Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: I am trying to get back on the air  (Read 578 times)

KD9DOG

  • Posts: 489
    • HomeURL
I am trying to get back on the air
« on: July 10, 2022, 02:33:09 PM »

Could someone help me on choosing which of the airways is best to start out on both financial and interesting, should I go HF or should I go UHF/VHF?
Logged

W1VT

  • Member
  • Posts: 6071
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2022, 02:45:24 PM »

If you have a lot of time but not much money, I'd suggest learning CW, perhaps up to 15 wpm using online resources, and then getting on the air with a QRP 40M CW rig with a full size half wave dipole. 

Zak W1VT
Logged

KD9DOG

  • Posts: 489
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2022, 03:16:52 PM »

Hi Zak,
I very much would like to learn but I am so artheritic that I do not think my fingers or wrist could handle it, I did have a nice setup but had to sell everything to pay for a dentist and I thought MD's were expensive and came away with less teeth. I am leaning towards the VHF/UHF as used it is cheaper than the HF rigs. Have a great sumer.
Jim KD9DOG
Logged

W1VT

  • Member
  • Posts: 6071
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2022, 04:13:40 PM »

One option may be to use a keyboard to send and to copy by ear.
Logged

W0CKI

  • Member
  • Posts: 637
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2022, 04:18:22 PM »

Yaesu and others make inexpensive VHF&UHF gear.
Gary W0CKI
Logged

W6SWO

  • Posts: 54
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2022, 05:20:24 PM »

While HF is great, it can be very expensive to get started with if you're on a limited budget.  I would say get on VHF/UHF with a simple antenna that can be placed just about anywhere.  Then you could get engaged in local nets, local clubs, and chat to your heart's content.
Logged

WA3SKN

  • Member
  • Posts: 8126
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2022, 05:57:19 PM »

Well, what are the local clubs doing?
Gotta budget?
What are your interests?... desktop, mobile, portable operations?

-Mike.
Logged

KE6SLS

  • Member
  • Posts: 104
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2022, 06:30:31 PM »

Could someone help me on choosing which of the airways is best to start out on both financial and interesting, should I go HF or should I go UHF/VHF?

Radio prices have come way down over the years.  Purchased the Icom ic-7100.  HF thru UHF in one rather compact rig.  Even if you don't dip into the HF realm, having VHF & UHF sideband is a blast and doesn't cost much to get going.  It's also digital ready when you dive into that turf which is wildly popular. 

You can also setup a simple random wire and also enjoy some great contacts.

If you have specific questions, I'm good on qrz and happy to help.

73
j
Logged

7200MHZ

  • Posts: 2
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2022, 06:33:52 PM »

Could someone help me on choosing which of the airways is best to start out on both financial and interesting, should I go HF or should I go UHF/VHF?
Easy Peasy. For about $200 or less you can be on the air in 30 minutes going VHF/UHF. That wil get you talking on local repeaters with local people you can actually meet and interact with. With the same radio, talk all over the world through the networks VHF/UHF repeaters offer.

For $1000 and a lot of time setting up an antenna you will never get right for HF gets you nothing but a down payment. What you get when you finally spend enough money and hear something, are two old bald men, sucking on O2 bottles, arguing of a comb complaining how they sick and tired they are all day long. 
Logged

K6AER

  • Member
  • Posts: 7159
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2022, 07:55:35 PM »

VHF and UHF is boring. Same people every day even if you can even find someone using a repeater.

HF is much more fun.

You can buy a: TS-50, TS-180, DX-70, older Yaesu HF rigs for under $300.

Home made dipole should cost under $50 including used coax.

Cast away car battery and an 8 amp charger and you are on the air.

Check with the local ham club and I'll bet the folks will be able to help you a lot.

73, Mike K6AER
Logged

KD9DOG

  • Posts: 489
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2022, 08:44:23 PM »

The club in my area is well mostly into VHF/UHF and not sure if there is a repeater I had heard the reapeter went down, I did have a Yaesu 9100a which I liked and I did work a few of the HF bands but I kept coming across these cranky old men telling me this freq was a net and so on they must have been cbers in there young days. I think I will go the VHF/UHF route it is less expensive and not as heavy. Thanks for the help God Bless
Logged

W0CKI

  • Member
  • Posts: 637
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2022, 07:28:38 AM »

For someone who has over 400 postings on this site you should certainly have adequate knowledge about the hobby. Are you really asking a serious question?
Gary W0CKI
Logged

KD9DOG

  • Posts: 489
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2022, 09:35:14 AM »

Yes I am serious very serious, most of my postings were about the FT6 andother programs trying to get it to work, I am asking because I do not want to spend or should I say waste money. How about we drop this posting or whatever it is called as I have no intention of defending myself.
Have a nice day
Logged

KG6BRG

  • Posts: 150
    • HomeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2022, 11:06:56 AM »

Looks like a feather or two was ruffled, anyway my take on ham radio is, that it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it.  $300.00 for a used rig, homebrew antenna, and a tuner if needed for under $100.00. Many options for dc power.   If you get lucky, an even better price on a used radio.  I once picked up an IC-735 and the controller, with an ah-2 tuner, all for $150.00.  Such a deal, I should have kept that whole package.  Or you can spend thousands on the latest, greatest radios, towers, antennas, etc.  I saw a new ham do that, including a new stand alone ham shack to put it all in.  He never even turned on the Kenwood ts-990 as it intimidated him.  He spent his time on an FM repeater, then died.  The equipment still sits doing nothing.  Cheap and simple, and QRP is my idea of fun at least.
Logged

K2WH

  • Member
  • Posts: 214
    • homeURL
Re: I am trying to get back on the air
« Reply #14 on: October 07, 2022, 03:31:13 AM »

An ICOM 706mkIIg is all you need for everything you want to do.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up