amateur radio

k0ua · Feb 22, 2016

JFoy said:
Friend of mine about two hours away got his general and I've considered it. Like the tractor though, it doesn't take long to drop a lot of money on a new rig and associated gear - heh

True, if we are talking about new gear, but there are tons of older used rigs available at reasonable prices. They may not have all the latest features, but good serviceable HF rigs can be had for $200. Come to think of it, I gave $500 for my Yaesu FT450, which is a modern solid state HF plus 6 meter rig that is full featured.

GaryM · Feb 22, 2016

Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

k0ua · Feb 22, 2016

GaryM said:
Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

Icom 756 PRO III here too.
You have a really nice station/antenna setup.

If I had one piece of advice, If you have X amount of money, put 3/4X into the antenna system. put the remaining 1/4 into the rig. The Antenna system is far more important than the rig on the other end of the coax. Newbies often do just the opposite and wonder why they are disappointed with their results.

GaryM · Feb 22, 2016

k0ua said:
Icom 756 PRO III here too.
You have a really nice station/antenna setup.

If I had one piece of advice, If you have X amount of money, put 3/4X into the antenna system. put the remaining 1/4 into the rig. The Antenna system is far more important than the rig on the other end of the coax. Newbies often do just the opposite and wonder why they are disappointed with their results.

Right you are James. Can't work them if you can't hear them!

B7510HSD · Feb 22, 2016

JFoy said:
KI4RBA - name is John. I have a tech license and only an HT. Haven't turned it on in months though. Went to the local ham group a couple times a few years ago and at 50 yrs old, was one of the youngest in the group so I lost interest.

Hi John I know how you feel BUT these older guys have a world of knowledge and have saved me some money on things I would have maybe purchased that just don't work. Ever thought of getting involved in emergency communication side of radio? Like has been said there are tons of options out there and I am sure more to be invented as well that is Ham radio!
Steve N7XRD

k0ua · Feb 22, 2016

By the way, very few of our licensed members have responded, on this thread. There have been many threads asking about how many of TBN members are licensed, and I believe it numbers in the hundreds, based on earlier responses. It almost seems to me the percentage of population of hams on TBN is higher than in the general population. I don't know for sure why that is, but I believe it is true.

B7510HSD · Feb 22, 2016

GaryM said:
Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

Hi Gary nice antenna setup. My last station was all Icom as I lived only 15 miles from them. Sold all that a year ago and moved here to the coast had to down size considerably this place is small. I replaced everything with Kenwood this time around and really like the new rigs. We are rural here for the most part but have a very nice repeater system called Beach Net BeachNet it has about 22 repeaters now all tied together and covers many many miles of area.
Steve N7XRD

B7510HSD · Feb 22, 2016

k0ua said:
By the way, very few of our licensed members have responded, on this thread. There have been many threads asking about how many of TBN members are licensed, and I believe it numbers in the hundreds, based on earlier responses. It almost seems to me the percentage of population of hams on TBN is higher than in the general population. I don't know for sure why that is, but I believe it is true.

Sadly there may be many that just are not active in radio any longer. I've had a few years along the way where I really wasn't involved but now I'm retired and really enjoy radio. I think I like the building part a little better than talking!

Also sold most all my test equipment I had during the move. But still have enough to be dangerous!!
Steve N7XRD

k0ua · Feb 22, 2016

B7510HSD said:
Sadly there may be many that just are not active in radio any longer. I've had a few years along the way where I really wasn't involved but now I'm retired and really enjoy radio. I think I like the building part a little better than talking! Also sold most all my test equipment I had during the move. But still have enough to be dangerous!!
Steve N7XRD

I think everyone runs "hot and cold" on hobbies, and Amateur Radio is no different. I have sometimes went years between making a contact, and then spend a lot of time with it. This tractor addiction is part practical usage and part hobby to me also.

By the way Steve, have you tried anything on 6 meters? My OCFD works really well on 6. I am sure not as good as a nice 4 element beam up 70 feet but I sure have worked a lot of states and some DX with it on 6. And 6 meters is a great if unpredictable band. Of course everyone thinks their particular antenna is best (just like tractors

) But I will say that my OCFD for the money and effort is the best general purpose wire antenna I have had in about 45 years of hamming. And I have had a lot of antennas of both wire and aluminum at various heights including 100+ feet at various locations. The thing is simple and easy to put up and really works well on all bands 80 thru 6. I even load it on 160 with a good tuner. I can't say it is a fireball on 160, but it does work. But the rest of the bands it is great on, with the execption of 17 and 12 meters. It is workable on those with a tuner, but I can't find much in the way of natural resonances on those bands. But my MA5B works well on those bands.

B7510HSD · Feb 22, 2016

k0ua said:
I think everyone runs "hot and cold" on hobbies, and Amateur Radio is no different. I have sometimes went years between making a contact, and then spend a lot of time with it. This tractor addiction is part practical usage and part hobby to me also.

By the way Steve, have you tried anything on 6 meters? My OCFD works really well on 6. I am sure not as good as a nice 4 element beam up 70 feet but I sure have worked a lot of states and some DX with it on 6. And 6 meters is a great if unpredictable band. Of course everyone thinks their particular antenna is best (just like tractors) But I will say that my OCFD for the money and effort is the best general purpose wire antenna I have had in about 45 years of hamming. And I have had a lot of antennas of both wire and aluminum at various heights including 100+ feet at various locations. The thing is simple and easy to put up and really works well on all bands 80 thru 6. I even load it on 160 with a good tuner. I can't say it is a fireball on 160, but it does work. But the rest of the bands it is great on, with the execption of 17 and 12 meters. It is workable on those with a tuner, but I can't find much in the way of natural resonances on those bands. But my MA5B works well on those bands.

James yes I have worked 6 before at my old house I had a double sized G5RV that I home brewed up and it worked very well on all HF Bands. I just don't have room here but I will look into the OCFD see if I can squeeze one into my lot.Just not happy with the standard G5RV I have up now.