HAM Radio Starter Kit - Information for Beginners

[Frank RW]

Yea I was getting the 'low battery' signal on my Baofeng and I was getting a 'beep' when I pushed the PTT button so I think thats a sign of very low power as well.

We'll try tomorrow when I am back up!

What is your call sign?

k2ncc.

PM me and i'll send ya my ph#. then feel free to text me when ready. as hanging here and hitting refresh isn't doin' it for me.

if i'm near a radio, i'll turn it on an monitor.


i'll move to 146.520 (fm simplex) on for a bit longer tonight if anyone else cares to try.

f

 

[Cerberus Group]

From you for sure!

I can get into the repeaters around Bend, Prineville and Sisters. Can get out east into La Grande , Pendleton and Spout Springs.

Can hear people on your repeater, can break squelch on it, just not enough poop to get get audio into it...time for an amplifier.

 

[baker3gun]

You listening on walker now? Whats your call sign - I'll call you to see if you can hear anything.

I am KJ7 ZNH

For everyone else, I was off the board from 6 to 9pm.
RVTech and i connected by PM.
We tried again.
Not gonna happen. No signal, can't crack it.
190 miles is way too far for my little setup.

I'm K2DCS.

I called in to the Heppner ARES net tonight. Every Sunday 7:30PM, 146.780, minus, tone 67.
They were nice; welcomed me to come back next week.
Not a great signal, but not terrible. Pretty scratchy, but still pretty amazing for a 70-mile distance with a handheld.

I wonder if the smoke degrades the signal? Really hazy here today, brown sunlight, alien sunset. That Bootleg fire is a monster.

 

[The Heretic]

I wonder if the smoke degrades the signal? Really hazy here today, brown sunlight, alien sunset. That Bootleg fire is a monster.

Actual fire in close proximity (e.g., firefighter) - yes. Smoke plumes in line of sight - yes. General haze - probably not dense enough to notice, if at all - unless, maybe if you are trying troposphere duct bouncing, which is not what you guys are doing - and even then...

https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/58684/8/02whole.pdf

 

[RVTECH]

I wonder if the smoke degrades the signal?

Hmm, good question. I wouldn't think so but I'll probably take a few minutes later and look into it.

 

[The Heretic]

 

[RVTECH]

Yep, my next step will be to get my General upgrade so I can move into the HF arena!

 

[ATCclears]

Square wave inverters
Modified sine wave inverters
Sine wave or "pure sine wave" inverters

Revisiting Inverters. - Off Grid Ham

Inverters have not hanged a lot since then, but there's still some new material to go over. It's also a good opportunity to review older concepts.

offgridham.com

 

[The Heretic]

https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/ou107x

 

[RVTECH]

Look what I was given today!

It's older (1988) but it is an Icom 751A all band transceiver!

I need a power supply for it and a mike but until I get my 'General' ticket I can listen in and learn how it works! (the manual came with it so thats a help!)

 

[EHJ]

Look what I was given today!

It's older (1988) but it is an Icom 751A all band transceiver!

I need a power supply for it and a mike but until I get my 'General' ticket I can listen in and learn how it works! (the manual came with it so thats a help!)

View attachment 1003980

That's a keeper!
Congrats!

 

[Cerberus Group]

That's the way to do. Get a radio and learn how to use it, and listen to others on there to help get a feel for protocol.

 

[RVTECH]

Get a radio and learn how to use it,

Yea its got a lotta knobs and switches!!

 

[EHJ]

Yea its got a lotta knobs and switches!!

Here is the guy whose method got me through my test.

Amazon.com

 

[Jim Horn]

Look what I was given today!

It's older (1988) but it is an Icom 751A all band transceiver!

I need a power supply for it and a mike but until I get my 'General' ticket I can listen in and learn how it works! (the manual came with it so thats a help!)

View attachment 1003980

Nice! That's a newer model but much like my IC-745. There is quite a bit of information on the Web on these, and if yours ever needs professional repairs, the factory expert lives near Toledo, WA. It should serve you long and well!

Jim, WB9SYN

 

[ATCclears]

ARRL has 30% off all books on August 9, 2021. Use coupon READ30.

Two recommendations:

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2021-Six-Volume-Book-Set/

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Antenna-Book-Softcover/

 

[ATCclears]

A good video on how to dive in with a receive-only Software Defined Radio (SDR).

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

Hey this stuff is GREAT info, but I'm dumber than a stump as far as what I would need to get by these days. Where I'm at I'm surrounded by 460 acres of timber. I'd like to have a short wave system whereby I can find out WTF is going on, really. If you experts had a GRAND to spend on a system that would get me there, please, please let me know where I need to go.
I know about how to supply my Castle for armament, but I'm a little short on knowledge on how and when they're coming. What all would you recommend to start with, as far as reliable information reception would entail. And I appreciate all professional advice as can be provided, and thanks in advance.

 

[ATCclears]

Bit of theory here, put to use.

https://www.americanpartisan.org/20...e-last-newsletter-total-posts-from-our-blog_1

 

[Trapdoor45-70]

Hey this stuff is GREAT info, but I'm dumber than a stump as far as what I would need to get by these days. Where I'm at I'm surrounded by 460 acres of timber. I'd like to have a short wave system whereby I can find out WTF is going on, really. If you experts had a GRAND to spend on a system that would get me there, please, please let me know where I need to go.
I know about how to supply my Castle for armament, but I'm a little short on knowledge on how and when they're coming. What all would you recommend to start with, as far as reliable information reception would entail. And I appreciate all professional advice as can be provided, and thanks in advance.

While I'm certainly no expert I am an amateur radio operator, albeit a Technician class. I have experience with disaster communications -- having used ham radio many times during disaster responses, and I have some knowledge of other communication technologies.

Perhaps I can help you more clearly define what you want a radio to do, whom you want to hear from, and do you want it to be one or two-way communications? Then others with more expertise may be able to offer useful suggestions.

1. Who do you want to hear from (neighbors, friends in the next state or across the country local emergency management, state emergency management, FEMA, CDC,)?

2. What information do you want to hear?

3. Are you interested in only receiving information?

4. Do you want to communicate with others (see #1)?