[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Getting Into HAM (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 5/31/2015 7:03:29 PM EDT
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I'm finally taking the plunge and getting into HAM Radio. Does anyone have a current AARL 3rd Edition they can send me or trade for something? I just purchase a Baofeng UV-5r V2+ as a baby step into the world of HAM. |
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Quoted:
I'm finally taking the plunge and getting into HAM Radio. Does anyone have a current AARL 3rd Edition they can send me or trade for something? I just purchase a Baofeng UV-5r V2+ as a baby step into the world of HAM. Ahhhhh . First mistake, Buying a Piece of crap Racist remark removed and 24 hour ban from forumradio!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now get something that does not completely SUCK for an HT like an FT60 or even An Alinco for 129$ You should be able to study for the basic test and pass it within a couple of weeks simply by taking the practice tests on QRZ.COM. Get your call, and start playing with things with your Tech ticket. Worry about HF and all that bullcrap later and instead get familiar with radios, how they work, with UHF VHF and the way hams operate and what things mean first. The General and Extra are a lot more technical and usually require more studying. Welcome to the hobby, its a lot of fun. |
The Baofeng is not a bad baby step into the hobby. LOTS of hams have them. They are junk though.  Your soon going to want to get a FT-60. That will come in do time. The ARRL book is a little on the dry side and I would suggest the Gordon West study book. It is the same layout, just not as boring to read. Welcome to the hobby. |
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Quoted:
I'm finally taking the plunge and getting into HAM Radio. Congrats, and welcome! ARFHAM is best ham. Does anyone have a current AARL 3rd Edition they can send me or trade for something? I don't, but used the "No-Nonsense" guides myself: they're available as free .PDF directly from the author here. I just purchase a Baofeng UV-5r V2+ as a baby step into the world of HAM. So, as you've already seen, opinions vary wildly here, but congrats on the purchase: I'd read up on the radio (and most importantly, the section on programming cables and drivers) on the miklor website, our own Jupiter7200's most excellent thread on the UV-5R, as well as all the stickied threads up top for more timeless info on all things commo. As you get into the hobby more and figure out exactly what it is you'd like to do, let those experiences guide your next purchases. No sense in hundreds of dollars sunk in HTs if you really want some mobile/base units, or perhaps even HF. I'd also encourage you to grab the General class guide from the author linked above and knock it out at the same time as Tech - lots of information carries over, and you get much more privileges from the effort. Again, welcome! Let us know if you have any questions. |
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The UV-5R (and Variants) is not really a bad little radio. It is a very basic radio and does what it says.
Just consider it the Bic Pen of radios. Use it until it quits, toss it and buy another. Don't bother fixing it, your time is worth more than the $30 - $35 it costs to buy a new one. I've only had one go bad on me, and that was the earphone/mic jack. Sure, you can buy a replacement jack set for $5. You can't install it. There are tiny surface mount components on both sides of the board that will be destroyed trying to change those jacks. Just buy another radio, which is what I ended up doing wasting only $5 on a jack set. |
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Good on ya! I used Ham Test Online for all three tests and passed each one easily.
As for the Baofengs (AKA Pofung), I have several and I think they're great radios for the price. That's not a slight on them, they're just a good value and an excellent entry level radio. Will you want something better later? Maybe. I don't have any other brand HTs, but I don't use an HT a lot. Now a shameless plug for this forum. There are lots of people here with years of experience that give great advice . . . especially when it comes to spending your money.
Study hard and go for the hat trick: zero to Extra in one session. |
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This. Stimsonjcat ain't the Lone Ranger. It's what I used. |
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I'll second the No Nonsense Study Guide series. Especially for the tech exam, it is tough to beat unless you are going to sit in a class and need a book to follow along with the presentation. If you have a tablet or smart phone check out the app/play store for an exam prep app that will give you practice tests. I can't remember which one I used, but there are a couple that are free for all three levels. Eham.net and qrz.com also have free practice exams you can take as many times as you want. Study for the tech a bit, then work on general also. As stated above, there is a carryover in subject matter with general going a bit more in depth. Studying for general also helped me understand the tech material a bit more so I knew the why behind the correct response instead of just that was the correct response.
Your HT is also a decent starter radio. The only HT's I have are the 5r variants and they have served me well. I also use one as a mobile rig after adding an external antenna, 12v adapter, and speaker mic. Not the best option available but can't swing getting another v71 for the truck. Also, check out the local amateur radio clubs in your area. Aside from likely offering the exams, you may be able to find some knowledgeable local 'elmers' to help you out, in addition to the folks on here. |
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Fo Time #19, No Nonsense Study Guides
Fo TIme #9, New Guy Questions Fo Time #21, The shopping list! welcome in, it's not hard to pass, shoot for general, skip the ARRL guide, your Baofeng will suffice as a starter rig, and listen to Fo Time Podcast! |
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MK4Mod0, have you noticed that people are posting pictures of their high quality kenwood and icom rigs and not their POS Bow-Fangs?? Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. CMON! How cool is this, a Touch-screen HT. Granted, they arent available yet and are $500, but I have two of these on order. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure.
