INGO HAM Radio Club

[n9tkf]

I just passed both Technician and General exams this morning. Kind of happy right now

Congratulations!

 

[n9tkf]

Found out that W5YI group offers online exams. I had someone reach out to me that had a hip replacement and he took it on line. License was issued within a week.

Find An Exam session

w5yi-vec.org

 

[88E30M50]

Got my call sign assigned this morning. Seems that I'm official now

 

[Cameramonkey]

Point of clarification for weather nets. I lost track of hams that cant listen and comprehend the question being asked by Net Control.

When Net Control asks "Are you base or mobile IN MOTION?" they dont care what your hardware is. They only want to know if you are ACTUALLY driving around or if you are stationary.

So if you are sitting in your living room on your HT (handheld), just tell them "base". As stated by NC today several times, they will not ask you to leave shelter to investigate and report, so your ability to go out is irrelevant due to safety concerns. So dont even tell them you are on a HT. They dont care. You are just wasting air time. Just say "base".

/rant

 

[freekforge]

What books would you guys recommend to study with. I've seen some where they trim the fat down to to bare bones and others where you go down a rabbit hole of radio theory.

I found out that there was a repeater that I could have hit during the incident I was involved in on the 9th that is monitored pretty regularly and I could have relayed info over the radio and had a ham call 911 for me. Could have saved me a lot of soreness. The guy I talked to said it's happened before on that repeater. So now I feel like I definitely need to get going on getting my license.

 

[Cameramonkey]

What books would you guys recommend to study with. I've seen some where they trim the fat down to to bare bones and others where you go down a rabbit hole of radio theory.

I found out that there was a repeater that I could have hit during the incident I was involved in on the 9th that is monitored pretty regularly and I could have relayed info over the radio and had a ham call 911 for me. Could have saved me a lot of soreness. The guy I talked to said it's happened before on that repeater. So now I feel like I definitely need to get going on getting my license.

I like this guy's approach. He gives you the answer then explains why.

Amazon product ASIN B09YMD2LDV

 

[Cameramonkey]

Also check out hamstudy.org.
But be careful. Due to how it weights the flashcards based on your performance, you can end up slogging through entire sections, while ignoring other sections of the pool questions. (each test has x number of questions from each section of the pool)

In my case when I sat for the General the first time, I took 3 tests. All of them had questions about vacuum tubes. But during my flashcard drills, I was passing with above 90% each time, but it didnt even TOUCH the section on vacuum tubes. I failed all 3 tries by 1 point. All due to vacuum tubes.

2nd sitting I got it on the first try after cramming and virtually memorizing every tube question.

 

[88E30M50]

Point of clarification for weather nets. I lost track of hams that cant listen and comprehend the question being asked by Net Control.

When Net Control asks "Are you base or mobile IN MOTION?" they dont care what your hardware is. They only want to know if you are ACTUALLY driving around or if you are stationary.

So if you are sitting in your living room on your HT (handheld), just tell them "base". As stated by NC today several times, they will not ask you to leave shelter to investigate and report, so your ability to go out is irrelevant due to safety concerns. So dont even tell them you are on a HT. They dont care. You are just wasting air time. Just say "base".

/rant

I heard that exchange today. I was waiting for the net controller to ask him if he'd be willing to chase down a tornado if one where spotted.

 

[88E30M50]

What books would you guys recommend to study with. I've seen some where they trim the fat down to to bare bones and others where you go down a rabbit hole of radio theory.

I found out that there was a repeater that I could have hit during the incident I was involved in on the 9th that is monitored pretty regularly and I could have relayed info over the radio and had a ham call 911 for me. Could have saved me a lot of soreness. The guy I talked to said it's happened before on that repeater. So now I feel like I definitely need to get going on getting my license.

I used HamStudy and passed both technician and general first time out. Not a single vacuum tube question though. I took mine on the 8th of July and the question pool changed on the 1st, so they might have gotten rid of some of the vacuum tube questions.

The key for me with HamStudy was to not just read the answer, but if I was not familiar with that specific point, I'd click in the corner of the card for the explanation. Then, I read through every question the day before the test. Technician is pretty easy to pass. General is not much harder but it does go into depth on things that technician covered at a high level.

