Calling all Hams

[Booker]

Hi,

I enjoy amateur radio. Its a hobby of mine. Both practical and fun. I got my General ticket some years ago and have not looked back. I was wondering if any other forum members are hams? Maybe we could talk about rigs, stories about our Elmers etc. So what do ya think?

Regards,
Booker

[wb0wao]

Booker,
I have had my ticket since '77 and currently hold an Amateur Extra (lite - hi hi!). Current lineup includes a couple of Small Wonder Labs SW-xx+ rigs in 40m and 30m, a Small Wonder Labs DSW-II on 20m and a 160m-10m Elecraft K2. Antler is a 40m/15m dipole @ 30' (I have a vertical, but it isn't installed right now. I haven't been QRV since January (working too much!) but 95% of my operation is QRP CW.

73 es GUD DX

Dennis - WB0WAO

[unclesam]

Technician here. I had the 5wpm code down then never got around to taking the test and now I've lost it again.

[Booker]

Technician here. I had the 5wpm code down then never got around to taking the test and now I've lost it again.

Hi,

Yes cw can be tough. I learned it through a series of tapes (I can't remember the guys name) but the way it works is through association...take the letter D dah dih dih "The Dog did it" .


QRP is really cool, don't use cw but I know several that have those portable battery powered QRP rigs, man you are really talking business now. No doubt!


Regards,
Booker

[alauchlan]

I have a general class ticket.

My station consists of a Yaesu FT-757GX, a VX-6R with a brick for VHF. I'm trying to come up with an antenna at my house that will actually get out. My G5RV just up, did little better than a 80' length of wire over my roof.

I'll get there. The wire over the house (And now my G5RV, at 30') acts more like cloud warmers, I have a hustler that can mount on my car, (stationary!) and seems to go farther, but doesn't do as good up close.

Allan KB6C--

[StatHaldol]

Hello,
My wife and I got our Technician ticket in November and we're studying for the General test.
We have an Icom 706 with a G5RV and a J-pole.
We also have a couple of Alinco 2 meter radios for the trucks.
It's been a lot of fun!
73
Mike KE5FYR

[mohillbilly]

Hey! didnt knwo that there were so many HAMS in here! I have a Tech class ticket. Started the code a few years ago, but didnt appeal to me so i never really took it any further. I actually havent even transmitted in over 2 years, the wind slammed a tree in to my ant. and killed it!

I need to get back into it, ws always a good time.

My equipment is mostly 2 meter, An icom ic-28h, a kenwood tm-201b, a adi ar-146, and another kenwood rig that i dont remember the model # of.

Also have several 10/11 meter rigs.

[wb0wao]

Basic rule of thumb with a dipole/inverted vee is that anything less than 1/2 wavelength above the ground will be considered a NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) antenna. These are used for ranges up to 400 miles for short range communications. Any antenna up above 1/2 wavelength starts to produce a lower angles of radiation (increased range) but at the expense of the shorter range communications. For 40m, 1/2 wavelength is around 60 feet, so if your antenna is below 60 feet you will start to get a higher angle of radiation which will decrease the distance that you can cover. A vertical antenna on the other hand, even if mounted at ground level has a low angle of radiation - great for DX but horrible for close in communication. If you don't have a tower/yagi combination, the best bet is to have a good all band vertical and a low dipole - you will get the best of both worlds!

Dennis - WB0WAO

[Booker]

Basic rule of thumb with a dipole/inverted vee is that anything less than 1/2 wavelength above the ground will be considered a NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) antenna. *These are used for ranges up to 400 miles for short range communications. *Any antenna up above 1/2 wavelength starts to produce a lower angles of radiation (increased range) but at the expense of the shorter range communications. *For 40m, 1/2 wavelength is around 60 feet, so if your antenna is below 60 feet you will start to get a higher angle of radiation which will decrease the distance that you can cover. *A vertical antenna on the other hand, even if mounted at ground level has a low angle of radiation - great for DX but horrible for close in communication. *If you don't have a tower/yagi combination, the best bet is to have a good all band vertical and a low dipole - you will get the best of both worlds!

Dennis - WB0WAO

Wow,

Hey, you really seem to know your antenna theory and use. Would you be willing to entertain questions? I go to qrz.com alot but it would be nice to have an "Elmer or "Elmers" on the BHM forum, what are your thoughts?

Regards,
Booker

[unclesam]

I would just like to mention to all the hams here that

it may not be a good idea to post your call signs on line

as all of the information on your ticket is easily available

on line.Just a caution for those who might not realize

this.

[wvpeach1963]

I second his post. Believe me you do not want your call numbers public on this forum.

Do it in private.
I would just like to mention to all the hams here that

it may not be a good idea to post your call signs on line

as all of the information on your ticket is easily available

on line.Just a caution for those who might not realize

this.

[Booker]

I would just like to mention to all the hams here that

it may not be a good idea to post your call signs on line

as all of the information on your ticket is easily available

on line.Just a caution for those who might not realize

this.

Good Point,

You just have to go to qrz.com and there is all of your information. I am sure there are other sites that can display the same info.

Regards,
Booker

[preliator]

i have been tryin to find the time to get my techs ticket for a while now, now CERT (community emergency response team) is working with ARIES and the other local radio clubs to help people get theres.....next class is in a month or so, so i hope to be free to take it.
anthony

[mohillbilly]

I would just like to mention to all the hams here that

it may not be a good idea to post your call signs on line

as all of the information on your ticket is easily available

on line.Just a caution for those who might not realize

this.



thanks for the info, get kind of comfortable in a place and I forget what can really happen, good advice!

[CarolAnn]

No kidding! I just looked up my Dad's call sign on that site and his info popped right up.

Then I googled it and got 13 hits there! Who'da thought?

[wb0wao]

Would you be willing to entertain questions? I go to qrz.com alot but it would be nice to have an "Elmer or "Elmers" on the BHM forum, what are your thoughts?


Sure, I will try to answer any and all questions about antenna design/theory, propagation, tranceiver design, etc. I have done VHF/UHF weak signal work, satellite operation, contesting and DXing as well as some other stuff.

Dennis

[StatHaldol]

Sure, I will try to answer any and all questions about antenna design/theory, propagation, tranceiver design, etc. I have done VHF/UHF weak signal work, satellite operation, contesting and DXing as well as some other stuff.
Dennis

Thanks Dennis! Sometimes I run into problems too and my resources here are limited.
I like to build 2 meter J-poles out of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch copper pipe for some of the new hams here who can't afford a "store bought" one.
They have worked pretty well so far but I'm always looking for a new design.
73
Mike in Louisiana

[wb0wao]

J-Poles are fairly easy to construct out of copper pipe and VERY durable:

http://www.n7qvc.com/amateur_radio/copper.html

or this one made out of 300 ohm twin lead for "portable operations":

http://w4zt.com/jpole/

Main thing is to get it up as high as possible, keep away from large areas of metal (house siding, chain link fences, etc.) and far enough away from power lines so if it falls during installation/use it won't fry you or your rig!


Dennis

[foxfire]

General class here. Unfortunately, my "system is down" due to a double whammy: one of the many storms we have had helped to remove my G5RV from the trees from which it was suspended. Secondly, we have a "room switching" project underway that has caused my equipment to be shelved for a while!! :-/

when up and running, I have an Icom 745. With the G5RV, I have worked beau coup countries/states, including Russia, a lot of western Europe, Australia, and Antarctica, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, etc.

Hmmm, I need to get that antenna back up, and my rig all plugged in!!

73
T.

[wb0wao]

It may be a bit before the good DX is available ;D We are just about at the bottom of Cycle 23 (IIRC it will bottom out this fall), so it will be a few years before we really start seeing the really great openings on 20m and up. You can still snag a few good ones on 30m and to a lesser extent on 20m, but most hard-core DXers work 40m/80m during the low part of the cycle like we are in now.

When we move to MO in about a year, the first antenna up will be a 160m full wave horizontal loop followed by my DX-88 vertical!

Dennis

[StatHaldol]

Dennis,
I've got a question for ya! I've made all of the 2-meter J-poles with copper pipe. I've soldered the joints with a torch.
I've helped some scouts build J-poles in the past and I was always nervous using the torch around a bunch of kids.
I was wondering about using JB Weld instead of the solder for the joints....
I've used it on other projects but I don't know if it would be suitable for an antenna....
Thanks!
Mike in Louisiana

[wb0wao]

Offhand I would say no, JB Weld would probably not work because you need a good _electrical_ connection versus a good _mechanical_ connection. In looking at the MSDS for the JB Weld, the resin contains 10 - 20% iron powder and the rest of the ingredients are non conductive materials. YOu could get an electrical connection if there were areas of the tubing that made direct contact and did not have any of the epoxy on them, but those areas would be prone to oxidation and the connection would become "iffy" at best.

Since RF flows along the surface of conductions ("skin effect") it is imperative that a good electrical connection be made on any component of the antenna system - feedline or the actual antenna itself.

