If you know anyone in North Texas, in the Denton area, I have a bunch of old Ham Radio stuff to get rid of. My wife's stepdad died and had a bunch of gear that we brought home. Some is tube radios, but there is some 2 meter stuff and linears in the bunch.
Location: The sticks, between Champaign/Danville, IL
Posts: 28
4 years now, KC9JVT, I'm a tech but that's a long story. I passed my general written that day in a "oh what the hell" move with flying colors.. Then they dropped code 6 months later. ALL I HAD TO DO is go in, pay 14 bucks and get my general.
laziness prevailed and I now have to re-test. I have a big interest in the data modes such as SSTV, RTTY, PSK, Etc.
My first and current radio rig is a Yaesu FT-857D, love it! I control it with ham Radio Deluxe which is quite handy, especially if you don't care for the menu driven user interface. I use my old CB antenna retuned for 10M (Imax2000) and a Jetstream JTB2 for 144/440. it's a hobby you can really get into and not unlike collecting guns you MUST take care to be safe, lightning loves towers Good grounding techniques and supression is important for home rigs. It's also fun to work Sats/ISS, i use an arrow antennas beam that mounts on a telescope tripod/mount to chase them... The first time your kid gets to talk to an astronaut is a pretty cool experience.
I went thru a LOT of work to get my mobile in and i really don't use it as much as I thought I would, a close friend I chatted with to and from work passed and I work different hours so I don't get in much on the big drive-time chats. Car runs an Icom IC208H on a Comet SBB2 NMO mount antenna.
I rarely use my HT (handheld) mostly more for scanning when something weird is going on around here and I pack/wear it during tornado season. it's a Yaesu FT-60R
Look around, give it a shot, it's a good time. Sometimes I use it all the time, other times it sits for a while.
Chad
Last edited by BigDaddyChad; 02-22-2010 at 05:43 PM.
Do NOT get a 2m meter portable if it will be your only radio. It is much better to get a mobile rig. A sturdy 2m mobile costs little more than a HT, but has much better simplex capability. In urban areas UHF capability is useful, so consider a dual-band 2m70cm mobile.
If you can afford a second radio you then want an HT as a spare, and for use on solo foot assignments away from your vehicle. Get the best, most rugged and reliable one you can afford, dual-band if possible.
In dense urban environments 2 meters is less effective within and around high rise buildings, and urban ground clutter due to shadowing, reflection and building attenuation. Having UHF makes sense because it has better building penetration. Most urban areas have good UHF repeater coverage and it is easier to get a new repeater coordination on UHF than 2 meters, because nearly all existing 2m frequency pairs will be taken.
Location: The sticks, between Champaign/Danville, IL
Posts: 28
I agree, it's all too common for folks to get their license and run right out to buy a HT.... this should be explained to them in testing
You can use a mobile at home, no problem at all, you will have more power, more usability, and not have to worry about breaking stupid antenna adapters. you just need a power supply.
I got several refurbished ICOM landmobile radios which I've pre-positioned at our hunting cabin, on the ATV and in each my vehicles.
The VHF models go to 2 meter ham band fine, and UHF models will do either 70cm ham or GMRS. These are commercial grade LMR radios which are very sturdy and more rugged than typical ham gear. The dealer can program your local repeaters and simplex frequencies into them. If you get a group of radios you will want to buy the programming software and cable, then you can modify the personality of the radio as needed and clone multiple radios alike from a laptop PC. These can be programmed for digital selective calling (paging) either wide or narrow-band FM, etc. Red Dog Radios - Refurbished Radios :: Icom Radios :: Mobile :: VHF
KF7GEH here. Got my tech back in November, gonna try for General this month if I can get the time. Running an iCom 25 watt 2 meter mobile rig hooked up to an external power supply as my base station.
__________________ In Soviet Russia, bayonet mount you!
KF7GEH
Kilo Foxtrot Seven Golf Echo Alpha, reporting in. Took my Technician's test on a Monday and SV_Lib above me took his the following Wednesday, hehe.
I have a full base station setup from my grandfather who was broadcasting out of Bonnyville, AB, Canada and all I need is an antenna to make it a working setup, but since I am living with my folks while job hunting, I don't really want to get it all settled-in.
__________________
B.S. Chemistry UofWA '09
CETME Owners - Founder
AK-47 - Member
The Mosin Men - Member
KF7GEA
It is nice to see "newcomers'' to the ''active'' world of HAM radio; A completely new hobby world opens to each
with this hobby; you can be come
part of the neighborhood disaster relief
part of the commuity safety
part of the community information
part of the skywarn
and much much more to yourself; with abilities to talk to the world; with a basic rig and wire
Congratulations to all
__________________
Craig
Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
I can't remember when I got my Extra Class, but do remember it was the last class that got tested in Charlotte, NC by the FCC. After that, the Hams started taking over testing.
Small world isn't it. I am not active right now, although I still have a couple 2 meter rigs. Getting Extra class for me was not such a big challenge. I already had my First Class Commercial liscense and learned code in the Army. I really had a lot of respect for those who didn't have a background in electronics that went all the way to Extra, or General for that matter.
I guess you have talked through the Dillion repeater in South Carolina and the one in Mt. Mitchell. I guess these two are still active. I have been tempted to get back on the air since I have retired. Maybe we will run across each other on the air.
Craig,
I meant to tell you I just live a little down the road from you. I live in Cheraw, S.C. From Monroe you go through Pageland on number 9 and several small towns and then Cheraw.
Back in 67 and 68 I went to school at Wingate. Wingate is just below Monroe so I know the area pretty well. I made quite a few trips to Charlotte back then because Union county was dry, the Baptist had a lot to do with that, and Wingate was a Baptist school. It sure has changed a lot since 68.
Kay Cee Zeero Vee Gee Arrr! Yeah I've had my ham license for a few years, haven't upgraded to general class as I have kinda lost interest lately. But it is still handy to have.
To the OP, nowdays you pretty much have the advantage of not having to buy ham equipment and setting up antennas if you don't want to or don't have the place or budget to do so. Most frequencies you can access on the net and use repeaters far away from your home location. Now this isn't ideal for SHTF obviously but if your looking to get your feet wet and not blow alot of dough it's an option.
Seems there are a few who want to learn
...
and our Men and Women In Uniform. RIP Arkansas Hunter e 
The Perfect HAM 
; ^ aint got know sense of humor
Good grounding techniques and supression is important for home rigs. It's also fun to work Sats/ISS, i use an arrow antennas beam that mounts on a telescope tripod/mount to chase them... The first time your kid gets to talk to an astronaut is a pretty cool experience.
