Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Ok, that makes sense... I thought you were using related to your HAM setup.

I'll head over to that link and take a look.

 

Tennis ball antenna launcher, muhaha

 

Now that you mention it.... haha.... I have plans to build/make a wire antenna for putting up in trees, something easy to throw into a backpack and have around when I either need much greater height or can't deploy the dipole.

 

My local ham club replaced our 20+ year old 2m repeater with a new Yaesu "System Fusion" repeater (supports both analog signals at the Yaesu C4FM digital voice modes).
I was having APRS envy with my old VX7R so I bought a Yaesu FT1D
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-013226
It is a fine radio even if you don't plan on using the digital modes. The digital narrow voice mode (sends voice and call sign/GPS coordinates) works pretty well, but sounds a bit too D-star for my taste (too digital robot). The voice wide mode uses the entire bandwidth to send the voice (does include call sign though) and it sounds really good.

Been drooling over the FTM-400DR. That is a beauty of a radio. It is amazing how you go from not knowing about a radio to "I need that radio". Holding off for now.
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-011925

 

^ A couple of hams here have the FT1D and FTM-400DR, they love them. They bought at the same time to have someone to play/test them out with. No local repeaters in my area have upgraded to the new Yaesu repeater yet.

Only thing I don't like about the FTM-400DR is the true lack of APRS. The 710G has it right, why can't Yaesu.

I am

 

Do tell! I know it has APRS built in, but there must be some feature of APRS that is missing or doesn't work to everyone's satisfaction?
I noticed the FT1D won't let me turn on a CTCSS tone (100Hz) to use the "voice alert" setup that some people run in APRS to let them know another ham is in simplex range. Other than that, I have been very happy with it.

 

On WinSystem right now.. Actually having a few interesting QSOs.

Usually it's "how's the weather?", "okay, I have to let you go"

 

My current launcher uses standard tennis balls, and a 2 1/2" barrel. Next one will use the smaller tennis balls you can purchase at pet stores.

My current one is a lil over zealous

 

:
About 2 months ago I replaced a Motorola Micor that I rebuilt in "96" with the DR-1 complements of Yeasu they all so gave us (MWV ARC) a FT1DR and a FTM 400DR. I haven't even seen the mobile but the best of my knowledge it has APRS and will except external GPS I assume that have NMEA output. The DR-1 has outstanding analog audio and studio quality digital audio. The HT is a bear to program I would recommend software the mobile is simple and easy with a touch screen display. The DR-1 is C4FM it is a true digital FM format and a two band radio (VHF/UHF) and programmable with built in software via the touch screen. If your ARC is considering a DR-1 save a few extra bucks for an external controller the one in the repeater leaves a lot to be desired all though Yeasu has told me that they are working on that, it is very rudimentary with no features and requires a dual tone PL to remote control the repeater on/off (needed for FCC rules) yep you guessed it a Yeasu radio. Add a WiresX box and you’re on the web plug and play. So far so good gets high praise from me.

 

Before we bought the DR-1X (DR-1 was the beta test version), I contacted one of the guys from the Qualcomm ham club as they had been running a DR-1 for awhile. He said there was some stability problems at first, but the latest firmware was working pretty well and that the DR-1X not only had the latest firmware, but there were some hardware improvements. I haven't been able to find out exactly what was changed between the DR-1 and DR-1X. We knew the internal controller was limited (no courtesy beep available), but the Qualcomm guy also told us that interfacing to a controller was a bit involved. Yaesu published a guide on their website for interfacing to one specific controller. I know the person in charge of setting it up decided not to try to connect the DR-1X to our controller at this time (controller is a Arcom RC10).

I played around with the free ADMS6 programming software from Yaesu and it was OK for free, but eventually bought the g4hfq software for my FT-1D. I have used the g4hfq program on my FT-8800 and have been very happy with it. I put in a ton of frequencies so doing it manually is not really an option.

Yaesu must really love you guys to give you the repeater, FT1D, and FTM400 We hit them up a few weeks ago at the San Diego Hamfest about giving us a DR-1X at a discounted price. They didn't seem that willing. We ran into the San Diego HRO guys there and they were all about helping us out. Their evil plan worked because there were at least 5+ of us who had bought either the FT1D or FTM400 before the repeater was ever installed.

Matt

 

That looks like a fun toy...... I mean tool to help with ham radio

 

The "X" version is retail. According to the Yeasu project manager there is no difference between the DR-1X and the DR-1. He also told me that they are "working" on the software I am hopping that any controller upgrade will be available on line for a download. So far ours has been behaving flawlessly set at 50 watts output but this is only a test! We fill out paper work for Yeasu about the products the repeater, hand held and the mobile good or bad. What the ARC has been doing is passing around the radios to our club members so every one gets a chance to give them a try and to report their comments back to us. As of yet we have no ideal how this all plays out we don't know what the final out come is do we keep the stuff or what? If I was going to buy a repeater I can say the DR-1 (X) is a nice radio and I would be tempted to buy one the price is right and so far we are very pleased with the results.

 

Got my Yaesu 7900 installed this weekend. Pics below

KC3BMC

 

Clean install. What antenna is that? Does it work well in that location?

 

Thanks! I'll have to get back to you on the antenna performance. It's just a cheap

$30 Tram 1181 TRAM 140MHz-170MHz + 430MHz-470MHz Dual Band NMO Antenna (1181)

Tram 1181 NMO mount. I know it's not the idea mounting location, but I mostly monitor and very rarely transmit.

 

Cool. I've got a Tram 1185 mag mount that I loan out on occasion and for the money it's fantastic.

 

Was this the .88 machine? I hear it and it's digital noise to me now.

It is silly to me that Yaesu, Kenwood, and ICOM can't agree on a digital mode for amateur radio. Kenwood should release a radio that can do D-STAR, and C4FM FDMA. haha

 

Anyone interested in a Yaesu FTM-350R?, getting ready to post it up on QTH and QRZ

 

Got my longwire setup to my Yaesu 897.

Holy chit!!

There's way more activity down in the lower 48.

Listening to 80 meters; a few guys are going at it. Literally tearing each other apart.

"I'm going to kill your kids and rape your wife."

"Reporting you to the FCC"

"You're worthless"

Wow.

One of them is W6WBJ. Seems like he has a reputation.

WA7BZI is in there as well..

http://radiowingnuts.com/

Guess they have a reputation..