I am of the opinion that it is true. After all I heard it from WA3NCQ(SK). Jim had the uniforms to prove it. 

I've been using my HF Hustlers for 20 years with no problems.

My only complaint is that today's cars don't have bumpers for the bumper mount.

I attended the hamfest Saturday and was suprised I had to pay twice to get in, once for the hamfest and once for a rodeo going on at the same time.

I won't be attending next year.

You can renew directly on the FCC ULS WEBPAGE and it's free.

KG6AZK

Before you haul all that gear to college, check this out. They might have a better situation.


http://web.mit.edu/w1mx/www/
73

Frank

Last month (Jan.) I attended the BARC Mini-fest at Timonium. It's put on by the same club that sponsors the Hamboree and Computerfest in March.

The Mini-fest is a yearly event that serves as a thank-you to the supporters of the March event. The admission was free as was table space. Everything was in one building.

The ratio of non-ham to ham gear was the opposite of what you find at most hamfests today. More transceivers, less computers.

There were no major vendors, but plenty of people brought there used goodies to sell.

A great time was had by all. Some good deals were made and this seller was pleased with the results.  I also bought a few things too.

This event reminded me a lot of the old Calvert Hall Hamfest of the 1970's that was the predecessor of the "Dayton Jr." held in Timonium in March.

Deals were made, lots of eyeball QSOs going on. It was a good event.

73

Frank

 

Back in the days before transceivers we would zero beat by tuning the receiver on the incoming cw signal until the audio frequency was zero. Then we would tune the vfo on the transmitter until its audio frequency in the receiver was zero. Then you knew you were on the other fellow's frequency. Then we would set the beat frequency oscillator on the receiver so that we could hear the other fellow's signal.

This technique was also used to coordinate the transmit and receive frequencies before calling CQ.

That was before sidetones and digital readouts.

Took me a while to get the hang of aligning the sidetone and receive frequencies as is now the practice.

   

WA9SVD

Don't know if it's foolish or not but IMOP it's risky.

Look at it from the FCC monitoring station's point of view. There is a radio station with a call sign on a frequency not authorized to that call sign. The fellow on duty probably has a procedure to follow that requires writing a report.

The report then goes to either Riley or the local FCC Bureau who either issues a friendly warning letter or citation to appear on the internet.

The operator has a certain number of days to explain his station's operation and why it was operating out of band.

If he doesn't reply appropriately, he may get a visit from that friendly "white van". He may even have to go to a hearing to keep his license.

I don't think after all the effort of taking tests and the expense of buying the equipment and setting it up that it is worth risking the enjoyment on amateur radio to show off a call sign to the 11 meter crowd.  They propably would resent it and the FCC would be
would be breathing our necks.

The bottom line is amateur call signs and their use are governed by Pt. 97 not Pt. 95. That's the part of the rules the FCC will be citing.

73




 

   

I would definitely NOT use my ham call on CB. The FCC could cite you for operating out of band. After all when you use your call sign you are acting under the station license granted by the FCC. Your station is not authorized to operate on non ham frequencies.

Too many of us, myself included, use our call signs as nicknames, when in fact the purpose of the call sign is to identify the station.

So to avoid any possible hassles from the FCC I only use my call on the ham bands.

73
 

Could it be BPL?

The series of Vs do not start the test. The instructions given at ARRL VEC sessions state as much.

The test by FCC definition must contain all 26 letters, all 10 numbers, plus punctuation. Six V's followed by the callsigns will not meet the FCC requirements.


73

Frank AC3P
ARRL VE

You don't mention if you have hf privledges.

If you do get an hf rig. You'll enjoy the hobby a lot more.

If you are restricted to VHF then I would suggest a mobile unit over an HT.

HTs have there uses, but the power is low and the range limited. Also as a new ham you may thinks it's great to carry an ht wherever you go, but I have found theat having one strapped to the belt gets tiresome after a while.

Mobile rigs have higher power levels and with a good antenna will allow you to make contacts at greater distance on simplex as well as reach a lot more repeaters.

Good luck with your choice.

73

Frank

I use an Antron 2m/70cm dualband mobile antenna in 6/2/440.

It's advertised as a dual band but the 5/8 wave 2 meter section also resonates on 6 with a good swr as a 1/4 wave.

Possibly any brand duoband antenna with a shunt fed 5/8 2 meter section will do the same.

73

AC3P

You may be hearing utility stations either government or commercial. They have priority over amateurs on that band. We cannot interefere with them.

73

Frank

I'm trying to figure out what a fair price for a 20 year old Mini Products HQ-1 hybrid quad would be. There is one for sale in my area and the seller does not know what to charge. I would like to offer a fair price.

Can anyone help? I ca't find much info on the web.

Tnx

Frank