Posted: 5/8/2014 9:02:42 AM EDT
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To all of those who created this forum, gave their experience and advice, and who took the time to answer my questions:
Call Sign (edited) Radio ServiceAmateur (HA) Ok now what to do. I am going to work up to a nice mobile unit, but for now I'm going work with a Baofeng 82. So tier 3 of me I know. And new mobile HF units can be bought for around 250 or so for an American brand. But then add on your antenna, amp, mic, and install the price goes up pretty quick. Also I will keep my eyes out for used equipment for a good price. But this stuff is like an AR, people expect to get what they paid for it, or nearly there. It just does not seem like much of a deal. I will be joining our local club, B.A.R.S., to gain more knowledge from the old guys. This hobby/skill seems to be dwindling with the advent of the cell phone. Those guys with long grey beards and thick glasses have a lot of knowledge. Growing up in Flawda I've lived through a few hurricanes, and cell communication is allot more fragile than people realize. So thanks again for all of your help. For TLDR: thanks for helping me pass my tech test. |
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Might want to edit out your call sign because unless you have a po box you just broadcasted your name and address to the world on the Internet. Just a heads up.
Congrats on Tech. Start studying for General and keep the momentum going. I am curious what new HF mobile units are available for $250.00. |
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Congratulations!
Now, while your brain is still in study mode, don't sit on your laurels... go for General now asap. I PROMISE is it not much harder than Tech. There are many here who can attest to this, that have gotten their General, or even Extra, many times in the first test session! General gives you a LOT more on-air privileges. PLEASE, before you begin to try mobile operations, set up a mobile type radio with a power supply in your home as a base station. Learn to program, operate the radio, and learn how YOU will operate on the air. "What do I say? What frequencies do I use? What is this used for?" Do this and get comfortable on the air and operating the radio before going mobile. Then buy an identical radio for your vehicle. For operation as a base station you will need a power supply. Do not buy one just barely adequate for a 50 w VHF rig (usually 12-15 amps). Buy a 22-25 amp (or more) power supply that will cost only $10 - $15 more, and will be able to power a full 100 w HF rig when you get your General license. That one supply will let you have both a VHF and an HF rig on at the same time, though you can only transmit on one at a time. So it is entirely possible (I do) to work HF, and monitor the local repeater on the VHF (2 meter) rig. You don't need a 50' tower and rotator at this time. A simple omnidirectional antenna on the roof for your 2m rig will work just fine for now. A 1/4 wave "ground plane", J-pole, or Slim Jim will work just fine for you. But this way you will be prepared to move on up to HF operation, and learn to operate your mobile rig without killing a van full of Nuns or bus load of school kids. ~ Jup |
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Edited tku.
I was going to take both that day, but procrastinated studying. Now the new battery of questions comes out the first of July, and our local test sight tests the first sat of the month. So I figure I will play with the dual band VHF/UHF to gain technical proficiency. How is it possible to get into this, and not want to go forward as easy as it is to get licensed. People used to shake their heads at how much I spent on guns & ammo. They have no idea 
Stating slow is why I went with the little ht. I agree with learning stationary so I do not add another distraction to my driving. Unless I get fully cracked out on this I would like a mobile receiver for dual band with a separate hf, that I can swap between both. With some of the EMCOMM rigs I've seen it is doable. |
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Edited tku. I was going to take both that day, but procrastinated studying. Now the new battery of questions comes out the first of July, and our local test sight tests the first sat of the month. If you start now, you will be ready by the beginning of June with no problems. |
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Quoted:
Congratulations! Now, while your brain is still in study mode, don't sit on your laurels... go for General now asap. I PROMISE is it not much harder than Tech. There are many here who can attest to this, that have gotten their General, or even Extra, many times in the first test session! General gives you a LOT more on-air privileges. ~ Jup I concur with Jupiter. STUDY NOW while your mind is in that mode! Jupiter IMed me a great list of study resources. ALL of the resources were interesting to read, and were a nice way to spend the evening. Unfortunately, I had to clean out my IMs, and don't have it anymore. I will send you a few links when I get home. |
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If you start now, you will be ready by the beginning of June with no problems. Quoted:
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Edited tku. I was going to take both that day, but procrastinated studying. Now the new battery of questions comes out the first of July, and our local test sight tests the first sat of the month. If you start now, you will be ready by the beginning of June with no problems.  I am such a dumbass sometimes. You are correct of course. I frequently get June, July switched. I have tons of time to study 
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I have tons of time to study That's the attitude! Now get to it so we can talk you into studying for Extra. 
