"Hotel Oscar Hotel Oscar Hotel Oscar do not be Naughty" EditionOld thread: >>1967605>New to /ham/? Read this shit! http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radiohttps://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service>Your search engine of choice works well too! The FAQ is now back:https://wiki.cybsec.io/index.php/HamFAQ>The wiki is down but is archived: https://archive.is/PjR5s>Idiot's Guide to Coax Cable https://www.pcs-electronics.com/guide_coax.php>Looking for frequencies to monitor near you? http://www.radioreference.com>Basic Rx loop fundamentals https://www.w8ji.com/magnetic_receiving_loops.htm>DIY SWL Mag. Loop http://www.kr1st.com/swlloop.htm>Small Tx Loop http://www.kk5jy.net/magloop/>In Depth Loop articles http://webclass.org/k5ijb/antennas/Small-magnetic-loops.htm>Homebrew RF Circuitshttps://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas.htm>Online Practice Tests: http://aa9pw.com/https://hamstudy.org/https://hamexam.org/> Real-Time Propagation Data http://prop.kc2g.com/>Space Weather https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/radio-communications>WSJT-X 2.1 User Guide https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.1.2.html>FT8 operating guide https://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf>APRS http://www.aprs.org/>how do I into Morse code in a good way?https://pastebin.com/XwATbRrH
Here you go bros, I made a battery caddy for UV5R and similar radios to make it run off 2x 18650You just gotta glue the springs or whatever contacts you use into it.https://a.pomf.cat/ubqioa.STL
>>1985660Do you get 18.65 Ah out of that or 37.3?
>>1985676Typical 18650s are around 2.5 to 3ah or 11whSo 3ah at 7.4v or 22whA very large improvement over stock battery and also allows for better compatibility with your battery ecosystem.
>>1985681Maybe I'll modify this design with a DC to DC converter to charge the 18650s and a micro USB port in the base, would be neat.
>>1985681I'm retarded, I thought I'd read 18650 mAh.
>>1985623Any leads on what to look for regarding projects like HAMNET and long distance packet radio?
>>1985614>I have a rope around a 50' high limb in the back. Currently have the top of a 160M vertical wrapped around pvc, but its unstable. Thinking of replacing it - maybe a 15 or 10M vertical dipole? WWYD?
>>1985744idgi
>>1985744I would spend three whole days mucking around trying to get an inverted V/ fan dipole or a trap dipole working. Fail. Then settle for a an inverted V on 30 meters. Give up on 30 meters, and make/ tune another antenna for 40 meters.Then have it on a pully.... So I could drop it and raise a delta loop on the 20 meter band. https://on6wg.pagesperso-orange.fr/Loop%20Antennas%20and%20Calculator.htmI find that calculator works. If you make an equilateral triangle shape and 'feed' it from the corner, the impedance comes out to ~100 ohms. About a 2 swr. Good enough.That's what I would do.>>1985701I would look in to fldigi/ flarq. Winlink is proprietary stuff but it gives you a good example of what's possible.
>>1985623>my favourite station?UVB 76 of course
>>1985884https://vocaroo.com/1lnGJI1lER8r
>>1985660Sweet. Just bought a printer so this might be in my future.
>>1985660>>198568418650mAh anon from before. What could I do to boost my FT817ND airtime without carrying a ton? The original battery packs are a joke.
>>1985897>https://vocaroo.com/1lnGJI1lER8rThat was difficult...Merry Christmas brother!
>>1985845>That's what I would do.I'm with you on puttering around for days with failed attempts.Guess I'll fig into loops - I was kicking around the idea of a vertical dipole and using some plastic conduit to suspend the coax at 90 degrees - apparently that's important.Fun fact for me - the 'roll cage' is a loop antenna.
>>1985744>>1985845>>1986217I've been recommended the vertical or the horizontal beam version of this antenna:https://www.proantennas.co.uk/i-pro-homehttps://www.proantennas.co.uk/dual-beam-proThe should be fairly easy to copy, I am thinking about building the Dual Beam Pro (or even buying it).It's non-resonant but should be tunable 40-6m, and it's directional, so you should consider rotating it. The vertical could work for you perhaps?If you build it, remember it uses a 4:1 balun, not a 1:1. No specific requirements for feedline.Also, you could get some high power-rated resistors and build an aperiodic folded dipole, a T2FD.Any loop could do well too, I guess.
>>1986251>i-pro-homeThat's what I was beginning to form in my head - perhaps of aluminum conduit, telescoping ends for tuning, and ropes at each ends - one to raise and the bottom to keep it from blowing in the wind.Then I had reservations about bare, electrified metal resting in leaves, so I considered wrapping it in electrical tape or using plastic conduit and insulated wire.>T2FDDoesn't hurt to experiment. I should probably add a weatherproof switch and plant a full-blown antenna farm.
>>1986270>T2FD inverted VTwo legs with about 28m and distanced ~1.7m would do a 160m antenna. How tall is that tree?You will need to make sure the tree does not burn up around those resistors.
>>1986274>The March/April 2020 issue of QEX has part 1 of an article on Broadband HF Antenna designs. In the article they note that for a 30 foot long T2FD antenna, with 100 watts input to the antenna, 74 watts is lost in the resistor at 14 MHz, and 70 watts is lost at 29.7 MHz.>Unless a flat SWR over a very large bandwidth is of importance to you (e.g. ALE scanning), the T2FD would not be my first choice for a transmitting antenna.I can see why!
>>1986291>How tall is that tree?It's at around 50' at the back of the property. Have a few other trees along the fence line too - realized a 20M delta would fit perfectly. Testing a 2M version between Saturday chores.
>>1986294A very half-assed delta that's resonate at 139mHz in the basement whoops the baofengs butt, but is no match for the Yagi in the attic.
>>1985623tradition
>>1986365thats almost the most bad ass battle station ever. he needs a nixie tube display for the current frequency being observed and it needs to be 30% darker
>>1986392
>>1986458I love it
Is it feasible to use galvanized steel craft/fence wire for an antenna?
>>1986365>traditionBump for the Chad BandPropagation been getting good on 10/11m.
>>1986530Yes. What kind of antenna are you planning?
Most cost effective transceivers? Fun beginner builds, any way to salvage otherwise expensive key parts, f.e. HF amplifier?
Noob question here. I was thinking about getting into ham but when I was listening in on the local repeaters and talking to a local friend who does ham seems everyone ahs switched over to DMR. What's the benefit of ham in my ride if I have to be connected to a cell tower anyway?
>>1986876Are you sure everyone has switched or does it just seem that way? I am not listening in often but my intuition (and yours) aswell as some random dudes on the repeaters say the same. Especially people who actually enjoy this as a DIY hobby. Dont break your head over it ok?
>>1986876And one benefit could be getting to know other repeater communitys which arent easily acceisble from your usual locations, maybe they switch to HF afterwards? I have no idea
>>1986876dmr repeaters? i would imagine that if the local ham community all switched to dmr that they would have done so for a good reason, aka there is a good dmr repeater(s) in the area. cant imagine that everyone is driving around with hotspots in their car. have you been listening on your local repeaters in the evenings for any daily/weekly nets?
