Recent Discovery: HAM Radio Is Kind Of Like Bass Fishing.

Princeton_Man · June 28, 2023, 07:22:19 AM

I passed my Technician exam May 13^th. I've had a couple of VHF/UHF HT's for a while and that's all I was going to use. Joined the local HAM club, saw the radios some of the members have, and had to buy a better, more powerful radio for my tow rig. Then of course the antenna for it. Watching YouTube videos, playing with my radios, and learning that I want to be able to do more. Started studying for my General, bought a HF radio Saturday. Gotta buy an antenna! Maybe two or three! Do you see where I'm going with this?

apenland01 · June 28, 2023, 08:13:52 AM

That's super funny! Yet another thing to spend money going down the rabbit hole hahaha...

Smallie_Stalker · June 28, 2023, 10:52:54 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on June 28, 2023, 07:22:19 AMI passed my Technician exam May 13^th. I've had a couple of VHF/UHF HT's for a while and that's all I was going to use. Joined the local HAM club, saw the radios some of the members have, and had to buy a better, more powerful radio for my tow rig. Then of course the antenna for it. Watching YouTube videos, playing with my radios, and learning that I want to be able to do more. Started studying for my General, bought a HF radio Saturday. Gotta buy an antenna! Maybe two or three! Do you see where I'm going with this?

Yep. Your wallet is gonna need another compartment.

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Princeton_Man · June 29, 2023, 06:19:51 AM

Quote from: apenland01 on June 28, 2023, 08:13:52 AMThat's super funny! Yet another thing to spend money going down the rabbit hole hahaha...

Quote from: Smallie_Stalker on June 28, 2023, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: Princeton_Man on June 28, 2023, 07:22:19 AMI passed my Technician exam May 13^th. I've had a couple of VHF/UHF HT's for a while and that's all I was going to use. Joined the local HAM club, saw the radios some of the members have, and had to buy a better, more powerful radio for my tow rig. Then of course the antenna for it. Watching YouTube videos, playing with my radios, and learning that I want to be able to do more. Started studying for my General, bought a HF radio Saturday. Gotta buy an antenna! Maybe two or three! Do you see where I'm going with this?
Yep. Your wallet is gonna need another compartment.

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Yup, between fishing, radios, firearms, and taxes, I'll never be able to retire.

Oldfart9999 · July 06, 2023, 07:14:28 AM

No doubt you'll be losing weight, what with all the money going out for various and got to haves it'll cut into the food budget.

I had a brother-in-law who was into ham radio big time, he had as much gear in that as I have in bass fishing, he Belonged to MARS so saved a fair amount from them.
Rodney

caddyjoe77 · July 07, 2023, 09:04:44 AM

one of the hobbies i never picked up -- for the reasons you mentioned.

I already have enough and not enough time to participate in them.

Wizard · July 09, 2023, 12:59:46 PM

The first HAM club was located near the sloughs and oxbows just off the Mississippi River outside Granite City, Il. The club was named the Egyptian Radio Club, had a large homemade antenna and lots of members. It was in operation into the 1950's, at least. I plan to visit the area in August for a family reunion and look around. I believe the radio club is long gone but will visit the area.

Wizard

Smallie_Stalker · July 09, 2023, 01:05:02 PM

Quote from: Wizard on July 09, 2023, 12:59:46 PMThe first HAM club was located near the sloughs and oxbows just off the Mississippi River outside Granite City, Il. The club was named the Egyptian Radio Club, had a large homemade antenna and lots of members. It was in operation into the 1950's, at least. I plan to visit the area in August for a family reunion and look around. I believe the radio club is long gone but will visit the area.

Wizard

When I think about a ham club it has nothing to do with radios!

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Oldfart9999 · July 10, 2023, 11:00:43 AM

Makes me think of a sub.
Rodney

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Donald Garner · July 10, 2023, 03:04:09 PM

Stratos Buddy, sounds like you got into another hobby there

Have fun with it. Sounds like you'll be working some overtime or have to stop eating to pickup these new toys

Princeton_Man · July 11, 2023, 05:31:01 AM

Quote from: Smallie_Stalker on July 09, 2023, 01:05:02 PM
Quote from: Wizard on July 09, 2023, 12:59:46 PMThe first HAM club was located near the sloughs and oxbows just off the Mississippi River outside Granite City, Il. The club was named the Egyptian Radio Club, had a large homemade antenna and lots of members. It was in operation into the 1950's, at least. I plan to visit the area in August for a family reunion and look around. I believe the radio club is long gone but will visit the area.