I didn't only look at HamStudy though. I also listened to most of "Ham Radio for Dummies" on Audible, which is free. That was an Ok tool, but focusing on HamStudy helped more I think.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I heard that exchange today. I was waiting for the net controller to ask him if he'd be willing to chase down a tornado if one where spotted.

I may or may not have yelled at my radio and uttered the word "moron".

 

[88E30M50]

I ordered a Yeasu FT65R last night to take a step up from a UV-5R. This fall, I'll pick up a FT5DR to use as my main HT. I'm still thinking about a mobile setup for the Tacoma. I've been thinking about an ICOM ID-5100A in part because it will let me mount the faceplate separate from the radio.

Anyone running mobile from a Tacoma? If so, what are you for an antenna mount?

 

[fullmetaljesus]

www.inhamoperators.com

For studying info.

 

[laf]

I ordered a Yeasu FT65R last night to take a step up from a UV-5R. This fall, I'll pick up a FT5DR to use as my main HT. I'm still thinking about a mobile setup for the Tacoma. I've been thinking about an ICOM ID-5100A in part because it will let me mount the faceplate separate from the radio.

Anyone running mobile from a Tacoma? If so, what are you for an antenna mount?

Yaesu has 3 mobiles with detachable faceplates. The FTM-200/300/500DR. I've found that as years progress, learning multiple manufacturers menu system and shorthand can be...frustrating. It could be worth considering one brand based on your multiple yaesu HTs.

As far as mounting them, Comet or Diamond makes fine antenna mounts. I've been successful with the K400C and K412C. Depends on how much articulation you need. My hatchback I needed the 400C my SUV has been fine with the 412C.

 

[88E30M50]

Thanks. Great info on the mounts. I'll check those out. I'd not thought about the menu system. I was thinking that most radios would be unique given different feature sets, but it makes sense that mfgs would standardize the menu structure.

 

[88E30M50]

Ok, when I got into ham radio, I had no idea that I was entering another hobby rabbit hole like I did when I got into firearms 15 years ago. My initial thought was that I'd pick up a box of UV-5Rs for SHTF situation and wanted to get my Tech license to be able to use them. Then while studying for Tech and General, I realized the interesting nature and depth of the hobby. I'm only a couple of weeks into this but think that it will be a long term pursuit for me.

Among the things that I really like about this hobby are that it's perfectly fine to use the equipment while sipping a bit of bourbon. I love the fact that I can practice in my own back yard. Also, I can order just about any radio I want and it ships direct to the house with no middle man to go through. That last point might get expensive if I'm not careful.

The best thing is the nature of the people on the air. Shooting is a great way to meet good people and so is ham radio it seems.

 

[88E30M50]

Ordered an ICOM 5100 and all related parts needed to set my truck up with a proper mobile rig last night. For a base HF system, I decided to go with the ICOM 7300. That will be worked on this fall

 

[88E30M50]

Is anyone playing around with D-Star? I just put an ICOM 5100 in my truck and am trying to figure out the D-Star system. I'd love to add a compatible HT to the family, but those can be really pricey. An ICOM 51A is about $150 more expensive than the truck radio. Granted, I had to order a bunch of parts for the 5100 that I don't need to for the 51, but still, $600 for an HT is salty for me right now.

 

[88E30M50]

I got my 5100 installed in my truck last weekend. Now, I need to figure out D-Star. I ordered a used ICOM ID-92A today for fun.

It's a somewhat stealth install, and when looking across a parking lot, the truck does not scream for attention.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Free to a good home.

Free: - QRPGuys No Tune End Fed Antenna kit

For the ham guys out there. Bought it and decided not to build. Wanted to pass it along to anyone who would use it. Just not really into HF. Free FTF, buyer pays actual shipping if I have to mail it.

www.indianagunowners.com

 

[Ingomike]

Thought you guys might like to see this as this a a pretty mainstream conservative site, not prepper at all.

For Rage-Free Social Media, How About Ham Radio?

In a fractured nation with a toxic public square, ham radio — even in this always-online digital age — is a thriving part of civil society.

thefederalist.com