Dennis

[StatHaldol]

Thanks, Dennis! That answers it in a nutshell! I haven't thought about looking for the MSDS sheets.
I was kind of afraid it wouldn't provide enough conductivity.
My solder joints aren't the best in the world, but it's even tougher with 8 or 10 scouts running around!
Have a good Sunday!
Mike in Louisiana

[wb0wao]

QSL! Remember, you don't need to have a "plumbing grade" connections. I have seen them constructed using "spot soldering" at 2 to 3 spots around the joint. Make sure that the copper is good and bright where you will be soldering. A cheap "scotch-brite" pad will shine it up real good! I went to the dollar store and picked up a pack and used them on some bare PCB material when I was experimenting with a home-brew txcvr design.

Dennis

[StatHaldol]

Yes, very few of my solder joints are plumbing quality! My dad was a part-time plumber and he made it look easy.
A couple of years ago, I helped a neighbor relocate a hot water heater. We soldered several connections. When we turned on the water it looked like we had installed a sprinkler system! :D
Another project I've been working on is trying to find a 2 meter antenna (mobile) that is YL or XYL friendly. Some of the new hams locally are starting with mobile 2 meter rigs and are looking for an antenna that the wife won't compain so much about.
I have a 52 inch Wilson Mag mount that works great; but that's not an option for a couple of guys here with finicky wives! Any suggestions?
Mike in Louisiana

[wb0wao]

For starters, check these out:

http://www.radialllarsen.com/docfiles/ASB6/Mobile/ASB6MobileVHF136174.pdf

These are all very high quality antennas, and some of them are very compact. Remember tho, the smaller the antenna, the less efficient it will be!

Dennis

[mohillbilly]

FYI, JB weld is NOT a good electrical connection, so you were stereered in the right direction!

[brianclane]

Technician Class here, not very active (the local 2m repeaters sound like cell-phone towers to me). My main interest is in packet but haven't had a station on the air in a couple of years. I do have a Yeasu FT50R that I use on occasion though.

.bcl

[Gary Grayhair]

I hold an Advanced ticket and have up a 15M dipole and a multiband vertical, although most of my work is/was on VHF. My biggest loves are 6M and the LEO satellites (using Eggbeaters for 2M and 70cM plus a 10M turnstile for downlink). Its been a while since I've been on, though, since some major repairs around the house required that I drop the masts and remove the feedlines and none of it has made it back up. :(

[traderran]

Another Ham hear
had a general since 1967 :D

[fire5man]

Best hobby ever. I find it costs a little in the last year I cant tell you how much money I have droped for toys. I have a 1.5 hour drive to work and then I have to drive home. May people to keep me up. I have also found a love for 6 meters. What a crazy band.

73's Kb3lzv

[farmritch]

Ham since 79
Advanced class
VHF,HF
I have a 140 FT ex FAA Insulated (2-52) A-N navigation tower that I use on all bands in winter
I love ham radio but worry about the future of it
Farmritch

[rickpaul]

hi yall, i`m a tech class, don`t have much time to study to advance yet, yall think you could possibility build a J pole for mobile use ? never seen one but, you never know, any of yall ever heard of ground ant. thanks rick ..........P.S. do yall like echo-link

[StatHaldol]

Hi Rick!
Wife and I are new Techs also. I've never seen a mobile J-pole. I have an Alinco 2 meter radio in my truck and a Wilson mag mount antenna. It's been a good antenna; built like a tank.
You can find them on E-bay sometimes.
I think I would like Echo Link but I can't get it to work with my Bell South DSL!! :'(
73
Mike in Louisiana

[ShieldWolf]

Howdy:
Been licensed since 87, currently general class.
Current line up is a Jhonson Viking Challenger xmtr CW/AM with a Collins 75S-3 doing the recieving duties.
Home brew T/R switch and a Murch tuner feeding a long wire.
Also an Army PRC-47 HF rig for field use.
73

[wy0mn]

Advanced Class here.
Passed Extra theory once but not the code speed that was required at the time.
ICom 707 with tuned longwire & 11m whip. Gonna replace the antennas with a CHA250B & lose the tuner.
ADI 2m rig in the mobile with a Hamstick.
12VDC shack, PV's and batteries.
73 de wy0mn/7
Lex

[FN64]

Been hammin' since the early 80's. General class, QTH is Maine (hence my board name).
FT-847 & dipoles. 20 & 40M, SSB, PSK31 & SSTV.

FN64

[Ponyman]

I never knew there were so many hams in here! I've had my license about a 2 years and was wondering if any of you have gone hiking or camping and the pluses and negatives of that and also I'd like to hear how a ham radio might have saved you from a tight spot like a stuck car in a snow drift or something like that and finally... anybody have an old set up at some cabin you fire up when you get bored on a rainy day or night? Just curious to hear your stories of operation... I don't talk much but more of a listener... and what's the farthest you have contacted anybody?

Ponyman