[ARCHIVED THREAD] - First HF contacts! (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/5/2011 1:07:16 PM EDT
| Well after messing around I finally set up my IC735 today. Less than ideal setup using a home made horizontal dipole. Antennas only about 9ft off the ground and runs against the house. Played around on 10 meters and first contact was local guy less than five miles away. But the next one was a gut in New Mexico near the border! I didnt measure that distance yet but not for a half assed setup. |
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Congrats!
I have a little FT-817 by the end of the couch in the living room. I have a wire running up the wall and into the attic. 10 meters is fun when the band opens, I managed a contact in Argentina with 5 watts and a wire. Get that wire up higher and you'll have a lot of fun. But you can still have fun even with a compromise antenna. 
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This helps to make it fun, too!
http://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-it-between.htm 
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Quoted: I'm still learning how not to operate. (have been listening to 75 meters)  Work some contests. Just listen to the exchange and cadence of the other operator. Most of the time it's going to be call, RST, and location of some sort (county, state, CQ zone, ITU zone, etc.). |
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Quoted:
I finally got my FT-857D hooked to a 75' long wire. Haven't got up the courage to transmit yet as I'm still learning how not to operate. (have been listening to 75 meters) I'll do it one day. Vulcan94 WHAT? dude, man up-it's the ARFCOM way 
nothing to it-swear-Git 'er done! ETA: seriously, c'mon, we need a report on the Long wire! find a conversation, wait your turn, key and transmit your call. One of the operators should come back, thank them and let them know you're a newb to HF and the lessons will begin 
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Quoted:
I finally got my FT-857D hooked to a 75' long wire. Haven't got up the courage to transmit yet as I'm still learning how not to operate. (have been listening to 75 meters) I'll do it one day. Vulcan94 Just push the button and do it. I was nervous the first time I did, but it was a lot of fun. I told the guy on the other end that he was my first contact out of my home town as a ham and he was very happy to be my first contact. I'm in Missouri and he was just east of San Diego. It was a very big deal to me to make a contact on HF, and especially on the other end of the country.
If you want to try a contact some time, just let me know. I promise I won't make fun of you, and after you hear me on the radio you'll feel a lot better about yourself. 
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I finally got my FT-857D hooked to a 75' long wire. Haven't got up the courage to transmit yet as I'm still learning how not to operate. (have been listening to 75 meters) I'll do it one day. Vulcan94 Just push the button and do it. I was nervous the first time I did, but it was a lot of fun. I told the guy on the other end that he was my first contact out of my home town as a ham and he was very happy to be my first contact. I'm in Missouri and he was just east of San Diego. It was a very big deal to me to make a contact on HF, and especially on the other end of the country.
If you want to try a contact some time, just let me know. I promise I won't make fun of you, and after you hear me on the radio you'll feel a lot better about yourself. We should do that sometime. I'll be working the next two days, but I'll be off this coming weekend so that would be a good time to set something up. Right now I'm listening to 14.313. 
There's never an EMP burst when you need one. Vulcan94 |
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Quoted: I got a lot of noise on 7213 so that no go. I can hear someone very faintly on 7285 but can't pull them out. I really got to build me a copy of A Free Mans windom antenna. Vulcan94 try 7285 - I have broadcast noise here but I should be able to pull you through sorry, was editing a paper in the "look what my girlfriend posted" thread
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I got a lot of noise on 7213 so that no go. I can hear someone very faintly on 7285 but can't pull them out. I really got to build me a copy of A Free Mans windom antenna. Vulcan94 try 7285 - I have broadcast noise here but I should be able to pull you through sorry, was editing a paper in the "look what my girlfriend posted" thread Ok, I'll give it a try. Vulcan94 |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: 3961 is clear here How about 3955? Vulcan94 pic and I are on 3961 - can you get us or is it noisy down there? I'm hearing someone and right now it sounds like someone is tuning up on the freq. Just can make them out. Vulcan94 yep we shifted up - we're back on freq now, hopefully the tuning went away |
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OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable.
Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 |
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Quoted: OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 Congrats brother - now you're really bitten 57 here in Philly and 100% readable |
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Quoted:
OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 Proof of purchase in the mailbox right now. Do not worry, as I already have one from NC. Wait until you get squared away well after the holidays. pic |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 Congrats brother - now you're really bitten 57 here in Philly and 100% readable Thanks! You were 59 here. Very clear signal! Pic was 57. A bit faint but readable. Would you IM your call just so I'm sure that I copied it correctly? What part of Philly are you in? I used to live in the Philly area, in Bucks County. Vulcan94 |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 Congrats brother - now you're really bitten 57 here in Philly and 100% readable Thanks! You were 59 here. Very clear signal! Pic was 57. A bit faint but readable. Would you IM your call just so I'm sure that I copied it correctly? What part of Philly are you in? I used to live in the Philly area, in Bucks County. Vulcan94 |
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Quoted:
OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 See I told you so
Congrats! Long live the Longwire
ETA: Vulcan94 we should be able to connect via NVIS-we'll try soon! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
OH WOW!!!! My first 2 contacts and they are fellow Arfcommers! Outstanding!!! NUCdt04 and Piccolo thanks for the qso. NUCdt04 you were S9 here in Tabor City NC and Piccolo you were S7, faint but readable. Once again, Thanks for the contact! Really made my day! Vulcan94 See I told you so
Congrats! Long live the Longwire
ETA: Vulcan94 we should be able to connect via NVIS-we'll try soon! Sure thing! My antenna is just like yours except that I haven't layed down a counterpoise yet. Vulcan94 |
| Ok, guys...what length of 'random' wire are ya'll using? I have ~8' a side up on a 'sloper' that is soldered directly to the coax. I have made contacts to CA from MS and heard mexico and puerto rico on occasion. It is still mostly deaf, but at least it is close enough on 10m to not pop the SWR out of range lock. I have read that 74' is a pretty good number to use with a tuner because it is not close to being half-wave on any one band? I have enough stuff to do a 500'+ loop and the spce, just not enough fence to put it on without placing poles here an there. 74' would be do able, if that would be good figure to start with. Any ideas? |
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I've got 75' up about 8'...to a LDG 4:1 Balun....the Neg goes to the Ground Rod and there is a 75' counterpoise laid on top of ground that mates the Ground rod as well.
random wire thread If you are only on 10m, and I think you are, I'm having some SUPER GREAT success with a left over CB Radio 102" Fiberglass Whip fed from my Tuner (I like the SS whip better, but can't find that one) here are some links. Radio Shack DX Engineering GI Joe I have the CB antenna at the top of my 12' Ext ladder on a CB Mirror Antenna Mount-grounded from the ladder to the ground rod. My Random Wire SUCKS on 10 Meter! hummmmnnnnn? |
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Quoted:
I've got 75' up about 8'...to a LDG 4:1 Balun....the Neg goes to the Ground Rod and there is a 75' counterpoise laid on top of ground that mates the Ground rod as well. random wire thread If you are only on 10m, and I think you are, I'm having some SUPER GREAT success with a left over CB Radio 102" Fiberglass Whip fed from my Tuner (I like the SS whip better, but can't find that one) here are some links. Radio Shack DX Engineering GI Joe I have the CB antenna at the top of my 12' Ext ladder on a CB Mirror Antenna Mount-grounded from the ladder to the ground rod. My Random Wire SUCKS on 10 Meter! hummmmnnnnn? That is what I have, except that I haven't put a counterpoise down as yet. BTW, When I checked my mail today I received Piccolo's QSL card. At the time I have no idea that he was using his PRC 320.
Vulcan94 |