Enzo Rules
Member
Congratulations
Wish me luck☘️ PASSED!
- Thread starter ACORN
- Start date
Congrats and try and get some time on the air before this solar cycle goes quiet.
Stu
N0LEF
Stu
N0LEF
OP
ACORN
Member
Right now I only have a Baofeng HH that I Haven’t read the manual for. I heard the can be a bear to program.
One of the members is going to loan/ give me a radio a family member donated to the club from a silent key.
I’m thinking of mounting an inverted V dipole on a 4x4 about 14’ up. I’m near the top of a fair size hill so it should get out.
I was going to put a di-pole in the attic but forgot that I have a metal roof so I don’t think that’ll work.
One of the members is going to loan/ give me a radio a family member donated to the club from a silent key.
I’m thinking of mounting an inverted V dipole on a 4x4 about 14’ up. I’m near the top of a fair size hill so it should get out.
I was going to put a di-pole in the attic but forgot that I have a metal roof so I don’t think that’ll work.
riverrat38
US Veteran
Good Luck OM
I got my Novice license in 1958, it was issued for one year only, and no renewal at that time. I built my first station from Heath kits; an AR3 and a DX20. I got my Advanced in 1970 and my Extra in 1978. That took receiving code at 20 WPM at that time. We all wanted to get our higher licenses so we could use voice instead of just code as with the Novice. I soon found out that I think at about 15 WPM, too slow for voice, so I only have code gear now. A Collins receiver and a Drake transmitter. I really enjoy using Morse code, but have never developed the speed that some have. I wanted to go to radio school in the National Guard, but the Army had other ideas; they needed cooks.
73, Rick K7MW
I got my Novice license in 1958, it was issued for one year only, and no renewal at that time. I built my first station from Heath kits; an AR3 and a DX20. I got my Advanced in 1970 and my Extra in 1978. That took receiving code at 20 WPM at that time. We all wanted to get our higher licenses so we could use voice instead of just code as with the Novice. I soon found out that I think at about 15 WPM, too slow for voice, so I only have code gear now. A Collins receiver and a Drake transmitter. I really enjoy using Morse code, but have never developed the speed that some have. I wanted to go to radio school in the National Guard, but the Army had other ideas; they needed cooks.
73, Rick K7MW
Right now I only have a Baofeng HH that I Haven’t read the manual for. I heard the can be a bear to program.
One of the members is going to loan/ give me a radio a family member donated to the club from a silent key.
I’m thinking of mounting an inverted V dipole on a 4x4 about 14’ up. I’m near the top of a fair size hill so it should get out.
I was going to put a di-pole in the attic but forgot that I have a metal roof so I don’t think that’ll work.
Go to Amazon and get a programming cable for the Baofeng, then download a free program called Chirp. You can input all the frequencies with tones, etc. in Chirp, then upload directly to the radio. MUCH simpler than doing it by hand on the radio, one freq at a time.
How does one get “caught” operating a HAM radio without a license? I have Baofeng GMRS radios that also operate on HAM frequencies. If I did this, who would know? What’s the penalty?
Congrats!
W0HRO
W0HRO
I guess its just about following the rules.
It is about federal regulations that cover the bands allocated .
You may be interfering with other users that you may not be aware of.
The FCC just doesn't have the time or interest in pursuing 'wanna be preppers' .
I am a licensed amateur radio operator and we do practice rabbit hunts to find problem transmitters.
A handheld Baofeng has such a short range it is not a concern to most other users.
Years ago I was conversing with another user on a gray market 'export' radio when a voice came on the air and wanted to know who we were and where were we.
Seems we had found the local Fish and Game frequency.
OOPS.
MOONDAWG
US Veteran
OUTSTANDING JOB!
RAT458, thanks
Just trying to help people understand what they have bought .
I know two people that bought the Baofengs not realizing what they were or what they could do.
See them marketed as walkie talkies to unsuspecting folks.
Enjoy them , they are fun once you learn all of the different things you can pick up on them.
I actually have one , was the first radio I bought when I got my Ham license.
