Any radio guys out there?

[impulse]

This is the best site I found when I wanted to study for my Tech. You can study for all the tests on there as well https://hamstudy.org/

 

[AZF350PSD]

These come to mind Prescott area. Could be more.

Mingus Mountain Repeater Group
http://k7mrg.org/

Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association
https://www.vvara.org/

Yavapai Amateur Radio Club
https://www.w7yrc.org/

 

[zold]

I got my license about a year or two ago. Have a couple of handsets, need to join a club and get familiar with them. My buddy is pretty well versed in it and has been helping me.

I'm in the same boat. I passed the test and have been trying to do some reading and such online to learn more about radio, antennas, etc. It is really interesting stuff, but sometimes it would be nice to have a translator who could cut through the jargon a bit.

There are a bunch of licensed Hams on this board, so ask away. Someone will probably have the answer.

Ok, so I'm still at the HT level, but would like to be able to have my radio going while I am working at my desk in the house. I was thinking that putting up a 2m/440 antenna like a DBJ-2 https://edsantennas.weebly.com/about.html would be an "easy fix" to the problem. I do need to keep things a bit low profile to keep the peace with the Mrs and HOA. Would something like this work if I just snuck it out the office window next to the house, or do I need to figure out a way to get something up on the roof?

 

[Flash]

It's 5 feet long and I strongly doubt that the HOA would have any interest in it, so give it a try.

I'm not sure if you're saying you want to stick it on the ground, but if you do, it won't work well at all.

It needs to be installed close to the roof like the picture on the link shows. There are a ton of Satellite TV dishes out there and if it were me, I'd place it close (behind) one of them.

 

[admin]

What I find a bit humorous is that there are a lot of people - especially lately - that are buying the UV-5R's and squirreling them away with the rest of their preps thinking that if the SHTF, they are ready for comm's. [insert crazy face emoticon here]

First off, if we're relegated to using radio as our only means of communication, we're screwed.
Second, in order to use them, you have to program them and learn how to use them. The learning curve isn't like buying that FRS radio blister pack at the store and being able to Rx and Tx.
Third, in order to really learn how to use them, you need to be licensed at least as a Technician. While that may mean nothing in SHTF situation, it does today - and if you want to learn to use them, you need to do that now.

To program them, use CHiRP. Free and easy.

Here are some videos to get you started:

How to program UV-5R with ChiRP (for those with ADHD): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEpBo5lixsw
Baofeng UV-5R complete setup and programming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZMRKJy6HBA

Uv-5R crash course pt1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyHwAq7w9QE

Pt2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeXKrKEaeiI

 

[High Standard]

What I find a bit humorous is that there are a lot of people - especially lately - that are buying the UV-5R's and squirreling them away with the rest of their preps thinking that if the SHTF, they are ready for comm's. [insert crazy face emoticon here]

First off, if we're relegated to using radio as our only means of communication, we're screwed.
Second, in order to use them, you have to program them and learn how to use them. The learning curve isn't like buying that FRS radio blister pack at the store and being able to Rx and Tx.
Third, in order to really learn how to use them, you need to be licensed at least as a Technician. While that may mean nothing in SHTF situation, it does today - and if you want to learn to use them, you need to do that now.

To program them, use CHiRP. Free and easy.

Here are some videos to get you started:

Thanks for the videos, I appreciate them. I was scheduled to take my technician license test in February, it was cancelled and now I am taking it in March. I have decided to hold off buying a radio. I want to get involved in the club a little bit to see where my interests lie. I want to make sure I am informed buyer before I go all in. I may want to go a little further and take my general test as well. I’m not in a hurry. I think learning what is all involved in the hobby will help me decide how deep I want to go.

 

[Flash]

In order to learn how to REALLY use them, you may have to be a lot more than a Technician.

I've mentioned that I was a member of the group that won the Field Day 8A battery title over 20 years straight.

What I didn't mention is that my part in the group was as a troubleshooter. If somebody couldn't get a radio on the air and make a lot of contacts, I was the one who went to their station and figured out what was wrong and fixed it.

Probably 1/4 of the people in that group were Extras, probably almost 3/4 Advanced or General and a couple of Technicians so there were a lot of people there who should be able to troubleshoot and fix radio/antenna problems but there weren't so I got to fix at least 2 or 3 every Field Day.

It takes a lot to make a station play no matter what the problem and how primitive the conditions (we were out in the woods) and the class of license you hold doesn't mean you have expertise. Only those who spend the extra time and effort to learn exactly how radios and antennas work have that expertise.

 

[admin]

In order to learn how to REALLY use them, you may have to be a lot more than a Technician.

I mostly agree with that, but technically speaking, passing the test isn't a fair assessment of ability. I bet there are a lot of people out there who have the licenses, but are surpassed in knowledge and expertise by others who deliberately avoid licensing for one reason or another. That's not unique to HAM - holds true for IT certifications, etc.

My point was simply that getting a technician license is fairly easy for anyone to do with minimal study and will let you legally use a ham radio to continue to learn.

 

[admin]

Here's another good video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzDj0u1HhvE

 

[High Standard]

My apologies to the OP for hijacking your thread.

I want to thank everyone here for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[marlin39a]

I got my Technician License 2 years ago. KJ7GTZ. If you think the firearm hobby is expensive, wait until you get into amateur radio.

 

[Flash]

Yeah, but Amateur Radio can be cheap or expensive, your choice. I spent an awful lot of time running 1 watt on a Heathkit HW-7 I modified to work on 30 Meters and only paid $100.00 for it.