Ham Radio Questions

[Art_Davis]

My ham ticket expired somewhere in the 1970's. I am thinking of getting back into it, but have a couple of questions? I had an advanced class license. Do I have to go through the complete exam, or can I simply do a renew? Do I have to do another code test? (Strangely, I think I could still do 5 wpm. Maybe it's like riding a bike?) Finally, are there medium wave repeaters (say 20 or 40 meters) as well as for vhf/uhf? I would like to use something like Echo Link, but would love to have the extra range consistent with the lower bands? Can any of you pros help me out? Tnx.

[wa8yxm]

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.

[TBammer]

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

KE8DNJ

[wa8yxm]

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.

[Calicajun]

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

What no more Gordon West study guides? 🙂

N6TNK

[wa8yxm]

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.

[dons2346]

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

[Wadcutter]

No more code requirement. As ChuckV1 wrote just pass the Technician test and provide a copy of your old license and you're back in business with your former class. There are several places on line that have the test question pool of about 430 questions. Of those 35 will be on the test. Give them a try. You might be ready to test now.

[SCVJeff]

There are no low band repeaters per-se. There ARE low band remote base stations around controlled mostly on UHF, and most if not all are owned privately since you as the operator on UHF are a control operator for the remote transmitter.You obviously also need to possess the class license of the transmitter you control even though you are coming in on UHF (tech and above). There are exceptions tho.

There are a very few repeaters down as low as 6 Meters around the country as well, but the majority are VHF/220/UHF

[ChuckV1]

Art Davis

Great news for anyone whose license has expired and is beyond the two-year grace period. Under the new rules all they would need to do is now is pass the Element 2 (Technician Class) examination and their original privileges will be reinstated.

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-okays-changes-to-amateur-radio-exam-credit-test-administration-emission-type-rules

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0609/FCC-14-74A1.pdf

The new rules went into effect on July 23rd, 2014.

So Art dig out those old licenses and pass the Technician exam and you are back on the air again.

73 Chuck W5KAV

[Mandalay_Parr]

I'm thinking you will have to test again. There is no code required anymore. That was dropped about 9 years ago. There are 3 levels now - Technician, General and Extra.

Others will chime in I'm sure.