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Quoted:
MK4Mod0, have you noticed that people are posting pictures of their high quality kenwood and icom rigs and not their POS Bow-Fangs??
Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. CMON! How cool is this, a Touch-screen HT. Granted, they arent available yet and are $500, but I have two of these on order. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure. http://www.hamlife.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ft2d002.jpg Are we really getting excited about monochromatic resistive touch screens in 2015? |
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I've been a ham for a number of years and have gone through a bunch of HT's, and somehow still have a Baofeng. It turns on, transmits, receives, stores repeaters for me, pretty much all I need an HT for, and I don't care if I drop it in the lake. If you take it for what it is...it works great. Check out Amazon for the ARRL Handbooks. If you get one a few years old they are pretty cheap, and the material doesn't change significantly. |
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I'm a long time lurker and have also decided to take the exams. I have a bit of time to study though - won't be back in the US until December.
I'm currently working in Europe. I thought about getting my ticket here in the Netherlands but all the 2m / 70 cm traffic is in Dutch. I've got a couple study guides and plenty of time to read through them... |
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I'm a long time lurker and have also decided to take the exams. I have a bit of time to study though - won't be back in the US until December. I'm currently working in Europe. I thought about getting my ticket here in the Netherlands but all the 2m / 70 cm traffic is in Dutch. I've got a couple study guides and plenty of time to read through them... Netherlands is in CEPT, so once you have your US license...you have a Netherlands license. PA/<your US call> |
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Ahhhhh . First mistake, Buying a Piece of crap chink radio!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now get something that does not completely SUCK for an HT like an FT60 or even An Alinco for 129$ You should be able to study for the basic test and pass it within a couple of weeks simply by taking the practice tests on QRZ.COM. Get your call, and start playing with things with your Tech ticket. Worry about HF and all that bullcrap later and instead get familiar with radios, how they work, with UHF VHF and the way hams operate and what things mean first. The General and Extra are a lot more technical and usually require more studying. Welcome to the hobby, its a lot of fun. Congrats, r-2-k-b-a, you're broken new ground as I either tend to agree completely or disagree with most posts. I find 50% of your individual post to be agreeable. For the amount of material that goes in a HT, the Bofengs are actually the reasonable price for a commodity item. Repeater operations and HF have their own idiosyncrasies. Even a 10m mobile and a cut down CB antenna can open the door to HF enjoyment. Bullcrap? Bullshit! HF is the soul of amateur radio. I do agree about practice tests, and indeed, welcome MK4Mod0! |
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I did both tech and general by app and online. Granted I stayed at tech for a couple months before going back to snag general. At the time I studied for tech and tested out I figured good enough and ran out the door with my ticket. I probably should have stayed and tested for general. Oh well.
Back to the radios, the good 'ol Yaesu FT-60r ($149.95 shipped at HRO) is a mighty fine radio and can be programmed on the run. Baofeng can also, but the learning curve is harsh. I'm not sure if I could just drop a PL on a freq on the fly.Much easier to just program it with chirp. A mobile radio would most likely serve you better. More watts and a better antenna trumps. Might as well start thinking about one.
Once you test out and get your ticket, join in on the Friday night ArF fun. Nice thing is echolink can be had for the PC and a FCC license. 
