I'm just studying for my technicians license and was thinking it might be nice to have a spot to talk about Ham stuff.
Anyone else interested?
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I'm just studying for my technicians license and was thinking it might be nice to have a spot to talk about Ham stuff.
Anyone else interested?
Yes,
Do you have any study links to post?
Tim, I also ordered some of those radios. I'm ordering extended antennas, programming cable, and car chargers today. :) :)
Just one more thing on my "to do" list. I have a friend, currently lives in St George, UT, who has been a HAM for decades. It is another hobby that costs money and takes up space somewhere in the house. I need more hobbies like this [Coffee]
I studied a total 3 hours and missed general by 4 questions. So the testing is easy I have Mainly questions about optimizing a setup for mobility
https://hamstudy.orgQuote:
Originally Posted by skullybones
You can get a handheld radio, and a license, for under $40. Your only cost beyond that would be recharging the battery occasionally. It's much like guns though: do you want a Remington or do you want a Purdey...Quote:
Originally Posted by cstone
Seems like there are two camps... one says just study the questions so you can pass and then "learn" about the science as you go. The other suggests you actually study and read up on the fundamentals so that you can pass the test without just memorizing the answers. Part of my problem has been I couldn't decide which way to go. Spent some time reading up, but then had to put the books down for a while. Feels like I wasted time, then I gave my book away.
Maybe I'll just study on the website and take the darn tests this time.
The next local test isn't until February 8th, so I'm just reading whatever piques my interest while taking practice tests.
If I pass the technician test, can I take the general test at the same time?
Yup, If you pass one you should be able take the next test for no extra fee.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim K
Tim just bought a radio. We should get together and study over a beer
Where do you find about the local tests?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim K
Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by sellersm
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session
Anytime.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyfairbanks
I just read the section on digital operation on UHF and VHF in the ARRL's operating manual. I'm pretty comfortable with technology, but that just whipped me. It seems there are 40 different variations of digital comms, and they all have three acronyms associated with them.
Ugh.
Thanks! I need to get my wife & I certified this year... Anyone in the Springs working on this?Quote:
Originally Posted by rbeau30
I just finished up my 3rd test this year taking the tests around the local Springs area. The one up in Woodland park will offer you free coffee and donuts for the test. The one in Colorado Springs proper is ok; had to figure out the real testing location because they only put the signs out for the test after the test time started. The Monument testing location one is a real nice location; however my Garmin GPS unit located the testing spot a good .5 further down the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by sellersm
So on average there is a place you can test in the local Colorado Springs are each month.
The local meetup for preppers did a class last year. About 30 folks showed up the Woodland park group testers and it took longer to get the test than it took me to ace the test. The first test for me was more common sense and a refresher for my high school electronics class. The second test was about 2x harder; while the 3rd test was a bit harder for me to get the facts to jell into my head.
The first level license is like a drivers permit, you aren't expected to know everything, but you should know the rules of the road.
So if you memorize the test in order to pass it, not really an issue.
Being a ham is also not something that you can really learn on your own, it is about learning how to interact with others as much as it is about the technical side of things. Learning from others is actually more fun than you might think, especially if your Elmer is a WWII vet or the like
Last year, I bought the Technician study guide and read through it completely, then went to ehams.com and memorized the General test answers - passed both in Feb. Got a Baofeng UV-5R as RBeau and many others have - fantastic radio for the price. I wanted to get into D-Star and so got the Icom ID-51A for Christmas - a truly incredible radio! I will say the Baofeng is much simpler and I recommend buying it first to get familiar with FM and basic ham radio operation. It is dual band and transmits and receives very, very well.
We had a face-to-face meeting last year at 10mm Man's location in Denver with folks from Denver and the Springs, but the big problem is we haven't identified a way for all of us to stay in communication. Analog repeaters only talk so far, and handhelds have limited power/range. We could use the CRA linked repeaters in an emergency, but didn't feel comfortable having a regular netmeeting on it without joining. Now D-Star would absolutely allow us scattered around the state to have a netmeeting, but right now D-Star = Icom and Icom = expensive - so is impractical for the objective here. Anyway, if the more creative among us have a solution, I'm sure there is huge interest.
It seems from limited experience that there's a gap in the ranges which can be covered be ham between repeater range and typical HF ranges. It's even worse if the repeaters are down. Coviring one state sized area looks like a real problem. I think I understand why the military is so invested in satellite comms.
Does anyone know how long the repeaters might typically stay up in the event of a long term power outage? Do any have solar back up power?
It would be awesome to have a weekend COAR net, however we probably should keep the "AR" inconspicuous, anyone with a scanner can hear stuff.
There are many groups that use the colorado connection repeaters and a couple other networks.
Tying up a repeater system is not really the issue... if there is an emergency, Priority radio traffic and bona-fide emergencies would take precdence over a club radio net. We would just need to ask permission to use the repeater network during specific times.
As far as less-formal communications, I don't think there is an issue with using a repeater network. We should just ask permission when it is required, and yield the repeater network for priority/emergency traffic. That is the rules in any ham radio communications anyways.
I think just a little bit of organization would go a long way and I know that an informal chat or even a quick formal radio net would do this community some good. I honestly think it can be done, and would get more of the folks on COAR15 into ham operation if they had a few of us to talk to once a week...I think it would be more incentive for them to take the plunge and take the test.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbeau30
Agreed, this would get me off my butt to get my tests taken.
