mrmonteith
| Joined: | Tue, Aug 18th 2015, 16:03 | Roles: | N/A | Moderates: | N/A |
Latest Topics
| Topic | Created | Posts | Views | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints About Product Ads | Oct 22nd 2015, 19:53 | 2 | 9,878 | on 24/10/15 |
| QRP Pixie Mod For Tech Band? | Aug 28th 2015, 12:36 | 3 | 8,923 | on 28/8/15 |
Latest Posts
| Topic | Author | Posted On |
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| Newcomer - Looking For Info | ronniemus | on 3/10/16 |
| I used this site: http://copaseticflows.appspot.com/hamtest It lets you keep a record. I took it a bunch of times online. Pretty much after a few times you already see all the possible questions and answers. So even if you're technically challenged you could still pass. There is a limited pool of questions. Not to say that you shouldn't know the information as all of it's helpful. Just don't get hung up thinking you have to be an electronics expert. The important part is being aware that what your license allows you to do. As far as which band/s, how much power, and what type of communications. Basically staying within the rules. Luckily on the tech quiz there is not a whole lot of band related questions. Even after I got my license there's a bunch I couldn't tell you. But that's where charts come in handy. I always check myself before I plan on transmitting. There are a bunch that have little to no interests in the electronics side of things other than how to plug it in, turn it on, and use it. That's okay. But you do need to know things like how much power you're using when transmitting, what band and frequency, etc. Just don't get worried too much about knowing how to make a rf amp etc. lol For the tech it's getting your feet wet and getting started. There is always tons to learn no matter how long you're a ham. Some get involved in making antennas, others like receiving satellite information, while others are into CW or digital modes of all type. Since you have the book might as well read it to see what it's like. Then take the online exam. Especially right before you take the actual one so you'll know what questions to expect. 73 Michael KM4OLT |
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| Newbie alert.... KI7DVX | 1200bruce | on 3/10/16 |
| The airwaves won't be safe any more. lol Congratulations. I just got my tech back in October. Until about 2 weeks ago my only radio was a Baofeng UV-5R handheld. I wanted to see how interested I was before getting to deep. Then a couple of weeks ago got a Kenwood TS940S-AT. After getting it hooked up on Fldigi I'm hooked. Just listening to the CW and watching it on screen I'm starting to recognize the sounds. But also cool to use my computer skills now with my new skills. Now I have a reason to get my General so I have more wiggle room to transmit. 73 Michael KM4OLT |
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| contacting other hams | JeffKD8GIR | on 3/10/16 |
| Usually if you ask at a club meeting you can find someone that can do some tests back and forth with you. Like be on a phone call to each other and at the same time try seeing if you both pick each other up okay on the radio. Just in case there's some issues you might not be aware of. If you're just trying to get some local people to respond that's sometimes tough. I've had locals that will talk to each other but not others. use the Grid Mapper on QRZ. If you don't know your grid location look it up first and put it in the tool. Then you can see other hams in your local area. If you register on QRZ you can get their email address. Get to know hams that live near you. http://qrz.com/gridmapper But I believe talking at the club meetings I'm sure you will find someone that can help get you going. 73 Michael KM4OLT |
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| My first year as a ham... | bibliomane74 | on 3/10/16 |
| I just got my license in Oct. You have to realize some hams are more comfortable on the air than in person. Some are not very approachable. They're okay among people in their club they've known for years. It took a while before the club I went to finally opened up. I ended up redoing their website and helping out when I could. As far as getting started my first radio was a Baofeng UV-5R handheld I got for $34 and that was with free shipping. I used the Chirp program to program in the local repeaters and weather. I could listen in to see what people were talking and how. After that I bought an inexpensive magnetic mount antenna for my car. This at least let me test the waters some and see how interested I was. A lot of people are using these radios with small home made antennas to pick up satellite communications and talk to the International Space Station. Just a couple of weeks ago I spent more than I've spent on myself in a long time. I spent $600 on a HF rig. An old Kenwood TS940S-AT. I hooked it to my computer and used Fldigi to see what digital mode communications I could pick up. It was really cool. Very glad I spent the money now as I'm hooked. Anxious to get it hooked up so I can send here soon. As far as antenna is concerned I bought a 40m half dipole I think for like $60. The coax was $80. But that's because I needed 150ft of cable to reach in my back yard anywhere I needed. So you don't have to spend a fortune. If you really want to go budget there's tons of information on building your own antennas. A buddy of mine loves building antennas more than he spends on the air I think. lol Every person finds an area that fascinates them. At least with a HF rig you have a lot of bands at your disposal. I'm just thinking of getting my General license so I have a lot more that I could transmit on when I want. 73 Michael KM4OLT |
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| Complaints About Product Ads | mrmonteith | on 22/10/15 |
| This probably applies to other descriptions an not just ads. I've seen just a much about different modes etc. As a new operator I'm not familiar with all the gadgets out there. You go to look for information and they link you to a product. But then all you get is a list of features, weight, etc. But not a thing about what it really is, what it does, or how I can use it to make my hobby more enjoyable? I mean it's great if you've heard it from someone else already or someone else used it. But a first time buyer who just saw the device doesn't necessarily have all the information they need to know if it's for them or not. For the most part you can't even search on what you want to do as they don't seem to tell you. For the stuff you didn't know you can do good luck with that. That's why I've always said never buy books from the writers of software or manufacturers of electronics. They're so deeply involved they leave out the basics. When they used to give you books with software you used the one the producers of the product gave you for last ditch effort on how to use a command. But you ended up buying a book by someone that had already been through the frustration, figured it out, and then explained it in more layman's terms. Bottom line is if you really want someone interested at least point them to a description of what the product is beyond the name. I want to know how it's used and know that I could use it somewhere. |
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