>>1985919Look up Dakota lithium.
>>1986963Most of the locals here switched to digital modes to get away from the baomeme pirates.
>>1987109>Dakota lithiumBetter than Bioenno?
>>1987373the baofeng dm-1801 is a really good dmr radio, highly recommend it
>>1987528Not sure anon. All I know is that I recently bought two 7AH batteries from them for 100 bucks. Haven’t gotten the chance to put them through their paces yet.
>>1987606Thxs, anon. Was leaning towards Bioenno for a battery box, due to their great reviews and built in bms. Heard about Dakota this morning, then my kids got a gay electric vehicle-toy for Christmas that uses a lead battery. It'd be nice to have redundancies.
I may be retarded. How do I do radials? I don't have access to the actual ground so what is an alternative? Do artificial grounds work? I'm on the second floor.
>>1987624where's the antenna?
>>1987626It's an HF vertical antenna
>>1987631in the 2nd floor? And you want to transmit?
>>1987639Yes, I'm going to put it right next to my bed and have it continuously transmit 100 watts so I can stay warm while I'm sleeping.No. It's on my balcony lmao.
>>1987639>>1987643I misread "where's the antenna" as "what is the antenna". The antenna is on my balcony. I am retarded
>>1987643>>1987650You're alright with me.Sounds like you're at the top of the building if you can have a vertical at the second floor and not shove it up your neighbors' ass. Yay or nay?If yes, strive higher with the vertical. Else, aim to hide the radials in the bushes below.
>>1987655The problem is the radials I have won't reach down to the ground, so can I ground them just off the balcony somehow?
>>1987721What is the lowest band you intend to use?
>>198772840 meters
>>1987741Just as well. Drop 4 ten meter long radials on it and run coax up to the roof. Mount it near the center of the roof.HF verticals on a balcony are not really practical. You may do better with an end fed horizontal. Otherwise there are magnetic loops.
>>1987721I'd make a delta loop in the thinnest gauge I could find, same color as the building, and put it where I could.
Always had an interest in radios but never got into it. I received the BaoFeng UV-82 MK5 8W radio for Christmas - is this thing any more than just a glorified walkie-talkie? Should I return it and pick up something with a better range?
>>1988136>is this thing any more than just a glorified walkie-talkieNope. I wouldn't return it, it's worth what it is.Where do you want to go in the hobby?
>>19881368W should be enough, have you checked if you have a few repeaters in range?Absolutely nothing wrong with receiving that as a present. It allows you to work on 2m and 70cm, and you can still use it as FM radio receiver too.You won't be able to turn it in for something better anyway, as it's not very pricy. You'll find out soon enough what you want to get into later.
>>1988139Really just want to have them on-hand and know how to use them in the event of an emergency. I don't have much of a desire in chatting with people.>>1988140Excellent, thanks. Time for me to read through the OP to understand what this all means.
>>1988142>get a list of all amateur repeaters around where you are and want to be>learn how to use a repeater (how to program the radio to use frequency shift for repeaters)>store the frequencies in your radio memory>repeaters all have an input frequency where you speak into them>and an output frequency at which they transmit what you send to them>increases your range>your range is very limited with the radio alone, think tens of kilometers maxBonus are all Echolink repeaters, they allow being connected to each other via internet, you can in theory talk to people in Switzerland via your nearest Echolink repeater.
>>1988142If that's all you want, the Baofag is all you need.>Look for repeater frequencies in your area.>Get a programming cable and download Chirp>Understand offset tones: boomer speak for upload and download ports.Now you have an FM radio, can listen to NOAA, can listen to local businesses, have a FRS transceiver, and can transmit on ham bands if it's a true emergency.Not bad for $20 or $40.
>>1987741>>1987755So I put my antenna on the ground instead of my balcony, dragged the radials on the ground an equal distance, ran a cable up, but I can't get anything other then commercial AM stations on the HF bands. I am using an RTL-SDR V3 for the receiver. Are the radial wires the problem? Is the height a problem? I am a complete brainlet when it comes to antenna installation and setup.
>>1988235Also, the antenna is tuned to the 40m band, or should be anyways.
>>1988235>>1988241Also, here is the waterfall from 3 MHz - 13 MHz on my HackRF with a TXCO
>>1988249what's the other spectrum look like? Try a local FM radio station
>>1988271I can get all FM stations from 85 MHz - 100 MHz perfectly on both my HackRF and RTL-SDR
>>1988277Are you aware of the software setting regarding the I/O/Q - something?
>>1988288Yes, it's setup to the Q branch for the RTL-SDR. The HackRF doesn't require any sampling options as far as I am aware.
>>1988291I played with SDR about a year ago. Could get great VHF but no HF until I hit one of the buttons in the program and it enabled HF instead of VHF. Night and day, like a lightswitch.
>>1988235>>1988249Looks great, bro.
>>1988235Use a band stop filter against broadcasting stations or narrow bandpass for what you want or both. Seems your inputs are overloaded.
>>1985623do you actually have to give a callsign to random boomers?
I'm building a PC right now. The Gigabyte GA 970A D3P MoBo has audio outputs, but I'm not sure if I need to buy a separate sound card if I want to get into digital modes like PSK31.
>>1988384Depends on your rig, can you connect it directly? For older rigs, there are extra USB sound cards and interfaces available.
>>1988392Not sure what you mean. I've never used a digital mode before. Just got my FT 891 this summer.
>>1988396What interface do you have or plan to get? Or do you just connect it via a speaker/mic jack?
>>1988399The manual suggests the 6pin to audio in/out. Which I could build/buy a cord for. But I'm not sure if there is some interface in between that is needed between the PC's software and the radio.
>>1988406The schematic in your pic looks quite complete to me, you'll perhaps only need a driver software then.
>>1988456I guess what I'm confused about is if I should buy a signalink type "interface device", or if i could just use my Mic in, speaker out jack on my PC. And if I just make a cable for the second option, should I have separate sound card to the Mic port on the MoBo?
Ideas to attach/access a 2m radio in a meme power box?Just dicking around with a free ammo box, gonna add fans, lights, power poles, and usb charger. It's my first - like the idea of a power station with a mobile radio for entertainment.
>>1988497Zip ties. More zip ties. Attach with zip ties.
>>1988495It can drastically change the situation with isolation and noise if you get the Signalink, as it's loosely coupling everything.The Signalink is an external soundcard, in theory needs only a USB cable to the PC and the rest goes between it and the rig.
Yo to anyone who knowsIm really new to the HAM radio scene, and for some reason my baofeng UV-5R is picking up mute noise on the same channel that my RTL SDR is picking up actual repeaters from.For example, I live in SOCAL and the repeater 445.040 can be heard on my RTL SDR with the base antenna clearly, but on my Baofeng all that happens is the green light turns on and no audio is heard...Anyone know why this is?
>>1988685which antenna are you using for the baochang? does the repeater have some type of CTCSS or PL tone?
>>1988701also if you want to find if it does have a CTCSS/PL tone you can use https://www.radioreference.com/
>>1988701rubber duckie, but i have a nagoya 771 coming in the mail soonthe specific repeater has a CTCSS/PL tone that i put in (its option 13?) in the settings menuAre you referring to the T-CTCSS? Or is there a R-CTCSS that I am unaware of?