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Quoted:
I'm a long time lurker and have also decided to take the exams. I have a bit of time to study though - won't be back in the US until December. I'm currently working in Europe. I thought about getting my ticket here in the Netherlands but all the 2m / 70 cm traffic is in Dutch. I've got a couple study guides and plenty of time to read through them... Most people in Europe speak at least 3 languages. Dutch is not very hard to learn either. Living in the native country is the best way to learn the language. I don't know if their riles allow non-residents to get a license. You could get a higher class license and operate on HF bands from there. Also like mentioned before, you can use a US ticket to operate from the Netherlands. No additional permits are required. You'll simply id as, for example PA / W1AW. I don't think Technician and General class US licenses are eligible. I may be wrong though. |
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Quoted: Congrats, r-2-k-b-a, you're broken new ground as I either tend to agree completely or disagree with most posts. I find 50% of your individual post to be agreeable. For the amount of material that goes in a HT, the Bofengs are actually the reasonable price for a commodity item. Repeater operations and HF have their own idiosyncrasies. Even a 10m mobile and a cut down CB antenna can open the door to HF enjoyment. Bullcrap? Bullshit! HF is the soul of amateur radio. I do agree about practice tests, and indeed, welcome MK4Mod0! Quoted: Quoted: Ahhhhh . First mistake, Buying a Piece of crap chink radio!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now get something that does not completely SUCK for an HT like an FT60 or even An Alinco for 129$ You should be able to study for the basic test and pass it within a couple of weeks simply by taking the practice tests on QRZ.COM. Get your call, and start playing with things with your Tech ticket. Worry about HF and all that bullcrap later and instead get familiar with radios, how they work, with UHF VHF and the way hams operate and what things mean first. The General and Extra are a lot more technical and usually require more studying. Welcome to the hobby, its a lot of fun. Congrats, r-2-k-b-a, you're broken new ground as I either tend to agree completely or disagree with most posts. I find 50% of your individual post to be agreeable. For the amount of material that goes in a HT, the Bofengs are actually the reasonable price for a commodity item. Repeater operations and HF have their own idiosyncrasies. Even a 10m mobile and a cut down CB antenna can open the door to HF enjoyment. Bullcrap? Bullshit! HF is the soul of amateur radio. I do agree about practice tests, and indeed, welcome MK4Mod0! And the cool part is, I dont care if anyone agrees with me or not. Everyone has their opinion, this one is mine:: Too much emphasis is put on HF. Theres way more to the hobby than listening to people repeat their call over and over on a marginal at best signal, only to loose it half way through and repeating everything 3 times. With IRLP, Echolink, WiresX I can talk all around the world any damn time I Want, and I never have it fade out and quit in the middle of my conversation. Plus I can do it with 200mw. I'm an extra, and 96% of my Ham ops are UHF VHF. I have several HF radios and have spent several thousand dollars on HF. I simply enjoy using my HT and talking around the world with 200mw with like minded tehnical people who are highly motivated by Unix, computers, networking and VOIP. HF is boring. |
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Quoted: Are we really getting excited about monochromatic resistive touch screens in 2015? Quoted: Quoted: MK4Mod0, have you noticed that people are posting pictures of their high quality kenwood and icom rigs and not their POS Bow-Fangs?? Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. CMON! How cool is this, a Touch-screen HT. Granted, they arent available yet and are $500, but I have two of these on order. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure. http://www.hamlife.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ft2d002.jpg Are we really getting excited about monochromatic resistive touch screens in 2015? A first is a first, even if it is likely a bit late in the game. Color is pretty irrelevant in a text-screen display anyways and likely not worth the production cost for an HT, vs a larger mobile screen. PLus I wouldn't have paid more than I did for it and they know it. So not only was it smart to make it monochrome, it's not something I would have wanted anyways. Does anyone complain when Ford makes a new pickup truck with a new feaure? No. |
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And the cool part is, I dont care if anyone agrees with me or not. Everyone has their opinion, this one is mine:: Too much emphasis is put on HF. Theres way more to the hobby than listening to people repeat their call over and over on a marginal at best signal, only to loose it half way through and repeating everything 3 times. With IRLP, Echolink, WiresX I can talk all around the world any damn time I Want, and I never have it fade out and quit in the middle of my conversation. Plus I can do it with 200mw. I'm an extra, and 96% of my Ham ops are UHF VHF. I have several HF radios and have spent several thousand dollars on HF. I simply enjoy using my HT and talking around the world with 200mw with like minded tehnical people who are highly motivated by Unix, computers, networking and VOIP. HF is boring. Quoted:
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Quoted:
Ahhhhh . First mistake, Buying a Piece of crap chink radio!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now get something that does not completely SUCK for an HT like an FT60 or even An Alinco for 129$ You should be able to study for the basic test and pass it within a couple of weeks simply by taking the practice tests on QRZ.COM. Get your call, and start playing with things with your Tech ticket. Worry about HF and all that bullcrap later and instead get familiar with radios, how they work, with UHF VHF and the way hams operate and what things mean first. The General and Extra are a lot more technical and usually require more studying. Welcome to the hobby, its a lot of fun. Congrats, r-2-k-b-a, you're broken new ground as I either tend to agree completely or disagree with most posts. I find 50% of your individual post to be agreeable. For the amount of material that goes in a HT, the Bofengs are actually the reasonable price for a commodity item. Repeater operations and HF have their own idiosyncrasies. Even a 10m mobile and a cut down CB antenna can open the door to HF enjoyment. Bullcrap? Bullshit! HF is the soul of amateur radio. I do agree about practice tests, and indeed, welcome MK4Mod0! And the cool part is, I dont care if anyone agrees with me or not. Everyone has their opinion, this one is mine:: Too much emphasis is put on HF. Theres way more to the hobby than listening to people repeat their call over and over on a marginal at best signal, only to loose it half way through and repeating everything 3 times. With IRLP, Echolink, WiresX I can talk all around the world any damn time I Want, and I never have it fade out and quit in the middle of my conversation. Plus I can do it with 200mw. I'm an extra, and 96% of my Ham ops are UHF VHF. I have several HF radios and have spent several thousand dollars on HF. I simply enjoy using my HT and talking around the world with 200mw with like minded tehnical people who are highly motivated by Unix, computers, networking and VOIP. HF is boring. Why even have radios? Skype works even better and no radios are required. There are apps to simulate radio comms without having radios nor antennas. IMHO, VHF/UHF is extremely boring. HF is where the real fun is. It requires no computers nor Internet to talk to people around the world. It never seizes to amaze me what can be done with 5 Watts, a piece of wire for an antenna and a CW key. |
