HAM Radio Discussion

[bobbyfairbanks]

Tim just bought a radio. We should get together and study over a beer

[sellersm]

The next local test isn't until February 8th, so I'm just reading whatever piques my interest while taking practice tests.

If I pass the technician test, can I take the general test at the same time?

Where do you find about the local tests?


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[rbeau30]

Where do you find about the local tests?


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http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session

[Tim K]

Tim just bought a radio. We should get together and study over a beer

Anytime.

[Tim K]

I just read the section on digital operation on UHF and VHF in the ARRL's operating manual. I'm pretty comfortable with technology, but that just whipped me. It seems there are 40 different variations of digital comms, and they all have three acronyms associated with them.

Ugh.

[sellersm]

http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session

Thanks! I need to get my wife & I certified this year... Anyone in the Springs working on this?

[bradbn4]

Thanks! I need to get my wife & I certified this year... Anyone in the Springs working on this?

I just finished up my 3rd test this year taking the tests around the local Springs area. The one up in Woodland park will offer you free coffee and donuts for the test. The one in Colorado Springs proper is ok; had to figure out the real testing location because they only put the signs out for the test after the test time started. The Monument testing location one is a real nice location; however my Garmin GPS unit located the testing spot a good .5 further down the road.

So on average there is a place you can test in the local Colorado Springs are each month.

The local meetup for preppers did a class last year. About 30 folks showed up the Woodland park group testers and it took longer to get the test than it took me to ace the test. The first test for me was more common sense and a refresher for my high school electronics class. The second test was about 2x harder; while the 3rd test was a bit harder for me to get the facts to jell into my head.

[thedave1164]

The first level license is like a drivers permit, you aren't expected to know everything, but you should know the rules of the road.

So if you memorize the test in order to pass it, not really an issue.

Being a ham is also not something that you can really learn on your own, it is about learning how to interact with others as much as it is about the technical side of things. Learning from others is actually more fun than you might think, especially if your Elmer is a WWII vet or the like

[Singlestack]

Last year, I bought the Technician study guide and read through it completely, then went to ehams.com and memorized the General test answers - passed both in Feb. Got a Baofeng UV-5R as RBeau and many others have - fantastic radio for the price. I wanted to get into D-Star and so got the Icom ID-51A for Christmas - a truly incredible radio! I will say the Baofeng is much simpler and I recommend buying it first to get familiar with FM and basic ham radio operation. It is dual band and transmits and receives very, very well.

We had a face-to-face meeting last year at 10mm Man's location in Denver with folks from Denver and the Springs, but the big problem is we haven't identified a way for all of us to stay in communication. Analog repeaters only talk so far, and handhelds have limited power/range. We could use the CRA linked repeaters in an emergency, but didn't feel comfortable having a regular netmeeting on it without joining. Now D-Star would absolutely allow us scattered around the state to have a netmeeting, but right now D-Star = Icom and Icom = expensive - so is impractical for the objective here. Anyway, if the more creative among us have a solution, I'm sure there is huge interest.

[Tim K]

It seems from limited experience that there's a gap in the ranges which can be covered be ham between repeater range and typical HF ranges. It's even worse if the repeaters are down. Coviring one state sized area looks like a real problem. I think I understand why the military is so invested in satellite comms.

Does anyone know how long the repeaters might typically stay up in the event of a long term power outage? Do any have solar back up power?