| Author |
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Metro
| | Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 11:40 am: | 
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You all know I'm a rookie, a loud mouthed one at that, Hammuntion will attest to that! Anyway,I'm wondering if I should get a ham ticket, don't I need one to work 2 meter? Should I work 2 meter? what are the benefits? I am using a Voyage VR9000 right now and love it. I get some real good DXing with the VR hooked up to the Skylab. I guess I'm just itchin for new equipment, I have been lookin at the Yaesu 2 meter handhelds and the FT-847. Will my Skylab work with that rig? All opinions are needed. Especially Hamunition, no hard feelings right? I know you know radio, Please chime in.
Metro 446 |
2SF2696
| | Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 3:54 pm: |
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First of all, yes you need a Ham ticket to work 2 meters.
IMHO, 2 meters is a totally different can of worms. You dont just shoot skip on 2 meter. You have to engineer skip through repeaters and satelite(Among other things). Now the lower freq ranges like 12 meter or 40 meter propegate similar to 11 meter. If my memory is correct in order to use 10 meter, you have to pass the morse code part of the test.
Another thing about 2 meter is informality. You say your call sign, and call people by their first name, unlike SSB where you have to follow a procedure to identify you station, etc...
Another note. 2 meter is filled with so much illegal traffic, its not even funny. it is almost like CB nowadays. Also, if you are a prvate person, your contact information is openfor public view on a database on the internet.
2 meter opens you up to use some cool gear, and to get well versed on FM communications. Other than that, if you are into the DX thing, you will have more fun on the lower bands...like 11 meter.
Phineas
2SF2696 |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 8:35 pm: |
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2fs2696 I Have been a 2 meter user for more than 35 years you are incorrect that it is " filled " with illegual active you seem as best to have a limited awarness of activy and useage to make statments like you have to be a engineer to work skip on 2 i have done it with very average equiptment. A friend of mine ( SK ) K2GB work over 20 states running .1 watts on AM ( in the late 60-early 70.s till his death ) and was heard in canada, Georga and ohio on several openings by people also running low power heathkits and other AM radios of that time. As for CW or SSB in the late 1960's and early 70's i worked both modes every night making contacks as far as 1000 miles away on ssb and played with CW off the moon( EME ) with some contacts using about 900 watts to 4 stacked 17 el beams. As for 10 meters i work 10 FM every day many contacts from the car into europe and most of the us and canada running about 5 watts. Metro 2 meters is a great band so is 6 meters which myself with low power i have 35 states worked on 6 and a WAS has been done on both bands. |
sandbagger #106
| | Posted on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 9:47 am: |
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I have to agree with Bruce, I've heard very little, if any illegal use on 2M in the time I've been working that band. A few bootleggers on 10M though. 73'S |
2SF2696
| | Posted on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 9:50 am: |
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Maybe it has been a while since I persued it, but If my knowledge servers me correctly, 2 meter portables are all FM. At which case, I would be correct. In order for you to talk far on that freq on FM you would need a base rig. Watts dont matter, I agree with that. Height and position of you antenna, and the terrain do count for FM coms at that freq. Lower freqs are a little more forgiving. But you still have to gain a better understanding about what to do with your equipment to get "FM" DX out of it. 2 meter, with the right setup, you can talk relatively far on 1/2 watt. Now if you are talking about a base rig, now you are talking about AM/SSB/CW and all of that. I rushed and did not read into the FT 847 which is a Base rig.
I stand corrected.
That is a different animal altogether.
Most people around here that are illegal user of 2 meter are mobile users. I guess it depends are where you are. It is flooded with it around here in my local. Taxis, Law inforcment, etc.
As far as 10 meter, I just made reference to a test requirement.
Phineas
2SF2696 |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 11:10 am: |
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2 is a great band so is 6 get your ticket and give it a try also i realy like 10 fm as far as good range with a good ant and a 5 - 50 watt radio you can work the world even without repeaters we have a group here in tampa bay on 29.6 fm at 3:30 pm EST weekdays yes you need code for 10 meters BUT dont be too suprised if the code goes by-by in 2003.
bruce
radio-doctor@juno.com |
715
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 8:53 pm: |
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whats cw? |
Tech181
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 11:07 pm: |
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715,
Continuous Wave. The mode that morse code is transmitted in.