I know two people that bought the Baofengs not realizing what they were or what they could do.
See them marketed as walkie talkies to unsuspecting folks.
Enjoy them , they are fun once you learn all of the different things you can pick up on them.
I actually have one , was the first radio I bought when I got my Ham license.
I just use them for hunting. We have three of them. Work great in the mountains. Two for under $40. Can’t beat it………. Although there’s probably a Chinese spy chip in them lol 
My brother was a paraglider pilot. He belonged to the U.S. Hang Glider Association. USHGA has its own dedicated frequency. Members of the club could use that freq on the club's license. He wanted to be able to access the repeaters and such, so he got his license. He had a couple of the little Kenwood TH22s.
Now, when we went deer hunting, we went to a place where the odds of someone hanggliding or paragliding was near zero. So, for these handhelds, the freq was completely clear. Never heard another soul on it. We had the Garmin Rinos, but those are GMRS and there were tons of hunters using those freqs. So, we used the Kenwoods for communication and the Garmins for navigation. Nobody on the freq to be bothered or check to see if everyone had licenses.
Actually the most use we got out of them was weather reports. The Kenwoods are gone now, but I did pick up a couple of the Baofengs off Amazon. Just wish my brother was here so I could talk to him.
Now, when we went deer hunting, we went to a place where the odds of someone hanggliding or paragliding was near zero. So, for these handhelds, the freq was completely clear. Never heard another soul on it. We had the Garmin Rinos, but those are GMRS and there were tons of hunters using those freqs. So, we used the Kenwoods for communication and the Garmins for navigation. Nobody on the freq to be bothered or check to see if everyone had licenses.
Actually the most use we got out of them was weather reports. The Kenwoods are gone now, but I did pick up a couple of the Baofengs off Amazon. Just wish my brother was here so I could talk to him.
OP
ACORN
Member
At the behest of my “Elmer” I am seriously considering the ubiquitous Icom IC7300 and building a half wave inverted V dipole for HF once I pass my General.
I plan on a J Pole to hit my clubs 2 meter repeater.
Any experience with the Icom?
I was considering a Yaesu but hear the menus are a pain to deal with.
I’m soon to be 70 so I don’t know how many more trips around Sol I’ve got. But then no one knows.
I just don’t want to buy “budget” and regret it and have to upgrade.
I plan on a J Pole to hit my clubs 2 meter repeater.
Any experience with the Icom?
I was considering a Yaesu but hear the menus are a pain to deal with.
I’m soon to be 70 so I don’t know how many more trips around Sol I’ve got. But then no one knows.
I just don’t want to buy “budget” and regret it and have to upgrade.
Way late OP, but congrats on passing the test.
Local club here gives the exams every other month. I'm going to give it a shot early August. Think I'll try tech and general at the same time. I've been doing OK with the practice tests on the app I bought.
Bought a yaesu vx 6r hand held to get started. Can't hit the transmit button yet, but I can listen.
Local club here gives the exams every other month. I'm going to give it a shot early August. Think I'll try tech and general at the same time. I've been doing OK with the practice tests on the app I bought.
Bought a yaesu vx 6r hand held to get started. Can't hit the transmit button yet, but I can listen.
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
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The Icom 7300 is what I have and will do pretty much everything you need for long range coms. It's pretty easy to use.
Well, I passed my tech and general. Got the approved email from Facebook today.
Now I have to figure out all the programing and settings on my yaesu hand held and start looking at a starter base / antenna set up.
Congrats on your new hobby .
Hard to go wrong with a 7300 as a starter radio.
I went with a 710 myself with a wire antennae .
Simple and will do everything I need it to do for the foreseeable future.
If you have a local radio club sometimes you can get a good deal on a used radio.
Hard to go wrong with a 7300 as a starter radio.
I went with a 710 myself with a wire antennae .
Simple and will do everything I need it to do for the foreseeable future.
If you have a local radio club sometimes you can get a good deal on a used radio.
Congratulations.
EX:
WA6NXL WA7ESD HL9VL
EX:
WA6NXL WA7ESD HL9VL
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