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Author Topic: New Ham Tech  (Read 171 times)

KJ7RTV

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New Ham Tech
« on: October 24, 2020, 05:40:26 PM »

Just poppin in to say hey. New ham licensee in SE Washington state. Trying to find a handheld that'll work for me. Something easy to program. Tried the Baofang Made me crazy.
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K6AER

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2020, 09:25:28 PM »

Don't fret going crazy with the Baofang. I have my license for 61 years and I am a retired RF engineer. A ham buddy here in NM gave me a Baofang to keep and after to days of trying to program the unit for the local repeater I gave it back to him.

It is like a C+ programmed came up with the operating architecture.
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KJ7RTV

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2020, 01:13:14 AM »

Yeah looking around to find the perfect handheld for me.
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KS2G

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2020, 04:52:37 AM »

Yeah looking around to find the perfect handheld for me.

No one here can tell you the "perfect hand-held for you".

"Perfect" for you depends on what YOU plan to do with it, and what features YOU desire, and how much YOU want to spend.

Look here for some help in figuring that out:
Choosing a Ham Radio: Your Guide To Selecting The Right Equipment
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Ham%20Radio%20License%20Manual/HRLM%203rd%20ed/Choosing%20a%20Ham%20Radio-2014.pdf

 ;)
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KG4RUL

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2020, 05:16:07 AM »

Give some thought to what equipment you will want when you upgrade your license.  If you own an all-mode, all-mode transceiver you can use it later for your upgraded license and use it now for operation on 10M and up with your technician privileges.
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AC2EU

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2020, 08:26:20 AM »

It seems that almost EVERYONE'S first radio is some kind of VHF/UHF type. I don't know why that is other than the Technician license affords the most privileges there. Although you do have some phone on 10 meters.
CW on 80/40/ and 15 mters.
My first radio was a Yaesu FT60 which is not that hard to program "on the fly".
I heard from numerous hamd that the Baofeng is a nightmare to program without using a computer link.
I believe most use CHIRP.

Despite it's drawbacks, you can't beat the price to test the VHF waters. You probably won't use it that often,anyway, once you discover HF.

KG4RUL

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2020, 08:59:51 AM »

It seems that almost EVERYONE'S first radio is some kind of VHF/UHF type.

I guess that I am an outlier.  My first radio as a Technician was a Yaesu FT-100D.  Then I bought an iCOM IC-32 handheld.  Then the  FT-100D was relegated to a mobile install after I got a Kenwood TS2000(X).  Finally I took the General and Extra exams.

While I was a Tech, I made over a hundred contacts via satellite, using the TS2000(X) and a homebrew AZ/EL mounted Arrow, dual-band antenna.  I worked Europe on 6M and up and down the East Coast on 2M and 70CM with the occasional 10M contact thrown.

So, what I am saying is that there is life beyond FM repeaters.
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KF6QEX

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2020, 11:40:39 AM »

Just poppin in to say hey. New ham licensee in SE Washington state. Trying to find a handheld that'll work for me. Something easy to program. Tried the Baofang Made me crazy.

Congratulations on getting a license!

Concerning the Baofeng, do yourself a favor:
Download the VIP and the Chirp software
Buy a programming cable , the one from BFTECH PC03 using the FTDI chipset for about $22. (just don't compare the cost of the cable to the cost of a Baofeng, compare it to the cost of a new japanese HT for about $300 to $600 and you'll feel better about it ! )

Programming the Baofeng either from the keyboard or using software is  nothing compared to trying to program one of the radios that include  either "delaygital" or "distorgital modes" , usually referred to as "digital".

Each radio has it's programming idiosyncracies. Some are more "compatible" with our own expectations.






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AC2EU

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Re: New Ham Tech
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2020, 12:03:01 PM »

Concerning the Baofeng, do yourself a favor:
Download the VIP and the Chirp software
Buy a programming cable , the one from BFTECH PC03 using the FTDI chipset for about $22. (just don't compare the cost of the cable to the cost of a Baofeng, compare it to the cost of a new japanese HT for about $300 to $600 and you'll feel better about it ! )


The Yaesu FT60 is down to $160 now! I think I paid close to $300 for mine back in the day. I still use it occasionally, more so in the winter to get NOAH reports and local weather hazard info from Hams. I ditched the original antenna, replacing it with an Jetstream JT776 which vastly improves perfomance.
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