Best Ham Radio Recommendations

VANITY

[tired&retired]

I'm looking to purchase a good Ham Radio and need guidance. Is it difficult to get a license?

Looks like we'll need one in the near future, so I may as well get started. This beginner learns fast, but needs some direction to start.

Thanks in advance.

[AFreeBird]

Not a HAM myself, but in uncertain times with the possibility of having to be mobile, a unit that can work off a 12V power feed might be a serious consideration.

[spokeshave]

You used to need to learn how to receive and send Morse code to pass the test for a ham license

Passed my 12 wpm Morse code test at age 14..at the official testing center in London.

Fortunately my school science club had a ham radio teacher who helped

Best bent wire

[gundog]

I remember the chaos of CB in a medium sized city. Everyone’s a DJ.

[AFreeBird]

I’m curious as to why Kenwood stopped making their TS480HX/SAT units if you know. Portability with base station power. Always read good reviews about it.

[AlaskaErik]

I got Pass Your Amateur Radio Test by Craig "Buck" K4IA as my study guide. This guide only shows you the correct answers, so your mind isn't cluttered with all the wrong answers. I highly recommend. I aced my test.

[gundog]

Depends on the nature of the S that hits the F. Electricity is a must for radio. Remote repeaters are often dependent on diesel generators, or solar panels.

[GOPJ]

bookmarked

[Vermont Lt]

The more interesting question is, “What were you doing in Mongolia in the 90s?” Lol

[9YearLurker]

Since 1954? Holy cannoli!

[dis.kevin]

“Not a HAM myself, but in uncertain times with the possibility of having to be mobile, a unit that can work off a 12V power feed might be a serious consideration.”

All ham radios use 12V power supply (13.8V) to be precise.

[ebshumidors]

That and his general book is what I used

[usconservative]

I’m curious as to why Kenwood stopped making their TS480HX/SAT units if you know.

No idea other than its an older design, lacks the capabilities of the newer mobiles and probably wasn't selling that well anymore.

I have one, used it maybe 5 times on road trips and put it back in its box each time. It's a great mobile rig, always performed well for me. I have contacts from all over the world while mobile with it.

I did a few mods to mine to improve the audio and drive the SSB peaks higher. Out of the box, the SAT's don't peak at 100w, they typically top out about 70 unless you mod them. I also modded mine so the cooling fan stayed on full time so it would stop folding power when the PA's got too warm. The thermal design of that rig isn't the best, IMO. I just swapped out the fan it came with for something that moved more air more quickly and wired an on/off switch for it. Anytime I turned the radio on, I turned the fan on manually for it.

That right there eliminated the radio folding power due to getting warm. The stock fan and thermal sensor it came with never worked right. The radio always got way too hot before the fan kicked on. Called Kenwood about it, they said it was "working as designed." Well, if that was "working as designed" I think the design sucked. I was very unhappy about it so I fixed their crappy cooling design myself.

[telescope115]

Cool! Which one do you have? What star parties do you go to?

[tired&retired]

I just got the same book... Thanks

[Wiser now]

It dropped off several decades ago.

[spokeshave]

All tube rig.....even the EHT rectifiers....choke input

Good to go today as EMP proof.

[Sawdring]

Exactly!

[econjack]

Actually passed the Novice exam in 1953 at age 10, but it took two months to get my ticket in the mail...hence, the 1954 date. You can see the latest radio my fiend and I built at

https://groups.io/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio

[9YearLurker]

At 10? That’s really cute.

And thanks—interesting.

[DouglasKC]

Would you need a license in a SHTF situation? I figure it would be a “no size restrictions and screw the limit!” type deal.

haha...good Far Side reference....