amateur radio

[k0ua]

Friend of mine about two hours away got his general and I've considered it. Like the tractor though, it doesn't take long to drop a lot of money on a new rig and associated gear - heh

True, if we are talking about new gear, but there are tons of older used rigs available at reasonable prices. They may not have all the latest features, but good serviceable HF rigs can be had for $200. Come to think of it, I gave $500 for my Yaesu FT450, which is a modern solid state HF plus 6 meter rig that is full featured.

 

[GaryM]

Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

 

[k0ua]

Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

Icom 756 PRO III here too.
You have a really nice station/antenna setup.

If I had one piece of advice, If you have X amount of money, put 3/4X into the antenna system. put the remaining 1/4 into the rig. The Antenna system is far more important than the rig on the other end of the coax. Newbies often do just the opposite and wonder why they are disappointed with their results.

 

[GaryM]

Icom 756 PRO III here too.
You have a really nice station/antenna setup.

If I had one piece of advice, If you have X amount of money, put 3/4X into the antenna system. put the remaining 1/4 into the rig. The Antenna system is far more important than the rig on the other end of the coax. Newbies often do just the opposite and wonder why they are disappointed with their results.

Right you are James. Can't work them if you can't hear them!

 

[B7510HSD]

KI4RBA - name is John. I have a tech license and only an HT. Haven't turned it on in months though. Went to the local ham group a couple times a few years ago and at 50 yrs old, was one of the youngest in the group so I lost interest.

Hi John I know how you feel BUT these older guys have a world of knowledge and have saved me some money on things I would have maybe purchased that just don't work. Ever thought of getting involved in emergency communication side of radio? Like has been said there are tons of options out there and I am sure more to be invented as well that is Ham radio!
Steve N7XRD

 

[k0ua]

By the way, very few of our licensed members have responded, on this thread. There have been many threads asking about how many of TBN members are licensed, and I believe it numbers in the hundreds, based on earlier responses. It almost seems to me the percentage of population of hams on TBN is higher than in the general population. I don't know for sure why that is, but I believe it is true.

 

[B7510HSD]

Gary, WØGOM here. General class with a 70' guyed tower. Antennas are a Comet GP-6 for VHF/UHF, an MFJ 4 element beam for VHF/UHF, an M2 6 meter beam, and a Force 12 5 band beam for 10,12,15,17,20 meters. Rigs are an Icom 756 Pro III and a Yasue 867 for VHF/UHF.

I run Icom D-Star radios mobile although they are currently not installed as I've just changed cars.

Hi Gary nice antenna setup. My last station was all Icom as I lived only 15 miles from them. Sold all that a year ago and moved here to the coast had to down size considerably this place is small. I replaced everything with Kenwood this time around and really like the new rigs. We are rural here for the most part but have a very nice repeater system called Beach Net BeachNet it has about 22 repeaters now all tied together and covers many many miles of area.
Steve N7XRD

 

[B7510HSD]

By the way, very few of our licensed members have responded, on this thread. There have been many threads asking about how many of TBN members are licensed, and I believe it numbers in the hundreds, based on earlier responses. It almost seems to me the percentage of population of hams on TBN is higher than in the general population. I don't know for sure why that is, but I believe it is true.

Sadly there may be many that just are not active in radio any longer. I've had a few years along the way where I really wasn't involved but now I'm retired and really enjoy radio. I think I like the building part a little better than talking! Also sold most all my test equipment I had during the move. But still have enough to be dangerous!!
Steve N7XRD

 

[k0ua]

Sadly there may be many that just are not active in radio any longer. I've had a few years along the way where I really wasn't involved but now I'm retired and really enjoy radio. I think I like the building part a little better than talking! Also sold most all my test equipment I had during the move. But still have enough to be dangerous!!
Steve N7XRD

I think everyone runs "hot and cold" on hobbies, and Amateur Radio is no different. I have sometimes went years between making a contact, and then spend a lot of time with it. This tractor addiction is part practical usage and part hobby to me also.

By the way Steve, have you tried anything on 6 meters? My OCFD works really well on 6. I am sure not as good as a nice 4 element beam up 70 feet but I sure have worked a lot of states and some DX with it on 6. And 6 meters is a great if unpredictable band. Of course everyone thinks their particular antenna is best (just like tractors) But I will say that my OCFD for the money and effort is the best general purpose wire antenna I have had in about 45 years of hamming. And I have had a lot of antennas of both wire and aluminum at various heights including 100+ feet at various locations. The thing is simple and easy to put up and really works well on all bands 80 thru 6. I even load it on 160 with a good tuner. I can't say it is a fireball on 160, but it does work. But the rest of the bands it is great on, with the execption of 17 and 12 meters. It is workable on those with a tuner, but I can't find much in the way of natural resonances on those bands. But my MA5B works well on those bands.

 

[B7510HSD]

I think everyone runs "hot and cold" on hobbies, and Amateur Radio is no different. I have sometimes went years between making a contact, and then spend a lot of time with it. This tractor addiction is part practical usage and part hobby to me also.

