Forum: Off-topic

KE7VYA checking in on the boards Smile

I just recently got my ham radio license - technician class. I'm having a ball with just the 2 meter and 440 bands. I didn't know until recently that a whole bunch of repeaters have been linked up via VOIP, but it sure is fun talking to Hawaii on a hand held radio Cool

So come on out, fellow hams Very Happy

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Not a Ham operator, but I have Ham FISTED my radios before. It has made for some interesting radio conversations. Laughing

TC wrote:

Not a Ham operator, but I have Ham FISTED my radios before. It has made for some interesting radio conversations. Laughing

I hope there's a "So To SPEAK" in there somewhere LMAO

Alright then...

To Ham Fist (so to speak) Wink

means to dork something up like a clutz!

I know, but I still have to take a cheap shot when I can Razz

KE6JCW! Though I haven't renewed, so I dunno if it's still active.

Habu! Great to see you around Smile

I just checked the online FCC database and it looks like your license expired a while back. GO GET IT AGAIN!

I don't know if you've kept up with it at all, but times have changed. There are only Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class licenses now, you don't need morse code for any of them, and the technician class test is 35 questions written at a middle school reading level. You can miss nine questions and pass. The cost is only $14!

There are some pretty good deals on handy talkies and with the internet linking you can talk to just about anywhere with one.

Get back in the game Thumb

!

I was just looking on the FCC site. Eff Tech class! I want an upgrade! I'm going General, baby!

I hear ya loud and clear, or should I say 5-9 Very Happy

I'm studying for the General and then hopefully I'll get my Extra in December or January. The biggest hurdle will be antennas. I can hit a repeater from in my apartment, but any sort of outside antenna is no-go here. I guess I'll just have to go to the park with a dipole or something Razz

The second hurdle will be $$$ for equipment. I've got my eye on the Yaesu FT-857 and FT-897 and those don't come cheap.

Look up J-poles. They're good antennas, and easy to make. No permits required! At least not in my city.

I'm already building a J-pole with 450 ohm ladder line from the leftovers bin at AES Smile

The problem for me is that I now live in an industrial building (yes, it's an apartment in the building) and the owner says nothing can be added etc - which rules out antennas.

Well that bites.

Yeah, but there's nothing stopping me from going mobile Smile

True true. Comet antennas, baby!

parrothead wrote:

Habu! Great to see you around Smile

I just checked the online FCC database and it looks like your license expired a while back. GO GET IT AGAIN!

I don't know if you've kept up with it at all, but times have changed. There are only Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class licenses now, you don't need morse code for any of them, and the technician class test is 35 questions written at a middle school reading level. You can miss nine questions and pass. The cost is only $14!

There are some pretty good deals on handy talkies and with the internet linking you can talk to just about anywhere with one.

Get back in the game Thumb

!

What ? -. --- | -- --- .-. . | -- --- .-. ... . | -.-. --- -.. . | --..-- | | - .... .- - | -... .. - . ...

(No more morse code, that bites)

Maybe I will get back into it.

Forum: Off-topic

Anyone else here a Ham radio operator?