>>1988702https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/details.php?ID=3547&state_id=06I dont see anything other than an uplink tone....
>>1988702>>1988701turns out the baofeng has some weird shitty squelch where you cant hear it lol
>>1988685>I live in SOCALStopped reading
>>1988705Good choice. Hope you only paid 2$ for the nagoya, because that is the price and why its recommended so often. I get up to ~30km reception over difficult terrain with it. If I want to be heard I need more or less direct line of sight at ~20km. Its definitly enjoyable. Next up is a qbitx or a BITX40, but im not sure the conversations on HF are worth it
>>1988743You always need turn baofengs squelch to the maximum sensitivity. And even then you should just listen in from time to time
How do I get more range out of my UV5R? I'm very new to radio and haven't gotten my license yet, so I know nothing.
>>1988917Get your license first, queer.
>>1988961Is the test easy to take? Also, any good book recommendations?
>>1988917Go outside and hike to an elevated spot, scan the frequencys from 144.00 to 146.00 repeatedly, look if you can find out over the frequencys or online if there is any repeaters, which are usually on favourable positions, build an antenna for 145.00 mhz (2m). Additionally, depending what continent you are on, you can scan the PMR frequencys or FMR or generally the "walkie talkie" frequency and make some unnanouced jokesThis isnt a hobby where you throw money at it and get the fastest bestest thing, you need to learn why antennas work and how to build them. I talk too much. if you hit a repeater using the correct (public) ccts tones or whatever they are called your range will be increased 100km easily.
>>1988987If you want to learn and have a nice time with this hobby I strongly recommend you sniff out a hackerspace in your nearest city and just go there or blabla meeting bla email bla. They might stab you or turn your brain inside out if you look at them too long or say the wrong first sentence but overall itll be worth it. Dont test their patience with retard basic questions that should be googled though ok?>Do you live in germany by chance?https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/ajw/lehrgang-te/e01/This is the gold standard here. If you have interesst it will be fun to know the basics. Some aspects are kind of like getting a drivers license. so: repetetive, but logical. But, look for yourself.
>>1988994Thank you for the info, any good books on antennas/general radios and technology you can recommend?>>1988999Luckily, I have a few boomer ran radio clubs around me that are generous with what gear they give out, but only to people in the meetings. First, I have to get a license as they only accept people who have licenses though.
Hello all, just a quick question, I found a battered ye olde valve radio, it has been something of a dream of mine to have one, to have it as an opportunity to learn electronics because I know next to nothing about restoring it to working order. Would this be a place to ask about particular things or the electronics thread instead? Or should I make a separate thread altogether?
>>1989030>valve radio>I know next to nothing about restoring it to working order>an opportunity to learn electronicsYou fags are infuriating.
>>1985623Recommendations for DIY weatherproof antenna feedpoints?
>>1989030That's a sexy one, what does the typeplate say?The valves look pre-WWII to me.Here's mine, as soon as I am doing the power supply test I'm going to post pics and continue.
>>1989038Glue PVC tube/a film can over the coax, so that rainwater drips off and so that condensed water doesn't collect, leave it open at the bottom.Use weatherproof electric tape around the coax plug.
>>1988917>>1988987This and more you will find in the FAQ.
I have asked this question in the resident radio threads of the other boards.None want to answer it.So I come to you, /diy/, with my query:What recommendations/experiences do you have regarding scanners?Requirements:>VHF, capable of tracking trunked P25 phase 1>Handheld preferable, want to be able to carry radio while listening. Mobile or base station only if it's significantly cheaper>Cheap as possible, I'm a poorfag, so something older that can be found used is key>yes, I'm aware of, and actually have SDRs. But a laptop, two dongles, two antennas, USB hub, and cables is not very portable, and reception is shitty even after rebuilding the antennas. SDR is great as a hobby project, but I want a tool for emergencies ASAP. Will probably fiddle with SDR for satellite fun.I've been snooping around, and for what it costs for even an older, used p25-capable scanner, looks like I could get an actual ex-cop radio with p25 and just use it to listen in on a single freq.Right now, I'm looking at Radio Shack PRO-96, 97, or 106 series scanners, or if I go the ex-cop radio route, an old motorola xpr3000. Thales/racals are cheaper, but their batteries are non-existent if I understand right, so I'd be spending as much if not more on jimmy-rigging a different battery to one, if that's even within my ability.Anything cheap you guys can recommend?
>>1989075rtl sdr + android phonehttps://youtu.be/Yrx5ozRxcFw
>>19888542$? i didnt know you could buy these things for 2$whats a good 20$ antenna?
>>1989030You'll get a little help here, I seem to be rebuilding some old piece of tube gear all the time.Expect to replace every capacitor, find the model number to that radio and find the schematic online.
>>1989075Go with a pro-106 or the equivalent GRE/Whistler model (Pro-651/652/106/197 - WS1040/1065 - PSR 500/600). I have no experience with the pro-96, however it is p25 capable. The pro-97 is an analog trunking only scanner. You should be able to snag a used 106 for $150-$200, but you have to watch ebay or the local market.
>>1989040That's an Aachen Super D57, Deutsche Philips Gesselschaft, manufactured from 1938 to1939, but interestingly it has to be an export assemblage as the typeplate says it's a Philips 461, and the station display on the German Aachen original has Kaunas noted as Kowno, while mine says Kaunas in Lithuanian. The valves are original Philips ones. Your radio is fantastic, looks much simpler than mine to restore. I'll be following these threads to see your restoriation, good luck!My main concern are the valves, checking their types online I can see there's great variety, this radio uses 5 different ones, double triodes, pentodes ect. looking at the prices, I don't think I'll be able to afford original ones, how do I go on about unoriginal replacements? >>1989036Whatever did I say wrong? I thought people here would be familiar with particular valve radio designs. I know the bare minimum I guess, just nothing about audio electronics.
>>1989115>>1989075I forgot to add that you need to be patient. I scored a PSR-600 (desktop model of 106) off of ebay last spring for $120.
>>1989112Thank you, already on it sir
>>1989122
>>1988497Thinking of drilling a hole and snaking the mic through if needed.Maybe snap in a button when not in use?
>>1989129or maybe splurge $14 and flush mount this
>>1989122Yours is this 8 tube 3 band radio?Guaranteed to need most of the capacitors changed. At least the three high voltage electrolytics (2) 32uF and the 28uf. 33uF is an available size but I'm sure you could get away with 20 or 22uF.50uF (47) cathode of AF7, 25uf (22) cathode of AL4.I see several 0.1uF.Need to count them up and get them.
>>1989115>>1989121>those model number cross-refsThanks, that actually helped narrow things down a lot for me. I was aware that a lot of radios were repackaged under different manufactures, but only vaguely so, and hadn't even looked into Whistler gear. Looks like for the average cost of a PRO 96 or GRE, combined with how uncommon they are on fleabay, the WS1040 can be had for not a lot extra, and new no less.Thanks.Unrelated, but does anyone here have any experiences with President radios? I'd like to get a CB sometime soon, as the two I currently have are both old and shitty. I'd like something with SSB ability. I was thinking a Cobra, originally, and I'm seeing Stryker units with some nice features, but what I'm seeing in President's lineup is kind of getting my dick all kinds of hard, especially their "Lincoln II+" model. Looks like a fucking beast, but I'd need to get a tech+ license to make proper use of it, so one of their simpler (and cheaper) models maybe.
