|
Post by Joey on Feb 18, 2023 19:05:41 GMT 10
I'm forever procrastinating on doing my foundation license, but ATM have the desire to push through with it, sadly my nearest trainer is still a 2hr drive away in either direction, but still.
But as far as radios, what should I be looking for? Wanting something that is on the popular frequencies, as with the high cost of radios these days I don't want to spend the $ on something that only has bands that are not used that often. Would be looking at something to put on my computer desk off a 12v power pack I've got sitting in the garage. Most of the radios I see are usually only either 70cm or 2m with the occasional 27Mhz
|
|
tactile
Senior Member
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 480
|
Post by tactile on Feb 18, 2023 22:41:20 GMT 10
www.strictlyham.com.au/yaesu-ft-818Has all the bands you need but is a bit low on power. If you don't plan to transmit much it will be fine, if the 70cm & 2m bands are dead in your area then just go with a HF rig like an FT-891. Second hand rigs that are good command high prices.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Feb 19, 2023 7:38:15 GMT 10
My experiences as a Ham for over 50 years. I first started with the Limited license in the 1970's. My first rig was a Yaesu FT-290R. I chose it because I couldn't make up my mind weather I wanted a portable rig or a mobile, so got a combined set. Runs on internal battery's, 8 C cells, and external 12 V DC, can operate on SSB as well as FM on 2 meters, and an output of 2.5 watts on hi power, 0.5 watts on low. Has a vinyl carry case and a mobile mounting bracket with quick release tabs to go portable. That Rig is still in use today, mounted in its mobile mount in the radio room. I also bought a 50 watt linear amp at the same time that is mounted next to it. All from Dick Smith originally. I also picked another one up at a ham fest some years ago with a dead display for $5. Both have CCTSS fitted to allow access to repeaters. Would I recommend it today ? No, its too old and parts, like the LCD display, are not available any more, and fair enough after 50 + years. I have an old Kenwood crystalized VHF set in my ute. Far too old a technology to be bothered with now. Backup VHF set is a Kenwood TR 7625, FM set with 5/25 watts power, operates on 12 volts and is synthesized on 2 M. Picked up at the same ham fest for $10, and it works perfectly. Uses a LED type display and just works. A great backup set, but too long in the tooth for a newcomer now. UHF is a Explorer kit radio that DSE distributed and was described in Electronics Australia many years ago. It still works, but we don't have any UHF (70 cm) repeaters out here, so I haven't bothered installing it. Hf gear. My main base station is a Yaesu FT501D, backup is a kenwood TS520S, both are solid state with valve finals. Not recommended as valves are now hard to find and expensive. My mobile set was (until I removed it when I stopped traveling), a Kenwood TS440S, all solid state, with a general coverage receiver and runs off 12 volts, but draws a heap of juice as it can output over 120 watts (200 watts dc input), on all HF bands. 2nd hand they are a good value rig that will get you up and running on HF easily. The inbuilt tuner really doesn't like non resonant aerials and will throttle the output power down to protect the final transistors on a long wire or similar. An external tuner is no problems though, it just the internal one seems a bit limited in what it can handle. I saw the Yaesu FT818 when it was first released and with a suitable outboard amplifier, would make the ideal rig, portable if needed, base station as well. I think my FT290R was around the same price as well when first released. And I do like Yaesu gear, even though I seem to have acquired a lot of Kenwood stuff !
Ive bought a bit of gear from Andrews communications, (http://www.andrewscom.com.au/amateur-radio), including a VHF FM portable handheld radio, and found them very helpful. I haven't had much experience with Icom gear, so can't comment re its reliability, but haven't heard any bad things either. My HF base station, the Yaesu FT501D, has had some options added, like coverage of the full 27 meg CB band at 100 watts output, so its quite versatile. All the scarcity in the world is engineered as a means of control.
|
|
tactile
Senior Member
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 480
|
Post by tactile on Feb 19, 2023 9:30:35 GMT 10
In regards to getting your licence...the clubs here in Vic that I'm involved with all now do training and assessment online. Covid changed everything in this regard. The average age of Hams is high anyway and trainers and assessors are higher again (the guys I got mine with were pushing 80 for sure) so they got on the online thing pretty quick as you could imagine, and haven't gone back to face to face yet. Check with your local clubs, you might not have to travel to do the assessment.
|
|
VegHead
VIP Member
Posts: 545
Likes: 913
|
Post by VegHead on Feb 19, 2023 14:02:42 GMT 10
12v power packs won't cut it. Even my YAESU FTdx10 draws over 2 amps on standby (receiving) and transmitting at 100W it can draw up to 25amps!
