Re: FT-60R $174.95 at HRO!
Rick:? Our group here in Florida tests on the First Saturday of each
month and we mail the results the same morning.? Usually, the call sign is
issued and in the FCC data base on the following Monday....Tuesday at the
latest.? I was one of those back in the 60's that passed the test and
waited, what felt like an eternity, before receiving my call sign.? In
today's age computer age, the FCC is very quick to?issue and post new
licensees, rather than performing those duties by hand in the old days. We have
many people who take the Technician exam and immediately after passing it, we
give them the General exam.? Today, 3 out of 4 passed the General on the
same day as the Technician.? Keep in mind the pool of questions for
Technician class?will change on July First, and the new pool has been
released and can now be found online. The Gordon West series of study books are
simple to understand and adequately explain the questions when you are stuck and
scratching your head.? They seem to be much better than others out there
because of Gordo's talent and ability to simplify.
Good Luck.
73
John
KU8Q
?
In a message dated 6/7/2014 10:30:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
FT-60@... writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
?
When I took my exam back in 1986, I remember knowing my call sign at that
time. Still had to wait for the physical license to arrive but I was "legal"
right away and headed to HRO to get my first radio.?
Sent from my
iPhone
?
Gil,
Ah, you
answered a few questions that were puzzling me. So you are told test results
immediately and the FCC posts your call sign within a few weeks. Nice to
know.
Thanks,
Rick
?
I will second
the vote for gigaparts -- I got my FT60 there, and they were fast and on the
ball.
I also second
the recommendati on to take more than just your tech test, as it costs
nothing more that day. ?I studied for my tech until I was hitting good
scores, and studied a bit of the general just before going for the test.
?First test I had taken in 30 years. ?I got 100% on the tech, so
they asked me if I wanted to take the general. ?I had nothing to lose
so I did. ?I got 100% on it so they asked me if I wanted to take the
extra. ?Now I had not even peeked at any extra questions, but I am also
an EE so I figured I had a shot. ?Did not do as well on the extra test.
?Only got 87%. ?But they said that was good enough, and a week or
so later I was AF7EZ. ?So try them all, you have nothing to lose but a
few more minutes.
|
Re: FT-60R $174.95 at HRO!
When I took my exam back in 1986, I remember knowing my call sign at that time. Still had to wait for the physical license to arrive but I was "legal" right away and headed to HRO to get my first radio.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 5:52 AM, "'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
Gil, ? Ah, you answered a few questions that were puzzling me. So you are told test results immediately and the FCC posts your call sign within a few weeks. Nice to know. ? Thanks, ? Rick ? ? ? I will second the vote for gigaparts -- I got my FT60 there, and they were fast and on the ball. I also second the recommendation to take more than just your tech test, as it costs nothing more that day. ?I studied for my tech until I was hitting good scores, and
studied a bit of the general just before going for the test. ?First test I had taken in 30 years. ?I got 100% on the tech, so they asked me if I wanted to take the general. ?I had nothing to lose so I did. ?I got 100% on it so they asked me if I wanted to take the extra. ?Now I had not even peeked at any extra questions, but I am also an EE so I figured I had a shot. ?Did not do as well on the extra test. ?Only got 87%. ?But they said that was good enough, and a week or so later I was AF7EZ. ?So try them all, you have nothing to lose but a few more minutes.
|
I give up. ?I live in Ohio and only visited Phoenix once. ?Saw lots of hills and lots of antennas. ?You’ll have to get a better answer from a local.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Jack,
Which hill?? White Tanks? McDowell Mtn? South Mtn?? There are a lot of mountains here.? Most with antennas on them.
I just thought he was referring to a specific location with more than usual amount of antennas on it.? Perhaps it is something special in the ham world.? I am new to the area.
- Mike
At 06:13 AM 6/6/2014, you wrote:
??
Look on top of the hill.? Those are not flag poles.
Jack, ae8p?
On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:49 AM, Michael Lynch?lynchmf1@...?[FT-60] <FT-60@...> wrote:
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote:
??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn???t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ???tick???? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...?>
|
That makes sense to me. It would be line of sight.?
Rick
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 4:12 PM, "Dave Jeffries radioranger44@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
Great repeater up on white tanks................ ?34/94 pair. ?I forget the PL tone. Access it all the way from Quartzsite.
From: "Jack Travis ae8p@... [FT-60]"
<FT-60@...>
To: FT-60@...
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2014 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [FT-60] general question
?
The things that disrupt the blue sky.
Jack, ae8p
What hill?
?Look on top of
the hill. ?Those are not flag poles. Jack, ae8p
Rick, I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that
a ham radio would be the way to go. I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice. Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to? - Mike At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo' ?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote: ??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is
because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
I'm using the iPad app "Repeater Book" and it show 6 repeater channels at the Antenna Farm on South Mountain.?