>>198912250000pf (0.047uF) G2 of AF3 200 volt0.1uF G3 of AF3 100 volt0.1uF K of AF1 100 volt0.1uF K of AK2 100 volt0.1uF G5 of AK2 200 volt0.1uF K of AF3 100 volt50000pF (0.047uF) G2 of AF3 200 volt0.1uF 2nd IFT 600 volt16000pF (0.015uF) tone/volume 200 volt5000pF (0.0047uF) tone/volume 200 volt50000pF (0.047uF) target grid of AM2 200 volt8000pF (0.0082uF) AF7 anode to AL4 grid 500/600 volt0.1uF below AL4 200 volt2000pF AZ1 anode to ground 1000 (or more) volt
>>19891480.1uF (lower left) AVC 200 volt
>>1989119>Whatever did I say wrong?Nah, he always gets touchy after sucking French freebander dick.
>>1989143GRE made some of the RS scanners (Uniden made the rest), however GRE went under and Whistler bought them out. If you were to get one of those, the same programming cable will work on all of them. They only really differ cosmetically, albeit a few minor differences between the handhelds and desktop models.
>>1989085rtl-sdr is shit. absolute dogshit. Only good for FM radio
>>1989110buying antenna is a consoooom behaivour. So its never cost efficient. Its just a piece of wire and another piece of wire and thats it. A good 20$ antenna is you sitting down for 2 solid hours building your first antenna. Thats honestly the best you can get.Otherwise, the "abbree tactical foldable antenna" - if you happen to buy an original and not a knockoff that looks exactly the same. Will break the connector on your handheld baofeng someday, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wec7IE81Byk
>>1989110A tiny bit more than 2$ but yes.Remember for the future. If it looks easy to make and is made in china, it can be sold at a high markup - doesnt mean its actually worth that much, especially electronics for diy purposes. We all wonder why the fuck is this 20 bucks but then you see this reality and know to trust your intuition next time, right? Buy these directly from china via ali express, banggood or whatever site you prefer. For more information head over to /g/ and search for the chink shit general thread
>>1989143For a regular 40 channel CB, the Uniden 980 is nice.
>>1989270i thought that abbree tactical foldable shit was a meme and literally just a tape measure inside plastic>>1989278fug
Here's an honest question to you dudes.I like the idea of getting into amateur radio but I have no idea what I would do with it once I get setup in it. Do you fuckers just monitor frequencies all day? is there anything practical or is it just 100% hobby?
>>1989451hobbyif apocalypse happens you have a means of communication i guess
>>1989451antenna design is a good way to apply complex maths and FEM analysis. Things like listening to satellites, picking up eurowaves, etc. are just landmarks to test your technical abilityAlso it's fun to listen to nigger antics on police scanners
>>1989451If you don't learn anything valuable, you're not doing it right.
>>1985623Do FCC agents actually exist?Have they ever actually kicked down doors for using HAM without a license?Do they drive around the nation scanning for violators or something?
>>1989512Also in other emergencies hams assist in communications. Many have a background in military signal service. There is just no media coverage of the calm, quiet and competent keeping things under control when total panic is what sells copies.
>>1989451>I have no idea what I would do with it once I get setup in it.I liken it to a skillset, like knowing how to weld, or having a gun and being comfortable with it. You grow mentally and have a new perspective.I was in your shoes 2 years ago>What's this ham thing about?So I crammed for my tech and general, then got the meme baofag.Listened to local old guys during my commutes instead of boner pill commercials on the radio. Some were really based, others really funny.Took me awhile to swallow the high entry cost of HF>A Baofag is $20 ... a SDR is $20. How is this $1000?!!!Got hooked on Field Day, FT8, and Sweepstakes. It's like fishing with the comfort of sitting in your basement.Building antennas has also been immensely fun and rewarding. As has the general electronic and radio knowledge. I'm building a battery box (pic borderline related) for fun and also was able to breakdown, diagnose, and remedy an over-the-air TV antenna system for my inlaws for Christmas.I still want to learn morse code, get into gps tracking, chase Parks on The Air in every State, and refine a lot of other items.It's a hobby. It's a ton of fun. I worked from home this year and it's the only thing that kept me grounded.
>>1989698when i first got my ham license i googled my town and ham radio to see if there were any clubs or anyone that was active on the radio, and i found a story about a guy who previously worked for the ems and decided to start transmitting random soundboard clips into the ems repeater and ended up being observed by both other hams and fcc agents doing it and getting 40k worth of fines(7.5k to the fcc) and his license suspended. doesnt actually seem to happen very often but it happens. also if you listen to 435 you will hear people constantly gossip about people getting fined and losing their license, most of it is just banter but some of it actually happens.
>>1989451I'm taking the bait, as others have taken the time to answer a question the first link in the OP already covers.>shtf>fire up generator>call across the atlantic>find someone who still has toilet paperIsn't that a comfort?
If you're on FT8 and don't use LoTW, you deserve to burn in hell.What the fuck is wrong with you, demanding people fill out a post card and you do likewise for a 30 second exchange over the computer?! Upload the fucking file.
>>1989776I'm thinking of getting into it based on all the replies. Sounds like a fun thing to do. Don't wanna go all out and spend thousands though. Too many other things in my life already soak up most of my money. Mainly my old cars.>>1989847Wasn't bait fren. I can get more honest answers just asking a specific question instead of reading an article about a broad topic.
>>1989873It's really a collection of hobbies under one umbrella. Not unlike cars. Some like muscle cars, some like trucks, others firetrucks. Some like going fast, others like repairing engines. Others just throw money at logos.The license is $15 and good for life - no renewal fees. There are lots of cheap and free things to do.It can be done fore cheaper, but I have $2K into my HF setup which should last a decade or two, and let's me work the world. I made a 6,000 mile contact to Crete this morning while putting off work and shitposting.
>>1989866>I need my instant gratification>ham radio has to be exactly like video game achievementsFT8 robot awards should be banned. At least with JT65 it took some time and user interaction, albeit it's still the same exchange.
>>1989890You're just jealous I did this in 8 months.
>>1989893>look at my good boy awards!>I even got one this morning for using the potty!FT8 is like playing video games exclusively with cheats turned on. Then some of you retards use 100+ watts on wsjt modes. That's like watching a youtube video of someone playing with cheats, and then claiming you beat the game.
>>1989786will the FCC bust down my door if I dont have a license and use someone elses
>>1989898Sorry you wasted years of your life listening to static.
