Official Colorado HAM and cheese thread

I cheated and just clamped the head into a ram mount (grab handle Ram mount) ...

Question for ya @Coop68 , How're you working the audio? (like a remote speaker that handles both audio channels or?)

 

If you use a mono speaker, MAKE SURE! to use the enclosed adapter.

 

Yeah, that's where I was going - that adapter is isolated pretty damned well (including ground isolation), but ... there's also some interesting options to drive separate speakers for each VFO. One more thing to fart-around with

 

Yea, yeasu speaker is nice since it keeps the channel split. Can’t think I wound notice the difference much unless ya mount one speaker on each side of the vehicle

 

Took me long enough. Finally took the class and test on Saturday (Took 2 hours to get home. Almost creamed a Prius. Thanks, St. Amateur's Day!). Call sign: KE0UXP

Now to find a club to learn how to use the damn thing. Anyone have any recommendations on a better antenna for the

$63 BaoFeng BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio (136-174MHz VHF & 400-520MHz UHF) Includes Full Kit with Large Battery

BaoFeng BF-F8HP (basically the

$50 UV-5R 8Watt UHF/VHF Radio with 2 Rechargeable Battery, Portable Radio for Adults with Earpiece, GV-771 Antenna, Compatible with BAOFENG Programming Cable (3rd Gen)

UV-5R)?

 

Congrats!

 

I use a Diamond ***77CA on my dual-band hand-held (for your BaoFeng BF-F8HP, it'd be the Diamond SRJ77CA ) and have good results -- it's a bit longer ~17" or so, but tolerates getting smacked-around a little. Might be worth looking into -- price should be around $20

For clubs - Denver Radio Club ( https://www.w0tx.org/) has been around a long while and has a few open repeaters and quite a few seasoned members; they have a Learning Net on Wednesdays at 7:30pm (on their 145.490 & 448.625 repeaters) except on the 3rd Wednesday of each month when they have their club meeting at the JeffCo taj mahal (naturally tomorrow) ... There are quite a few other local and national clubs and MANY MORE hams that aren't in a club at all, that can work with ya a little along the way.

Congrats on getting your ticket.

 

I highly recommend the Signal Stick. It's made by the same people who run HamStudy.org. It is really flexible and can by looped up when not in use to make it more compact. Signal is great with it as well.

 

Check out W0TLM....it is our local club here in Monument.

Great folks! Unfortunately I cannot make our meeting tonight but there are SO many incredible people here!

 

Havent jumped into it yet currently just using the speaker provided and i been able to hear for the most part planning in getting a new one but idk yet which one

 

For the HAM/Cheese folks.....

How many of you have a HAM "Shack" at the house?

Being new to the hobby, I am trying to figure out a "stealth" setup to make HF contacts....HOA is a bit sticky on the issues so looking at something stealthy in the attic to make it feasible.

 

Mag loops are fun, but... a lot will depend on what kinda space you have up there.

In a pinch, I've run dipoles and end-fed wires and had some pretty good success -- A simple end-fed, ~32-ft of length, a 9:1 UnUn, and a reasonable tuner you can prolly get a little of 80m (40m for sure) on up through 6m.

What kinda space and access are you working with?

 

We actually have a TON of space in the attic! However, my HAM SHACK will be downstairs so I have to run the COAX...fortunately/unfortunately the builder laid COAX from the roof throughout the house but I am a bit worried that it might not work for us do to the HUB in the utility room.

The nice thing is that the COAX is run perpendicular to the joists so that should help a bit. The other nice thing is that I can follow the "coax" to do a direct run (will take some time) to the bottom floor office.

I THINK I can get away with some smaller antennas for VHF/UHF but my biggest concern is the HF.

 

Pretty sweet Accessory mount for 3rd Gens. Courtesy of @pop.tremuloides in Main HAM thread.

 

This mount is sweet but discriminates against 1st and 2nd gen owners....



Reporting....

 

Ugh. Yet another hobby that has me going down a rabbit hole. If I hadn't had found TW, all of my money would be going to booze rather than most of it.

Anyway, just ordered a Signal Stick for the handheld. Going to hit HRO tomorrow to grab me a mag-mount antenna and the General testing book. Doing research on EchoLink and APRS now.

So, I live in Northeast Denver. Looking at the various Ham clubs, I'm not seeing any that really work for my schedule when it comes to meetings. Do most clubs largely communicate via radio or is showing up in-person expected? I definitely want to join a club and support a repeater group...but I also want to make sure that I can actually get something out of it. Any suggestions from you Saudi Aurora members?

 

Excited!

Just got my first contact on the Vhf repeater!!!!

I need a better antenna but the conversation was great!

New HAM here so be gentle..

KE0UIV

 

Still working on the "stubby antenna" so it is killing me!

But the first back and forth made my day !

 

That gets worse as you age...

... or are we still talking radio stuff?


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Interesting Website, Shows all repeaters and their status (up, down, etc)

https://repeaterbook.com/repeaters/Display_SS.php?state_id=08&loc=%&call=%&use=%