Wizard
When I think about a ham club it has nothing to do with radios!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

You want that with Swiss on Rye?

Quote from: Donald Garner on July 10, 2023, 03:04:09 PMStratos Buddy, sounds like you got into another hobby there Have fun with it. Sounds like you'll be working some overtime or have to stop eating to pickup these new toys

This just kind of snowballed, Don. I really hope that once I've established the level of communications ability that I'm looking for, that this will level off. I need a couple new rods!

Dog · October 01, 2023, 01:43:30 AM

Only expensive as you let it get. Went down to 1 hf rig 2 dual band HT one dual bad mobile rig.
Not knowing what you have for space etc for antennas I really like the MFJ 2389 covers 80 meters to 2 meters and it is small in size. I also use a Cushcraft A-3s 3 element beam on a 50 foot crank up tower and a inverted v for the rest of the bands. My HF rig I have had forever Yaesu ft-9-- with the AT-2 built in tuner and few other extra filters. Does what I need and want.

Princeton_Man · October 01, 2023, 08:54:53 AM

Quote from: Dog on October 01, 2023, 01:43:30 AMOnly expensive as you let it get. Went down to 1 hf rig 2 dual band HT one dual bad mobile rig.
Not knowing what you have for space etc for antennas I really like the MFJ 2389 covers 80 meters to 2 meters and it is small in size. I also use a Cushcraft A-3s 3 element beam on a 50 foot crank up tower and a inverted v for the rest of the bands. My HF rig I have had forever Yaesu ft-9-- with the AT-2 built in tuner and few other extra filters. Does what I need and want.

That's a great all-in-one package! How is it for DX? Space is something I have plenty of, at least for antennas. The only ones I have up at the moment is a ZeroFive 43' vertical for HF and a Diamond X30A for 2m & 70cm. Real estate on my office desk at home is running low, with an iCom IC-7300, Alinco DR-MD520T, tuners, and trying to make room for the Ameritron 811. I'd like to add a VHQ Hex beam in the near future, but that won't happen this year. I have an FT2980r in the truck, but would eventually like to add either an HF rig or upgrade an all band all mode rig there.

This all started with a single HT.

Dog · October 01, 2023, 09:23:38 AM

It is probably one of the best dx rigs I ever owned. She is old but works like new. 1994 vintage what I do like is I can toss it in the car put the main chassis in the back and use the seperation kit and mount the front panel by the dash. It is a 100 watt unit butt has ran around 150 from the day it was new.
I need to see if I have any pics of my old ham shack it was loaded with gear but as I get older I know my time is shorter so the reason I decided to reduce down to 1 hf rig and couple of HT rigs and the one mobile. So if I go before the spousal unit she wont have to deal with a lot of stuff.
Now my tools is another story lol many years of collecting them and I do still use them to make money.
My favorite HT is my Icom IC-91A awesome rig.

Dog · October 14, 2023, 04:37:04 PM

Have you been running the bands at all? man its been crazy all wide open germany uk ireland japan all over the place worked a lot of stations the past couple of days.

Princeton_Man · October 14, 2023, 07:05:33 PM

Quote from: Dog on October 14, 2023, 04:37:04 PMHave you been running the bands at all? man its been crazy all wide open germany uk ireland japan all over the place worked a lot of stations the past couple of days.

When it's at it's best, I'm usually at work, but I've been running them every chance I get. I've had QSOs with Australia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Italy, Chile, Lithuania, Portugal, Belgium... 14 countries so far. Had Japan yesterday but there was a bit of a language barrier. He understood my call, I couldn't understand his.

While I don't like any part of Winter in these parts, I'm looking forward to some good radio time.

Dog · October 15, 2023, 08:48:36 AM

Ive worked a lot of JA stations mobile in the past running 10 watts lot of fun. Great your having fun with the hobby. Its the best way to travel the world. If you havnt yet get into QSL cards. they have programs for your computer to make them.
I really need to unbox all of mine and get up on the wall lol.Moved into our new house 13 years ago and still unpacking.