or any arrangement of hardware.
About 1950 my older brother and I were watching Dave Garroway on TV. Garroway displayed a milk bottle TV where he put a coat hanger in the bottle as an antenna and with some of the first video fakery ever displayed they showed cowboys galloping along the bottom of the milk bottle TV. Brother and I tried it and it didn’t work on the kitchen table. So under the bed where it was darker. Still didn’t work. Then I realized the problem, it was not plugged in. I suggested we plug the antenna into the wall socket. Brother, who later went on to become an electronic engineer, said I would get fried.
If my son had not earned a merit badge for doing so, I don’t think he or anyone else his age would have gotten a ham radio license.
I am not familiar with that. I am looking for interesting content. As Calvin Locke noted is seems like a lot operators have dropped out. I remember back in the 80’s listening to Radio Havana and all the crazy commie propaganda.
KE0ITS
That's where I started. I studied two weeks, only because the next available test time was two weeks away.
I have similar, and yes, it will drive you crazy figuring it out with the multi-function keys.
First figure out what you need to know, and learn the steps using the owners' manual
Search for info online if needed to understand it.
There might be info on youtube.
Seek out an "elmer", which is another ham (or more than one) for help.
Nothing new here. LPs have been around for 50 years plus, most of the old type TV antennas were that type. Besides this frequency range isn’t of prime interest for EMCOMM anyway.
Wanna see something neat look at the Vivaldi:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivaldi_antenna
Do you have a license?
Without a license you could find your self in Dutch with the FCC. Getting your license is easy.
But you need to to the English version of the manual for that sucker. I spent an afternoon setting mine up. It takes a little getting used to.
That’s why every radio operator in the military is nicknamed “Sparks”..................
I bought one with the idea of keeping it ‘Faraday caged’ for the impending Iranian EMP strike. Receiving not transmitting is good enough for me. Updates on civil unrest, etc.
Baofeng? I got a pair, too. Working on my license.
L
Yaesu HT owner here. Multiband HT that I listen far more than transmit. Read the story later.
A few years ago I decided that I would get my license. Two weeks later I had it. Another week for the general. Another week for the extra.
I know I am not the “average.” But my point is that with a focus and a good practice plan, you should not have to spend more than a couple of weeks of good effort.
-——— Been a ham for 47 of my 59 years.-———
Got my first ticket “conditional” while in Germany, abt 50 years ago. Give or take a year or two. CRS anymore.
NU4J
If you want to get into HAM radio, where would you start?
A couple years later my younger brother plugged a set of keys into that very same socket. Well, somebody had to do it. Big sparks, made the house go dark. He went on to become a biologist.
I started by getting license. Usually the local sets are done by clubs. Those guys will help you along. I find the Ham radio world to be very helpful. It’s also full of characters.
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