No time like the present: http://www.hamstudy.org |
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Might want to edit out your call sign because unless you have a po box you just broadcasted your name and address to the world on the Internet. Just a heads up. Congrats on Tech. Start studying for General and keep the momentum going. I am curious what new HF mobile units are available for $250.00. In reference to the call sign thing. I get what you are saying, but I have seen quite a few vehs that have the call sign vanity plate. I understand why they would do it. Isn't it just as bad though? As far as the prices no I cannot provide a link. I just remember seeing them while searching. It seems like you have to learn some level of tech jargon to translate ham radio sales sights. Not all of them of course. To be honest I am surprised at how few results come back for "HF mobile radio of sale". It is usually 3 or 4 shops with Amazon and eBay taking up most of the list. And quite a few other auctions. But I had to learn the differences and similarities of the radios sold. Since they are described as VHF/UHF, 140Mkz 220Mhz, Dual Band, Quad Band, VHF/UHF/HF, 70cm, ALL BAND, HF, 2 meter, 6 meter, 10 meter, 11 meter, and so on. When for most of those it is a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury issue. Same thing different name. Then you have the eBay descriptions which can be downright stupid after reading the specs of an item on the manufacturer's website vs what the seller says it does. Or you can find it cheaper on Amazon than what people are bidding at. |
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New HF mobiles are not even close to $250, closer to $600 ! I have a like new Kenwood TS50s that is listed for $550 if you're interested. Send me an IM if interested. 73- Quoted:
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I am curious what new HF mobile units are available for $250.00. New HF mobiles are not even close to $250, closer to $600 ! I have a like new Kenwood TS50s that is listed for $550 if you're interested. Send me an IM if interested. 73- I know, I am shopping now and looking at the 7200. The OP mentioned new HF radios for $250 so I was curious where he found it at. Might make a cheap backup rig. Yes, many I know have ham plates. I do as well. That is one of yhe biggest reasons I have a PO box. 
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Quoted: Might want to edit out your call sign because unless you have a po box you just broadcasted your name and address to the world on the Internet. Just a heads up. Congrats on Tech. Start studying for General and keep the momentum going. I am curious what new HF mobile units are available for $250.00. Used HF mobile rigs usually start around $400'ish. Kenwood TS-480, Yaesu FT-857, FT-100, Icom IC-706, IC-7000. Check on QRZ.com, there's usually someone selling something you'd want. |
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I guess I should have said "what HF rigs are available for $250 that you have found" to the OP since he was the one that brought it up. I know a decent HF rig starts in the $900-$1000 range so that is why I was curious when he brought up new rigs for $250. For that price I will grab one for portable and one as a backup
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Congrats on your new call sign!
The cheapest HF mobile would be a used IC-706 (not IC-706MKII). They sell for around $350-$450. They are great little radios, very robust and reliable. You can find something like a used TS-140 even cheaper but it's too bulky for mobile operation. You'll need some decent antennas to be able to operate on HF bands. Good luck with your new hobby. Don't hesitate to ask questions. |
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Congratulations on the new Tech license.
Joining the local club is an excellent idea. You can probably find an used 2 Meter rig at a good price and knowing who you bought it from gives confidence an order of magnitude higher than it you got it on-line. Go for your General as quickly as possible while your mind's in study mode because 2 Meters can become boring very quickly if you just hang out on the repeaters. Operate your transceiver at home for a couple of weeks before taking it on the road. Driving while learning to operate it can quickly put you in the running for The Darwin Awards. Building an antenna for your fixed station is a good way to get into homebrewing your equipment and accessories. A "copper cactus" J-pole is easy to make and gives you a much wider range than a whip mounted on a rig. There's an event we call "Field Day" which most clubs participate in the 4th weekend in June. It's a good time to learn the ins and outs of ham radio and make a lot of friends. Find out when your local club meets and volunteer to help set up. Even if you're a rank newbie to ham radio, there's plenty of "grunt work" to be done and all hands are welcome to pitch in. Properly run Field Days are fun events and often involve copious amounts of food -- and very little sleep. |
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I concur with Jupiter. STUDY NOW while your mind is in that mode! Jupiter IMed me a great list of study resources. ALL of the resources were interesting to read, and were a nice way to spend the evening. Unfortunately, I had to clean out my IMs, and don't have it anymore. I will send you a few links when I get home. Mug, will IM all that to the OP. |