>>1989944by someone elses i mean someone's license who hasnt transmitted in many years
>>1989451Mostly it's hobby, and there's nothing wrong with that. And hobby can mean anything from ham to camping to 4x4 driving to just chewing the fact with a neighbor.But there's another group as well, who I guess you could all lump into the "prepper" category, even if most aren't really preppers. Lot of riots and shit these days, local communications get knocked out, phone lines to the first responders get tied up. In times like that, having both a radio, and the basic knowledge on how to use it can be a Godsend.Also, if you live someplace that has a lot of dangerous weather, these radios are great. If your location has a repeater that's part of the skywarn system, then you'll have real people monitoring not only noaa weather info, but actual radio operators in the area will radio in with boots-on-the-ground reports of whats happening where. Shit like trees down on roads, flooding, crashes. And if you're licensed, you can report in as well.>"this is bo08ies, Bronski ,with a road report">"go ahead, Bronski">"yeah, the road between Bush and 69th ave is completely flooded out, I wouldn't take anything with low clearance through it">"copy, Bronski, road between Bush and 69th ave flooded out, thank you">"this is bo08ies on the side"It's a niche, but it has it's uses.
>>1989972>The only thing ever to exist, on radio, is the designated FT8 HF frequencies and static.
>>1989995>if it's not how I did it, it's wrong.
>>1990018>Completing the Boston Marathon in your car is the same as running it, get with the times old man.
>>1990023>I walk to school b/c my great grandma didn't have a car.
>>1990018>>1989995no >You didn't!
>>1989698Google N5XO and "white noise". This white trash hillbilly LID harassed a guy for several years.
>>1990046>>1990058>Schizo posting has begun
Anyone know 147.435?It's the 4chan /b/ of ham radio
>>1990156listen to it every night, there is also 450 which has a lot of the same people on it
>>1990165are you talking about 445.040?
>>1990165if you're in the west hollywood area, try coming on this repeater: 445.580-5.0 mhz offset127.3 T-CTCSSits a completely dead repeater, so im curious if anyone can hear me on iti'll be listening
>>1989866Before I got bored with the mode, I logged none of it. It’s such an impersonal way to make a contact and so fucking boring. Get fucked FT8 plebs. Learn to use something that’s actually useful and get to know the guy on the other end.
>>1990205You're a monster.
>>1990222Trips don’t lie, I guess I am. Oh well, least I’m not an FT8 fag.
>>1988378You get to give a callsign to random boomers.
>>1990251I had a revelation today. I've always owned guns. I like guns. But when it comes to the gun 'arguments', I find myself conflicted between reality and 'what if'. Guns kill people. If there was a magic wand, maybe I'd wave it and 'abracadaba' all guns away. But I can't. Therefore I embrace them.I couldn't convey those ideals until today. Tobacco and Alcohol. They're the same way. Prohibition. Once released, you can't wheel it in.FT8. You're a Prohibitionist. Go rally and scream and cry and get an Amendment, then have it repealed.
>>1988854I recently got a ubitx. Totally worth it. Take the next step.
>>1990274>Hating something and and actually taking something away from people are one and the same thingAlso, FT8 is ham on easy mode.I'm sure it's pretty good as a utility to build a world-wide network. But FT8 contesting is pretty gay.
>>1989979You mean like pirate someone's callsign? FCC probably won't get to you, but I bet you'll get found out by a local autist real quick.
>>1990274Hey third party here, I agree that there's no point in trying to ban FT8 or whatever because it's "killing ham radio," and I get that it's good for contests and stuff, but imo FT8 is ultra gay. No one's making you stop, but you can't stop us from calling you a faggot.
>>1990296yeah so, lets say the callsign is owned by someone who hasnt been active for many yearsyou think its safe to assume nobody will complain
>>1990296i dont see how the local autist would know who I amcould they send QLS reports in the mail and the person who owns the callsign would receive them and file a complain to the FCC?
>>1990309If they really cared, then it wouldn't be too hard to triangulate on your tx position without even going on a real fox hunt.
>>1990319yeah but i haven't given them a reason to careif im using someone's callsign who hasnt come online in 6 years
>>1990323Yeah but they'll certainly look you up on QRZ. I mean yeah it might work, but it might not. I'm not saying you're fucked, but just don't underestimate the power of autism.
why not just get a tech license, takes 3 hours to watch a tech license course on youtube
>>1990325autism is a powerful forcedoes it matter how far away from me they live?could i technically pick someone who lives in kansas or something
>>1990325the only point of stealing someone elses call was so i could perform quality checks with different antennasi dont care much to talk with the boomers on there, even if they are nice
>>1990334have you ever considered buying an antenna analyzer instead of stealing someones callsign?
>>1990340i could buy an antenna or get a license for that price...
>>1990344If you live in America, then getting a license is actually still free.
>>1990352it is? how?i thought a technician license was like 15$
>>1990354That fee depends on whatever the club that is administering the test decides to charge. Many do it for free, and I think the big network of free testers is called like Laurel or something if I recall correctly, fuck it. Anyway yeah the FCC doesn't actually charge you, and any fees are really just donations to the volunteers for their time spent as proctors for your test.
>>1990355that sounds about rightthanks
>>1989143I have a McKinley and Lincoln2+. I know people in my jeep group with the little BILL's. All the current gen President stuff is solid now. The mics are kinda lame though. I run 636L's on mine. You can't beat the value of the Linc. Amazon sometimes has them for 220. 12m/11M/10M. All mode plus does repeater splits and PL. Can program with a computer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoZSpb80V7s
>>1990323>if im using someone's callsign who hasn't come online in 6 years>onlineThey might not be internet users but on the air and well known. Bootleging on someone else's call is way worse then not using a call at all. You will likely trigger autism. >>1990330>could i technically pick someone who lives in kansas or somethingIf your operating in 7 land and pick a 0 call (KS) that might raise suspicion. All the Tech questions are published. You could know nothing about radio and just flashcard them for a few hours and pass. Or just fuck around on MURS, FRS, and CB to avoid the autism if your dead set getting your ham ticket.
>>1990308>you think its safe to assume nobody will complainNo, people recognize calls and others log them no matter what kind of contact it is. If you enjoy being harassed after people find out, go right ahead. If it's a SK people will foxhunt you.
>>1990334>stealing someone elses call was so i could perform quality checks with different antennasDicks like you are the reason older hams gate keep.
>>1990274You gotta be retarded if you came to that conclusion from my posts. I own guns too. I think you’re a retard if you buy a Taurus Judge for home defense. I still think you should be able to buy one. Do FT8 if you want. But you’re a fag if that’s all you know.
>>1990418This shit is seriously irritating. I also hate how it's the only digital mode anyone uses unless it's a specialized contest. The bands used to always have PSK going with the occasional Olivia/RTTY showing up in the mix.
>>1990423I’m not on often but when I am you’ll usually find me on 7.070 or 14.070 doing PSK. There’s still a little of it here and there.
>>1990296I used a station callsign (legitimately) that hadn't been used for years and within an hour was contacted by someone who recognised the callsign.
>>1990409>>1990301>>1990286How do I pray away the gay?
>>1990585No other way than CW DXing.
>>1990586Yea, I'm narrowing in on 15wpm. <Insert excuses>
>>1990586This is the only correct answer.
>>1985623How much trouble can i get into for running a pirate analog TV station @ 7 watts unlicensed? And would getting licensed allow me to play around with the old TV bands?
>>1988147>can listen to local businesses,you misspelled fuck with
>>1988378>>1990268I use N1G63R as my callsign.
