Posted: 7/31/2009 4:30:05 PM EDT
|
I've been wanting to do it for a while, finally worked out that I can go take the test tomorrow morning in Huntsville. I'm doing pretty well on the practice exams, I've done comm in the USAF for a while now so most of the concepts seem pretty simple.
Wish me luck! 
|
|
Quoted:
I've been wanting to do it for a while, finally worked out that I can go take the test tomorrow morning in Huntsville. I'm doing pretty well on the practice exams, I've done comm in the USAF for a while now so most of the concepts seem pretty simple. Wish me luck! Good luck on your test. I'm testing for Tech and General in 8 days... |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Good luck. If you pass Tech go ahead and test for General. If you pass General go ahead and test for Extra. If he's done comms in the USAF, I don't doubt he could do that! We had two guys the other night that came in and passed tech. They said they hadn't studied for General but we talked them into taking it anyway. One missed two and the other missed three. Both had electronics backgrounds. Couldn't talk them into taking Extra though. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
AND? Passed. Was pretty easy. 
I took General and missed it by a couple, will have to study that one a bit before I go back. Also picked up an FT-60R as a first radio. Outstanding!... Now get that thing programmed up, and wait for your callsign to show up. 
|
|
Congratulations
Now get to work building a J-pole order up a cable version of a SMA to SO-239 NOT the 1 piece adapter it puts way to much stress on the little SMA connecter and will break it Also order up what ever length of cable you need to reach that new J-pole Finally the General study guide If you are in NE IA shoot me and traprmike a IM and we'll work some simplex with ya if possible Enjoy the Hobby, it is a good one 73 de 2sigs |
|
Quoted:
Congratulations Now get to work building a J-pole order up a cable version of a SMA to SO-239 NOT the 1 piece adapter it puts way to much stress on the little SMA connecter and will break it Also order up what ever length of cable you need to reach that new J-pole Finally the General study guide If you are in NE IA shoot me and traprmike a IM and we'll work some simplex with ya if possible Enjoy the Hobby, it is a good one 73 de 2sigs Will do! I used to live in NW Iowa but now live in North Alabama, just to lazy to change it under my profile. I am up there quite often so I'm definately going to have to take you up on that.
|
|
Quoted:
Congratulations order up a cable version of a SMA to SO-239 NOT the 1 piece adapter it puts way to much stress on the little SMA connecter and will break it He means this, #4513: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/4513.html and NOT #2976 on this page: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/smadapt.html |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Congratulations order up a cable version of a SMA to SO-239 NOT the 1 piece adapter it puts way to much stress on the little SMA connecter and will break it He means this, #4513: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/4513.html and NOT #2976 on this page: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/smadapt.html Thanks A_Free_Man That is exactly what I was meaning, just to lazy to post links. Much appreciated and there you are folks the Ham way, Helping others 
I really like reading antenna discussion and building antennas, guess thats because the best antenna I ever used was the one my Elmer told me to go home and make after passing my Tech Ticket back in 97. It was not a J-Pole but it was a hour spent and about $11.00 in parts. I tell you like my Elmer told me(I didn't believe him) "You will not buy a better antenna than you can build" That is true with a few exceptions I now believe. I replaced that antenna 2yrs later with a top of the line dual band vertical and he laughed at me and said it won't work as well, It didn't by far but has been up since and still works ok. I believe if you have children even very small children that a Antenna project is very good family time and worth every moment spent together teaching skills and promoting interest of basic skills. My Congratulations again and DO let us know when your headed this way and I will and I'm sure traprmike will try our best to make contact with you and if your close enough we probably can get together and pop a few caps too
Study when you can and upgrade soon, You will be Proud and enjoy the hobby that helps others 73 de 2sigs |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Congratulations Now get to work building a J-pole 
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/MadProfessor1775/Jpole.jpg Not quite done yet, need to put on the feedpoint. We'll see how it works, I suck at soldering pipe.  WHOOHOO!!! Man you done fine or as we say "Fine Business!" I'm sure unless it falls apart as you shake it a bit that you did a good enough job at soldering it together.
Now as for SWR have you the means to check/adjust ? If not go ahead and LISTEN ONLY on it but DO NOT transmit til you get the SWR confirmed, hate to see you place undue stress on the FT-60 and or let the smoke out 
and I can not see in the pics but I would suggest cap on each open end of pipe to prevent the entry of moisture also the tighter the seal the better the RF will travel J/K
73 everyone and Have a Great Week! -2sigs |
|
Quoted: No caps I kinda forgot them when I was at Lowes I don't have an SWR meter here but I think we might have one at work. Of the ones available which do you all recommend? I plan on building a few of these and would like to have one for myself. Radio Shack had a decent one out for 2 meter, but since they changed to Cellphone Shack, I don't know if they still carry them. Congrats on your ticket! |
|
Quoted:
No caps I kinda forgot them when I was at Lowes
I don't have an SWR meter here but I think we might have one at work. Of the ones available which do you all recommend? I plan on building a few of these and would like to have one for myself. I bought what was recommended to me and it has lasted for 12 yrs with lots of use, It's by no means the best but it is very popular and works MFJ-812B It can be had for less $ elsewhere but the link will take you to MFJ(save the jokes) and you can get your catalog on it's way also. MFJ will be Booed by some but I have the above plus a 949E tuner and a 259B Antenna Analyzer and have had ZERO problems. Whatever you can get for a VHF SWR meter will work fine for this project, If $ is not a problem buy yourself a NEW 259B and have THE needed tool to build 1.8 - 170MHz antennas and adjust them correctly fast. I say NEW since 259's can be delicate pieces of equipment and eBay for example may have a like new but fu'dup one listed, beware A CB SWR meter will NOT work for 144-148MHz However it will work for 10 meters so get yourself a HTX-10 or 100 for some HF experience cheap 73 |
|
Where in Iowa are you.
