Communications ...***

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

p238shooter

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
3,680
Reaction score
2,877
Location
East of Tulsa
The call signs were posted by about 2PM today.

Wowie Zowie, times have changed, that was really quick. Congratulations. Need to get antennas up and radios in your hands.


Before I loose it, the J-Pole antenna guy has a web site at www.skyfabrication.com. He is in the Cushing area. He will ship, but might find a way to meet to save the shipping.

Enjoyed meeting you and your family. Ken WB5Y
 

Blitzfike

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
2,096
Reaction score
10
Location
Tuttle, OK
I've been hamming since the '70s, I work HF more than anything else, but I do have equipment for most all of the ham frequencies. I have built equipment, modified equipment and destroyed equipment over the years that I have been in radio. Antennas were my favorite construction projects, they are the easiest to build and can make a huge difference in your signal, both in transmit and receive. I have been active in slow scan TV, fast scan TV, AMSAT experiments, RTTY, packet radio and the newer digital modes. I built the first TNC for packet radio that the Heathkit store had on display, and I was one of the first three hams to build the TAPR TNC1 (Tucsan Amateur packet radio) in Oklahoma. Lots of fun in the old days. My HF Radios are currently a Yaesu FT900AT, and an Icom 706 MKIIG. I have mobiles and hand held radios on VHF and UHF and a host of computerized equipment. I have HF Amplifiers that will allow me to transmit with the full legal power. I seldom use the amplifiers, you aren't supposed to use more power than is necessary to make the contact. I like working the rare foreign DX stations, but I enjoy just chewing the rag (talking) with hams around the world. Ham radio has given me a great deal of satisfaction over the years. During the recovery period from the May 1999 tornados, Myself and another ham set up at Bridge Creek school to provide communications as the cell system was inoperative. That morphed into us being appointed disaster recovery agents for the county, and we found out first hand what a snafu it is to try to work with government, both local and national in a disaster. Fortunately, we were able to cut through most of the BS and get things working for our community. I learned a lot about what it is like to be in an area without essential services, and how critical it is to have a plan for those types of disaster. Hams get pushed back in to the background when governmental agencies are doing their planning, they mistakenly believe that the cellular system and their comm gear will be all they need. In our area, the cell system was overloaded and some were damaged by the tornado, our local Sheriff, fire and mutual aid frequencies were overloaded due to the wide spread disaster, so Ham radio again provided the critical communications links needed. We had hams riding with LEO's, Fire and paramedics. Forgive me, I rattle on too much...
 

Coded-Dude

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
2,637
Reaction score
10
Location
Okiehoma
I have the yaseau ft-270r. It was in the price range I wanted for a starter. They make an AM model as well, but my next buy will probably have both bands and other features. I don't have my license yet, so I just listen, but I can pick up some good stations. I'll have to reference my notebook later when I am not on my phone to list what channels I have picked up on it. While it doesn't pick up fm radio, I love that it can pick up news and noaa weather. It had come in handy a few times while camping. I don't use mine a ton but the battery lasts forever. I can leave it off for weeks and turn it on and it still has a great charge.

Transmitted via Tactical Telecommunications Device
 

cjjtulsa

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
7,244
Reaction score
2,335
Location
Oologah
Cool thread. I tried studying for a HAM license in the late 80s, but just couldn't get that code down. I've always kind of wanted to mess with it a little, and now that there is no more code requirement, I might have to try it again.

I'm also intimidated by all of the radios and frequencies. Got some looking up to do.
 

Poke78

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
2,801
Reaction score
1,060
Location
Sand Springs
Blitz, these hand helds, about how long do these batteries last in feild? Can ya get 3 days with replacement or recharge?

In my experience, 3 days of operation without recharge is beyond expectations but is dependent on the transmit/receive ratio. Transmit is what uses up the battery, as well as any temperature extremes.
 

Blitzfike

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
2,096
Reaction score
10
Location
Tuttle, OK
In my experience, 3 days of operation without recharge is beyond expectations but is dependent on the transmit/receive ratio. Transmit is what uses up the battery, as well as any temperature extremes.

This.. Three days even on just receive would be pushing the limits. A cheap solar charger would keep it going for weeks though. I have found that if I don't leave my handheld on all the time, it will last three days. The problem lies with busy areas, when it hears a signal, the squelch opens and the audio output starts eating the battery. If you leave it on and scanning, the battery goes even faster. Transmit on low power doesn't eat battery much, but high power will deplete the charge rather quickly. The more you use it, the faster the charge is depleted.
 

Blitzfike

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
2,096
Reaction score
10
Location
Tuttle, OK
Cool thread. I tried studying for a HAM license in the late 80s, but just couldn't get that code down. I've always kind of wanted to mess with it a little, and now that there is no more code requirement, I might have to try it again.

I'm also intimidated by all of the radios and frequencies. Got some looking up to do.

Get out there and get after it.. The question pool is available on the internet, you don't even have to buy any books. There are many test opportunities, clubs in all the larger cities offer testing sessions and some offer classes as well. I had to do all my exams in front of the FCC, this makes it much easier today.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom