Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Just checked FCC website. My callsign is up! KD2ODF

 

Congrats! Where exactly do you check?

 

This is where I checked. I just put my last name and state in and it popped up. (A little weird it has my address? Anyone can look that up now?)

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchAmateur.jsp

 

Yeah that's a little unsettling. Thanks for the link though! I'm not in there yet, but I didn't really expect to be. It's only been about 5 days.

 

I passed my test Wednesday. So I guess the test admin mailed it out quick. It looked like they were using a priority envelope too. I was surprised because they didn't charge me.

 

I took mine last wednesday too! That's pretty surprising it was that quick.

 

Keep checking throughout the day. I guess if you can look up someone's address with their call sign it might keep people from being stupid on the radio.

 

I'm at work now and when I get off I want to try and get some signal reports. Can someone tell me the proper way? On the repeater frequency just say "This is KD2ODF requesting a signal report"? Do I need to spell my call sign out phonetically? Do I need to identify the repeater I'm trying to use?

 

Thanks for asking these questions, as I would like to know as well!

 

You never have to identify the repeater, that is what the morse code you hear on it is for.

You don't need to do your call phonetically. Sometime, it helps someone catch it better, but it usually do that on a case by case bases. Saying it in a normal, maybe 80% speed, conversational tone is fine.

Yes, just get on the repeater and ask for a report. Be ready to chat for a minute or two depending on who you catch. Some guys just want to talk, others will be in a hurry, but don't want to leave you hanging.

When using a repeater, especially a linked repeater. Remember to give a 1 sec pause between keying up and actually talking. This gives the repeater time to connect and link.


All good questions, keep them coming.

 

Thanks for the response. If I want to connect to a repeater, is it as simple as find what rx frequency it is, and setting my radio to that same frequency? I want to say I read that repeaters have a separate frequency for rx/tx but maybe that's only certain cases.

 

Thanks man! I was reading something saying I can just say my call sign and TESTING to see if anyone hears me.

http://www.hamuniverse.com/repeater.html

 

So there is a common repeater section of the bands. Radios are programmed to automatically shift for the different tx/rx in this repeater section. Most of the time, you will need the PL tone. The tone is a code to tell the repeater to actually accept your signal and forward it. Some radios have a feature to "learn" the PL tone (FT-8800R), but it is easy to search for it and add it.

 

I think you have to change transmit frequency. Not positive though.

 

Technically you can, but all that will tell you if you connect to the repeater. Hearing the feedback after you keyed and talked. But if you are wanting an actual signal report... ask for it.

 

Cool, thanks!

 

I just want know if anybody can hear me and if I configured my HT right

 

Then ask for a signal report.

If you are just testing your programming and ability to hit the repeater. Then you can just key up and will get a signal back from the repeater. If you do this quickly, without speaking, it is called "Kirchunking" and is a)a violation b)annoying to everyone else. The correct way, it to key up, then give your call and saying something like testing. You will still get the feedback from the repeater and done everything properly. But by asking for a signal report, you will actually make a contact and get more feedback.

 

If you get a guy that's being a dbag, he might call you out on asking for a signal report. Because if your signal can hit the repeater then the signal gets to him regardless of how good the quality of your SIGNAL is. If you ask for an audio report then he can say that you are full quieting or kinda crunchy. I hope to not sound like that guy, but I once asked for a signal report and a guy kinda chewed me out on it. So learn from my mistakes.

 

Good to know, but at that point you're splitting hairs. Pretty silly imo