Poll
Question:
How many of us are licensed hams?
Option 1: YES
votes: 44
Option 2: NO
votes: 1
Option 3: Already Studying
votes: 3
Option 4: Choosing Not To Be Licensed
votes: 1
Let's find out where we all stand.
My wife (KC5QJQ) and myself (KC5OTL) ave been licenced since 1994. What we don't do any more, is subscribe to ARRL, QST and QEX - These days, I'd prefer to put my money into something else...
My wife, son, daughter and myself are all licensed. I'm a Life Member of the ARRL.
13 year ham, 12 year Amateur Extra.
No licence here. No plans to study for now - maybe down the road. Just getting aquainted with the Ham-speak, and other terminology at this time.
At this early stage of my learning, I am most excited about the learning Morse Code. Not sure if I will accomplish that, but that is what partly attracted me to radios/Ham.
Relatively new HAM here!
Last November passed general.
Got my tech in 2009 and general in 2011. Studying now for extra.
:o Hi! My name is RadioRay and I'm a ham radio addict...
;D Hello Raaaaay!
:o We all know that I'll be a radio addict for the rest of my life, but I am determined to turn this around and to use it for GOOD!
;) You're a niiiiiize booooy Ray!
---
Extra license and been using ham radio and etc. since transistors were 'new' , engineer, backcountry person and soldier with real experience in 'life or death' radio use in a former time,and have a particular focus on communicating while everything else is 'down'.
Personally, I don't know how people live without ham radio, but takes all kinds... ha ha
:) ;) :D ;D >:( :( :o 8) ??? ::) :P :-[ :-X :-\ :-* :'(
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Yes me for 36 years and the wife for 30. Both generals.
I passed all three exams this morning...
Gil.
Whoa!!! Good ON ya, Gil!
Extra, Extra, read all about it; Gil's an extra! :)
Congrats gil
Thank you :D
Gil.
I have an Extra license.
- Paul
Well, I have the theoretical knowledge, now I need more experience...
Gil.
Quote from: WA4STO on September 15, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Whoa!!! Good ON ya, Gil!
Extra, Extra, read all about it; Gil's an extra! :)
Congratulations.
Quote from: Sunflower on September 11, 2012, 08:32:06 AM
No licence here. No plans to study for now - maybe down the road. Just getting aquainted with the Ham-speak, and other terminology at this time.
At this early stage of my learning, I am most excited about the learning Morse Code. Not sure if I will accomplish that, but that is what partly attracted me to radios/Ham.
Well things change. I am studying for the Technician License now.
Nice job Gil !
I took one exam a month for three months (T,G,E) to get my Extra. Now the learning begins.
Thanks :)
Quote from: Sunflower on September 16, 2012, 02:58:57 PM
Quote from: WA4STO on September 15, 2012, 01:02:40 PM
Whoa!!! Good ON ya, Gil!
Extra, Extra, read all about it; Gil's an extra! :)
Congratulations.
Way to go Gil!
My man Luck - humble as he is - has been "guiding" me along this path!
I am focusing on HF voice - and those digital modes are calling...specifically SSTV, digitizing voice, PSK31, Olivia...
Along with finding out what folks are doing regarding licensing - I would also be interested to know how everyone has - or is - setting up their "shack"?
Personally, I don't want a shack.. I want to operate portable. Somehow I prefer the idea of going somewhere else to use a radio. A field trip of sort. I spend enough time inside as it is. Sitting at a chair for hours isn't very appealing to me. I'd rather go to the beach or the woods and find the best way to set-up a station there. I'm cheap, I don't want to spend thousands on a tower, antennas, amps and whatnot. I need the exercise anyway..
Gil.
Quote from: gil on September 22, 2012, 11:07:31 PM
Personally, I don't want a shack.. I want to operate portable. Somehow I prefer the idea of going somewhere else to use a radio. A field trip of sort. I spend enough time inside as it is. Sitting at a chair for hours isn't very appealing to me. I'd rather go to the beach or the woods and find the best way to set-up a station there. I'm cheap, I don't want to spend thousands on a tower, antennas, amps and whatnot. I need the exercise anyway..
Gil.
OK, that is very interesting Gil - I prefer a shack because I travel a lot for work...do you?
Maybe there is an inverse relationship to where we spend the bulk our time?
I do intend to have a mobile
option, but I intend on using voice primarily, and I want to use HF radio to make local and DX contacts to find out what is REALLY going on in places we are (or perhaps, are NOT) hearing about - and I want the ability to plot and plan.
Depending on the nature of the "STUFF" hitting the fan - I currently only have a "bug in" plan - but ultimately I think I'd like to be in a better location if the nature of the "STUFF" looks to be long-term (and I think it will eventually deveolve into long-term), I want to be in place that has fresh water, a little land, near a small(ish) community.
