Anyone here have a HAM radio? [Archive]

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 03:09 PM

Tell that to the fcc when they come a knocking

What he said. And believe me, they will. What's the model number? It's probably a 2-meter or a 440 handheld (or a dual band that handles both). Back when I was into it, you needed at least a Tech license to operate on those bands (at the time you needed to pass a morse-code (CW) test for Novice and Tech licenses though that's changed these days IIRC.... It's been a while).

Flexin

11-02-2010, 03:10 PM

As with driving licenses are optional.

I think I would rather pay fines for no drivers license then to pay one for ham.

James

Akilldema

11-02-2010, 04:07 PM

Trip

11-02-2010, 04:16 PM

It's a Yaesu VX-7, now freebanded. I was kidding about the license to drive of course, but I'm not too worried about the FCC tracking him down, unless this thing has a GPS device in it, it will be pretty hard.

It's not hard. Believe me, if they want to pin point you, they will do it. If you are stupid enough to try, do it well away from anything important to you.

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 04:19 PM

It's a Yaesu VX-7, now freebanded. I was kidding about the license to drive of course, but I'm not too worried about the FCC tracking him down, unless this thing has a GPS device in it, it will be pretty hard.

Two points can pin signal strength down and triangulate very accurately. I've seen it happen. ;)

Krabill

11-02-2010, 04:26 PM

Yup. Very easy to triangulate the position of a transmitter.

Akilldema

11-02-2010, 07:26 PM

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 08:28 PM

For one, I doubt the FCC has the ability to track every device that operates on those frequencies as if each has a unique signature(or how they would know which are licensed while doing so). Additionally he lives in a large apartment complex and it's a handheld. Those guys on youtube that were wreaking havoc with drive through windows from their front porch never got caught, so I must LOL at the all seeing eye of the FCC.

:lol:

Have him talk on 2 meter without a license a couple times (which has it's on over-air identification rules) and see what happens.

IIRC, the mcd pranksters were using 10 meter radios that were modified (I've used a Kenwood 10 meter to pick up local stuff like that - it's kinda cool, the stuff you can pick up when atmospheric conditions are just right). A bit harder to track but not by much.

Trip

11-02-2010, 08:36 PM

I foresee another digifox thread in your future. :lol:

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 09:37 PM

:lol

Adeptus_Minor

11-02-2010, 09:50 PM

:lol:

Have him talk on 2 meter without a license a couple times (which has it's own over-air identification rules) and see what happens.

What he said.
And it's not just the FCC, the amateur radio community self-polices quite a bit as well.
They don't want unlicensed operators trying to use their repeaters and bringing unwanted FCC scrutiny on them.
It may seem petty, but as they see it, they had to go through the necessary requirements to get licensed when it was much harder. As easy as it is now, there's no excuse not to.

FCC concerns aside, who does your friend expect to talk to?
Without the license and knowledge of repeaters and operating procedures, a 2m/440MHz is just a very expensive walkie talkie with maybe a 10-15 mile range and a limited user base.
He'd need a base station and a large, directional antenna to really get any distance.
I believe by 'freebanded' you can tune into police frequencies as well.. which also makes it a glorified police scanner. :wink:

I'm sure your friend will do what he wants to do, and will probably just lose interest in it.
To that end, my best advice is to have him turn it on and spend some time listening to what all is out there. If it appeals to him, why not get the license?

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 10:27 PM

Hmmm, it really HAS been a while. Apparently the Novice level no longer exists and you go right into Tech. :eek:

101lifts2

11-02-2010, 10:40 PM

You have to be a ham to operate a Ham radio.

Particle Man

11-02-2010, 11:08 PM

You have to be a ham to operate a Ham radio.
?
http://www.denningers.com/uploads/images/Golden%20Glazed%20Ham.jpg

Flexin

11-02-2010, 11:12 PM

?
http://www.denningers.com/uploads/images/Golden%20Glazed%20Ham.jpg

Hmmmmmmmm Haammmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! :dribble:

James

caveman

11-02-2010, 11:57 PM

So, do you have to go to HAM school to get a license? How does one go about getting said license? and what do you have to do to get one?

Dave

11-03-2010, 12:07 AM

So, do you have to go to HAM school to get a license? How does one go about getting said license? and what do you have to do to get one?

Dig up the local radio club. They usually do testing and such.

Wild stuff in the world of ham. I remember watching the old man do a moon bounce to talk to germany once

Gas Man

11-03-2010, 12:19 AM

Cave.... john the dodge mechanic is BIG time in HAM. He even has one in his truck!

Adeptus_Minor

11-03-2010, 01:26 AM

Hmmm, it really HAS been a while. Apparently the Novice level no longer exists and you go right into Tech. :eek:

Better than that... they've knocked the code requirement off of not only Tech but also General class.
I was studying up for the no-code Tech class at one time but never got around to setting up my test. I think I decided I wasn't going to want to spend all the money on radios, antennae, etc. :lol:

Particle Man

11-03-2010, 11:57 AM

Dig up the local radio club. They usually do testing and such.

Wild stuff in the world of ham. I remember watching the old man do a moon bounce to talk to germany once

I remember sitting in the room while my dad spoke with someone in Antarctica on his 10 meter rig - that was pretty freakin' cool. They've done Mars bounces too as well as moon bounces IIRC (I don't think he ever did that).

Caveman, look up the ARRL (Amature Radio Relay Legue)... their website has a bunch of stuff to get you started.

Hell, here's the link: http://www.arrl.org/

Dave

11-03-2010, 01:22 PM

I remember sitting in the room while my dad spoke with someone in Antarctica on his 10 meter rig - that was pretty freakin' cool. They've done Mars bounces too as well as moon bounces IIRC (I don't think he ever did that).

Caveman, look up the ARRL (Amature Radio Relay Legue)... their website has a bunch of stuff to get you started.

Hell, here's the link: http://www.arrl.org/

Mars bounce, now that's impressive. I wonder what kinda power they had to stuff through that rig to get a coherent signal out that far :eek:

Particle Man

11-03-2010, 01:28 PM

Mars bounce, now that's impressive. I wonder what kinda power they had to stuff through that rig to get a coherent signal out that far :eek:

A lot :lol:

Venus has been done as well http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2009/eve.htm

KSGregman

11-03-2010, 03:41 PM

HAM radio....Isn't it easier to fire up Skype on your mobile and be done with it? :lmao:

Trip

11-03-2010, 03:43 PM

HAM radio....Isn't it easier to fire up Skype on your mobile and be done with it? :lmao:

It sounds like he wants to use it for prank purposes, not actually talking to people. So all this actually using it for it's intended purpose is meaningless to him.

Akilldema

11-03-2010, 07:18 PM

Indeed, I think it will be used for lulz.

Particle Man

11-04-2010, 09:11 AM

Indeed, I think it will be used for lulz.

You can't do all that much with a HT if that's what he plans on doing with it.

You'd want a 10 meter rig with a lot more power.

I'll try to dig out my old Kenwood 10 meter rig later and post a pic.

Akilldema

11-04-2010, 09:15 AM

It is the same on used here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgKElKzKfCY

I think it's plenty capable of said lulz.

Particle Man

11-04-2010, 09:27 AM

Oh I didn't say it was totally incapable of it.

I'd say please don't do it since if it happens enough the FCC will crack down on over-air communications for everyone.

Akilldema

11-04-2010, 09:43 AM

I don't know what will happen with it, I was just responding to you saying you couldn't do much with it. As it sits it can listen to and transmit over pretty much any frequency including public safety ones. Not that he would be dumb enough to do that.

Particle Man

11-04-2010, 06:28 PM

Gotcha.

Gas Man

11-05-2010, 08:13 AM

TacoBell Video:
Dorks with a credit card

Particle Man

11-05-2010, 11:01 AM

You can't do all that much with a HT if that's what he plans on doing with it.

You'd want a 10 meter rig with a lot more power.

I'll try to dig out my old Kenwood 10 meter rig later and post a pic.

Here's the HF rig I inherrited from my dad: (he mostly used it for 10 meters)

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/SmugShots/smugshot8068452/1078597912_vhRkZ-M.jpg

I have the 2 metter and the 440 somewhere too.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I may set this stuff back up and see what I can receive. :lol:

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 11:21 AM

I'll buy it from you for about tree fiddy.

Adeptus_Minor

11-05-2010, 01:26 PM

Here's the 10 meter rig I inherrited from my dad:

Now that I'm thinking about it, I may set this stuff back up and see what I can receive. :lol:

Nice old Kenwood. :dthumb:

Particle Man

11-05-2010, 01:58 PM

I'll buy it from you for about tree fiddy.

This one holds a great deal of sentimental value but you can find other TS440's out there for around that (a bit more if it has the AT like this one). ;)

Nice old Kenwood. :dthumb:

made in 1988 :)

I just found a 10 meter antenna project that fits inside a coke bottle. I think I know what I'll be doing as soon as I can get to the local Radio Shack :lol:

Adeptus_Minor

11-05-2010, 08:57 PM

made in 1988 :)

I just found a 10 meter antenna project that fits inside a coke bottle. I think I know what I'll be doing as soon as I can get to the local Radio Shack :lol:

Sweet!
You'll be DXing in no time.

So the antenna fits in a coke bottle or it uses a glass coke bottle as its base?

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 09:15 PM

I was just being a dumbass, see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4C96ZTJIhU
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8iHPC-dGKY

Non

11-05-2010, 10:03 PM

Now that I'm thinking about it, I may set this stuff back up and see what I can receive. :lol:

The only thing you'll most likely be receiving is a 12-inch black cawk to the anus.

Gas Man

11-05-2010, 10:11 PM

Who the hell are you Non???

Non

11-05-2010, 10:13 PM

Who the hell are you Non???

Look in the skies, CHRIS

Gas Man

11-05-2010, 10:17 PM

Looks like a similar IP as Akilldema at one point

Non

11-05-2010, 10:21 PM

Looks like a similar IP as Akilldema at one point

Poor gas man. So close yet so, so far.

Gas Man

11-05-2010, 10:22 PM

Come on... I'm on pain meds... just be out with it...

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 10:24 PM

He's not me... what do you mean our IPs look similar?

Non

11-05-2010, 10:24 PM

Come on... I'm on pain meds... just be out with it...

Nah

Homeslice

11-05-2010, 10:26 PM

He's not me... what do you mean our IPs look similar?

what do you mean???

weak.... :lol:

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 10:28 PM

uhh.. I talk shit and act dumb from my own screen name, no need to create another. Trip - I seriously doubt this dude is from WNC.

Trip

11-05-2010, 10:37 PM

uhh.. I talk shit and act dumb from my own screen name, no need to create another. Trip - I seriously doubt this dude is from WNC.

He registered and is posting with an exact ip address you have used. It's Northland Cable TV address registered to Seattle, WA. Could be a proxy, have you ever used a proxy?

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 10:40 PM

The IP I should be showing is: editted out by trip. I have used proxies, but I doubt I've visited this site simultaneously. The only IP my name should ever show is this one and the one from my cell phone.

Non

11-05-2010, 10:41 PM

Weaksauce sippin motherf*ckers

Trip

11-05-2010, 10:42 PM

Akilldema

11-05-2010, 10:44 PM

Looks like it won't be a problem any more.. that's still odd to me about the IP thing.

Trip

11-05-2010, 10:45 PM

Looks like it won't be a problem any more.. that's still odd to me about the IP thing.

