Who Ham? You Ham?

mosquito

mosquito

Above all I like to play.
Who's a ham around here?

After the Napa earthquake I decided it was high time I got my amateur radio license and get my self connected to the SF NERT organisation: if something bad happens in a big way in SF, I want to be able to help make things better.

So... last weekend I went up to Petaluma for a Ham Cram, took the Element 2, asked for Element 3, then asked for Element 4. I got pretty much what I expected: passed 2 & 3, but wound up having to guess for half of Element 4 and my score nearly exactly reflected that. Still, I'm shortly going to be licensed for the General class.
 
1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
I've got my technician class. kj6iqq

Pretty much only use it for four wheeling trips but expect it to come in handy when the big one hits or aliens invade. :D
 
mosquito

mosquito

Above all I like to play.
I figure there's quite a few here, all in various states of activity.

Got my callsign since I posted up: KK6PRT. Now, to wait until payday to buy some toys.
 
TT120

TT120

Well-known member
Got my General in 2004. Usually hang out on 20 meters but I do carry a little dual band HT on my bike. W6BJD.
 
P

packnrat

Well-known member
kg6tgu
been quiet for a while. truck got totaled and not instaled anything in the replacment yet.
and as i rent can do nothing at home.
thought about a walky on the bike...but too busy riding to play ham.

.
 
dmaxAl

dmaxAl

Well-known member
KK6IOR KK6IOR KK6IOR de K6RFL K6RFL K6RFL
KK6IOR KK6IOR KK6IOR de K6RFL K6RFL K6RFL pse K

<- hangs on on 40/20 psk
 
EastBayDave

EastBayDave

- Kawasaki Fanatic -
de K6JOX over here in the mudflats....

Someday I need to get a antenna party together out of BARF folks. Then after raising antenna, everyone go on a twisty ride. OR we can do twisty mello ride & go to BBQ @ my place.

Here's the antenna; just need a new rotator..., but them puppies are so expensive ($1300) it's been down about a decade. Finally found one I can get at half price (rebuilt.)

The tower is a Tri-Ex LM-354, a 54' crank up/crank down self supporting tower. I can get it down to ladder height for working on it. I need to get it back up & going again; I just need help from some young fellas as I'm too old /unstable to stand on top of a ladder.

Here's the antenna, Mosley "Pro-57b" up at 55' above the house. It's 120lbs, w/24' boom, ~28' elements. It keeps breaking lighter weight rotors (wind movement I think), so this time I gotta get extra heavy-duty rotor..:
 

Attachments

  • pro57b.jpg
    pro57b.jpg
    17.4 KB · Views: 532
Last edited:
mosquito

mosquito

Above all I like to play.
Coolness.

FWIW, I saw some antennas on CL in the past day or two.

I like the idea of an Antenna Day.

I think *today* I finally have some spare cash to buy a pair of HT's and associated gear. Yay!
 
Cincinnatus

Cincinnatus

Not-quite retired Army
Dave, same here. Gimme a shout if you want a hand.

On another (semi-similar) topic - is CB still used by anybody? I've got a 40-channel Realistic from way back when that I keep for emergencies, does anybody monitor?
 
Randy B

Randy B

Well-known member
There are a few on around here, but the AM crowd in SJ seems a bit "seedy" for my taste. There is a group on 38LSB after the skip dies out at night and a lot of them are hams as well. I can't have any antennas where I am so I am stuck with my mobile and I don't get out all that much so I'm not on any band much at all.
 
EastBayDave

EastBayDave

- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Thanks everyone for the kind words & offers of help. The local ham club I was with folded up (as have most local clubs), so I lost all my help pretty much. I've been trying to fix big antenna for years, just those rotators are so expensive. This one @ half price is $800, & it's borderline if it's strong enough for the big antenna.

I've thought about wires, but last time I put a wire up a nasty neighbor stole it & threw it in the lake near my home. I guess he must have had QRM? The big antenna when it's all the way raised is easier on the neighbors. Even @ 1500w they don't complain much when I'm using the big antenna up at 60+ plus on a long mast. So need to get that puppy back in the air...

Need to get my #'s back going. Standing at 277 confirmed, about 50ish to go; most of them in the Madagascar/Indian Ocean area, at least halfway around the world. Need big antenna & power for that...

=Dave
 
wazzuFreddo

wazzuFreddo

WuTang is 4 the children
I was messing with my HT this afternoon, just listening.

Found the CARLA system website and dialed that in. Fun stuff.
 
EastBayDave

EastBayDave

- Kawasaki Fanatic -
dmaxAl said:
I can sling wire Dave, holler.
Click to expand...
I might take you guys up on that; already have several wires I've tried here, but they keep getting stolen from my nutzo Comanche Hells Angles neighbor...

That's why I like the big ant. on the tower, not much he can do to vandalize that. It also doesn't seem to get into consumer electronics as much...
 
Last edited:
wazzuFreddo

wazzuFreddo

WuTang is 4 the children
Anyone have a used 2M base or mobile transceiver for sale? Or even a 2M/70cm unit?

All I have right now is an HT and I would like to set up a little shack in the garage. Just some 2nd hand stuff for local repeaters in the evening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top