For now, I'm investing in a shack - but my radio can go mobile...
QuoteOK, that is very interesting Gil - I prefer a shack because I travel a lot for work...do you? Maybe there is an inverse relationship to where we spend the bulk our time?
That must be so.. Although I could travel, since I am a programmer and can work anywhere on my laptop, I usually don't. We;;, except for a bit cross-country trip last summer.. So, When I'm not working, I want to get out...
Gil.
Funny how the 'inverse' rule works:
I used to work in very highly complex military robotics research. The work WAS fascinating and sometimes FUN. However, when it came to my life away from work, on my little sailboat, I specifically did NOT want anything high-tech aboard. None of the CRAP that you see in Sailing World with the chromed everything & paid bikini models on the cover. (Well, the girls aboard are fine, and no need for bikinis... ;) This is for many reasons, not the least of which is survivability of 'simple tech' and frankly the opportunity to keep it simple while learning new skills. If I wanted complex high tech, I could go work some overtime.
Same-same in ham radio. I appreciate the ability for digital modes to make some aspects of HF communications convienent. HOWEVER, I truly enjoy the sheer efficiency of CW (Morse code) for long range communication. It is a joy to use skill, rather than money to solve a problem. It's a joy for me to never have to re-boot my hand key or have an essential laptop prevent my transceiver from working... It is a joy to have a conversation with someone in an elegant manner, using a home brewed, simple radio, with a wire tossed into a tree for an antenna while out camping. I cannot remember ever having someone take the time to tap out an obscenity in Morse, though I hear it often in SSB voice. The ability to build a tiny transceiver into a pipe tobacco tin and tap code to a fellow camping almost 700 miles away using it on battery power is still simply amazing to me, even after doing it for forty years. I also know that it works - when all else fails.
If it's too much like work, why do it for fun? If work was so great, they wouldn't have to PAY us to do it, now WOULD they?
:) >>>This sermon is available on CD for a $30 offering... <<< :)
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Ps. Simple like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvHfRJvjUN4&feature=colike
and this ...
http://youtu.be/hj9va9LMB78
Though if "crystal controlled rigs belong in the bin," I'd have to throw away three of them! I haven't tried my Rock-Mites yet, but they are neat little radios. What I'd like now is a mono-band tiny radio with a VFO... I hope Dave Benson will bring back his SW20..
Gil.
Dave Benson designs some great rigs. I have my old SW40+ from 1999, in a aluminum clam shell case that I got at a surplus store for under a buck. I was leaving on a 9 days survival trip with Hoods Woods into the No Return Wilderness and built this in a day and a half... Not my best work, but it's still working, all these years later.
I just landed some cash from selling my big rig, so plan to do more building and like you (Gil) I am thinking of a small, mono-bander, likely with a EndFeds type antenna coupler for quick QSOs with a half wave wire in the air.
>Ray
Ps. XTAL control makes it MUCH more difficult to make QSO's but entirely do-able with patience. A VXO of even 10-20 KHz swing can change that entirely with not much change in parts count.
QuoteI just landed some cash from selling my big rig, so plan to do more building and like you (Gil) I am thinking of a small, mono-bander.
If you find a good one Ray, let me know.. Ten Tec maybe? The KX1 is tempting... I'm not sure I will keep my K2, though it is a great radio...
Gil.
I'm licensed, and hoping to take my Extra exam this fall.
Got my tech last November and my general in March.
I'm with you Gil, no shack, want to run portable. Although with winter setting in I have my 817 with a HF packer amp set up in "my room" with a simple multi band single wire dipole in the trees outside my window. When I go portable I have single band end feds and a buddipole.
Congratulation on the tickets and welcome aboard :)
I have the Buddistick, and it works great up to 30m.
The jury is still out on 40...
gil.
Quote from: gil on October 20, 2012, 10:57:52 AM
Congratulation on the tickets and welcome aboard :)
I have the Buddistick, and it works great up to 30m.
The jury is still out on 40...
gil.
Thanks, so far the forum looks great and looking forward to participating.
Buddiestick/pole is tough for 40. For a vertical you really need radials and the TRSB. One of these days I'm going to test is as an NVIS on 40 and 80.
Quote from: madball13 on October 20, 2012, 10:47:27 AM
Got my tech last November and my general in March.
I'm with you Gil, no shack, want to run portable. Although with winter setting in I have my 817 with a HF packer amp set up in "my room" with a simple multi band single wire dipole in the trees outside my window. When I go portable I have single band end feds and a buddipole.
Welcome madball13 !
I think you need to be prepared on several levels, a mobile "go system" is a good idea, just don't know how someone would make constant/permanent movement a "winnable" strategy?
Maybe that has to do with the type of event you're preparing for? How long of a period of instability do you think will occur?
