Posted: 2/23/2009 6:44:32 PM EDT
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Gang, It's been a long time since I have played around with amateur radio and looking to get back into it, but I need a refresher on alot of stuff.
I am currently a Tech, but haven't done anything since the early 90's. I know I have to upgrade my ticket in the mean time but what is a good HF band for making short contacts? (By short, I'm talking maybe 200 miles driving distance.) Thanks! |
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I was thinking 40 meters also with a wire dipole to start.
I just took a General practice test for the heck of it and was surprised at how much I forgot. 
Tomorrow I'll have to order the General class study guides. Hopefully, I'll be upgraded by the time Dayton rolls around. |
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Quoted:
Tomorrow I'll have to order the General class study guides. starting from this thread, http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477 see the second post, which includes these links, http://abacus.nmsu.edu/~shoran/PDF/General_Course.pdf and http://kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2007GeneralStudyGuide.pdf good luck. ar-jedi |
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Quoted:
what is a good HF band for making short contacts? (By short, I'm talking maybe 200 miles driving distance.) 80m. you may want to try an NVIS antenna setup as well. see http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477&page=2#10323358 ar-jedi |
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Quoted:
I was thinking 40 meters also with a wire dipole to start. I just took a General practice test for the heck of it and was surprised at how much I forgot.
Tomorrow I'll have to order the General class study guides. Hopefully, I'll be upgraded by the time Dayton rolls around. Ah Dayton... I've been there 19 times(i'm 25). When I was a toddler, someone took a picture of me being pulled around by my dad in a wagon and it ended up in the next years Hamvention brochure. If you live anywhere close to NE ohio, I have a spare 40m trap dipole (45ft) i could give you. |
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Yeah, up on 17 meters, trying to talk to a friend a mere 120 miles away, I made a contact 1400 miles away. That guy could hear us both calling each other, and did a nice relay. But we two 120 miles away, nothing.
80 meters and 40 meters should work for your 200 mile contact. I've been getting on regional nets in the evenings on 80 meters and getting out well on 80 meters with my multiband dipole. The apex is only 20' up, so I suppose you would say it is NVIS. But it is doing well for me. "Nail it down, don't touch a thing," I've been told. |
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Kc8ard I may wind up having to be stealth with the antenna being as I live in a condo. Thank you for the offer! As far as Dayton, I'll be looking forward to it it. Haven't been to the Hamvention since 1991. Are you going? 40m would be a good choice. There seems to be plenty of activity on that band. And now a blast from the past. 
Being an Ohio native I was at Dayton '91 to see the then new Icom IC-781...what a machine!! |
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Yes, stopped into the Icom booth to gaze at the 781 and a very friendly Japanese man gave me the buttons, both years! I was amazed at the 781 decoding RTTY right on the rig's CRT! I like the serial number on the '93 Kenwood button. Nice. I didn't even catch that! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Kc8ard I may wind up having to be stealth with the antenna being as I live in a condo. Thank you for the offer! As far as Dayton, I'll be looking forward to it it. Haven't been to the Hamvention since 1991. Are you going? 40m would be a good choice. There seems to be plenty of activity on that band. And now a blast from the past. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f110/vassili67/DSCN2824.jpg Being an Ohio native I was at Dayton '91 to see the then new Icom IC-781...what a machine!! Ahhh the memories....it snowed the night before if I remember correctly...cold as hell! |