>>1990706Our local church has problems with items in clothes from the coat closet going missing during mass.
>>1990648Nice
>>1990814
>>1990702Tbh, I doubt anyone would realize. If someone did notice and wanted to rat you out, then you will "only" get a fine from the FCC like any other air pirate would. If you cause interference to any commercial or government service, then obviously you are in for a good dick down if you get caught. Getting licensed will give you access to the 6 meter and 33 cm bands, among others obviously, which I believe correspond to several channels of analog radio. I forgot exactly, but the 6 meter band has like channels 2-6 or something, and 33 cm is like 30-34 or something idk.
>>1990819Analog TV, not radio*
>>1990389I love how the guy in that video is going out of his way to brush off all of the "CB" functions on the radio. I don't think he wants to be the one to spill the beans that a single 1k resistor and a service menu password of "12345" is all that's need to unlock the 11 meter/CB/SSB abilities, lol.I'm leaning heavily towards getting one of these now. I could always mod it and use it as a CB for now, and make use of the 10/12 meter bands later on, assuming I can pass the tests needed to get on HF, or if I can even find anyone giving the tests during the coof. I really need to start reading those ARRL testing guides.
It's pretty gay that Americans have to pay a fee to the FCC just to have a license now, huh?
>>1990863
>>1990874Hahaha I actually am American. I just was trying to be direct and concise.
>>1990707i was considering picking up the callsign ni2ga
>>1990863I would like to think that it’ll mean that they’ll actually care somewhat about the ham bands since it’s a source of revenue for them and van the worst lids but I know that ain’t happening.Oh well, could be worse. Could be required to have a loiscense to watch television.
>>199085011 has been cranking lately with the solarcyle winding up and everyone stuck at home with the lockdown shit. Another nice thing about the linc2+ is the built in SWR meter and adjustable protection. Makes experimenting with antennas safe. If something goes wrong it kicks out of TX before any damage is done. I have been having great fun with a simple inverted V cut for 10 and clip leads I clip on the ends to make it longer for 11m.
>>1985660fuck you
>>1990821then i'll look into getting my license then. since covid started, i've been not having much luck trying to find tests... >sighs in canadian.
I often go on road trips to new places. Any recommendations on a rig to keep in my car? I'd like something with a waterfall scanner so I can see what ham/GMRS frequencies are active when I'm traveling.
1/2 wave dipoles have predictable dBi gain, right?Is 22AWG too small? Should I increase to 14AWG?
>>1991024What city/ province are you in?
>>1990586
>>1991365ontario, GTA
Why do I see RG6 semi-regularly in the ham scene?
>>1991437First, Try reaching out to these people. If that doesn't work try reaching out to the clubs.near you. https://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Ham_Radio/Clubs/North_America/Canada/Ontario/
>>1991377https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Quick_Start.pdf
>>1991351>rig to keep in my car>something with a waterfall scanner
>>1991360Dipoles are the standard reference to which all other antennas are judged.
>>1991502Thanks anon, will do.
>>1991377This is for meteor scatter or satellite work. It's not going to do much for the 'tards sitting at home blasting 100 wattts.
>>1991472Because people reuse catv coax they have laying around and it's dirt cheap. RG-6 has a 75 ohm impedance.
>>1991472People trying to make a buck on junk. No name RG6 is basically worthless. Quality times,belden, etc is plentiful and cheap because of the CATV/DBS industry. In ham radio it has limited uses in stuff like co-phasing harnesses but you normally only need a few feet not 100.
>>1991472My hypothesis:Hams are more likely to install their own TV/ SAT equipment.Used for tuning stubs.Bought it by accident instead of RG-8Bought it because it was cheap, and then changed their minds.
>>1991508That could be exciting
>>1991020Why you mad?
>>1986537is CB actually any fun? I've thought about getting one
>>1992017Bought one this summer for my car. It's a bit dead around my place, but shitposting when driving through the capital is a fun and rough ride. Funny people there.If you live in a rural area, check if there still are CBers around, otherwise it can get boring real quick.
>>1985623I’m also new to the Ham Radio hobby. With all forms of entertainment being degenerate now, I need another interest in my life that will keep my mind sharp and skills fresh. Was a CB kid in my teenage years, but life drew me away from that interest. Now I’m getting on in the years and will be becoming a boomer soon. I now have the money to entertain such a hobby. Especially like the idea of Ham radio since it requires that I study and learn to advance my skills.
>>1992020CB can is the real-time shot posting forum. “My God, there are so many niggers on Lake Street!”
Not licensed at all and only messed with RTL dongles but this shits pretty fun. has anyone messed with rpitx, can tx from a gpio pin on a ras pi with random wire antenna, pretty rough but managed to get sstv out of it and into my sdr
>>1992087
>>1990654Are CW decoders verboten?
>>1992436Learn it. Takes 2 weeks to be able to send properly, but months to hear it.It's totally worth it though.But I'm pretty sure there are tons of hams who use CW decoders, I just can't imagine to ever be able to copy >30wpm.Also: any good ham will slow down to your speed, you'll notice there are slow lanes on the bands too, we're not the only beginners.
>>1992436>>1992456Just start transmitting slowly and never send QRQ. A QRS is the mother of all climbdowns.
>>1992456I can tx, but am only at around 1/2 copy at 15wpm, and that excludes Q codes, audio going in and out, etc. A crutch would be nice, esp if I need to copy 20+wpm.
>>1992703Best crutch is to learn to recognise the common words first, hw?, tnx, tu, RST, up, dn 599 vs. 5nn etc. and also the most common Q-codes, QSO, QTH, QSB, QRM.The OP pastebin has all that and more.
>>1992020>>1992017If its dead in your area get one with SSB. When skip comes in you can make lots of contacts on 38lsb. uniden 980SSB is sometimes for sale for 120 on amazon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ivh96CpFa8I live in range of NYC and the long island guys on CB shit talk like aussies shitpost.
>>1992791>get one with SSBThat's exactly what I found out after I bought one that only does AM/FM when listening to old CB shitposters.
>>1992831If you live in the USA you want one that does AM/SSB. In Europe AM/FM/SSB
>>1992895Thanks, but my next CB must be an imported one from Greater Northern Mexico with a sound bank and an echo mic.
>>1988378lmao
>>1993250>Greater Northern MexicoMr X?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG4640lo-uQ
>>1993336Yes. Exactly this.
I'm planning on making an electronics project involving a morse key and I'm looking for one to buy. Specifically, I just want to buy the switch & mount itself (I'll deal with the circuitry (e.g. oscillator) myself). Ebay has a few "vintage" one banging about but I've also seen modern one like pic related that I've never used. Has anyone had experience with these? I'd hate to think I've omitted a key part by using the old single-pole variety.
>>1993410>I'd hate to think I've omitted a key part by using the old single-pole variety.I don't understand what you mean.
>>1993510Having read up in the meantime, I see that the dual paddle setup is for iambic keying which I haven't heard of. I'll give it a miss and buy one of the old straight-key ones.
>>1993536Never tried iambic keying; most ham radios support a iambic key natively, but for whatever you plan I suppose you would need to integrate some dit and dah generator.
