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61
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: First HF Radio?
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on: July 22, 2012, 11:59:56 AM
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Most new hams put up a couple of low dipoles, or just throw a wire out the window and tie it to a nearby tree. Don't need much in the way of an HF radio to gain cw and sub experience rag chewing and working WAS.
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63
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Grandfathering Advanced Hams to Extra Class
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on: July 03, 2012, 09:06:52 AM
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Jim,
1. There were two grades after WWI. The lower class was mail -order (like the later Class C/Conditional.
2. Class A was a replacement for the earlier "Unlimited Radiotelephone Endorsement," that allowed you to use phone without the need to qualify for the Amateur Extra First Class. It required a written exam only.
Neil N3DF
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64
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Grandfathering Advanced Hams to Extra Class
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on: July 02, 2012, 11:01:52 AM
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The concept of requiring a demonstration of more advanced CW skill and knowledge in exchange for more Amateur Radio operating privileges originated with the Commerce Department in the 1920s. It was continued by the FRC and the FCC in the 1930s and 1940s. Incentive Licensing in the 1960s was a return to that general concept.
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66
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eHam Forums / Company Reviews / RE: ARRL-QST
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on: June 06, 2012, 03:23:33 PM
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I have learned a huge amount from reading QST monthly over the decades. In addition, I believe it is now far superior to what it was in the 60s-80s.
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68
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Dayton
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on: May 25, 2012, 09:42:04 AM
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I was one of those faces. The service was appreciated, though the process was painful. I stood in line from 9:15 am until 11:45 am to take the test (upgrade to extra). I was done in 15 minutes, turned in the test. It then took another 2.5 hrs to get the result. On top of this I saw only one poor VE handing out results, reporting scores and getting the FCC forms signed; and he was dealing with some examinees who were flat out jerks. So bottom line, it took 6 hrs. Well, it was worth it, I made extra, and want to help with the testing next year if possible, at least for one of the sessions; and try to work with other VE's on getting rid of the bottlenecks. Frankly, I think that testing should be done in one of the ballrooms instead of the 15-man sweatshop. Anyone reading this affiliated with the group that did the testing drop me a line at k8opi@gmail.com, Id like to help out. On the occasions that I took my General, Advanced and Extra exams at the New York City (Washington St.) FCC office in the late 1960s, typically the CW test would be graded within one minute and the written within five minutes. I would arrive around 9:00 a.m. and be out the door with my results by 9:30. |
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69
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: Recordings
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on: May 25, 2012, 07:50:20 AM
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Guys,
I am trying to find a method to listen to CW while I am not in the shack or in front of a computer to assist in the learning process. Are there any recordings that say the character and then play the character in CW multiple times and then repeat?
I figure I can listen to something like this in the car to associate the character to the sound.
Thanks!
Robert
K5DTE
Fifty years ago many of us learned code with the basic Rider learn CW set of phonograph records that did just that. Ten or fifteen years ago there was a fairly obnoxious code-learning cassette tape that also pronounced the character to the accompaniment of a musical beat. |
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70
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: New HF rig for a new Ham
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on: May 25, 2012, 07:43:00 AM
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The internal antenna tuner won't match a wire thrown out the window.
And this is a handicap? A simple wire out window should be avoided anyway as the wire starts radiating as soon as it leaves rig/tuner and can cause RF problems in shack and house at times. My point exactly. New HF hams tend to giver 99% of their consideration to a new rig and 1% to the antenna. These priorities should be reversed. |
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71
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eHam Forums / Misc / RE: New HF rig for a new Ham
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on: May 24, 2012, 03:35:51 PM
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The internal antenna tuner won't match a wire thrown out the window. And how much will you be spending on your antenna?
I missed this question some how! Well, for the next few weeks I need help in rigging up the cheapest possible temporary antenna. I'm talking cheap wire thrown out the window! Plans for the near future are a 45' to 50' tower, with a 3 element A3 tri bander on a rotator for 10 - 15 - 20. For 40m either the add on kit or a inverted Dipole hanging off the tower. I don't know about 80 and 160? More inverted dipoles or beverage antennas? Updates: I have the 590s "in my cart" and will buy tomorrow morning unless you think the prices may go lower due to Dayton? I want to order soon enough to get it before the holiday! HRO already has a great price with free shipping. $15039 Also. As of 2:00 today I'm a real Ham, and appear in the FCC Database. Say Hello to KK4JJF |
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72
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eHam Forums / Digital / RE: The digital modes sure are fun
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on: May 23, 2012, 12:16:07 PM
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[/quote]
And yes....each direction you go in this hobby means more things you get to learn and master. I'm still in the EXTREME beginner stage of CW. It will be quite a while before I can even imagine attempting a qso with it, but little by little I'll get there. Fun stuff!
[/quote]
With some modest daily effort, you should be making CW QSOs (although slowly) within three weeks. I knew dozens of Novices who did it (including me).
Incidentally, RTTY has been a fun digital mode for 60 years.
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73
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: Basic question re HF beam antennas
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on: May 23, 2012, 12:09:26 PM
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SIMPLY put - a HF beam antenna sends and receives most RF energy in one direction (gain). In all other directions the RF energy is attenuated (front to back and front to side) with respect to the gain end of the beam.
In order to effectively use a HF beam it will have to be rotated so the front end (gain end) of the beam is pointed toward the station you want to hear or talk to. Remember that the gain pattern of a HF beam antenna is rather broad and you do not have to point the beam precisely at the station you want to talk to. The radiation pattern of any typical HF beam is not like that of a flashlight.
This is not to suggest that you cannot hear stations in directions off the side and rear of the beam. You can hear them if they are stong enough, but the signal will be greatly attenuated from what you would hear if the HF beam were pointed directly at them.
Dick AD4U
Incidentally, this is usually regarded as a good feature of directional antennas. If you're eager to work a weak DX station you want to attenuate the signals on the same or adjacent frequencies from stations in other directions. |
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74
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eHam Forums / Licensing / Dayton
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on: May 23, 2012, 12:03:12 PM
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The lines of those awaiting examinations were huge each day at the Hamvention. It was really nice to see all those faces eagerly seeking to become hams.
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