HAM Radio Discussion

[ChadAmberg]

Anyone else doing digital modes on HF? I've been working a lot of stations around the planet on JT65 lately...

[HoneyBadger]

Did we have a backup power/solar thread? emergency charging of devices like cell phones?

I'm getting back to work on my portable solar power project. If there isn't a thread, I'll start one.

Please do. I would like to get a few semi-portable panels that could intermittently power a few important devices/appliances. Not sure what kind of battery setup I would need.

[Dave_L]

My handheld HAM will be here next week. I'll have to start studying and get my license soon.

Also, for portable solar, I ordered this guy a week ago:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-ALLP...ds=solar+panel

I don't know how much juice you're looking to get but this seemed like a good option for when power goes out or for camping trips. I plan to use it to charge up the portable electronic battery/recharger things, then use those to charge the electronic devices.

This is the type of battery/charger I'm talking about.

[zimagold]

Anyone else doing digital modes on HF? I've been working a lot of stations around the planet on JT65 lately...

I was running PSK31 this spring back in Pennsylvania. Still trying to figure out the HF antenna in Condo now that I moved and don't have a yard.

[hatidua]

GilpinGuy,

Buying that Baofeng in the link in an above post is likely cheaper than the gas it'd take you to get to Boulder & home but I'd be happy to loan you one of my Yaesu FT-60R's if you want to see if you can hit a few repeaters from your front porch. I have friends that live in one secluded spot in Gilpin county and I simply cannot hit any repeaters from their property but that's potentially a unique scenario. PM if you want to borrow a radio to see how your location does.

[ChadAmberg]

I was running PSK31 this spring back in Pennsylvania. Still trying to figure out the HF antenna in Condo now that I moved and don't have a yard.

I have a yard but am kind of lazy, so I went with an SGC-239 external auto-antenna tuner in my little shed, connected to a ~100ft loop of wire that kind of goes up the side of the house, and around the fence. Lots of folks use the SGC tuners connected to random lengths of wire, maybe you can simply hang a wire out the window? Or connect one end to a tennis ball real good, and throw it up into the gutter whenever you want to use it. Alternatively, I hooked my tuner up to my gutter and used that as an antenna. Worked pretty well when it wasn't raining!

[gnihcraes]

anyone want to step up their radio presence? not mine, just surfing and found it.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4797706026.html

I wonder if the equipment is included and what exactly that equipment is? Such poor photos, difficult to tell.

Gas price is down and it might be possible to afford driving that V10 around.

Could be an interesting project.

[sellersm]

Anyone tried the new Baofeng BF-F8HP? More power, bigger battery, other cool stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MAULSOK/

[buffalobo]

Anyone tried the new Baofeng BF-F8HP? More power, bigger battery, other cool stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MAULSOK/

Looks good, especially for folks just getting in Ham radio.

[zimagold]

Haven't tried the BF-F8HP, I have 3 of their radios. Favorite is definitely the UV-82. I believe its considered commercial grade and feels better made with solid audio reports.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E4K...ueL&ref=plSrch
Having said that, I have no real complaints about the other models. Programming has been fine with them, just feel a bit like a home science project.