>>1990355>>1990354>>1990352The FCC will now charge $35 for new licenses, renewals, vanity calls and modifications ie address changes. They just approved these fees because the RAY BAUM Act did not specifically state amateur licenses were exempt fees. They also lowered the GMRS license fees from $70 to $35.
Hey /HAM/, would like to get a small antenna on my roof for SDR (VHF/UHF) and DVB-T2. What kind of antenna should i get?
>>1993698>GMRS license fees from $70 to $35.Based Ajit. GMRS allows repeaters also.>https://mygmrs.com/browse No dealing with getting a test or anything just fill out a form on the FCC site and your done.
>>1993738https://baofengtech.com/product/nagoya-ut-72/
>>1993698I LOVE JEWS!
>>1993742it takes probably at most two - three days doing a couple hours of studying and taking practice tests on hamexam.org and now you can do it online. please kill yourself you lazy nigger.
Anyone here have any hands-on with a QYT KT-7900D / Luiton LT-425UV /whatever other names they go by?>inb4 chinkshit reeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIt's a quad-band radio for less than $100, you can't blame a guy for at least being curious.
>>1994734I picked the TYT + power supply for $130 new.It's awkward, but for the price it's ok. I got a used TYT last year at a ham fest for $20, but God knows when we'll see another ham fest. I'll keep an eye out for a name brand next ham fest.
>>1985623Was the 1940's-1950's peak education?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxaYj7Xs5k
>>1994820Nice. For the price it's certainly tempting.>>1994826>Was the 1940's-1950's peak education?Yes.A few years back I had to learn how to use a micrometer for work. The fellas at work were teaching me, but, retard that I am, I was having a bit of trouble. So at home I started looking for instructions online. After suffering through one shit-tier video/page after another, I came upon vid related.The next day I was perfectly capable of using a micrometer.They really knew how to walk a newbie through things back then.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNj-1vUmanQ
>>1994924Nice! I was first blown away by this Army Morse Code Introduction.They made a life-sized hand and straight key just to show hand positioning! And the musical arrangement and practical, straightforward information, brought by an enthusiastic instructor ... just amazing the amount of effort and thought that went into work back then.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmg1MlstxWM
Is it okay to ground my setup on a pipe outside like to the AC condensing unit?
>>1994982Just go get an 8 foot copper-clad ground rod and drive it into the ground right outside your operating position. You might get by with what you plan to do but an actual ground rod should be the bare minimum.
Question for you HAM bros:I bought a handheld radio and have been listening to a local frequency at night for the insomniac hour. I'm in California and some people are pretty far away, one guy was in Alaska and a few were east of the Rockies and so on but last night I heard a guy from Tokyo chime in.So I'm wondering how can he pick up the signal all the way across the ocean? Is he bouncing off repeaters or what? Can someone explain to me how it works?Thank you for your time.
>>1995067Magic and aliens
>>1994931Most the hams I know have military background. During WWII the military had a need to train a lot of Morse code operators so they have ample experience in training.>>1995067>So I'm wondering how can he pick up the signal all the way across the ocean?Was this on a HF band?
>>1995067>I'm in CaliforniaIt's not the radio. It's the voices in your head.
>>1995067My guess is that you’re listening to a repeater that is linked somehow to the internet.
>>1995067What frequency?If this is a handheld vhf/uhf radio then your likely hearing a repeater that is linked up with IRLP/EchoLink/etc. If this is on a “shortwave” radio then you could be hearing them direct over HF.
>>1995067insomniac net is on the win system, its got internet linked repeaters that are part of the system. supposedly a lot of the california repeaters are rf linked though
anyone know more about the sort of tech this guy's talking about and how to get a hold of it? asking for a friend
>>1995399A “shack in a box” rig that covers HF through UHF could potentially be opened up to operate outside of amateur bands. Not sure why it’s gotta come from Leafistan.The Baofeng UV5R and similar can operate much of the VHF and UHF spectrum out of the box.Modded HF rigs and 10 meter mobiles can be modded to run on CB and it’s done all the time including yours truly who owns one.This is easy to obtain if you know where to look and the use of such radios is much more commonplace than you might think albeit technically illegal. As long as you stay on amateur, CB, MURS, or GMRS frequencies I highly doubt you’ll ever get busted.
>>1995413I see, I actually have a UV5R but I haven't played around with it as much as I suppose I should have.My friend was interested more in something he could mount in his car, where might he go to learn how to modify a 10M? Would it be hard for him to find out?
What's a decent power supply for 857d for not alot of money? Good and quiet.
>>1995436There’s plenty of info online. Sometimes it’s called a MARS mod. Just Google the specific model and find out. Often it is just the removal of one component from the circuit board. Or you can even buy one that’s had the mod performed already. Some online retailers will do this for an extra charge.
>>1995512Look for a used Astron linear. The things last for ever so they are not hard to find used. Cheap,quiet, and reliable doesn’t go together with switching supplies.
>>1995566My friend says thanks and checked
>>1995610Check out the astron mods page.Replace the voltage regulator with a mil-spec one.
>>1995279>>1995295I'm still learning but the frequency is 147.215, might also be 147.210 Mhz, not sure of the offset and yes it is handheld. I got it just to fool around and for disaster info and shit like that. One day I'd like to get a real setup but this is okay for now.The internet linked repeater makes sense. Hmm time for more learning.Thanks for the help
>>1995637That is VHF and is unlikely to go across the entire Pacific without repeaters, most likely networked ones.Of course you could have used EME but if you had used that you would be sufficiently advanced you would not have asked here.
>>1995637>147.215>>1995295>likely hearing a repeater that is linked up with IRLP/EchoLink/etc.Here ya go. 3 different repeaters in Cali with Echolink and IRLP>https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/Display_SS.php?state_id=06&band=14&loc=%&call=%&use=%
>>1995637winsystem.org to learn about the repeater you are tuning into, also tune into 147.435 and 147.450 for ments
Any good repeaters around the florida panhandle?
>>1996125https://bfy dot tw/Q5HJ
>>1986537Idk, I’ve tuned to CB frequencies with my SDR and they’re all just talking about their trucks.
>>1996913Very seldom do any deep conversations occur on CB. Mainly because a lot of CB’ers don’t have the mental capacity for it. But that’s not to totally bash CB. The freewheeling nature can be refreshing at times compared to the stuffiness of ham radio. That’s why you’ll find both in my station.
This FM broadcast band is killing me. Is there any way to make twisted pair connector cable for a CB antenna work, or is coax the only way?I have an FM trap and everything, but it still bleeds through
Does the avg HAM autist record all their picked up chatter automatically 24/7. Or have the ability to if they wanted?
>>1997144No. Yes.
>>1995067>east of the Rockies
>>1997126"twisted pair"? what?CB's and most 2 way radio is all 50ohm coax. If your just fucking around get some RG58 off ebay or a truckstop. If you want to build a serious station look for some RG8x or LMR400. >>1997011CB is local so its a complete crap shoot. It was slow around me but COVID lockdowns have made it kinda comfy again. And with the sun cycle starting back up shooting skip is back on the menu.
