Advice for a Newbe

[ralph1336]

I am becoming more and more interested in ham radio. I have always enjoyed tinkering with electronics. I purchased a 10 channel scanner the other day at a yard sale ifigured for the parts, but I got home hooked it up to a VHF?UHF TV Ant. and programmed in some Freqs. I found on the net and I have been having a blast listening to you real hammers. I have been trying to purchase some equip. on ebay, but this hobby is more expensive then golf. lol Espeacially when your on a beer budget. :) Does anyone out there know of any 2 meter Freqs. with a lot of traffic they could pass on, or advice for a newbe. I would much appreciate it. I checked the box that said it was ok to receive emails from other members so you can email too if you like. Thanks a bunch in advance.

[5B4AJB]

Repeaters in Europe are usually between 145.600 & 125.775.
Try Googling for a local club, they'll usually have a club net once a week.
145.500 is the calling frequency, 145.825 is the ISS downlink.
See if you can find a band plan on the web too, the ARRL is a good place to start (I think you're in the U.S.)

[_2E0OZI]

Hi Ralph, see if you can find an old shortwave tabletop receiver like the Radio Shack DX394 DX302 that can do SSB USB and LSB up to 30 MHz. Then just hook it up to as long a piece of wire as you can string up, and allied with the bandplans Dem has pointed you in the direction of, you could start listening to us hams on HF, which opens up a whole world. Its fun, and you also pick up ham lingo and operating procedures by osmosis.

all the best

Scotty 2E0OZI

[ralph1336]

Thank you very much for the information. Yes I am in the US, Colorado. I have taken your advice and have emailed a local club, I am now waiting on a reply. I was not too sure how well they would receive someone with no license yet. I am studying for my tech license, I hope to be able to take the test within a month or so, I would like to review Reg. 97 but there seems to be so much, hopefully there won't be to much in detail on Reg 97 for the Tech test. Again thank you for your Help.

[ralph1336]

Thanks Scotty 2E0OZI,
I will do that. I am going to look right now. What would be a fair price for one of these rigs? I think thats why I can'y win anything on ebay, I really don't know how much I should spend in order to get started. Thanks for the advice I can tell already this is really going to be a great hobby.

[ralph1336]

I did purchase a CD disc that is called Ham deluxe. It has a log book in it and if you don't mind I will enter your name and call sign so I will have them when I am up and running. If it was up to me it would be today, but my wife don't see it happening so quickly. lol have to stash a few bucks back every now ans again. :)

[K7KBN]

Hi Ralph -

I had an aunt and uncle who lived just a bit south of you in Carbondale until they died about 25 years ago. At one time the oldest active members of the RMSP!

2-meter frequencies are pretty much line of sight from where you happen to be at the time. What's nice and lively in one place will be really quiet 50 miles away or so. BUT - up there, you might get some intermittent stuff from as far away as SLC from time to time with a good antenna. Scanners aren't generally known for performance on weak signals, though. Have fun trying!

[K7KBN]

Repeaters in Europe are usually between 145.600 & 125.775.
Try Googling for a local club, they'll usually have a club net once a week.
145.500 is the calling frequency, 145.825 is the ISS downlink.
See if you can find a band plan on the web too, the ARRL is a good place to start (I think you're in the U.S.)

Typo, Dem?

[ralph1336]

Thanks K7KBN, Small world. I happen to work for the Town of Carbondale. I am studying for my Tech. license sure is a lot to learn. I have been trying to purchase some equip off of ebay but I don't know enough yet to tell if it's a deal or not, I'm sure it will come with time. Thanks for your advice. Hope to be chatting with you in the future.

[ralph1336]

Thanks a lot Demetrius, You know I bought this scanner at a yard sale for parts, I like to tinker with the stuff. I am able to hear a repeater station from time to time, and the 145.825 ISS downlink I some times have to lock it out. It's like it is receiving a signal from it but just static. I did fin a band plan now it just a matter of learning it.lol Hope to be talking with you soon. I'm not ready for the tech test yet but I am studying.

[_2E0OZI]

Hi Ralph, not sure as to what you should pay but the reviews at this site may help - most contributors are from the USA;

Receivers

http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8

and for ham HF tranceivers..

http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/14


My expereince is not wide of ham equipment, so take waht I say with a grain of salt, but when I was a short wave listener in the 1990s I used a Yaesu FRG7700 Receiver and loved it, once I learned how to "drive" it. It never let me down but they are getting a little old, if you find a good one that works well don't pass it up as it might be a bargain.

Also Ralph, you may really want to consider buying a ham tranceiver from the beginning for the HF bands, and once again my expereince is limited but I have an Icom 718 and absolutely love it. Its FAR from cutting edge and top of the line, in fact many say its the bottom of the pile, I don't care I love it. Its easy to use almost straight away, has a big clear display, and can be picked up new or second hand at very reasonable prices in the US I believe. There are MANY reviews of it on Eham.

all the best

Scott

[ralph1336]

Thanks Scott, great information. My wife is already getting a mite testy, been hitting the yard sales and buying every radio under $2.00, never can have too many part's. lol Not counting the ones I blow just try to figure out what the hell it does.hahahahah No it's not that bad been tinkering with electronic circuits for a while and love it, nothing big just small circuits. I think thats why I am so excited about moving up to amature radio, just sounds and looks like too much fun to pass up.
Thanks for the info stay intouch. Ralph