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Quoted: Why even have radios? Skype works even better and no radios are required. There are apps to simulate radio comms without having radios nor antennas. IMHO, VHF/UHF is extremely boring. HF is where the real fun is. It requires no computers nor Internet to talk to people around the world. It never seizes to amaze me what can be done with 5 Watts, a piece of wire for an antenna and a CW key. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Ahhhhh . First mistake, Buying a Piece of crap chink radio!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now get something that does not completely SUCK for an HT like an FT60 or even An Alinco for 129$ You should be able to study for the basic test and pass it within a couple of weeks simply by taking the practice tests on QRZ.COM. Get your call, and start playing with things with your Tech ticket. Worry about HF and all that bullcrap later and instead get familiar with radios, how they work, with UHF VHF and the way hams operate and what things mean first. The General and Extra are a lot more technical and usually require more studying. Welcome to the hobby, its a lot of fun. Congrats, r-2-k-b-a, you're broken new ground as I either tend to agree completely or disagree with most posts. I find 50% of your individual post to be agreeable. For the amount of material that goes in a HT, the Bofengs are actually the reasonable price for a commodity item. Repeater operations and HF have their own idiosyncrasies. Even a 10m mobile and a cut down CB antenna can open the door to HF enjoyment. Bullcrap? Bullshit! HF is the soul of amateur radio. I do agree about practice tests, and indeed, welcome MK4Mod0! And the cool part is, I dont care if anyone agrees with me or not. Everyone has their opinion, this one is mine:: Too much emphasis is put on HF. Theres way more to the hobby than listening to people repeat their call over and over on a marginal at best signal, only to loose it half way through and repeating everything 3 times. With IRLP, Echolink, WiresX I can talk all around the world any damn time I Want, and I never have it fade out and quit in the middle of my conversation. Plus I can do it with 200mw. I'm an extra, and 96% of my Ham ops are UHF VHF. I have several HF radios and have spent several thousand dollars on HF. I simply enjoy using my HT and talking around the world with 200mw with like minded tehnical people who are highly motivated by Unix, computers, networking and VOIP. HF is boring. Why even have radios? Skype works even better and no radios are required. There are apps to simulate radio comms without having radios nor antennas. IMHO, VHF/UHF is extremely boring. HF is where the real fun is. It requires no computers nor Internet to talk to people around the world. It never seizes to amaze me what can be done with 5 Watts, a piece of wire for an antenna and a CW key. See thats why I say, opinions are all different. Some people hate glocks, some people say only 1911s are REAL GUNS. I call BS on all of it. I use all modes. I have 1911s, I have Muskets, shoot blackpowder and modern machineguns. But I prefer one or two. I've talked to plenty of people with 5w and a wire antenna on HF, but the terms of the communication are not under my control and very limited. With other methods, I dont get interrupted, and I'm still using RF to do it. I've made ham connections as well as real friends all over the world that I never would have met if I only relied on HF radio. One because they aren't limiting themselves only to HF as well, and two they enjoy experimenting with other modes, IRLP, Echolink and Wires-X. They are all ham radio operators, and all enjoy the hobby. They just don't limit themselves to one part. And yes sometimes we talk on HF. Dont forget also that COMPUTERS ( or microchips ) are already in your HF radio in many cases and software defined radios will likely over-take most of the market sooner than later. It'll all be SDR in the HF market, and likely somewhat in UHF VHF. Get used to the computers. " The real fun " is very subjective. But to say one method or style is not-real only limits your knowledge in the hobby as well as who you come into contact with. Broaden your horizons I always say. But I also say its poor form to pressure new hams into buying complicated HF equipment, when getting started should be learning the basics with UHF VHF and understanding basic theory before blowing big bucks on HF gear. |
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Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure. There may be a difference in quality level between the $30 HT's and rigs that are $100 plus, but after using professional grade HT's for 20 years and using one of those 'toys' as you call them, both transmit when I push the button, and let me hear when I let go of it. I know personally if someone told me I HAD to spend about $150 for a radio, I would not have even bothered attempting to get my ticket. But then again, I've been licensed for over a year and half, and only recently got on HF because someone was kind enough to let me borrow a rig they were not using until I can save up enough to buy one. Heck, I spent my entire general class existence and the first month or so of being an extra only getting on HF once at a club station. That $150 I could have spent on a single HT has been better spent on the exam fee, obtaining a second HT to keep in the truck for use as my mobile, and all the trimmings that go with it. I have yet to see any magic smoke leaving any of the 'toys' that have been in service since I was licensed. Not to mention having some left over to take the YL out to dinner. Guess I can't be one of the cool kids then. Oh well. Most of them peaked in high school anyway. |
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I was stoked when I found that I could buy a $120 Wouxun back when I got my ticket. I had previously bought (1999) a Yeasu HT for about $200 used (model # eludes me).
