Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Work better than scotch guard in...certain instances

 

I like your call. N7TRD here

 

I have an Icom 5100a and am very happy with it. It has airband support...see page 2-4 of the manual: https://www.icomamerica.com/en/downloads/DownloadDocument.aspx?Document=671

Programming is pretty straight forward...of course the current rigs have so many options it is all menu stuff...true Dual Band, excellent clarity. Full install write up in my build thread.

Mounted the Head on the overhead. The body is behind the passenger seat in the whiskey bottle holder along with a separate power supply etc.
​

 

Just figured out how to name memory channels on my FT8900. Feel the power!

 

Icom makes a decent radio. I’m a dealer for them too since the Fire Dept use them on their crash rigs. Just didn’t like always having to have a diff programming cable, and software. I like the ease of chirp to carbon copy our freq layouts. Can the 5100 use chirp?

 

answered my own Q. No it doesn't. Trying to avoid yet another set of cables and programming softwares on my laptop. Drives me nuts Between work and play radio programming we need 4 different laptops, with various versions of windows, and serial, parallel, usb to serial...blah blah blah. Wish companies would settle on a single platform. That's why I love Chirp. :: hopping off soapbox::

 

Hello All,

Am interested on becoming a HAM radio technician, any books, Android app you all recommend?

I looked on Amazon and there are a few books, which on you all recommend for a slow learner newbie

Thanks.

 

Here are some links for practice test and reviews:

https://www.eham.net/exams/
https://hamexam.org/

 

Some more practice exams from the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) http://arrlexamreview.appspot.com/
A general ARRL page for education and training http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training

Some books:

$19 The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual

https://www.amazon.com/The-ARRL-Radio-License-Manual/dp/1625950136

$28 Ham Radio FD, 2e

https://www.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-Dummies-Ward-Silver/dp/1118592115
I have never looked at the for dummies book although I enjoy the work of Ward Silver. I have the ARRL Radio License manual. It is good for exploring all the aspects of radio and explains more practical stuff of how ham radio is used.... it isn't so much a tech license training guide though.

If you have a local ham club, you may be able to get information about local testing dates and locations. Some clubs have "Elmers" that volunteer to help new hams or hams in training.

Matt

 

Ok. I have the same exact rig in my shack so I program mostly there and clone with the SD card. Having used low end software for years I lost track of what I dislike about them and just use them as is. I’ve actually gotten pretty quick programming on the rig.

 

Getting a supplies list to put a vhf rig at the house. What's everyone running? Was considering RG8/U to a jpole at the peak of the house. Would be looking at no more than 35' of coax.

 

I ran 25' of RFC400 (Shireen inc trademarked LMR-400) to a Comet GP-1 in the attic of my two story house. I ran that in prep for a nicer radio than what I have now and I get great signal.

 

Nice setup and sweet diagram!

 

@Cudgel I was actually looking at those and then the Gp-6 as well. I have the diagram of yours already for some reason. Haha. Ever get that ground set up?

 

Yes. Bonded to service as well as ground plane. I’ll have to get out my Visio...problem is, that gets me thinking, and thinking gets expensive in this realm.

The diamond works great, I can hit Pack Manadnock (55 miles) at 10W clear with my Icom.

 

Also, what was your preferred way to mount the diamond?

By the way I've been on the Phantom Net more. Keep an ear out for me.

 

i dunno about that discone mount in high winds

 

Yup, shit happens, the bracket is pretty tough, into the rake's 2x8 and easterly (shelter from the west), and the offset is by design to thwart snow drifts. So far so good, for my highest recorded gust to date 59 mph on the anemometer above it. Might give me an excuse to upgrade...it's pretty much overkill for PS monitoring anyway.

Even so, if you calculate a standard 3-second 110 700 yr. return wind load, the effective face is pretty small, I'd give it a good chance of only landing about a mile away.