Are you close to Omaha by chance. I could help if you are. Any clubs in the area also? Im sure they would help check the SWR at a last ditch effort. Great work on the J pole. I made one then switched it out with an Arrow copy and need to switch back to the J pole. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
No caps I kinda forgot them when I was at Lowes
I don't have an SWR meter here but I think we might have one at work. Of the ones available which do you all recommend? I plan on building a few of these and would like to have one for myself. Radio Shack had a decent one out for 2 meter, but since they changed to Cellphone Shack, I don't know if they still carry them. Congrats on your ticket! I just bought one from Radio Shack on TV HWY by Fred Meyers on the East end of Hillsboro. Seems to work okay. On that 1/2" copper J-Pole the best thing I've seen for testing is put a couple of couplers on the uprights that will slide up and down and solder your connection to those couplers. You can use a rubber band of large vice grips to hold them in place while you test and when you find the sweet spots just solder the couplers in place. -Brian |
|
Quoted:
Just remember, the FCC has removed the requirement to ID w/ your assigned call sign. Now you need only ID via your handle. I'll look for you on the air! ––- Slingshot I'd double check this. From the reading I've only recently done this is not true. For Amateur Radio (HAM) you must sign at the end of your transmission and every ten minutes. This is so if you screw up the FCC can send out the black helicopters. -Brian |
|
Quoted:
Where in Iowa are you. Are you close to Omaha by chance. I could help if you are. Any clubs in the area also? Im sure they would help check the SWR at a last ditch effort. Great work on the J pole. I made one then switched it out with an Arrow copy and need to switch back to the J pole. I don't anymore. I live in Huntsville, AL now. I'll check the local RadioShack and see what they got. That MFJ looks ok too. I think my next step will be to make a portable antenna to take with me when I travel. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just remember, the FCC has removed the requirement to ID w/ your assigned call sign. Now you need only ID via your handle. I'll look for you on the air! ––- Slingshot I'd double check this. From the reading I've only recently done this is not true. For Amateur Radio (HAM) you must sign at the end of your transmission and every ten minutes. This is so if you screw up the FCC can send out the black helicopters. -Brian Lighten up, Francis! I mean, uh, Brian! I think Slingshot was just pulling his leg a bit.
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just remember, the FCC has removed the requirement to ID w/ your assigned call sign. Now you need only ID via your handle. I'll look for you on the air! ––- Slingshot I'd double check this. From the reading I've only recently done this is not true. For Amateur Radio (HAM) you must sign at the end of your transmission and every ten minutes. This is so if you screw up the FCC can send out the black helicopters. it is pretty much mandatory that every "i just got my ticket" thread includes at least one diversionary tactic designed to confuse, confound, or frustrate the newbie.
i may have been party to some of these antics in the past.
ETA: http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=623496 Quoted:
wish it didn't take so long to get my call sign Quoted:
administrative note: last week, all of the folks in the FCC amateur licensing processing department were re-tasked with helping coordinate shipments of anti-virals to various states around the country. no new amateur licenses will be granted for at least the next 3-4 months, at minimum. regards, ar-jedi ar-jedi |
|
Quoted:
So I shouldn't be using my handle?  The first ham club meeting I attended was the December dinner at a local greasy spoon restaurant. There was a little side discussion about the end of the ham radio as we know it due to the FCC dropping the code requirement. I think that was aimed at me. I said, "Oh, I'm learning CW now. I already know a few letters. Let's see, there S, di-di-dit. And there's O, da-da-dah. And I know V, (to the tune of Beethoven's 5th opening phrase) di-di-di-dah. Kinda like T but with a stutter." They were so impressed. Just a newbie and I had 4 letters down pat already. It was time to pay some dues and just as I was about to put pen to paper, write my check, I paused, looked up, and asked the club president, "Oh, by the way, is 'the Bandit' taken? I've always wanted that for a handle." One guy choked and two sprayed their drinks. It was glorious!
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: So I shouldn't be using my handle? The first ham club meeting I attended was the December dinner at a local greasy spoon restaurant. There was a little side discussion about the end of the ham radio as we know it due to the FCC dropping the code requirement. I think that was aimed at me. I said, "Oh, I'm learning CW now. I already know a few letters. Let's see, there S, di-di-dit. And there's O, da-da-dah. And I know V, (to the tune of Beethoven's 5th opening phrase) di-di-di-dah. Kinda like T but with a stutter." They were so impressed. Just a newbie and I had 4 letters down pat already. It was time to pay some dues and just as I was about to put pen to paper, write my check, I paused, looked up, and asked the club president, "Oh, by the way, is 'the Bandit' taken? I've always wanted that for a handle." One guy choked and two sprayed their drinks. It was glorious! lol. |