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Feb 19, 2023 14:46:28 GMT 10
Yup, that's why I have a 1,000 amp hr 12 volt battery pak (6 cells), and 1 kw solar array on the radio room. No power issues there ! A 1,650 watt inverter runs the fridge, A/C, VAST receiver etc, independent of the house system.
Thanks to these gifts from God, all the resources humanity needs to achieve abundance and end suffering already exist around us and are nearly free for humanity to harness. When these resources are properly harnessed, every human being can be healthy, wealthy, abundant, clothed and nourished. No one needs to suffer from scarcity.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Feb 19, 2023 17:24:25 GMT 10
My main station receiver is a WW2 Kingsley AR7, made in Australia and powered from the 12 v shack battery with a 12 v to 260 v gene-motor from the same era. Its all valves, but does have a external digital display. The radio works without the display though the graphs on the coil boxes are a bit hard to read, but but is 100% EMP/CME proof. www.tuberadio.com/robinson/museum/AR7/The receiver has a few mods, such as metal valves in the RF stages, and a 6F6 audio valve, but is substantially original. I have a spare set of coil boxes as well as spare valves to keep it operating for many more years. Its a 'hot' receiver and can pick up stations from all over the world, and at night, almost all Australian and NZ AM broadcast stations. A little too sensitive actually as the bands are full of stations, some interfering with each other. Would I recommend one ? Not unless you get one that's been overhauled and working and you understand the technology behind it to be able to repair it in the future. I also have several valve type homemade receivers as backups, all are inherently designed to be EMP/CME proof as well. Don't let anybody ruin your day, ruin it yourself !
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Feb 19, 2023 20:00:21 GMT 10
12v power packs won't cut it. Even my YAESU FTdx10 draws over 2 amps on standby (receiving) and transmitting at 100W it can draw up to 25amps! Yeah just looked at the output of my GME PSA1210 power unit and its only 10A peak Runs a motorola APX2500 just fine 24/7 in the mines though
|
|
tactile
Senior Member
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 480
|
Post by tactile on Feb 19, 2023 21:00:25 GMT 10
If considering an 818 your power supply will power that fine. Start getting up in the power and you'll need to upgrade or go with a battery.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Feb 20, 2023 7:00:46 GMT 10
Some advice on power supply's.
There are two basic type, switched mode and linear.
The switched mode types are cheap, lightweight and have reasonable regulation, but, most are extremely noisy electrically. This means that the internal switching noise can drown out all but the strongest local stations on short wave. There are some models that are less noisy, and these are consequently higher priced due to the extra filtering and so on that's needed.
The preferred type is called a linear supply. Due to the use of a power transformer, they are heavy, not as efficient as a switched mode type, but because they don't switch the power through a small transformer at high frequency, are much, much quieter electrically.
They are also more expensive as a heavy power transformer and heat sinking for the power devices is needed. Various designs have been published over the years in magazines like Electronics Australia and Silicon Chip. Dick Smith also brought out a 25 amp linear supply many years ago.
The best sort of power supply is pure DC, such as a battery and solar. But, some solar regulators also cause noise when in operation due to, yup, switching circuitry. Not so much of an issue as you mainly operate SW at night and there is usually no sun then !
A little research on the net will reveal many designs that can be home made, using a large power transformer, sometimes home wound, and easy to get parts like 2N3055 series pass transistors.
A good place to start is with an older 30 amp battery charger, found at the local tip. Repco made a series of them 20 plus years ago, and providing it hasn't been drowned, it will still be suitable. Add a series pass regulator arrangement and that's it, a 'quiet' 12 volt high current power supply. Also, there is nothing wrong with floating a battery charger over a 12 v battery, but make sure you don't overcharge the battery as most of these types of chargers are not regulated and will destroy a battery quickly. Mains noise can find its way into the system as well, so be aware of that source of noise.
By noise, I mean electrical noise, not physical noise, although those with sensitive hearing may be able to hear a switching power supply whine.
Ive also come across some lithium battery management systems that can also create Rf noise, so once again, be aware that that's another source of interference.
All the scarcity in the world is engineered as a means of control.
|
|
greyhat
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Likes: 38
|
Post by greyhat on Feb 20, 2023 8:49:52 GMT 10
I would start by looking at what repeaters are near you for local/regional communications. Checkout repeaterbook website or download the handy app. It will show you what's nearby such as 2m (VHF), 70cm (UHF) analog repeaters and possibility some digital repeaters (dmr, ysf, d-star). I'm out of range from any repeaters at home so use HF bands.
