Ham Radio Operators

[boney]

Your link essentially provides the same information as the, "scaremongering," link. The only real difference is the matter of outrage you choose to supply over the civilian use of the public space or the denial thereof.

I look at it like this: If I have a car parked, for free, in a State garage and an agreement that I will drive a State emergency worker around in it during an emergency, at no cost to the state that's great! But then along comes change, and the State says to me; "Thanks, but the time has come that we don't need your services any more. You can keep your car in the garage, but it will cost $500 month."

I don't see any reason to be outraged or even upset. In fact, the request seems quite reasonable to me. The service wasn't for all the people who I let use my car- it was for a very specific, narrow, purpose of driving that state worker around in an emergency. If all those other people who used my car for free want to pony up some cash, or I want to carry the burden myself, the car can stay.

Somewhere between me and my SFW? attitude and Bunker Bob over there on the linked web site is a medium place where this topic probably belongs. Nothing in this world is free. Not even the space to keep a repeater on public property. Lucky for NERT, San Francisco sees a value in keeping a large body of civilian volunteers trained and at the ready. That should lead to free repeater space on city property for years to come.

To Bunker Bob I say, "join your local club and pay your dues so that you can afford to keep the repeater in operation." It's not only about keeping the repeaters running, it's the only way Ham Radio is going to continue to exist.

BT-Dubs, How did it go? You get your ticket?

 

[Eldritch]

I look at it like this: If I have a car parked, for free, in a State garage and an agreement that I will drive a State emergency worker around in it during an emergency, at no cost to the state that's great! But then along comes change, and the State says to me; "Thanks, but the time has come that we don't need your services any more. You can keep your car in the garage, but it will cost $500 month."

I don't see any reason to be outraged or even upset. In fact, the request seems quite reasonable to me. The service wasn't for all the people who I let use my car- it was for a very specific, narrow, purpose of driving that state worker around in an emergency. If all those other people who used my car for free want to pony up some cash, or I want to carry the burden myself, the car can stay.

Somewhere between me and my SFW? attitude and Bunker Bob over there on the linked web site is a medium place where this topic probably belongs. Nothing in this world is free. Not even the space to keep a repeater on public property. Lucky for NERT, San Francisco sees a value in keeping a large body of civilian volunteers trained and at the ready. That should lead to free repeater space on city property for years to come.

To Bunker Bob I say, "join your local club and pay your dues so that you can afford to keep the repeater in operation." It's not only about keeping the repeaters running, it's the only way Ham Radio is going to continue to exist.

BT-Dubs, How did it go? You get your ticket?

Yeah, I set my outrage level over the issue to mild.

While I do see your point, in a State where all other forms of communication are being turned off by the State authorized private corporation, it grinds my gears a little that the State is making the one that can operate independently from that less accessible.

I overslept this morning and missed the cram, so I will have to get the next one in a couple of weeks. I did get my FRN from the FCC, which I guess is more secure than using your SSN. I have also recruited my youngest brother, who lives about 2 miles from me.

 

[boney]

Yeah, I set my outrage level over the issue to mild.

While I do see your point, in a State where all other forms of communication are being turned off by the State authorized private corporation, it grinds my gears a little that the State is making the one that can operate independently from that less accessible.

I overslept this morning and missed the cram, so I will have to get the next one in a couple of weeks. I did get my FRN from the FCC, which I guess is more secure than using your SSN. I have also recruited my youngest brother, who lives about 2 miles from me.

Bummer....

I may have to look at the cram for an upgrade to my Tech.

The beauty is that any old joe can put an antenna on the roof and find a dual-band radio with built in repeater capability for a few hundred dollars. Ebay is a great place for that! If you have/know someone with a strategic property, you can cover a lot of ground with not much investment. Put it on a UPS. Hell, there's all kinds of way to power that thing without PG&E.

 

[Eldritch]

Well, I went today and passed my Technician Exam. Now I need to buy some equipment.

I want a handheld, able to puke out as many Watts as possible. I want to be able to contact my little brother, who only lives about 2 miles away, but there is a decent sized hill between us, so I reckon I will have to count on some waves bouncing off walls in the valley here to get around it.

Any suggestions for a device? I assume that I need it to be able to output VHF if I am hoping to get some refraction?

I see a lot of cheap Baofeng stuff out there, but I am not inclined to trust cheap Chinese electronic equipment, especially if the want me to install their custom software on my PC to program the radio.

 

[Randy B]

Well, I went today and passed my Technician Exam. Now I need to buy some equipment.

I want a handheld, able to puke out as many Watts as possible. I want to be able to contact my little brother, who only lives about 2 miles away, but there is a decent sized hill between us, so I reckon I will have to count on some waves bouncing off walls in the valley here to get around it.

Any suggestions for a device? I assume that I need it to be able to output VHF if I am hoping to get some refraction?

I see a lot of cheap Baofeng stuff out there, but I am not inclined to trust cheap Chinese electronic equipment, especially if the want me to install their custom software on my PC to program the radio.

The only HT that I own would be considered ancient. It's an Icom Z1A from the mid 90's. The tone decoder has failed so it is now useless for repeaters, so I just use it to listen anymore.

You might want to check out Ebay for a used one from Kenwood, Icom or Yaesu. I just could never get on the Baofang bandwagon no matter how cheap that they are.

I don't know that you will see much more than 5 watts from a hand held because any more than that and the battery wouldn't last too long. Besides, you can usually hit a repeater with that unless you have no clear path to one.

Check this one out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yaesu-FT-7...844406?hash=item3d993be536:g:maQAAOSwmWxd8Rcv

 

[RightCoastBias]

Well, I went today and passed my Technician Exam. Now I need to buy some equipment.

I want a handheld, able to puke out as many Watts as possible. I want to be able to contact my little brother, who only lives about 2 miles away, but there is a decent sized hill between us, so I reckon I will have to count on some waves bouncing off walls in the valley here to get around it.

Any suggestions for a device? I assume that I need it to be able to output VHF if I am hoping to get some refraction?

I see a lot of cheap Baofeng stuff out there, but I am not inclined to trust cheap Chinese electronic equipment, especially if the want me to install their custom software on my PC to program the radio.

I've used CHIRP to program my BaoFengs, no BaoFeng software needed.

I've got 4-5 of these in various places.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4KLY34/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also just recently grabbed one of these to play around with;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RRPC8VQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And was able to program with CHIRP using this cable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RZJHJU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


There's also the HAM Radio Outlet in Oakland.

https://goo.gl/maps/qpnxMbGzbqQLJ7zPA

Lots of good product, and some folks that know their shit. The Customer Service isn't the best, and I found the manager to be an outright prick to his employees, so I tend to not shop there.

If you're willing to spend some more on a portable, the Yaesu 60R or the 70DR are often get recommended.

If you're trying to talk to your brother over a hill, you might get lucky with bounce, as you said, or you can just chat off a tower.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

I miss the Sunnyvale HRO

 

[boney]

Plenty of repeaters in the area that are open and see little use. There also seems to be a ham radio club in just about every county in the area. Google them, you might find someone one of their sites selling equipment too.

Check in on the W6CX net 05:45 and 06:15. Wait for visitors and guests. Tell them you're a nOOb and theyll talk your ear off after they close the net.

 

[Critter]

My Sup at work is HEAVY into the HAM world. To the point of working on antennas and tuning into his rig and talking to his buddies in the office. He hooked me up with a receiver for SDR# to get my feet wet and jeez its a lot of tech jargon but I'm studying my ass off I should be up and running by the summer with work and all.

 

[Randy B]

I miss the Sunnyvale HRO

I was disappointed when they closed it, but I completely understand why they did it.

 

[bpw]

Well, I went today and passed my Technician Exam. Now I need to buy some equipment.

I want a handheld, able to puke out as many Watts as possible. I want to be able to contact my little brother, who only lives about 2 miles away, but there is a decent sized hill between us, so I reckon I will have to count on some waves bouncing off walls in the valley here to get around it.

Any suggestions for a device? I assume that I need it to be able to output VHF if I am hoping to get some refraction?

I see a lot of cheap Baofeng stuff out there, but I am not inclined to trust cheap Chinese electronic equipment, especially if the want me to install their custom software on my PC to program the radio.

I have a couple Yaesu FT-4 that I use for paragliding. Similar to a Boafeng but with actual quality control and slighltly less confusing interface. $20 for a better antenna is money well spent.

 

[Eldritch]

I've used CHIRP to program my BaoFengs, no BaoFeng software needed...

...If you're willing to spend some more on a portable, the Yaesu 60R or the 70DR are often get recommended.

If you're trying to talk to your brother over a hill, you might get lucky with bounce, as you said, or you can just chat off a tower.

Well, the decision to do this was spurred when the Power was off for like 5 days and we had no cell phone of landline phones service for a couple of days. I am fine to play my own Police and Fire department when I am cut off, but that means I am trying to work out a solution where my Mom and little brother can reach me at my place without any networks functioning so I can attend to them in a crisis.

I have a couple Yaesu FT-4 that I use for paragliding. Similar to a Boafeng but with actual quality control and slighltly less confusing interface. $20 for a better antenna is money well spent.

Good heads up, thanks. Is that an FT-4XR? I have had my eye on Yaesu, I tend to trust Japanese electronics a lot more.

 

[bpw]

Good heads up, thanks. Is that an FT-4XR? I have had my eye on Yaesu, I tend to trust Japanese electronics a lot more.

I have the FT-4V because I don't need the multi-band functions of the other versions and its a bit cheaper.

 

[ctwo]

Well, I went today and passed my Technician Exam. Now I need to buy some equipment.

I want a handheld, able to puke out as many Watts as possible. I want to be able to contact my little brother, who only lives about 2 miles away, but there is a decent sized hill between us, so I reckon I will have to count on some waves bouncing off walls in the valley here to get around it.

Any suggestions for a device? I assume that I need it to be able to output VHF if I am hoping to get some refraction?

I see a lot of cheap Baofeng stuff out there, but I am not inclined to trust cheap Chinese electronic equipment, especially if the want me to install their custom software on my PC to program the radio.

Baofeng BF-F8HP + CHiRP

 

[Eldritch]

You use this? Is the Baofeng durable?

 

[ctwo]

I have an older model. It is not as durable as my Yaesu, for example, but it was $25 when I bought it, and I've had no problems with it. I'm a casual user though.

Good thing about these is that the big name brands have come down in price.

https://www.gigaparts.com/yaesu-vx-6r-2.html


As a new user I'd get something cheap to get a feel for it, learn, and then decide if you want to spend more.

This one seems reasonable, but no experience (it's probably just like the baofeng):

https://www.gigaparts.com/yaesu-ft-4xr-dual-band-transceiver.html

 

[wazzuFreddo]

You use this? Is the Baofeng durable?

Like ctwo says, for $25 each I do not care how durable :laughing

I need to get back on the air and have some fun, it has been a while.

 

[bpw]

Quite a few of us have used the baofeng for paragliding. The big issue has been that some are great and some don’t work well at all. Seems the connection to the antenna is not always well done so you wind up with a radio that works great at close range but can’t transmit or receive at greater distance.

Seems like a quality control issue as opposed to design as some of the are just fine and hold up well.

The cheap Yaesu actually use a lot of the same components, but with better QA.

 

[aminalmutha]

So, do you beat your pud whilst HAM-ing, like on t3h innan3tz?

 

[Eldritch]

Like ctwo says, for $25 each I do not care how durable :laughing

I need to get back on the air and have some fun, it has been a while.

I have no intention of ever buying a $25 chinese radio. :laughing I would just expect those to crumble if I yelled at them.

Now if I am going to spend some money on a couple of $65-$110 radios, I want them to last a while and be reliable in an emergency.

I have an older model. It is not as durable as my Yaesu, for example, but it was $25 when I bought it, and I've had no problems with it. I'm a casual user though.

Good thing about these is that the big name brands have come down in price.

https://www.gigaparts.com/yaesu-vx-6r-2.html


As a new user I'd get something cheap to get a feel for it, learn, and then decide if you want to spend more.

This one seems reasonable, but no experience (it's probably just like the baofeng):

https://www.gigaparts.com/yaesu-ft-4xr-dual-band-transceiver.html

They offer an extended warranty with that Yaesu, so that is confidence building.

So, do you beat your pud whilst HAM-ing, like on t3h innan3tz?

Well, you can, but if people know you are doing it, that is illegal. :laughing