Diving into Ham Radio... uh oh!

[skipperbrown]

Just saw the thread but didn't read all 16 pages! KV4BB. I've been a ham since about 1996. Looking forward to reading about your ham adventure. 73s.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks for posting that video, James. I found the link to a White paper on the subject to be extremely detailed and very informative albeit quite technical and I am only up to pg 22 of 59 sort of reading/skimming through it. :confused2:

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf

Yes, that whitepaper is very technical. I was hoping the video would simplify some of the concepts and help out.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I ordered a 7300, then cancelled when I found out a friend had one for sale with psu and some accessories, a year old, but not used. Now I don't know what to do. Wanted a rig for fear of communications blackouts. But watching YT videos on the 7300 makes me realize this radio is hellishly complex and I just don't know if I have the interest, or patience.

Apparently a 7310 is coming. That should lower price of used 7300s.

 

[k0ua]

I ordered a 7300, then cancelled when I found out a friend had one for sale with psu and some accessories, a year old, but not used. Now I don't know what to do. Wanted a rig for fear of communications blackouts. But watching YT videos on the 7300 makes me realize this radio is hellishly complex and I just don't know if I have the interest, or patience.

Apparently a 7310 is coming. That should lower price of used 7300s.

Complex? I hadn't noticed. I guess compared to a boat anchor from the 50's it could be considered complex. But time does march on. Compared to some of the menu driven offerings from some other manufacturer's it is one of the easiest rigs to operate in current production. Remember your license is just a license to learn new things. It doesn't mean you HAVE learned anything, but it is the method forward TO learn new things. AND besides that I can help answer any question you can come up with.

 

[radios1]

this is not good at all. FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees you even have to pay $50 to get a printed license!..

 

[k0ua]

this is not good at all. FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees you even have to pay $50 to get a printed license!..

Well, the fee is $35 and it is a done deal. However the FCC hasn't implemented it yet as they have to get the money collection part of the website up and running and hadn't last time I checked. The FCC haven't been sending out printed licenses for some time now. When you pass the test and are awaiting action on your license grant and callsign assignment you are supposed to check the website and can begin operating as soon as you appear in the record. No more waiting anxiously for the envelope to arrive, and let me tell you it seemed to take forever in the "old days". We haven't had a license fee since 1977 and it was $9 back then for a 5 year term. Now the term is 10 years and $35, so about the same amount of money. Unfortunately I don't renew until 2022 and will get hit with this fee.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Kind of just wish my life would get simpler and not ever more and complex stuff being piled on. That being said, I have had my license for a long time and would like to know my around around HF a bit. But, this wish has stiff competition for my time, energy and patience.

 

[stevewarner1957]

The ICOM 7300 is a great radio. Extremely popular on the air. You don’t need to learn all it’s tricks the first day. I’ve had one for 2 years and I’m not sure I still know all of its functions. I can get it to do SSB and CW on the bands I want. Get it on the air and use it, best way to learn it
73

 

[Industrial Toys]

The kicker is, few other less complex used radios are out there at a price that is favourable, compared to the 7300.. I wish my friends radio didnt have the extras. I didnt know the radio didnèt come with a psu, but should have some ugly ones here that would work.

Biggest store in Ontario wants $1500.00 CDN. picked up, on sale with rebate plus 13% tax. Friend wants $1600.00 cash. Matching PSU, speaker and carrying handles. Radio will be out of warranty in April.

 

[k0ua]

The kicker is, few other less complex used radios are out there at a price that is favourable, compared to the 7300.. I wish my friends radio didnt have the extras. I didnt know the radio didnèt come with a psu, but should have some ugly ones here that would work.

Biggest store in Ontario wants $1500.00 CDN. picked up, on sale with rebate plus 13% tax. Friend wants $1600.00 cash. Matching PSU, speaker and carrying handles. Radio will be out of warranty in April.

They are a heck of a lot cheaper down here. Of course they have went back up $100 after the Christmas sale is over. In my opinion the matching PSE and speaker are all over priced, The carrying handle is $35 down here, but not many people need it. A samlex power supply or other suitable 13.8 volt 25 amp supply is usually less than $150 and I just use the built in speaker and headphones when I get serious digging out CW stations. Any good desk top speaker or communications speaker would be about $35 from Amazon. Unless a person just wants all that matching stuff and is willing to pay the price. But like tractors, guys want to equip their rigs how they want them to look.