Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

My SOTA activations have been 100% ssb. I want to learn code though.

 

With Extra you have more places to transmit, more exclusive IMHO.

 

It seems like I feel it more on 20 than I do 40. 40-80 has been my hangout so far. Every time I drop to 20 it's out of my privileges.


And @k8md i just like that there's so much room down there. Haha

 

I hangout on 20m if im looking for long distance contacts or DX. Most of my time is on 40 and 80, but once in a while i get DX there too.
I havent had any radio time since ive been in Kuwait working... I cant wait to be state side, making another 80m LL fed dipole and getting my antennas in the air and talking...

I really miss my radio hobby

 

Tons of information on youtube. When you have specific questions, go to the QRZ forum https://forums.qrz.com/index.php

 

Congrats! You guys on the East coast have it easy with Europe (just like we do with Japan).

I like it when a EU station works a pile-up and then he says "please just 6 land stations". I would never get through when competing with the strong stations on the East coast, but then the EU station also gets bored of working them... so he wants to see how far he can get. That's my chance to get in.

 

So TW net? Haha.

 

I hear them cranking over me with the power to get across the pond and they boom into my station lol

 

I like 40 'cause, well, that's when I'm home mostly, at night, so no 20. But it's hard for me to get DX on 40... let alone 80. With my HOA, I have no way to put up a proper 40 antenna.

 

So the weekend before last my amateur radio club toured the California Historical Radio society and they have a pretty sweet location going on. Their main hall features tons of shortwave and am radios and downstairs they have a fully equipped ham shack. Their goal is to pair up complete sets from the 1920s onwards and you can flip a switch and go between decades using this equipment. upstairs they will have the broadcasting hall of fame as well as a replica of a 1940s broadcasting booth and an electronics laboratory.

I wish I had taken more pictures.

 

Has anyone ordered these exact ones before? What’s the Merkit edition? Anything special or same thing, different label?

$35 Mirkit Baofeng UV-5R MK4 8W Max Power 2024 Two Way Radio VHF/UHF 144-148/420-450 mhz Ham Radio with 1800 mAh Baofeng Battery, Mirkit Software & Lanyard for Walkie Talkie

https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-Amateur-Walkie-Talkie-Mirkit/dp/B072HXQ5GG

 

Mirkit is just a USA retailer selling the Baofeng radios. Same thing.

Edit: They work, but very poor quality. You'd do better with something like a Yaesu FT-4XR for $75 at 10 times the quality.

 

The 3w isn't going to do a thing. Just stick with 5w and save your money.
BaoFeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black)

$19 BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black), 144-148MHz & 420-450MHz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LI0NDbY9M94BZ



Nothing wrong with going budget, but you can find used quality handhelds pretty easily if you poke around. Good luck.

 

The difference between 3w and 5w is negligible. I doubt anyone would ever notice the difference.

The Ft-65r is another option.

 

I meant the difference between the 8w he listed to the 5w common

$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.

 

Anybody owns a Little Tarheel II and have it installed on their Taco? Pics pls?

 

mid it worth spending the little bit extra money and buying a yaesu? I’m mainly going to be using it on hunting/fishing trips and on some wheeling trips. I’m planning on buying the yaesu ftm400 within the next 6 months

 

Personally, anything I bring into the woods I want to be water resistant / proof and have a good drop rating. What youre comfortable with spending is certainly a factor as well.

 

That said, 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 is so cheap, that you can buy a bucket of them for the price of an entry level from the big three. If it gets wet and stops working, so what.

 

I was thinking more so if you treestand let's go in the woods and you can't walk out.