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Added 02/24/04
Hi Mark & Bob,
Thanks for your input. What radios are you two running? I have an Icom
M-700 w /an Icom AT-120 tuner. I set it up today at home, to try & listen
& hopefully kinda learn the ropes. I really don't have a clue as to what I'm
doing. The only thing I seem to receive is a weather station. Can you give me
some elementry listening tips ? I
got my radio from Mike Keers, so he already has some freq's entered into it.
This is the same radio he used on his solo trip from Mexico to Hilo on his
Defender a couple of years ago. I
still don't have my call letters, so I can't xmit yet, but I'd like to hear
someone out there.
Doug Ward
I have an Icom TC-90A
handi-talker. It has 6 meters, 2 meters, and 440 ham
bands and can receive almost everything from 495khz to 999.99Mhz. I also
have a Realistic HTX-100 10 meter. I will probably get an Icom706IIg or
similar multiband multimode radio. I like the remote controller feature of
the 706. I bought an Icomn IC-2AT hand held on ebay that I plan to use in
conjunction with a Tiny Tot III and DeLorme Earth mate GPS to make a
portable APRS station. I just finished the Tiny Tot kit. All I need
to do
is program it and set up the system (need to make some connecting cables, etc.)
In addition to the obvious boat uses, I've become involved in
RACES/RAVES and taken the first level emcomm course. I think the only
hobby as addictive as HAM radio is sailing!
The things I did that got me started were; join ARRL, join the local HAM
club (El Cajon Amateur Radio Club) and spin dials. Some bands are very
quiet and it may seem that you aren't anywhere but if you wait a few minutes you
may pick up something. 10 meters isn't very good right now. The
higher frequencies are line of sight so repeaters are used a lot. Tuning
in a repeater is a little tricky although with dial spinning you can hear them
easily enough, you just won't be able to talk back. That's where joining a
local club can help a lot. I know you stay in touch with Mile K and the
Smith's. Both of them are much more experienced that I. Dave
especially
would be able to advise you on what radios are best, where to find the most
interesting nets associated with boating, etc. BTY, I haven't seen any
posts from Dave lately. I assume he is still in Quivira Basin but it's
been
a year or two since I've been there. He is still around, isn't he?
Dr. Dave:
A few weeks ago, we had a discussion on ham radio and you wrote, "only
sissies used kits!"
Well, I guess I'm a sissy. I sure ain't a knowledgeable electronics
experimenter like you.
My Heath/Zenith XT clone came in 3 big boxes (one just for the manuals),
about a hundred small bags of resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. It had no
motherboard, but instead had a "backplane" into which plugged 5
accessory boards for RAM, CPU, video, disk controllers, etc. Each of the chips
on those boards had between 8 and 64 pins plus a tiny capacitor. That amounted
to thousands of solder joints. It was pretty high-tech in 1985, although it is
completely obsolete nowadays. but it still runs like a watch.
My Dynakit Stereo 150 amplifier and Hafler DH110 preamp had fewer parts but were
challenging in other ways. I think if I can build something, I can
understand how it works (maybe specious reasoning). Plus, I ended up with
equipment that was at least the equal, and in many ways superior, to
anything being sold by the big companies for a fraction of what they cost in
a store.
I got a lot of enjoyment of building those kits and they still work better
than most mid-range stuff you can buy. It gives me great pleasure when I
turn on my stereo and hear Mozart, The Grateful Dead, Steeleye Span and It's
A Beautiful Day in all their splendor.
Mark turned me on to Elecraft, who make high-quality radio gear for home
assembly. They even make small low-power radios that will work on boats,
bicycles, etc. After checking their web site these past weeks, I can see the
Elecraft ham radio kits will much more difficult than anything I've tried
before. I'm not sure I can wind my own toroids. But I'm willing to try. From
reviews I've read, Elecraft gear can hold their own with Kenwood, Icom,
Yaesu, etc. Also, I try as much as possible to buy stuff made in the USA,
but that ain't gettin any easier either. Elecraft kits meet that
requirement.
So this would really be an ambitious undertaking for me. Plus, I wanna prove to
my doubting British amateur radio enthusiast friend I can do it. He is ona boat
in Gibraltar and I wanna talk to him over the airwaves.
Wish this sissy luck.
Steven Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, Florida
Steve, Iīve also looked
at the Elecradft website and I find their prices pretty steep (not in
comparison to new Ham gear,a but to used ones). The Icom 725 I bought
second-hand (with pwoer supply) cost me $ 500 in 98. OK,itīs pretty basic, but
I could do FSK, Pactor and all that stuff with it. A TS 440 would be in the same
opriuce range. If youīre not a dedicated DXer, these will be quite sufficent if
you put up a decent antenna at a reeasonable height. I made to of them when I
was in Mondtevideo, first a Zygi (a bent Yagi thatīs no biger than a regular TV
antenna) that was for 20 meters only and later a "Jungle Job"
tribander that were very effective.
As far as Heathkits go, I once oprdered one of their loudspeaker
"kits"; it was actually a bass reflex loudspeaker plus the plans for
the cabinet. I had a local cabinetmaker make the cabinet. It sounded so great
that Arthur Grumiaux, a fellow citizen and one of the worldīs greatest
violiniusts, exlaimed when he heard one of huis pieces on that loudspeaker
"What a splendid stero system you have !" That speaker is still in our
living room along with a Radio Shack bass reflex so that we now have a real
stereo...
john
John:
I hadn't considered used Ham gear because I'm not knowledgeable enough to know
what I'm getting or to assess condiiton.
Besides, I like the idea of building my own stuff.
The development I live in is very restrictive as far as additions, changes,
etc., to the houses. they're like the gestapo. Got my 6th oir 7th letter
from them about various deficiencies of my property. They complained that my
truck was an eyesore and that I had to remove it. They told me to get a new
mailbox because the old one was a bit rusty and the post was mildewed. theytold
me I had to get the mildlew off my roof and the side of the house (3 times).
I painted it, but this is Florida. Mildew happens. I hate it, but Isigned
the community association agreement that lets me own my lot and house.
They can sue and get a lien on my house.
So, an antenna would be a challenge. I'd have to use a bow & arrow to shoot
a wire up on one of the cypress trees behind my house..
Steven Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, Florida
steve.. not to offend..
i was speaking in past tense bravado mode! old
poops do that, I''m afraid. I'm going to look into Elecraft. maybe I
could afford to build a good receiver, I need some occupational therapy that a
man with bad eyesight and one hand can accomplish without annoying his
keeper/wife with toomuch blue language!
cheers
Dr Dave
Steve, thatīs why hams
in restricted communities are so "patriotic" and have a big flagpole
in front of their houses; itīs actually a 1/4 wave antenna in camouflage
suit....Just check with google for "flagpole vertical antenna".
john
Dr. Dave:
I wasn't offended. I was trying to justify myself, I guess. I know
there
are real electronics wizards out there. You're probably one of 'em.
Good luck. There are lots of help links on the Elecraft site, 'cept I doubt
you'll need much help, at least from a theoretical standpoint.
Bye for now. I'm going to the Miami Boat Show for 5 days..
Later,
Steven Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, Florida
Also try a Google search for "Stealth
Antenna". I found lots of interesting ideas filed under that
topic.
C