My radios should be on my porch when I get home
I haven't been down in this section lurking in a while, so totally missed this topic. Congrats on those who just passed the tests and got their ticket and good luck to those going to take it. I've been dabbling with digital lately with the local ARES group. It works a lot like the old computer modems, with sounds being sent and received. There are some versions that can operate with pretty weak signals, but they tend to be slow. We've talked some about having nets, and the easiest way IMO to do it would be on echolink. You have to be a ham to use it, but you don't have to have a radio. It goes thru your computer, and is like a chat room, but with voice. AR15 has one actually that they just started back up I think.
With the technician license, most of what you can do is on VHF/UHF. Those frequencies are for the most part, line of sight. If there are mountains in the way, chances are, you cant get to the other side. On the flip side, the higher you are above the terrain, the further you can get out. Last year on top of pikes peak, I had no problem talking to a ham towards Boulder, it sounded as though he was beside me, no repeater. The repeaters help with the terrain problems, but for us to hold nets, it would pose some logistical issues, and security issues. In an emergency, things could be pieced together if we work a plan out. For those with a general license or higher, the 80m and 40m bands would allow regional comms without a repeater. However you need an HF radio, and be able to put up an NVIS antenna.
And we has hams are really lucky by living in Colorado. Tons of 14,000 ft antenna locations in the state. The entire front range is covered with communication sites, most are commercial, but ham repeaters are allowed on them too. You'll find most of the good repeaters on those commercial sites.
Think about hams in states like Kansas. (or eastern colorado) The best repeater they can get is up on top of a grain silo or something similar. (just an example) They will have to setup more repeaters to get a further distance away. Greater Power (watts) and such.
If you're in another location/state while traveling and using the ham radio, be aware the communications distance/quality will most likely be diminished compared to here.
The ham repeaters here in the metro area and front range are only about 25 watts output, elevation and quality antennas are allowing such great distance.
I took my first one about 18 years ago when young but I has been out of air for loooong time (others hobbies like guns), the last summer finally took my Technician (yeap, I was Novice for loong time) and now I want to take the General (I want to work the 14mhz because 10m is not what was many years ago) I have the Gordons book but I don't found the time to study yet :-(
73,
KP4MLF (yeap, 4th because I'm from PR and don't want to change it for now)
Greg brings up a good point about echolink - that may be the best solution for a large area net. I'm going to try to get it installed in the next day or two - anyone else game?
Can you post a write up when you are done?
On Echolink or?
I drove into my garage with my antenna attacked... I need a now antenna now, and can't get one until next month :-(
Yes, but it looks like the echolink website has an extensive FAQ so nevermind.Quote:
Originally Posted by streetglideok
Yep, one reason I won't run large antennas and I mount them somewhere lower on the body, not on the roof or roof racks. One good WHACK and you've just ripped a hole in your roof.Quote:
Originally Posted by rbeau30
I'm up on echolink, got it all installed a while back (again). One thing to note, you'll not get on echolink if you're not licensed. Won't happen. They have to verify the license to grant access.
I couldn't even get on with my license, their verification process didn't have the proper data in the database, since I've been unlisted for 30 years. (phones/addresses) blah blah.
One echolink locally that I've used:
W0TX-R Denver, CO Node: 4140 Denver Radio Club
Nothing really hard to install it. Download it, follow the instructions to authenticate your callsign, and sign in. The hardest part was getting my router configured for proper port forwarding. Programming ham radios is harder than using this program, honestly. There is a tool in a drop down menu to have it run a test to make sure you don't have connection issues. That's where I found out I had a port forwarding issue. From there its a little trial and error of playing with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Just this morning got the echolink port forwarding worked out. The key is setting up your PC Lan connection for a fixed IP address (instead of assigned automatically), and configuring your router to forward certain UDP ports to your fixed address. Wasn't working yesterday, but the problem turned out to be a typo when inputting the fixed IP address into the router configuration - the verification test passes now with no problems. Will try to set it up tonite to connect to W0TX as Kelly mentioned.
BTW, the configuration instructions are very clear and provide screen shots of what you should see.
Just let me know sometime we can test echolink. Mine should still be working... lemme check... nope, mines dead again. ugh. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Singlestack
ok, up and running again. Not sure what happened to my port forwarding in the router... ??
I'm in the process of Echolink validating my call sign tonite, so I won't be able to do anything until (probably) tomorrow or later.
It isn't clear to me if a radio is even required? That is, it seems like a node could just have an internet-connected PC containing a sound card and a headset plugged into the sound card rcv/xmit. Is this right?
If a radio needs to be connected to a PC (through a TNC??) in order for Echolink to work, I guess I'll need to save up for a TNC (planning on this, anyway).
Echolink can work in one of two ways. Either it can work with the PC as your node, and you use a mic and speaker setup so that you talk into the mic and your PC sends your voice to echolink directly, or you can use a radio linked to your PC. Doing it that way allows you in some cases to use the radio as the node. I set my radio for a frequency and link it to my PC, and others can transmit on that frequency and it will send those transmissions to echolink. Kenwoods that support echolink can do that. Because of how the kenwoods link to the PC, it also makes them great for digital transmissions.