Who here is in Ham Radio?

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phideaux

phideaux

Old fashioned
Neighbor
HCL Supporter
Joined
Nov 24, 2017
Messages
19,538
Location
West Ky
Way back in the early 70's , I was WhiskeyBravoNinerVictorRomeoOscar.

I barely remember that I was using a Yaesu Radio , don't remember the model. :dunno:
But it was awesome.
I believe this was the radio I used..

Yaesu%20FT-101B.jpg


I had the 50ft tower and Moonbeams..
Haven't been involved in it for many years though.

Just curious if there are any operators here, and what equipment your using these days.


Jim
 
I just signed up to become one through CERT. My first class/meeting will be in April. I tried to participate a few years ago and couldn't even find the location. It was in a shed on a school campus. I made it to the campus and drove around for a while before I realized that just an address is not enough to find something.
 
I'm WB8RME, Started out as WN4NED, then WB4NED but when I moved to Michigan and got my Advanced class I received my 8 call. WB8RME. Then they made me choose one or the other. I liked RME better than NED, so kept the 8 call. I was married to W4VOL, Dad is W4ZWE and now one of my son-in-laws, daughter, and two grandsons have become hams in the last year or so. We are a Hamily. I still take Dad to hamfests. I am not currently active but have my hand held to try the repeater links, to see if I can get from AL to FL.

Here's the last home I lived in around Denver. That's a tower for the radio. I'd talk to then hubby from there via 40M when he would take mental breaks in Antiqua.

upload_2018-2-19_13-16-17.png
 
Angie said:
I'm WB8RME, Started out as WN4NED, then WB4NED but when I moved to Michigan and got my Advanced class I received my 8 call. WB8RME. Then they made me choose one or the other. I liked RME better than NED, so kept the 8 call. I was married to W4VOL, Dad is W4ZWE and now one of my son-in-laws, daughter, and two grandsons have become hams in the last year or so. We are a Hamily. I still take Dad to hamfests. I am not currently active but have my hand held to try the repeater links, to see if I can get from AL to FL.

Here's the last home I lived in around Denver. That's a tower for the radio. I'd talk to then hubby from there via 40M when he would take mental breaks in Antiqua.

View attachment 4279
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That is quite a set up! With a radio tower like that, you could hook up a few different types of antennas besides just ham.
 
Sentry18 said:
Does this count?

View attachment 4288
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Evidently it does have some merit, at least according to this. https://science.howstuffworks.com/question410.htm

Can two cans and a string really be used to talk over a distance?

The old "two cans and a string" technique (or better yet, "two paper cups and a string") really does work. The key is to make sure that the string is tight between the two cups, and this normally means that the distance is limited and the two people have to be connected to each other by a straight line. But as long as the string is tight, it works. It is also a great way to understand how telephones and radio work.

To try this technique, take two large paper cups and punch a tiny hole in the center of the bottom of each with a sewing needle or similar. Take a piece (perhaps 100 feet [30 meters]) of non-stretchable thread or kite string and thread each end through each hole. Either knot or tape the string so it cannot go back through the hole when the string is stretched. Now with two people, have each one take one of the cups and spread apart until the string is tight. If one of you talks into one of the cups while the other listens, the second person should be able to hear what the first person says.

Here is why it works. When one person talks into his/her cup, the bottom of the cup vibrates back and forth with the sound waves. Imagine the bottom of the cup moving back and forth very quickly (1,000 times per second or more) with the sound waves of the speaker's voice. The vibrations travel through the string by pulling the string back and forth. Therefore, the bottom of the second cup should start to vibrate back and forth just like the bottom of the first cup is vibrating, producing sound waves. The second person can hear the sound waves and can therefore hear what the first person says.
 
That top Johnson KW Matchbox is either the same one, or one like, what my Ex traded my Dad for my hand for marriage. Later Dad gave it back to us for a Wedding present. Then, later Dad got it, or one like it back. I once had the nice quarter KW Matchbox. With one of those you can match a string of copper wire to the transceiver you are using and make contacts.
 
It is said that there should be more women doing ham radio ops. I don't, but know several people who do.
Weedy, I was going to ask if anyone here was CERT- certified. NH did it a few years ago in a different state. ES is involved in it, it has changed a bit.
 
I've been a Ham since 1994 and I'm now a General. Wife got hers is 1998 and is a Tech+. She was better at code than I was. I used to run our local ARES/RACES group for 11 years.
I'm not active right now, but we have Kenwwod 700's in the house and cars. Also have a Icom 706 for HF. We always enjoyed running APRS, and spent some time working Winlink 2000.
 
old shack.jpg
Mostly I do VHF/UHF with the local ARES group. General ticket, FEMA courses IS -100, 200, 700.,800. Some HF, but so many projects, so little time. 3 antennae: 2 meter , 2 meter/70 cm, and wide band HF vertical. My old set up:

New HF/VHF/UHF rig is a Yaesu FT-991 with a link to the computer for digital modes.
 
I was never a ham. But my dad was. I'm sure he started back in the 70s his call sign is VE5QM. So I grew up listening to him talking to people all around the world (cool stuff). I don't think he does to much with it now. At least he doesn't talk about it anymore.

About 5 or so years ago I was talking to some friends about ham operator and he suggested I go for it. I wasn't really interested in it. But I thought I'll see if I could do it from what I remember of it as a kid. Well I took a online practice test. Never studied it or anything. I was only 1 wrong answer from passing. I thought to myself. Cool.

Lol
 
I'm a ham: K1RFS. Mostly working 2m and 70cm. Most of my activities involve APRS and working satellites. Each of my get-home bags includes a Baofeng UV-82 with a flexible Slim Jim antenna.
 
N2BKT. Got my General last August. Can't say enough good about getting the license and getting started even with inexpensive HTs!
 
KM4lAM General ticket. I have not been on the radio for a coupla months, kinda inbetween thinkin about moving and the DW also would like her sunroom back. So if I take the radio setup down I might as well leave it packed until I move or build a dedicated shack.
 
I had a novice license back in the 1960's, KN7RHK, built my own transmitter out of Navy surplus electronics, between dealing with a girlfriend and other teenage things I really had a struggle with learning for a General class license, lots of heavy math which I was just not good at, but from what I've heard, the tests seem easier.
 
Congrats, Strycnine! What are you looking for from amateur radio? It's an interesting hobby in the context of prepping/homesteading.
 
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