Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Skip the vhf/uhf nonsense and go straight to HF CW. If I was bound to repeaters, I would have quit ham radio a long time ago. I don't even get on the air anymore unless it's contest. And I've probably spent more time doing tower jobs in the last year than I have spent on the air. There just aren't many climbers left.

 

I enjoy our local 2m repeaters. But again, we have a good local crew.

Most of our good local stuff runs on 2m band repeaters as well such as the intermountain intertie, etc.

 

Speaking of, did you every try the SDARC repeater? I'll be driving home at 7ish. I could see if I hear you.

Funny, I avoid getting on if there is a contest. Been thoroughly enjoying CW though. I got on the air with a guy real close by with 80m. Played PSK, then Olivia, then CW. We often email through Winlink too.

 

That is a really nice radio. I might have to dump the baofeng and 5100........$261 out the door is pretty sweet.

 

Yeah we don't have any issues out here. The only gripe really is the digital repeater dbags. But that's really a non factor and gets old quick. We almost all use analog repeaters exclusively.

Although I do drive around with 6/10m calling freq on and enjoy my many contacts. During the summer I can park and do about 40/hr on 10m. Great folks.

 

Here is SoCal even though it is congested at times I have not had a bad experience so far. Yesterday was my first day with a callsign and I made 5 QSO's. One guy was from Alberta, Canada. I also got a hit on Wires with my Yaesu HT. Good bunch of people as far as I can tell.

 

Just bought my second DMR dual band HT from Radioddity a GD-77; can't wait to try it out.

 

Good one! I was looking into the Anytone AT-D868UV. But now... Looking around for BlkFriday deals I really would like to have a Yaesu FT-3DR or maybe a Kenwood TH-D72A. I guess it is just money but damn this gets expensive lol! Congrats on the new radio!

 

https://signalstuff.com/shop/
Just picked up their mobile NMO antenna. Let's see how it does against my Larson 2/70b that I've had for a long time.

 

Oh wow very cool! I had not heard of this company. I was looking for an antenna to try and get a bit more range on my HT and the reviews I read say the Signalstuff Antennas will get it done! I also ordered their NMO mobile for my truck. I have been wanting to try out a 1/4 wave antenna.

 

I just ordered the Larson 2/70 when I got an email about the signal stick mobile antenna. I thought about buying it, because I really like their other antennas. I'm not sure if I need two mobile antennas tho

 

LOL I was just in the same situation as you!! I have a Comet SSB5 which works great but... there is a black Friday sale going at Signalstuff right now. Plus I wanted to try the 1/4 wave antenna on the Taco. Congrats on the Larsen they look like really nice antennas! I mean look at it this way. You should always have a backup antenna just incase something bad happens to the one you use on your rig. Why? Well because shit happens.

 

I bang that Larson on everything, since in mounted in the center of the roof. Just wanted something different. I actually have the Larson 2/70B, and extra wip, and now I have the Signal Stalk coming.

 

Great price on the Signal Stalk. Might just have get a third mobile antenna (I have two trucks.)

 

Kinda want one of those massive Aussie sticks that Ronny Dahl recently reviewed. But not sure how well it'd do mounted down on the flat of my bumper.

 

what antenna you talking about?

V/Uhf or the HF one?

 

I ain't as classy as you, pretty sure they were UHF

EDUT, Yea UHF
https://youtu.be/HCgSFvQYY08

 

I dont know about that rigid antenna like that. for offroad use.

 

I would always go with a higher gain. They never talked about the wavelength of the antenna for the freq. Which also plays a factor into being heard.

More useless antenna BS from my brain...

 

Just realized, there are weird old guys on 80m SSB at night. I think I'll stick to 40m or CW.