Rick
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 10:08 AM, "Michael Lynch lynchmf1@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
Jack,
Which hill?? White Tanks? McDowell Mtn? South Mtn?? There are a
lot of mountains here.? Most with antennas on them.
I just thought he was referring to a specific location with more than
usual amount of antennas on it.? Perhaps it is something special in
the ham world.? I am new to the area.
- Mike
At 06:13 AM 6/6/2014, you wrote:
?
Look on top of the hill.? Those are not flag poles.
Jack, ae8p
On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:49 AM, Michael Lynch
lynchmf1@... [FT-60]
<FT-60@...>
wrote:
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications
when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a
year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone
coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We
were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on
our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I
figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a
home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the
time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some
helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this
"antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'
rgsparber.ya@...
[FT-60] wrote:
?
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a
ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my
wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog
circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical
aspects of being a ham.
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I
know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to
helping out in an emergency to social.
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to
get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights
( ). It was
getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn???t have my
license.
?
So what makes you guys ???tick???? What got you interested in being a
ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my
intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo"
<rgsparber.ya@...
>
|
Have you tried to unlock the keyboard by pressing and holding the six key until it unlocks? Jardy Dawson WA7JRD Sent by something that worked, apparently....
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 11:49, " robert_martins31@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
The Keyboard of my Yaesu FT-60
is blocked after cloning with "CHIRP".
The Reset Procedure, page
64 from the operating manual, does
not work.
Via the keypad
no commands
are accepted. The FT-60 clone
again is impossible,
because I do not reach into the clones mode.
The
Dispaly and the Keypadbeeper functionally
normal.
Haunted there
any other (unofficially) reset
options for the
Yaesu FT-60?
Googling did not yield any useful information.
What can I do in this
situation?
---Supplement---
After
switching on the FT-60 remains
virtually in DTMF
mode.
The 16 keys cause
a DTMF tone in the
speaker from the Radio.
The Dial-Knob has no effect (no
reaction).
To CLONE:
The last "CLONE" was successful (OPM page 65).
I turned off the
radio. When I turn on the radio
again, said
the situation *blocked*.
73
HB9MQC
Robert
|
On 6/6/2014 9:26 PM, kg7dju kg7dju@... [FT-60] wrote: In the mean time I enjoy using my mobile FT-7900 when I travel during my
retirement. So, I am also quite new to ham-ing and this reminds me of a basic question I keep forgetting to ask: When traveling around, how do you find local contacts? (And what do you talk about?) d/ kk6fop -- Dave Crocker Brandenburg InternetWorking bbiw.net
|
Great repeater up on white tanks................ ?34/94 pair. ?I forget the PL tone. Access it all the way from Quartzsite.
From: "Jack Travis ae8p@... [FT-60]"
To: FT-60@...
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2014 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [FT-60] general question
?
The things that disrupt the blue sky.
Jack, ae8p
What hill?
?Look on top of
the hill. ?Those are not flag poles. Jack, ae8p
Rick, I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that
a ham radio would be the way to go. I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice. Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to? - Mike At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo' ?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote: ??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is
because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
Makes sense now, appreciate the insight.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 1:23 PM, "Jack Travis ae8p@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
The things that disrupt the blue sky.
Jack, ae8p
What hill?
?Look on top of the hill. ?Those are not flag poles. Jack, ae8p
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote:
??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
I'm a newbie, just in it for a year. I like the idea of knowing what is going on around me, especially during a communications breakdown or ?in times of civil unrest. Hopefully none of those things will happen but I believe in being prepared. The Boy Scouts motto made an impression on me. In the mean time I enjoy using my mobile FT-7900 when I travel during my retirement. Talking along the way makes the travel time go faster. People on Ham radio are a polite bunch of folks, not like many of the CB'rs. I'm enjoying the hobby and hope to for many years to come.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 9:22 AM, "'John Murphy' jmurphy7411@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
My motivation started way back in the early ‘60’s.? My math teacher was a ham and every once in awhile he would throw something into a class about ham radio. Also I was sort of interested in electronics so was taking an electronics class in junior high (what you young folks now call middle school). I was given an National NC88 shortwave radio for Christmas in year in the middle ‘60’s, and I just enjoyed listening to bradcast shortwave stations from around the world. One night I was just tuning around I heard someone talking so I stopped and listened. I soon listened to two hams going back and forth for about 20 minutes, and at that point I knew I wanted to be on the radio, so I started checking out the ARRL Handbooks from the school library and reading them from cover to cover.? I then learned how to get my ham license, and after my family moved from N. Caroline to San Diego, CA, I started studying and in he early ‘70’s found out I had to go the FCC Field Office in San Diego to take the test. A friend of mine from high school and I eventually went there (not at the same time, but within a few weeks of each other), took the test, and the hardest part was waiting until the license showed up in the mail (unlike today where you find out immediately that you passed, and had a callsign within 10 days). It took about 4 months for that letter to arrive to find out if I had passed and what my call would be (WN6OTL). Life got in the way and my license came up for renewal while I was in basic training for the USAF, and my drill instructor would not let me go to the MARS station to renew it (back then you had to have an Advanced or better give you the code test and the renewal test), so my license expired (there was NO grace period), so it was until 2000 when I took my Tech test and passed, and get back into the hobby, and within 3 years was a General.? I guess , to make a long story shorter, the reason I got back into it for the 2nd time was public service aspect.? I am really involved in ARES, AFMARS, and just using my equipment for helping other.? I enjoy talking as much as the next ham, but to me the reason for having the license is helping others, as it says in Part 97.1(a) “Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.” These are my reasons I got into the hobby. ? ? 73 de KC?JPO/AFA8JP?
