Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

As others have said, that's a fairly terrible antenna. Go with something that's at least a quarter wave and from a name brand. The antenna you listed have specs that sound pretty sketchy, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

@SR-71A is looking for a mobile rig that either has APRS natively or can be added. $300-400 range. What's everyone's favorites?

 

You already know my vote, Kenwood v71a

 

Haha my vote as well. I like the ability to have Aprs, integrated with a tablet to utilize a map to plot th received data, all within that price range

 

My biggest favorite is full duplex. I would imagine that it's also useful if you are using APRS as well. I'm willing to bet that the becons go off just as you PTT pretty frequently.

 

Bingo. I just hop to the UHF side and I'm golden

 

I need to school myself up before I know what I really want haha. Just seems like a neat feature to have.

I need to do more research on EchoLink too. How does it interface with your phone? (I dont have a tablet)

 

Using EchoLink on your phone is through an app with a PTT button, no radio involved. Once you are Validated by EchoLink and get a user number from them. They require a .pdf copy of your license. There's also a pc program using the space bar for PTT.

http://www.echolink.org/validation/

 

I haven't gotten around to set up APRS but I also run the Kenwood TM-V71a. It's been around for a long time and works great.

 

Slacker haha kidding

 

Question If it has not already been asked.

What are the dangers of posting your callsign?

Looking myself up in the arrl database it has my full mailing address.

Just wondering what others thoughts are.

 

I know, I know. Too many expenses right now. Hell, I just finally programmed in a few more networked repeaters.

 

I'm not worried about it. On QRZ, you're call sign is the screen name.

 

Probably about the same as using it.

 

LOL pretty funny! Did not think of that one.

 

Don't think for a second those guys you talk to don't look you up. I've been on a net before and the net control called me by first name without me saying my name.

 

Only difference might be if you get into an argument on TW and they find your callsign. But chances are good if they are dumb enough to argue on TW then they won't be smart enough to search your callsign.

 

The risk would be that other Hams on here would know your mailing address .

So far the worst thing to happen to my knowledge is someone was donated a mag mount and speaker MIc.

But to each their own, and everyone is certainly entitled to their own comfort level of privacy.

 

I’ve looked up everyone I’ve talked to so far. Not because I want to know their address, but mostly to make sure I have the name and call sign correct and see what city they are from.

 

Me too. Always when I'm on HF and I log the contact. Not as often when I'm on the repeater as I talk to the same several hams everyday.