Ham Radio Questions

I was just listening to a QSO between a couple of the guys down there a few minutes ago and one commented that all his students had passed the test. You must be one of them.. Welcome back!

Just a last note: Went to the Yuma hamfest today, took the technician test and passed! Yabbadabbadoo, as Fred Flintstone would say. Now to figure out what's going on! (Gotta' confess that I tried to get cocky and took the general exam---missed by one question! Now to unravel the issue of how to grandfather the tech license up to my previous class.) Lots of nice folks associated with the examining team and the Yuma ham club, by the way!

BTW: Is anyone in the Yuma area? I'd appreciate some advice on how to access the local repeaters and what kind of handheld transceiver to get to access them. I will play around with the vhf/uhf bands before pursuing the hf emergency issue.

This might answer some of your questions.
Exam-credit

Thanks to everyone who responded. On having proof of expired license---I don't seem to have retained a copy of my license in my personal documents. The call has been reassigned, but would the FCC have a record of my license data? If so, how do I access it?

On the issue of repeaters---what I had in mind was an automated equivalent of the old phone patch. (In my case it was simply holding the receiver up to the mike. Mike? Nowadays they shorten it to mic! When did that slip past me?) I have seen postings here about the best emergency off-road tools, and most seem to feel that cb is worthless. I think the real issue is range, and those two meter and shorter wavelength repeaters would seem to be too short range for true emergency communications.

What I was thinking was to requalify for my ham ticket, then---in an emergency in the boonies---contact someone (an automated repeater?) who could patch me through to either a cell phone network or the internet so I could, in effect, phone a friend or "Joe's Garage" to come haul me out.

Any thoughts or comments?

P. S. Several folks on this forum have recommended the DeLorme satphone communicator (text only). I have one and am happy with it, but the limitation to text and the inability to have a decent phone-type interaction in an emergency situation makes me nervous---and I am too cheap to want to pay for a full-fledged satphone.

Two, one is Anderson power poles.

IN my RV the decision as to where to mount the primary HF/VHF/UHF radio was based in part on not wanting to annoy the wife.. Thus a room with a door. This kind of limits me but as it turns out said room has a significant advantage or two.

House 12 volt system as shipped was a pair of GC-2 maintained by a Progressive Dynamics 9180 with optional wizard.. Now I can give you my opinion of that 9180 with wizard, or the 9280, or for that matter any PD Wizard controlled converter (I have yet to find a better converter and I've been looking for a decade or more so said opinion is high, very very high).

On this RV however the mounting location (As far from the batteries as possible) makes little sense. But about half way between them is the main 12 volt distribution panel.. It's in the hall-wall (a very logical place) and the other side of that wall is the room with the door.

So I just tapped the 12 volt fuse panel, it has several vacant slots, Added a fuse and job done. The TS-2000 is happy, does not matter if it's on batteries, the 9180 or both, I can't tell the difference (Unless I look at the voltmeter, it tells me when there is a difference 13+ = 9180, less = batteries)

Now the other advantage: Ever check into a net and as the NCS says "Go ahead (Station before you) Stand by YOU".. You feel the urge to be sitting.... Elsewhere..... Well.. In my shack, you are already sitting there, No need to leave the room or even change seats,, Just lift the lid and drop... Something else, and sit back down.

Any suggestions for power outlet for a mobile base unit in the trailer?

KE8DNJ

Re Gordon West Study guides.
I had a book like that as one of my college text books. I did not like that style of study guide, and I still do not.. but I'm told for those not technically oriented.. That is the best (It does make a good "ofline ham test review".

Like the QRZ on-line tests but no internet needed.

Now I really liked the ARRL guide. that left me with basically one rough spot (Smith charts) and one other thing I did not understand (Power factors) we covered them in week 3, I think (may have been 2) of a six week course,, I tested out at week 4 since I had to hit the road.. Got my license a month later in the mail.. FCC took long enough. Now I can't take any more ham radio operator tests... I mean, Extra class.

dons2346 wrote:
Use AA9PW to study the questions and you will be back in business

What no more Gordon West study guides? :)

N6TNK

With a license 40 years gone yes, you will have to re-test, but no Morse Code, I'd get either the General or Extra (or both) study guides and go for it.. I'm an Extra even though as you can see from my User ID, the call is Technician class, the license became Extra in 2006.

No repeaters below 10 Meters, not sure about 10, 6 meter are rare 2 Mtr and 70 CM are common.

On 20 and 40, Who needs repeaters?

Some URLs you might like:
amateurlogic.tv George was given an award for that show at Dayton
twit.tv/hn Ham nation, K9EID and crew talk about things of interest to us
Amateur logic will link to Ham College.. But that's aimed more toward Technician class applicants

www.qrz.com
hamtestonline (google it)
wtww.us (this is a readio station, 1.1 Gigawatt spread across multiple transmitters, Broadcasting mostly religion but transmiotter 2 is mostly music. On Sat at 2pm (eastern) they play Theater organ Music featuring K9EID on the keys, and at 2:30, usually, Amateur Radio Newsline.

You can also get 'em most anywhere in the world with a general coverage receiver.

And of course ARRL.ORG.. they have the answers to your questions.

Use AA9PW to study the questions and you will be back in business