>>1997412>just consoom broI build things for the technical challenge. I have coax en routeI really thought twisted pair transition lines would be worth something though :( but now I'm getting AM broadcast bleeding through too :( :(
>>1997470>I build things for the technical challenge.Then it might help if you do at least some fundamental study of how things work? Like if you knew the reason the pairs where twisted in twisted pair cable you would know why it’s not going to work as RF transmission line. The old ARRL handbooks are full of great information. They put out new version ever year so there are tons of old copy’s out there for cheap. Or just pirate and pdf. If you wanted to be Mr /diy/ you could have made some ladder line out of popsicle sticks or something and wind a balun to match it to your CB.When you get your coax a good project would be to make a bazooka antenna. The whole thing can be made out of just coax.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_gfjEs2jYj8Hopefully your CB has a built in SWR meter. It’s a must have thing when your playing antennas. Like having a volt meter for playing with electronics. You need a way of seeing if your antenna is resonating and a SWR meter is the simplest way. If not your going to need an external one.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qSea5FjcTDEYou could build a SWR bridge but they are so common and cheap you’ll end up spending more for the parts.
>>1997662*I posted the wrong antenna diagram. This is the right one for 11M “CB”.
>>1997470>I really thought twisted pair transition lines would be worth something though :( but now I'm getting AM broadcast bleeding through too :( :(You need to build filters. https://vk3il.net/projects/broadcast-band-filter/
>>1997681Yeah I think I'll build a second one in the future. I'm fucking poor though, so idk if I'll be getting a big reel of coax anytime soon>>1997662>You need a way of seeing if your antenna is resonatingI have a shitty magloop made out of 24AWG, I was able to see a big red stripe moving around on my waterfall when I A) stretched it, and B) tuned the capacitor. That's what you mean, right?
>>1997763>That's what you mean, right?When transmitting you need to tune the antenna for lowest SWR. High SWR causes most of your RF energy to be converted to heat and possibly damage your transmitter.Better radios can sense a bad mismatch and reduce power. Lower end ones (like cb and ham grade gear) will just fry their finals. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWR_meterYou could build one but that makes about as much sense as making a volt meter. I’ve seen chink ones for 9 bux..
>>1997763>big reel of coaxJust get a chunk of rg58u then. The cheapest no name shit you can find. Some 18’ truckstop-tier jumper and cut one of the ends off.What ever you get make sure it’s 50ohm. Cable tv coax is 75ohm.https://www.raneystruckparts.com/roadpro-9-12-18-cb-antenna-coax-cable-with-pl-259-connectors/
>>1997763Got a truck stop nearby? Go buy an SWR meter from there. Or just note the brand and model so you can go home and order one online as you’ll get a better deal.
How in the hell does a delta loop work?I'm used to making dipoles and verticals .. tying radials to the top of a vertical seems insane.But they work. Very well.>pic related
>>1990156I'm brand new to ham, and don't have my license. I have no plans on transmitting, I am still learning too. I know that's a concern, just wanted to preface with that. I was curious, what equipment is needed to be able to reach this frequency clearly, while on the other side of the country (East Coast) just to listen in?Also is this equipment usable with only a technicians license? Thanks
>>1998293If you only plan on listening in, well then good news: No license required. Get yourself a good shortwave receiver or SDR that’s optimized for HF reception. Then, put an antenna up outdoors as high as you can get it. There’s plenty of designs that you can build out of wire. The venerable dipole is easy and works well.
>>1998296Wanted to clarify about my license question, I meant in the future what license is required for transmitting over HF like such?Also as for the antenna, I thought you needed one of the higher two licenses for building equipment?Or can all this be done legally with technicians?As for the antenna itself, how high is high? Would it have to bypass tree level? Or can it be in the attic window, or on the roof? What if you can't do anything that high, and can't do anything on the roof or attic?Or can it be a not too high like 12ft pole in the backyard?
>>1998305>Anyone know 147.435?Anon, if you mean that frequency, only under very rare atmospheric conditions is it possible to hear that from coast to coast. Very rare.VHF/UHF is limited in range and relies on hams putting repeaters on high places.For coast-to-coast, HF is much better.As for equipment, what other anons say.
>>1998310Are you saying coast to coast is possible with that frequency over HF? Or even with HF it struggles
>>1998317In HF ranges, world-wide contacts are possible when the conditions are right.The absolute record for VHF/UHF is some 2-3000 kilometers, but usually you have just ranges of 30km. You can't ever expect to have these special record conditions.147.435MHz is VHF, so there's that.
>>1998310no i think he means the k6mwt repeater that serves the la and inland empire areas of southern california located on santiago peak.
>>1998305In USA you don't need a license to listen. Get yourself a portable shortwave that does SSB and you can listen to all the HF ham bands. Any level of Ham license can build antennas and radios. UHF/VHF is considered line of sight because it cant go very far past the horizon.HF can propagate past the horizon because it can be reflected off the ionosphere. Uhf/vhf passes right through and goes strait in to space. https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/ionospheric/hf-propagation-basics.phpThe only HF band Technician has access to is in 10 meters (28Mhz).
>>1998326Yeah, and he can't listen in via Echolink if he's not licensed - you can't activate the repeater links.And listening to West Coast on VHF from the East Coast directly is impossible.
>>1998329you can listen on broadcastify though
>>1998305Get it up as high as possible. The higher the better but anything outdoors will work to an extent. It will definitely beat the shit out of the little whip on a shortwave receiver. A general class license will get you most of the HF spectrum allocated to hams.>>1998327The only thing a license covers is transmitting. You can build whatever you want license-free. But you better be licensed if you put out any emissions.
Are there any sleek antenna solutions for a sports car to hook into a baofeng?Most antennas I see mount on the top sticking up, is there anything a bit more sleek? Maybe one that is concealable along the curves of the window or something?
>>1998365Yeah, just feed about 150' of RG8 into your ass and become the antenna.
>>1998365i just put an mfj 1432 on my miata, used an mfj triple mag mount. looks really sleek
>>1998365This is the best I got: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shark-Fin-Design-VHF-UHF-Dual-Band-Antenna-For-QYT-TYT-Car-Mobile-Radio-EL-/353334981054I haven't ever used this, though, so I can't vouch for the quality. It's some chinkshit, but so is a baofeng.You could also just run an end-fed halfwave antenna or even a dipole and conceal its thin wire (really as thin as you want. All you need to worry about is not snapping it in two) along the frame of the door or whatever. This would not be as effective as a vertical using your roof as ground because of polarization, height, and interference from the body of the car, but I'm sure it would be enough. This would take some more /diy/ though. Not really difficult, but if you're new to radio then this intro to antenna theory may throw you for a loop.
>>1998365>>1998572Samefag here:This may interest you as well:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx0TEOTDf4w
>>1998365Let's talk about solutions
>>1998566Only works on miata because flat back>>1998572Ok this is nice, i'm just a little worried about range, I wonder is there some kind of retractable one? Where I can push it up when I want to listen, but if I just want to cruise it is short and mostly unnoticable?>>1998574Saw that last night too, don't want to copper tape my car kek
>>1986537So... Ham is reddit and CB is the chan?
>>1998643CB radio was and still in many areas still is the /b/ or /pol/ of the airwaves.
Bump limit reached,new thread >>1998658new thread >>1998658new thread >>1998658