By the way Steve, have you tried anything on 6 meters? My OCFD works really well on 6. I am sure not as good as a nice 4 element beam up 70 feet but I sure have worked a lot of states and some DX with it on 6. And 6 meters is a great if unpredictable band. Of course everyone thinks their particular antenna is best (just like tractors) But I will say that my OCFD for the money and effort is the best general purpose wire antenna I have had in about 45 years of hamming. And I have had a lot of antennas of both wire and aluminum at various heights including 100+ feet at various locations. The thing is simple and easy to put up and really works well on all bands 80 thru 6. I even load it on 160 with a good tuner. I can't say it is a fireball on 160, but it does work. But the rest of the bands it is great on, with the execption of 17 and 12 meters. It is workable on those with a tuner, but I can't find much in the way of natural resonances on those bands. But my MA5B works well on those bands.

James yes I have worked 6 before at my old house I had a double sized G5RV that I home brewed up and it worked very well on all HF Bands. I just don't have room here but I will look into the OCFD see if I can squeeze one into my lot.Just not happy with the standard G5RV I have up now.

 

[k0ua]

James yes I have worked 6 before at my old house I had a double sized G5RV that I home brewed up and it worked very well on all HF Bands. I just don't have room here but I will look into the OCFD see if I can squeeze one into my lot.Just not happy with the standard G5RV I have up now.

If you can forgo 80 meters, an 40 meter and up sized OCFD can maybe be worked into your real estate. There is not much too making one, just a good 4 to 1 balun(depending on height above ground) and two chunks of wire. Here is a good place to get you dimensions and ideas.

Windom Antenna Home Page, and Handbook

 

[B7510HSD]

If you can forgo 80 meters, an 40 meter and up sized OCFD can maybe be worked into your real estate. There is not much too making one, just a good 4 to 1 balun(depending on height above ground) and two chunks of wire. Here is a good place to get you dimensions and ideas.

Windom Antenna Home Page, and Handbook

I need 80 as I check into a net every evening on 80 I have a balun I believe in my junk box and have the wire also maybe I'll play around with this soon. I have 2 doors to install before I can play radio..

 

[k0ua]

I need 80 as I check into a net every evening on 80 I have a balun I believe in my junk box and have the wire also maybe I'll play around with this soon. I have 2 doors to install before I can play radio..

If you do get one up and working, let us know what you think of it. Mine has been up for many years now, broken once in a wind storm, but respliced and still works well. That is the beauty of wire antennas. There is not much there to go wrong.

 

[B7510HSD]

If you do get one up and working, let us know what you think of it. Mine has been up for many years now, broken once in a wind storm, but respliced and still works well. That is the beauty of wire antennas. There is not much there to go wrong.

Do they have to be installed in a straight line or could you say put the balun from a tree run the long wire straight and 90 degree the short wire??

 

[k0ua]

Do they have to be installed in a straight line or could you say put the balun from a tree run the long wire straight and 90 degree the short wire??

It will not work as well, but it can work.. If you can keep the angle less than 90 it will work better. Look at the website I posted, and it will give some ideas about fitting into smaller spaces.. You can make some compromises with affecting it negatively too much.

 

[k0ua]

Do you want to get on 20 meters and talk now? We might have propogation.

 

[buickanddeere]

Haven't keyed a mike in years since the old 2M handheld quit. VE3TH0. Local ham clubs have either folded or amalgamated several clubs together to try and keep going. I haven't heard 2M and 70cm key up in Kincardine and Port Elgin for at least a couple of years.
it goes without saying that the home computer and smart phones have captured the nerd's attention instead.

 

[techman]

I had my general when I was in high school, many years ago. When I was on I shared a rig with a neighbor. It was a Drake TR-4 with a Hallicrafters full gallon linear, TRI band beam on a 40' tower, plus an 80m dipole. Mostly DX on 40 and 15 and some 80 CW. During college I was not home and after school, got married, had no money and lived in an apartment for some years, so it was just not practical and never had either the time or money to get back into it.

I do miss it at times, but free time is a rare resource today.

paul

 

[k0ua]

I had my general when I was in high school, many years ago. When I was on I shared a rig with a neighbor. It was a Drake TR-4 with a Hallicrafters full gallon linear, TRI band beam on a 40' tower, plus an 80m dipole. Mostly DX on 40 and 15 and some 80 CW. During college I was not home and after school, got married, had no money and lived in an apartment for some years, so it was just not practical and never had either the time or money to get back into it.

I do miss it at times, but free time is a rare resource today.

paul

A Drake TR4 was a cool old rig. A friend in college had one, and we went mobile on 40 meters with it for fun occasionally.

 

[Trails End]

I guess it's time to chime in here! I'm K1HJC and have been licensed since 1959, and
currently hold an extra class license. The station consists of an Icom IC746 PRO running
100 watts to a Tennadyne T6 6 element log periodic beam up 58 feet on a Rohn tilt-over
tower. The T6 covers 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters and works well. No antennas for 40
or 80 at this time. For VHF, I have a GAM TG-5-S 3-element vertical collinear above the
T6 log periodic. I've attached a couple of photos since the TBN golden rule is 'no pictures,
it didn't happen'.