Steve
Tech181
Tech181@copperelectronics.com |
715
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 4:04 pm: |
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ok thanks |
applejack
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 7:45 pm: |
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keep the code! keep the riff raff off the amateur bands! |
2SF2696
| | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 8:26 am: |
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Applejack:Riff Raff can learn Code just like anyone else...what is the difference? |
Tech181
| | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 1:20 pm: |
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I think what applejack is trying to say, and in my opinion, what a lot of hams feel is this.
If you keep the code requirements then only the people that truly want to have HF phone priveleges will have to earn it. You wont have the "riff-raff" down there just because they can be there. They will appreciate what has to be done to get there, and perhaps in turn, get a higher caliber of people on those freqs.
I also believe that code is difficult to learn and it may keep a lot of decent people off the HF phone bands.
I think there is a lot of nostalgia involved in CW and the older ticket holders feel that it's almost a right of passage to get access to the HF DX freqs.
Steve
Tech181
Tech181@copperelectronics.com |
bruce
| | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 8:30 pm: |
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Steve knows ive been a ham pushing 40 years i do not think the code is as usefull a mode for the SIMPLE radio user as it was say 40 years ago when i got into radio. CW (CODE ) is esensal if one is to work VERY week signals like EME SCATTER or ARORA but for the average joe NA i do not beleve that code is a deterent to bad opps and that argument is lame in my opinion if one wants to see poor operators just tune the 75 meter band sadly not much beter than CB just my opinion.
bruce |
applejack
| | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 9:23 pm: |
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2sf2696, maybe i should become riff raff then. i have a tech no code license and a 10 meter radio that i listen to. i would like to talk on it, but i can't get a handle on the code. the reason i got my ham license was to get away from all the gobbledy gook, high noise level and all around junk on c.b. and for a more disciplined way of playing radio. uhf and vhf are not what i wanted, but if i don't learn code it'll have to do. so even if i can't learn it i say keep it. |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 1:01 am: |
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applejack DONT cop that attude there are a wide range of things you can do on even uhf and even with the nocode you can work the world on 6 i did it for more than 30 years the code is not THAT hard not 5 WPM the BEST way to learn the code is to LISSEN to it im tone deaf my brother also a ham was TURN DOWN as 4f in the middle of the vietnam war for being deaf and he has a extra class you can learn it and you only have to pass it once GO for it! |
taz
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 12:13 pm: |
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and learning the code is not transmit its receive, so its not as hard as you think, just listen to it.
taz |
USA194 Texas
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 3:35 pm: |
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Just my 2 cents. I would like to see the CW portion dropped for 10m. I would also like to see the technical portion beefed up to make it harder for "riff raff" to get on there. I don't relish the thought of the rest of the upper HF daytime band getting trashed with the latest innovations in excessive mobile solid state linear amplifier technology nor do I want to hear some guy pumping out 1200w PEP through a vertical omni, driven by a $150 splatterbox radio with lots of "swang", just because he can, like we do on 11m. The fact is, the reason the 11m band IS so clogged up is because people talk over one another. That is not acceptable for any band. If our 11m radios had some adjacent sideband rejection and tighter output filters, we could at least use both sidebands. That ain't happnin. I cringe when I think of Magnum International putting out a 40m rig. Have you seen it? I can't imagine the thing having any kind of good receiver. Rant Rant Rant...I could go on. The point being that making it easier for folks to get on the amateur bands by dumbing down the testing will make it unbearable for all. |
707
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 3:43 pm: |
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My advice for Metro is to go ahead and get the tech ticket, buy the ft-847 and a BIG stacked VHF/UHF az/el rotor antenna set for 6m,2m and 70cm, at least 900w amp for 2m, and a good dual-bander for the car. He will get to play with repeaters, satellites, moonbounce, weak-signal, 6m, plus have a damn good SW receiver to play with as well. Of course, he won't have much time since he'll be working overtime to pay for it all...isn't Metro the same guy who a few months ago was limited to $250 total for a mobile rig? Just kidding. Power to ya, man! Go for it. Don't let CW stop you from playing radio everywhere but HF. |
Newtech
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 8:46 pm: |
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I just pass the tech test this weekend. It only took ten dollars, ten minutes, and a photo ID. I drove 200 miles to take mine, cause the HAMS that are local are all elitist knuckle heads.(Not to mention the woman I went to see to make the trip more interesting) The other HAMS I talked to were really supportive, even though one of them scoped out my export radio in my car...lol. In fact, the guy that scoped it out even had one...lol Anyhow, I was talking to them about this post about riff raff. The neat thing about HAM is the fact that it is easier to find you if you are registered, and people will bust you for using a fake call sign. In fact, I found my VEC by looking on the net. Even had his address and phone number posted. Another thing I was told by the VEC was that once you pass the code test, you never have to take it again. Every other test is only written, even the extra exam. That being the case, I am going for my extra next month, along with the code test. I also found the code test to be kind of easy at 5wpm, just have to listen and get use to decoding it.