That $120 Wouxun was the cheap Chi-Crap of it's time, and 4+ years later, it's still rocking on...and the 3 others I've bought work as equally well. The Baofeng is the Best $35 your money can buy (I have about 6 of them)....if it's what you got, you're GTG and fine by me! Now skip the rest of this bickerin' and go listen to Fo Time!..... 
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Quoted: There may be a difference in quality level between the $30 HT's and rigs that are $100 plus, but after using professional grade HT's for 20 years and using one of those 'toys' as you call them, both transmit when I push the button, and let me hear when I let go of it. I know personally if someone told me I HAD to spend about $150 for a radio, I would not have even bothered attempting to get my ticket. But then again, I've been licensed for over a year and half, and only recently got on HF because someone was kind enough to let me borrow a rig they were not using until I can save up enough to buy one. Heck, I spent my entire general class existence and the first month or so of being an extra only getting on HF once at a club station. That $150 I could have spent on a single HT has been better spent on the exam fee, obtaining a second HT to keep in the truck for use as my mobile, and all the trimmings that go with it. I have yet to see any magic smoke leaving any of the 'toys' that have been in service since I was licensed. Not to mention having some left over to take the YL out to dinner. Guess I can't be one of the cool kids then. Oh well. Most of them peaked in high school anyway. Quoted: Quoted: Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure. There may be a difference in quality level between the $30 HT's and rigs that are $100 plus, but after using professional grade HT's for 20 years and using one of those 'toys' as you call them, both transmit when I push the button, and let me hear when I let go of it. I know personally if someone told me I HAD to spend about $150 for a radio, I would not have even bothered attempting to get my ticket. But then again, I've been licensed for over a year and half, and only recently got on HF because someone was kind enough to let me borrow a rig they were not using until I can save up enough to buy one. Heck, I spent my entire general class existence and the first month or so of being an extra only getting on HF once at a club station. That $150 I could have spent on a single HT has been better spent on the exam fee, obtaining a second HT to keep in the truck for use as my mobile, and all the trimmings that go with it. I have yet to see any magic smoke leaving any of the 'toys' that have been in service since I was licensed. Not to mention having some left over to take the YL out to dinner. Guess I can't be one of the cool kids then. Oh well. Most of them peaked in high school anyway. When people complain about prices of radio gear, I usually tell them to find a different hobby. While the cheap stuff can get the job done, theres also the used market if your budget is tight because a used quality made radio is better than a new UV5R any day of the week that may not last 2 years. By the time you've purchased two of these, you are almost at the price of a used FT60. Skip a few beer runs. I've been talking on commercial " professional " radios for quite a while myself and will guarantee none of the cheap imports would survive what I've subjected them to over the years of normal use. Quality construction costs money. After having several of the Chinese imports apart, there's no comparison. Would one survive on the average hams desk? Yep. But try dropping one on a concrete patio from 5 feet and see what happens. I've dropped my icom. Still works. The 'toys' we use generally work well, across the board, or they dont last long in this market. Remember when Alinco used to have big problems with quality? Thats changed quite a bit the last decade or two and they've improved a lot. I'm using several and they have been solid performers. Theres always hope I suppose for cheap China radios. I believe new hams should be aware of ALL of the pro and cons of the hobby. Even if it makes some hams uncomfortable. |
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Quoted: I was stoked when I found that I could buy a $120 Wouxun back when I got my ticket. I had previously bought (1999) a Yeasu HT for about $200 used (model # eludes me). That $120 Wouxun was the cheap Chi-Crap of it's time, and 4+ years later, it's still rocking on...and the 3 others I've bought work as equally well. The Baofeng is the Best $35 your money can buy (I have about 6 of them)....if it's what you got, you're GTG and fine by me! Now skip the rest of this bickerin' and go listen to Fo Time!..... I dont understand why people think conversation on a forum is bickering. Remember, its JUST HAM RADIO. |
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So, you have a dozen Boy Scouts, Jr. High and High School age. They are really interested in ham radio
for camping, other scouting activities, and possible emergency work, but the price of a radio seems to be insurmountable. "I can get you into ham radio for less than $50." Now you have their attention. $14 (or $15) for the test fee, and $30 for a UV-5R, and these young men are on the air. And Boy Scouts are highly motivated, in general. They will study, and they will pass the Tech test. This little "cheap" radio might be the difference between getting them into ham or having them looking for other endeavors. |
