Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I can't speak for everyone, but that's I started with. Most of my radio experience and knowledge is self taught. I never had an elmer (experienced ham who is willing to help you). I bought an ft270 yaesu from ham radio outlet in phoenix. one week later I bought a mag mount external antenna, one week after that, I bought a 5/8 2m whip and NMO w/ coax kit and drilled a nice whole in my roof. Then i bought an amplifier for the HT. A couple months later that turned into a mobile rig. Was it a bad way to step into radios? I don't think so; yes it was a more expensive process than others, but I still have all my stuff that I have acquired and I honestly would have bought it anyways later on down the road. No matter what you do, you will quickly learn what works and doesn't work for you.

 

The chinese radios look like they don't. But Kenwood and Yaesu have HT's that will.

You're going to end up with two cheap radios if you want ham, and aviation band, or you're going to have to purchase a much more expensive ham mobile class radio that has support for aviation band, but in RX only.

And HOLY moly--the Icom IC-A120, air band mobile cost is $900. No thanks! lol

 

Thanks for answering all my questions. I think I'm getting a good idea of what to expect. It's a lot to think about. Maybe this isn't something I should get into until I have more disposable income...

 

Yes, I know the FT-60r (runs about $150) can Rx on aviation bands.

Frequency Range Receive:
108 - 137 MHz
137 - 520 MHz
700 - 999 MHz (Cellular Blocked)

Frequency Range Transmit:
144 - 148 MHz
430 - 450 MHz

 

Any handheld (HT) that you are interested in, go to the manufacturer website. It will tell you specs on RX and TX range. All branded ham or amateur radios will have the same TX range unless they are part 90.

I know the ft60 will RX aviation, because i used to listen to PHX sky harbor when I was stuck in traffic.

 

Welcome.

I think I was wrong. I found a Kenwood TH-D72A that looks like it receives the airband.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3072.html

Crappy I had to search a third party site for details on product though.

 

Sitting next to me as I read this, yaesu ft-60, super solid HT!

 

I had a FT-60 for a while until it decided to find a new home elsewhere in the desert. Good solid HT that felt good in the hand. Wouldn't mind to have another one.

 

Just passed my exam for the technician class. Should have a call sign by Monday.

 

Best bet is to get a good external antenna, Antenna mount. Then get an adapter to take the radio to a BNC antenna connection. These are made to be connected and disconnected quickly and easily. Pick up a BNC HT antenna (I recommend Diamond or Comet). And adapt the coax on your mobile (Truck) antenna mount down to BNC.

Finally pick up a good filtered cigarette lighter adapter, and a speaker mic to keep in the truck, and you'll have a pretty good little first setup. If you want a bit more power (usually not necessary around town or while in a caravan.) you can always pick up a small dual band linear amplifier. (although at this point you're approaching FT-7800 or TYT-9800 territory in price.) Doing it in stages makes it hurt less

That's fantastic! Congrats and I look forward to hearing you on the air some day.

 

I have one bad omen ft 60, lost it when I was riding dirt bikes, found it 3 weeks later. Still turned on and worked no problem. A month later we were going to vegas for vegas to reno and my friend thought it would be great to hang it out the window and ended up dropping it. While looking at the mirror i watched us run it over with our twin axle box trailer. A friend behind us stopped picked it up and only the LCD display went black. Got a new one and replaced it for $4. All in the time I have gone through 3 baofengs and I didn't no where near the damage to them.

 

I own an FT-60, but I can't tell you the last time I saw it. Loaned it out to a new(ish) ham, after the Wouxon I had loaned him died. That Wouxon was my first Ham radio and last 5 years before it died. I know he plans to get a mobile rig someday. He too is a pour college student with a wife and two kids.

 

My wouxun is still going strong after 5+ years. I have dropped it many times and it definitely shows the wear. Only issue I've ever had with it is dust sometimes gets inside on the LCD screen. I've taking it a part once to clean it out and it wasn't that bad to do so. But there's no way that it meets the advertised water proof standards if dust can get inside the LCD screen.

 

Tonight, I finally started assembly of my 2M Luggable.

I still need to add:

• A common ground strap.
• A Power distribution block
• A Power Gate (DC/DC ups)
• Port for External Battery Hookup (disables internal power)
• Connection for the Power Supply on the top deck
• A Fan on the top deck.
• Mounting bracket for the radio

This is with the top deck removed. 12Amp Hour AGM & 25a Switching Power Supply



This is the top deck. Yaesu FT-2800r, and Power outlets (Cigarette Lighter, 2a and 1a USB)

 

Looks like a fun project.

 

Just took and passed the tech exam today. Two weeks or so to get a call sign?

 

I got mine two days after..

I forgot to post it in here.

KE8DYC

 

Congrats to new licensees. I picked up a booking and studying for tech exam now. Will check back in once I pass and get the call sign for some advice with radios.

 

KC5ZXO
Graduated from 11 meter with all A's