Just thought I would tell about my experience. I guess the trick is to find the friendly group of operators, and hob-knob with them, and leave the Elitest HAMS alone.
Another thing. There is really no excuse for someone who wants to be a HAM not to be one. Especially if ou can find a local support group that will encourage you.
One more thing, I heard nothing but good stories about shooting skip on 6m(50mhz) The guy that is a CBer like I am said after he got a 6Meter mobile, he really doesnt miss freeband that much. I cant wait to give it a shot!!!
Newtech |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 9:13 pm: |
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usa194 there is a international law requiring code below 30 mhz that is why cb can never be made a hobbie with out a code test ..but in 2003 the ICU is probley going to DROP code so stay tuned
bruce |
applejack
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 9:46 pm: |
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Bruce : 6 meter is not a consolation prize, it's sporadic at best. 10 meters is always there. I always get the same "just listen to it" from everybody, even other guys who can't learn it. I find that if I try to listen too long my mind starts to wander then I lose everything. |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 9:51 pm: |
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Is your name Bruce Lee or Bruce Law? |
Copper_Fan
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 10:54 pm: |
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http://www.eham.net/exams/
i have been practicing the technician test and reading the book from rat shack i have passed 11 out of 12 times i have taken the tests with a 85-94% i think im ready
Newtech was it a local college you went to i have a local junior college that will offer the test but its a drive for me (ILLINOIS) |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 12:46 am: |
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Not all hams are snobs i spend lots of time answering questions from the local cb'res and dont mind one bit. All groups have a segment that for some reason beleves it is above all others and being a ass is not confined to hams Now you are correct on 6 meters having been a user since 1966 ive been through a few sun spot cycles and at times it can be a lonely place but i love the band and use it almost as much as 10 ( FM 29.6 ) or 2 ( 146.97 ) since im moble alot or 440 ( 444.575 ) which i find myself on alot out at the jail because the place is a bomb shelter and 440 gets through where others fail. As for Bruce Lee or Bruce Law... Most sorry Hunorbull grasshopper i cannot break a straw much less a brick but THERE IS a international law requiring code for hobbie use of radio below 30 mhz sorry no way around this one |
Newtech
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 11:59 am: |
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CopperFan
I just went to the ARRL.org site, and did a search. Just so happened the date and the time fell in the right place. I took the test in a daycare center in SE Missouri. If I knew what I know now, I would have just looked for a local VEC, and talked to them on the phone to see if they were cool(Not snobby), then made an appointment. I have found out that a person can take a test almost anytime or anywhere by a ppointment. Also, some examiners will let you take all of the tests for the price of one if you take all of them on the same sitting. If I would have known that, I would have walked out of there an Extra. But I will be next month!!!
As far as the practice tests, its true. If you can pass the practice tests, you will do very well on the real one. The questions are from the same pool, just picked at random. I practiced on www.qrz.com before I went and took mine. You can get 26/35 question to pass. I got 31/35. I got that by studying the wrong answeres I got on the practice test.
Newtech |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 9:32 pm: |
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good for you new tech ! see everyone it is not hard i did it as a teen just ask my teachers if i can anyone can! |
hydro
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2001 - 2:15 am: |
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If you want skip on 2 meter sideband you need patiance.
Joe |
bruce
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2001 - 9:51 am: |
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Skip yes skip is not widespred on 144 mhz now tropo is much easer but 2 meters is a real good band with small antennas and lots of radios out there no problem finding a used one. For SSB try 144.200 that is the calling frequency
bruce |
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