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Quoted: When people complain about prices of radio gear, I usually tell them to find a different hobby. While the cheap stuff can get the job done, theres also the used market if your budget is tight because a used quality made radio is better than a new UV5R any day of the week that may not last 2 years. By the time you've purchased two of these, you are almost at the price of a used FT60. Skip a few beer runs. I've been talking on commercial " professional " radios for quite a while myself and will guarantee none of the cheap imports would survive what I've subjected them to over the years of normal use. Quality construction costs money. After having several of the Chinese imports apart, there's no comparison. Would one survive on the average hams desk? Yep. But try dropping one on a concrete patio from 5 feet and see what happens. I've dropped my icom. Still works. The 'toys' we use generally work well, across the board, or they dont last long in this market. Remember when Alinco used to have big problems with quality? Thats changed quite a bit the last decade or two and they've improved a lot. I'm using several and they have been solid performers. Theres always hope I suppose for cheap China radios. I believe new hams should be aware of ALL of the pro and cons of the hobby. Even if it makes some hams uncomfortable. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Trust me, theres a quality level in Icom,Yaesu,Kenwood that makes those Bew-Fangs kid toys compared to even a low-end Yaesu. Everyones budget is different, but even the previous model is within grasp of most people these days. Plus you can transmit on 5w all day long and it wont let the smoke out. Its easy to nerd out on this hobby for sure. There may be a difference in quality level between the $30 HT's and rigs that are $100 plus, but after using professional grade HT's for 20 years and using one of those 'toys' as you call them, both transmit when I push the button, and let me hear when I let go of it. I know personally if someone told me I HAD to spend about $150 for a radio, I would not have even bothered attempting to get my ticket. But then again, I've been licensed for over a year and half, and only recently got on HF because someone was kind enough to let me borrow a rig they were not using until I can save up enough to buy one. Heck, I spent my entire general class existence and the first month or so of being an extra only getting on HF once at a club station. That $150 I could have spent on a single HT has been better spent on the exam fee, obtaining a second HT to keep in the truck for use as my mobile, and all the trimmings that go with it. I have yet to see any magic smoke leaving any of the 'toys' that have been in service since I was licensed. Not to mention having some left over to take the YL out to dinner. Guess I can't be one of the cool kids then. Oh well. Most of them peaked in high school anyway. When people complain about prices of radio gear, I usually tell them to find a different hobby. While the cheap stuff can get the job done, theres also the used market if your budget is tight because a used quality made radio is better than a new UV5R any day of the week that may not last 2 years. By the time you've purchased two of these, you are almost at the price of a used FT60. Skip a few beer runs. I've been talking on commercial " professional " radios for quite a while myself and will guarantee none of the cheap imports would survive what I've subjected them to over the years of normal use. Quality construction costs money. After having several of the Chinese imports apart, there's no comparison. Would one survive on the average hams desk? Yep. But try dropping one on a concrete patio from 5 feet and see what happens. I've dropped my icom. Still works. The 'toys' we use generally work well, across the board, or they dont last long in this market. Remember when Alinco used to have big problems with quality? Thats changed quite a bit the last decade or two and they've improved a lot. I'm using several and they have been solid performers. Theres always hope I suppose for cheap China radios. I believe new hams should be aware of ALL of the pro and cons of the hobby. Even if it makes some hams uncomfortable. Though I will admit I haven't thrown either on a concrete patio. I bet my old 90's Nokia would survive the drop. Maybe I should switch back? |
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When people complain about prices of radio gear, I usually tell them to find a different hobby........ ... By the time you've purchased two of these, you are almost at the price of a used FT60. Skip a few beer runs.... ....I believe new hams should be aware of ALL of the pro and cons of the hobby. Even if it makes some hams uncomfortable. So you would rather push folks away than let them get their feet wet before they drop some coin on gear. Got ya. I would prefer to open the door for them to get into the hobby and see if they are interested in it rather than scare them away. Perhaps that is why I also help teach the licensing classes in my area, and the main reason I went for extra. Might as well be able to administer the exam after the class instead of just standing around watching the students take it. I know I could have done that as a general, but when they pass the tech and want to try the next level, then what? And the 5r's are not my only VHF/UHF rigs. After buying a couple of the less expensive models I may be about the range of a used HT of your choice, but that still would leave me with only one. Beer is definitely not a part of my budget, either. If that bothers you, I am taking donations payable to St. Glockster's home for destitute children. Pointing out the pros and cons is not a bad thing. Telling a potential new ham the HT they just bought will run like a high point is not doing that. You don't like the chicom HT's. Fine. I'm not a Colt or Sig fan. I also do not treat my personal radios like I do a work radio. Off duty I have other options to deal with things than using the radio as a blunt object. At work, sometimes that is all that is available. And the 5r's are not my only VHF/UHF rigs. 4-5 months after getting my ticket I picked up a Kenwood mobile for the house. But, it all started with that first 5r..... |
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So, you have a dozen Boy Scouts, Jr. High and High School age. They are really interested in ham radio for camping, other scouting activities, and possible emergency work, but the price of a radio seems to be insurmountable. "I can get you into ham radio for less than $50." Now you have their attention. $14 (or $15) for the test fee, and $30 for a UV-5R, and these young men are on the air. And Boy Scouts are highly motivated, in general. They will study, and they will pass the Tech test. This little "cheap" radio might be the difference between getting them into ham or having them looking for other endeavors. Exactly |
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Exactly Quoted:
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So, you have a dozen Boy Scouts, Jr. High and High School age. They are really interested in ham radio for camping, other scouting activities, and possible emergency work, but the price of a radio seems to be insurmountable. "I can get you into ham radio for less than $50." Now you have their attention. $14 (or $15) for the test fee, and $30 for a UV-5R, and these young men are on the air. And Boy Scouts are highly motivated, in general. They will study, and they will pass the Tech test. This little "cheap" radio might be the difference between getting them into ham or having them looking for other endeavors. Exactly My thoughts exactly. I hunkered down $15 for my tech test (and general aT the same time) and $28 on a uv5b. It got my feet wet. I upgraded to a 281, and some ft60s after a few month's. I wouldn't have plunked down a few hundred without getting the lay of the land first. Baofengs are the Bic lighter of the radio world, no doubt. But they ain't fancy nor bullet proof. To each his own, but it worked for me and I now have a shit ton of radios, gear, tools, analyzers, abtennas, etc. |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHd3dZW1SBc
Here's an "old fart" I really respect. When I heard this a light went on over my head. YES!!! And it's even cheaper now. |
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Quoted: So you would rather push folks away than let them get their feet wet before they drop some coin on gear. Got ya. Quoted: Quoted: When people complain about prices of radio gear, I usually tell them to find a different hobby........ ... By the time you've purchased two of these, you are almost at the price of a used FT60. Skip a few beer runs.... ....I believe new hams should be aware of ALL of the pro and cons of the hobby. Even if it makes some hams uncomfortable. So you would rather push folks away than let them get their feet wet before they drop some coin on gear. Got ya. Nope, I would rather they invest in a good quality radio that's easier to use and wont have them scratching their head. Give me a break on price folks. " Kids " and adults spend 200-300-400$ on cellular phones every year, waste more money on booze, movie theaters and sneakers, Ipods, ipads and all this other junk. They are quite capable, and so are most adults to buy a basic good HT. For people with real financial limitations, not everyone can swing the big ticket items. But most people are not in this category. If I Did find a young person interested in the hobby with money problems, I would buy them their first radio vs tell them to buy a POS chicom made cheapee. Start them off on the right foot I say. |
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There are exactly 872 hams on this forum.
That means there are 872 different reasons here for getting into ham radio. I came here looking for an old radio as a decorator piece and through a series of flukes wound up here as an Extra with (as of now) 187 DX entities in my logbook. My very first ham radio was a PRC 320 which was against most of advice I got here. I am glad I went my own way and started with it. I do NOT recommend you go this route, though. I picked up a pair of HTs that I never use and a 2 meter rig I very seldom use. The 2 meter rig in my pickup is seldom used, either. For me HF is where it's at, but that is just me. Your Mileage WILL vary. |
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OP, as soon as you pass your Tech, go for your General. If tests are spaced at intervals of more than a month in your area, study both together, then test for both. With General under your belt, when, not if, but when, you find VHF/UHF becoming boring, you can add HF to your repertoire without missing a beat.