He is using a charter account, dumbass registered with it.

I turned off registration for tonight. I don't feel like dealing with him.

Gas Man

11-05-2010, 10:54 PM

Troll posting is weak sauce.

Homeslice

11-05-2010, 11:18 PM

troll got pwnd

Trip

11-05-2010, 11:22 PM

troll got pwnd

normally I would let them stay and we could make fun of them, but I had a long day at work and don't have the energy for it. :lol:

Particle Man

11-06-2010, 09:36 AM

That's okay: he can go fuck himself with a dirty spoon for all I care.

Sweet!
You'll be DXing in no time.

So the antenna fits in a coke bottle or it uses a glass coke bottle as its base?

It fits inside a soda bottle (coil wound - either around ceramic or air wound). I think I found a better idea though for a stealth antenna (has to do with gutters :) ).

I hit a minor snag, however: power supply is shot and the power cable got chewed by a mouse or something so I have to get my hands on a new power supply 13.8V DC, 20/15/10 amp) with a plug that'll fit the kenwood.

Kaneman

11-06-2010, 05:46 PM

Nerds.

Particle Man

11-06-2010, 08:51 PM

Nerds.

I try

Particle Man

12-15-2011, 03:00 PM

I will NOT be climbing up to fix this until the spring :lol:

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/SmugShots/i-6fhhG2t/0/L/smugshot4994102-L.jpg

Still picking up multiple bands with it (10, 40, and 80 meters that I've tried) :shrug:

Homeslice

12-15-2011, 06:28 PM

I can pick up shortwave from Hong Kong with my 1979 Sanyo boombox :lol

Amber Lamps

12-15-2011, 09:38 PM

I listened to music while fucking a fat bitch, does that count?

Dave

12-16-2011, 12:17 AM

I listened to music while fucking a fat bitch, does that count?

depends on the song

Particle Man

12-24-2011, 07:50 AM

Well, I put up an experimental antenna using some 14 gauge copper wire for ground planes and threw a 30 year old 11 Meter whip into a wall socket holder - cost about 5 bucks altogether because I already had the whip. Tuned using the internal tuner in the TS440S(AT) and transmitted CQ - got TX, LA, and WY on 10 meters.

Now that I know it works, I'll make it a little more refined :lmao:

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/SmugShots/i-vhM9n8k/0/L/smugshot9754077-L.jpg

Gas Man

12-25-2011, 11:29 AM

Looks like a car whip

Particle Man

12-25-2011, 12:38 PM

Looks like a car whip

That's exactly what it is. The white wires radiating from the bottom serve as a rudimentary ground plane. I used the internal antenna tuner on the radio to match the antenna (which is for 11 meters, aka CB) in other to transmit on 10 meters. My home brew dipole was working as far as SWR is concerned but I wasn't getting any distance out of it - hooked up the above quick cob-job and got a QSO within minutes. Gotta refine the ground plane and it should be a pretty good field antenna.

I'm going to retry the dipole with a homebrew balun to see if I was losing RF through the feedline.

Particle Man

02-09-2012, 08:04 PM

Passed the General exam yesterday. Refined the home made antenna a little. I've worked 30 countries so far with it.

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/SmugShots/i-Gpds7L5/0/L/smugshot1114614-L.jpg

Also gotten into digital modes.

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/SmugShots/i-VFCgx5z/0/L/smugshot2994415-L.jpg

askmrjesus

02-09-2012, 08:18 PM

Congrats.

Your antennae looks a little short...

You could build a taller one, but that might require guy-wires, and some circus dude on a two-stroke might run in to them.

JC

Particle Man

02-09-2012, 09:34 PM

Congrats.

Your antennae looks a little short...

You could build a taller one, but that might require guy-wires, and some circus dude on a two-stroke might run in to them.

JC
Have a friend that has a 6BTV vertical with which he's willing to part. No guy wires though haha