You will also factor in mounting an antenna or two regardless of your radio choice
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Feb 20, 2023 18:35:03 GMT 10
I would start by looking at what repeaters are near you for local/regional communications. Checkout repeaterbook website or download the handy app. It will show you what's nearby such as 2m (VHF), 70cm (UHF) analog repeaters and possibility some digital repeaters (dmr, ysf, d-star). I'm out of range from any repeaters at home so use HF bands. You will also factor in mounting an antenna or two regardless of your radio choice Just gave the app a try, says I have 13 repeaters within a 160km radius around me on both 2m and 70cm bands. Naturally the antenna will be a bridge I cross come the time. Because of my 2 story house at the moment, it'll give me some good height if I mount it on a elbow mount on the fascia board under the gutter, though unlike MWT, I don't have the space to run large dipole setup, and I'm also not too far from the local airport so need to be cautious about that as well, but I don't think my power output on a foundation license would bother with that too much
|
|
xd
New member
Posts: 9
Likes: 15
|
Post by xd on Mar 11, 2023 22:32:21 GMT 10
I'm forever procrastinating on doing my foundation license, but ATM have the desire to push through with it, sadly my nearest trainer is still a 2hr drive away in either direction, but still. But as far as radios, what should I be looking for? Wanting something that is on the popular frequencies, as with the high cost of radios these days I don't want to spend the $ on something that only has bands that are not used that often. Would be looking at something to put on my computer desk off a 12v power pack I've got sitting in the garage. Most of the radios I see are usually only either 70cm or 2m with the occasional 27Mhz I can do the training ans exam for you via teams or zoom if you like.
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Mar 12, 2023 11:45:09 GMT 10
I'm forever procrastinating on doing my foundation license, but ATM have the desire to push through with it, sadly my nearest trainer is still a 2hr drive away in either direction, but still. But as far as radios, what should I be looking for? Wanting something that is on the popular frequencies, as with the high cost of radios these days I don't want to spend the $ on something that only has bands that are not used that often. Would be looking at something to put on my computer desk off a 12v power pack I've got sitting in the garage. Most of the radios I see are usually only either 70cm or 2m with the occasional 27Mhz I can do the training ans exam for you via teams or zoom if you like. cool what should I do to prepare? I used to have a copy of the entry to foundation license book but haven't seen it since we've moved house 2 times since I bought it so might have to buy another copy
|
|
greyhat
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Likes: 38
|
Post by greyhat on Mar 14, 2023 21:48:28 GMT 10
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Mar 15, 2023 9:52:46 GMT 10
Not bad, 24/25 right. One or two questions could have 2 answers, but at least I passed, after sitting for my ham exam in front of the District Radio Inspector at the Commonwealth offices in the late 1960's. All written answers, none of this multiple choice, and the Morse exam.......A WW2 key and buzzer with an almost flat 4.5 volt lantern battery ! Gosh, he was good too. Could easy copy 40 wpm and send almost as fast.
Looking at digi ham comms, the next step after packet.
Unfortunately, it looks like my Yaesu FT-901D is too old for an off the shelf decoder solution, but as the PC I intend to use has a sound out/in, that and a switch box will work, although a bit inconvenient.
Reminder. I am of average intelligence, therefore 50% of people are dumber than me.
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Apr 16, 2023 13:01:23 GMT 10
Just ordered my new copy of the foundation book and been doing a few of the WIA practice question s and average 24/25 with my existing knowledge
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Apr 16, 2023 16:38:06 GMT 10
Go for it.
Definition of democracy 2: the illusion of freedom.
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Apr 16, 2023 17:01:31 GMT 10
Got the RES foundation training package as well and have been looking through some basic multiband starter radios off the web while trying to avoid the counterfeit icom/yaesu radios out of China
With my 10W power limit on a foundation, what does that give me realistically on the 2metre/70cm bands for distance say with just a super simple nothing fancy antenna setup?
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Apr 16, 2023 17:47:35 GMT 10
Almost anything will work for 2 meters, its line of sight anyway and a few watts gets into a repeater, or several 100 miles from a elevated location. The 10 w limit shouldn't limit the type of radio, most can have the power output set to foundation levels and easily charged to full power when you upgrade.
A 5/8 wave aerial is adequate for almost all local repeater work, and a 2 m 5 element beam is simple to construct from wood and alum tube from Bunnings.
A real Yaesu form a reputable retailer is the way to go.
You can never truly know the caliber of a man until his resilience is put to the test.
|
|