Posted: 6/6/2016 5:09:32 PM EDT
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Just wanted to say hi. Been lurking for awhile. I'm a CB user and am interested in getting my Ham card. Lots of good info and reading here.
From the looks of it not many using CB's any more. But looking to upgrade to a Ham radio one day to put in my truck. Look forward to learning all I can from you guys. Scott |
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Lurking is a good thing, I think you will be suprised how much you already know. Might help you with the material. HF is very fun as you already know. If you have not listened to any of the Fo Time Podcast which changed to hamradio360 they are real good. Cheers
Prosise |
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Lurk no more......here is a link to help you get your license.
It will take about week of study to get your Tech license. 
https://hamexam.org A great "flash card" base study method. How this site is different: This site learns which questions you understand and which ones you don't. It does this by tracking your answers to every question. It then applies a weight to each question, using the following priorities: 1st priority - questions you haven't seen yet 2nd priority - questions you have previously answered wrong 3rd priority - questions you have answered correctly Using this system, you are guaranteed that you will eventually see all of the questions from a given test. You are more likely to see questions that you need help with again and again until you get them right. I feel this is a great way to see what questions you need to work on. Please note that memorizing the test is no substitute for understanding the material. If you have problems with certain questions, please search out more information on those topics. |
Welcome. This is a great forum for beginners and people who think they're experts. 
It may seem a little intimidating, but study for your General at the same time you're studying for your Technician. The General test is not that much more difficult and it opens up a whole world of opportunities. Field Day is coming up at the end of the month, June 25, 26. It's a great place to mingle with hams and get a lot of information. There's probably a club or two in your area that will be participating. |
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Quoted:
Welcome. This is a great forum for beginners and people who think they're experts.
It may seem a little intimidating, but study for your General at the same time you're studying for your Technician. The General test is not that much more difficult and it opens up a whole world of opportunities. Field Day is coming up at the end of the month, June 25, 26. It's a great place to mingle with hams and get a lot of information. There's probably a club or two in your area that will be participating. This and many also administer tests at that time so it gives you a couple week goal to make. Welcome aboard. |
FPNI 
Welcome in man, we'll take care of you! 
Shameless Self Promoting Link to the podcast |
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As others have said..Welcome!! Feel free to post any questions you may have and we'll help you any way we can. There's folks here from all over the country, all classes of license, extra class VE's to technicians and newcomers like yourself. Here's a couple sites for ya.. To find a local club: http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club To find a local exam session: http://www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search Enjoy the hobby!! ..FN.. |
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Welcome aboard! We'll be more than happy to help you get started in ham radio, and then after you have your licenses, to spend your money!
Some of what you learned operating CB will apply to ham radio, but a lot won't. If you chased DX on CB, you'll find 20, 17, and 15 Meters to be DX paradise -- when the sun's behaving itself, which it hasn't been doing lately! 12 and 10 Meters have been spotty for the past few years, and are going to get even worse until Solar Cycle 25 starts revving up. I'll echo the advice to go ahead and start studying for your General along with your Technician. The HF bands (3-30 MHz) are where all the fun stuff happens. This book explains the basic theory and practice behind the questions. Theis one delves deeper into the electronics behind our hobby. So we can be of more help, what is your experience with electronics, and what kind of operating did you do on CB? |
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Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. As far as my cb experience goes I pay to get em turned up and run em. Currently having issues with changing my set up from one vic to the next but I got some shooting to go till I need help. As Fars as ham radios im.hoping for something that is pretty plug and play or close to it. I don't mind tinkering and what not. But not really looking into building my own set up and trying to talk to china. CBs are a dying bread and I can't see dumping much more money I to them to play.
Scott |
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Quoted:
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. As far as my cb experience goes I pay to get em turned up and run em. Currently having issues with changing my set up from one vic to the next but I got some shooting to go till I need help. As Fars as ham radios im.hoping for something that is pretty plug and play or close to it. I don't mind tinkering and what not. But not really looking into building my own set up and trying to talk to china. CBs are a dying bread and I can't see dumping much more money I to them to play. Scott You'll probably be looking for something similar to an Icom 2730A for a 2 Meter/440MHz radio, or an Icom 2300H for a 2 Meter only rig, These are just two example of what's available. Other manufacturers are Yaesu, Kenwood, and Alinco to mention just a few. These radios can be used in a vehicle, or with a suitable 12 Volt power supply, as a fixed station. Have fun shopping. You'll get plenty of advice here, as we all have our favorites. |
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You say you don't mind tinkering, so how about something simple, like an antenna? You'll need one anyway, so why not make it?
Here's a 2 Meter Ground Plane suitable for indoor or outdoor use: http://www.hamuniverse.com/kc0ynr2metergppvc.html This one is more rugged, but requires some soldering skill: http://www.eham.net/articles/2418 If you need 2 Meters and 440 MHZ, take a look at this one: http://www.n7qvc.com/copper-cactus-dual-band-super-j-pole-antenna-project/ |
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You know it bad when I read "I'm a CB guy" but automatically think that I read "I'm a CW guy." Man... I am Disappoint!!! I read the whole thread before it clicked that you were a CB'er!
Good luck with getting your ticket! Maybe on day, you'll get into CW too! 73 de Bru |