Well, my radio and antenna arrived!
My power supply was pushed back until the end of September. I think I'll cancel that part of the order and purchase something else that's available.
Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
- SoupOrMan
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Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Remember, folks, you can't spell "douche" without "Che."
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
- randy
- Posts: 8334
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
- Location: EM79VQ
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Cool!
Ask around the local ham clubs. Someone might have one they would be willing to sell or loan you to get started.
Ask around the local ham clubs. Someone might have one they would be willing to sell or loan you to get started.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
- SoupOrMan
- Posts: 5686
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:58 am
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Just got the email from DX Engineering, I should have the power supply by Tuesday.
Remember, folks, you can't spell "douche" without "Che."
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
- randy
- Posts: 8334
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
- Location: EM79VQ
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Cool! Which one did you get?
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
- SoupOrMan
- Posts: 5686
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:58 am
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
I got the Alinco DX-330 that I originally ordered. So far the antenna has worked well for 2m & 70cm, and I have been hitting local repeaters from inside my house with no trouble. I'm going to do an antenna swap and run my coffee can antenna for 2m & 70cm while using the Compactenna as a dedicated 6m antenna for a few days and see how that works. After that, I'm going to try my hand at building a good dipole for 10m. 12m may be as far as I can go and still have an attic antenna without a dedicated external tuner.
D-Star sounds great through the 7100 and I'm looking forward to working with that as well. Eventually I'll get a small laptop and dedicate that to stuff like WSPR/FT8, Netlogger and other useful programs.
I doubt I will run the 7100's maximum power through the coffee can antenna. I can get 50W max for 2m and 35W max for 70cm.
What is nice with the Alinco power supply is that it also has a cigarette lighter plug on the front in case I need to charge my D74 through it.
D-Star sounds great through the 7100 and I'm looking forward to working with that as well. Eventually I'll get a small laptop and dedicate that to stuff like WSPR/FT8, Netlogger and other useful programs.
I doubt I will run the 7100's maximum power through the coffee can antenna. I can get 50W max for 2m and 35W max for 70cm.
What is nice with the Alinco power supply is that it also has a cigarette lighter plug on the front in case I need to charge my D74 through it.
Remember, folks, you can't spell "douche" without "Che."
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
- HTRN
- Posts: 12401
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:05 am
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
How do you switch between antennas? Do you have to physically switch connections, or is it some kind of switch?
HTRN, I would tell you that you are an evil fucker, but you probably get that a lot ~ Netpackrat
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
- SoupOrMan
- Posts: 5686
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:58 am
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
The 7100 has two antenna connections: one for 160m to 6m, the other for 2m & 70cm. It switches based on which wavelength you're using at the time.
Remember, folks, you can't spell "douche" without "Che."
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
- SoupOrMan
- Posts: 5686
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:58 am
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Okay, I have now built a dipole for 10m. If my NanoVNA is calibrated properly, my antenna and my ubiquitous RG-8X feedline has an SWR of about 1.6 to 1.7 at roughly 28.325MHz.
I went through 28.300 to 28.500 for about a half hour tonight and couldn't find anyone. I'll try again tomorrow.
I went through 28.300 to 28.500 for about a half hour tonight and couldn't find anyone. I'll try again tomorrow.
Remember, folks, you can't spell "douche" without "Che."
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
“PET PARENTS?” You’re not a “pet parent.” You’re a pet owner. Unless you’ve committed an unnatural act that succeeded in spite of biology. - Glenn Reynolds
- randy
- Posts: 8334
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
- Location: EM79VQ
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
I haven't seen a lot of activity on 10 the last few weeks on the digital modes.
When the band is open You can do a lot. Back in the late 90's I worked Italy, Poland, Belize and Grenada using a converted 11M vertical on a tri-pod in the front yard and a RadioShack 10M mobile.
When the band is open You can do a lot. Back in the late 90's I worked Italy, Poland, Belize and Grenada using a converted 11M vertical on a tri-pod in the front yard and a RadioShack 10M mobile.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
- randy
- Posts: 8334
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
- Location: EM79VQ
Re: Taking the plunge into Ham Radio
Just for grins you ought to check your analyzer to see how it tunes on 6M
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".