Quote from: White Tiger on October 22, 2012, 12:00:42 AM
Quote from: madball13 on October 20, 2012, 10:47:27 AM
Got my tech last November and my general in March.
I'm with you Gil, no shack, want to run portable. Although with winter setting in I have my 817 with a HF packer amp set up in "my room" with a simple multi band single wire dipole in the trees outside my window. When I go portable I have single band end feds and a buddipole.
Welcome madball13 !
I think you need to be prepared on several levels, a mobile "go system" is a good idea, just don't know how someone would make constant/permanent movement a "winnable" strategy?
Maybe that has to do with the type of event you're preparing for? How long of a period of instability do you think will occur?
I have no idea, but i plan for the worst and hope for the best. I am involved with EM in my town so i want ot be able to be able to go and go fast. My go items include the 817, back up battery, tuner, analyzer, end fed wires and a solar panel. If anything i will be able to listen for a long time.
It would seem to me that if you don't have supplies, you put yourself in a daily struggle to acquire basic provisions.
You're constantly in a situation the military spends millions of dollars trying to avoid...namely: long supply lines, or being cut off from supplies...
If you're involved in EM, I can understand how the planning for short-term events could affect your concepts of what to prepare for...what if an event occurs, or several events occur, where the government is unable to respond?
All grocery stores have approximately 3 days of inventory, most households have approximately 1 week supply on hand.
What happens after 7-10 days?
Quote from: White Tiger on October 22, 2012, 10:05:25 AM
It would seem to me that if you don't have supplies, you put yourself in a daily struggle to acquire basic provisions.
You're constantly in a situation the military spends millions of dollars trying to avoid...namely: long supply lines, or being cut off from supplies...
If you're involved in EM, I can understand how the planning for short-term events could affect your concepts of what to prepare for...what if an event occurs, or several events occur, where the government is unable to respond?
All grocery stores have approximately 3 days of inventory, most households have approximately 1 week supply on hand.
What happens after 7-10 days?
Then i go to the basement and start hitting the supplies :D
Ahhh...so you have a stay in place/bug IN plan, you just think living in the open is where you will find the most freedom?
Quote from: White Tiger on October 22, 2012, 01:18:34 PM
Ahhh...so you have a stay in place/bug IN plan, you just think living in the open is where you will find the most freedom?
I have a bug in plan and will stay till resources or safety requires me to move out in which case i activate the bug out plan which includes moving to a secondary location.
That is essentially my plan...the only thing that I lack at that level of the plan is...the secondary location.
I know where Iwant it to be...just need t find the fundage...
Studying for my Extra exam - planned to take it this coming Saturday because with the holidays approaching, I won't be able to try again until January - but in a slight twist...I'm having to find a location in Pensacola to do the test. Heading over to the ARRL website to find a time and place...
About mobility.. It isn't something I plan. If I can stay put, I would. I want to be mobile in case I have to move...
Gil.
Tech here. Just haven't been able to force myself to sit down and learn more. I've tried but just can't remember all the material. My goal is upgrade to extra though. Just having a difficult time doing it.
Dean
Quote from: deanathpc on November 09, 2012, 01:39:40 PM
Tech here. Just haven't been able to force myself to sit down and learn more. I've tried but just can't remember all the material. My goal is upgrade to extra though. Just having a difficult time doing it.
Dean
Have you seen hamstudy.org?
Great free site that has a great way of learning and testing the material.
I just did a zombie march through the practice tests at qrz.com. Once I started passing it most of the time I knew I was ready.
www.hamtestonline.com was a GREAT study guide.
Probably took 100 practice exams...currently hitting 70% on the Extra...after passing Tech & General!
Buckle Down, no doubt you'll pass!
Extra class ham, license since 94
I'll be licensed for 2 years next month. I'm currently a General; but am looking to take me Extra upgrade exam next month or March.
Quote from: KB1YMI on September 07, 2012, 12:57:34 PM
Let's find out where we all stand.
Licensed since 1970.
73
Lloyd Colston, KC5FM
28 yr ham, extra class, grandson is also licensed, general at age 11, he is now almost 19.
Also not a newbie, but you must of purged me, tried to sign on, said username is not in use.
So signed back up.
Hello, you would only be purged if you didn't sign in for more than a year... So, did your grandson keep at it or did he push radio aside in his teenage years?
Gil.
Licensed since 2013. Taking the Extra exam in 2 weeks.
Quote from: KB1YMI on September 07, 2012, 12:57:34 PMLet's find out where we all stand.
Quote from: KB1YMI on September 07, 2012, 12:57:34 PMLet's find out where we all stand.
3rd generation Ham. My grandfather was one of the 1st licensed in Canada. He worked Hawaii from Vancouver before licensing was a thing.