The Baofeng (did I spell it right?) is a cheap way to stick your toe in the water, but you're probably soon going to want a decent VHF/UHF mobile/fixed transceiver and maybe a better handheld. Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and Alinco offer a wide variety of these radios. Check around in your area and see where most of the activity is. In most sparsely populated areas, 2 Meters carries the load and 440 is secondary. In more populous regions, both find a lot of use. It may be that 2 Meters is all you need unless you travel. For your fixed station, you'll want an outside antenna with vertical polarization. These are easy to make and will get you started in the time-honored ham radio tradition of "homebrewing" or making your own equipment. Plans for antennas are available on the internet. FWIW, I've been hamming for 61 years and the magic is still there. I'm on the air on HF almost daily. My station: 
Notice that there is no microphone. I operate CW (code) exclusively. |
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Why even have radios? Skype works even better and no radios are required. There are apps to simulate radio comms without having radios nor antennas. IMHO, VHF/UHF is extremely boring. HF is where the real fun is. It requires no computers nor Internet to talk to people around the world. It never seizes to amaze me what can be done with 5 Watts, a piece of wire for an antenna and a CW key. I find 2 Meter FM pretty boring as well it's nice for Mobile use but at home I rarely use 2M FM Now as for 2m SSB That's pretty exciting I see some guys spend some serious money on 2m/70cm FM only setups. If they went with FM/SSB radio they would get a lot more excitement |
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A first is a first, even if it is likely a bit late in the game. Color is pretty irrelevant in a text-screen display anyways and likely not worth the production cost for an HT, vs a larger mobile screen. PLus I wouldn't have paid more than I did for it and they know it. So not only was it smart to make it monochrome, it's not something I would have wanted anyways. Does anyone complain when Ford makes a new pickup truck with a new feaure? No. Loves VOIP, happy with monochrome. You herd VAXen for a living, or the like. CONFESS! LOL ..and yeah, disagreement is fine. While my viewpoint might be the most correct for me, it may not be for everyone else. Nor yours, r-2-k-b-a, nor YOURS *points at the current reader of this*, whoever you happen to be. :) ...but don't go callin' HF bs! LOL |
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First off..............Thanks for all the help,especially Jupiter7200..............you da man!! I read through the material and have taken several practice tests, I failed the first one but passed the rest, but not by much. I reviewed the scores I received and know what I have to concentrate on. Once I have the Tech questions down pat, I'll move on to the General. My biggest hurdle is remembering the math for calculating current/voltage/resistance and the conversions from Mhz and Ghz..........I was never good at math at all! |
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First off..............Thanks for all the help,especially Jupiter7200.you da man!! I read through the material and have taken several practice tests, I failed the first one but passed the rest, but not by much. I reviewed the scores I received and know what I have to concentrate on. Once I have the Tech questions down pat, I'll move on to the General. My biggest hurdle is remembering the math for calculating current/voltage/resistance and the conversions from Mhz and Ghz..........I was never good at math at all! Just keep practicing! Youll get there!!! |
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I'm a long time lurker and have also decided to take the exams. I have a bit of time to study though - won't be back in the US until December. I'm currently working in Europe. I thought about getting my ticket here in the Netherlands but all the 2m / 70 cm traffic is in Dutch. I've got a couple study guides and plenty of time to read through them... Most Dutch understand and speak English. |
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Most Dutch understand and speak English. Quoted:
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I'm a long time lurker and have also decided to take the exams. I have a bit of time to study though - won't be back in the US until December. I'm currently working in Europe. I thought about getting my ticket here in the Netherlands but all the 2m / 70 cm traffic is in Dutch. I've got a couple study guides and plenty of time to read through them... Most Dutch understand and speak English. Most Dutch understand and speak English better than we do. 
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...My biggest hurdle is remembering the math for calculating current/voltage/resistance and the conversions from Mhz and Ghz..........I was never good at math at all! Here ya go! Meet the eagle, the Indian, and the rabbit. Converting Gigahertz to Megahertz to Kilohertz to Hertz is merely shifting the decimal point right or left three places for each change. For instance, if you want to go from Gigahertz to Megahertz, move the decimal three points right, so 7.1 GHZ is equal to 7100 MHz; to convert Kilohertz to Gigahertz, move it 3+3 or 6 points to the left, thus 14.32 KHz is equal to 0.00001432 GHz. |
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Thread has stopped being helpful to the OP. I am disappoint. n00b thread is not the place for a pissing contest. Yep. I'm off to sell my Glocks and will start looking for black powder pistols with computer chips. Wait a second, maybe it's the other way around......I'm trying to concentrate but nothing is happening. 
Sent from my Woodstock Fireview woodstove. |