John Murphy, B.S. C.J.; B.S. BusMgmt; MBA Marketing GMRS Licensee WQOW801 PopComm Monitoring Station KPC0JPO
"When all else fails...Amateur Radio" PIO Adams County (CO) ARES ARES/RACES/AFMARS Nothwest Area, Region 8 USAF Security Police, 1973-84 Owner, Oil Country Radio’s 701-421-1134 Business Email: ocr58763@... Personal Email: jmurphy7411@... ? ? ? ? I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham. ? What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social. ? My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn’t have my license. ? So what makes you guys “tick”? What got you interested in being a ham? ? I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent. ? Thanks, ? Rick
|
The things that disrupt the blue sky.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
What hill?
?Look on top of the hill. ?Those are not flag poles. Jack, ae8p
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote:
??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 6, 2014, at 7:13 AM, "Jack Travis ae8p@... [FT-60]" < FT-60@...> wrote:
?
Look on top of the hill. ?Those are not flag poles.
Jack, ae8p
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote:
??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
The Keyboard of my Yaesu FT-60
is blocked after cloning with "CHIRP".
The Reset Procedure, page
64 from the operating manual, does
not work.
Via the keypad
no commands
are accepted. The FT-60 clone
again is impossible,
because I do not reach into the clones mode.
The
Dispaly and the Keypadbeeper functionally
normal.
Haunted there
any other (unofficially) reset
options for the
Yaesu FT-60?
Googling did not yield any useful information.
What can I do in this
situation?
---Supplement---
After
switching on the FT-60 remains
virtually in DTMF
mode.
The 16 keys cause
a DTMF tone in the
speaker from the Radio.
The Dial-Knob has no effect (no
reaction).
To CLONE:
The last "CLONE" was successful (OPM page 65).
I turned off the
radio. When I turn on the radio
again, said
the situation *blocked*.
73
HB9MQC
Robert
|
Jack,
Which hill?? White Tanks? McDowell Mtn? South Mtn?? There are a
lot of mountains here.? Most with antennas on them.
I just thought he was referring to a specific location with more than
usual amount of antennas on it.? Perhaps it is something special in
the ham world.? I am new to the area.
- Mike
At 06:13 AM 6/6/2014, you wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
?
Look on top of the hill.? Those are not flag poles.
Jack, ae8p
On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:49 AM, Michael Lynch
lynchmf1@... [FT-60]
<FT-60@...>
wrote:
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications
when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a
year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone
coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We
were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on
our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I
figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a
home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the
time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some
helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this
"antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'
rgsparber.ya@...
[FT-60] wrote:
?
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a
ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my
wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog
circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical
aspects of being a ham.
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I
know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to
helping out in an emergency to social.
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to
get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights
( ). It was
getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn???t have my
license.
?
So what makes you guys ???tick???? What got you interested in being a
ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my
intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo"
<rgsparber.ya@...
>
|
My motivation started way back in the early ‘60’s.? My math teacher was a ham and every once in awhile he would throw something into a class about ham radio. Also I was sort of interested in electronics so was taking an electronics class in junior high (what you young folks now call middle school). I was given an National NC88 shortwave radio for Christmas in year in the middle ‘60’s, and I just enjoyed listening to bradcast shortwave stations from around the world. One night I was just tuning around I heard someone talking so I stopped and listened. I soon listened to two hams going back and forth for about 20 minutes, and at that point I knew I wanted to be on the radio, so I started checking out the ARRL Handbooks from the school library and reading them from cover to cover.? I then learned how to get my ham license, and after my family moved from N. Caroline to San Diego, CA, I started studying and in he early ‘70’s found out I had to go the FCC Field Office in San Diego to take the test. A friend of mine from high school and I eventually went there (not at the same time, but within a few weeks of each other), took the test, and the hardest part was waiting until the license showed up in the mail (unlike today where you find out immediately that you passed, and had a callsign within 10 days). It took about 4 months for that letter to arrive to find out if I had passed and what my call would be (WN6OTL). Life got in the way and my license came up for renewal while I was in basic training for the USAF, and my drill instructor would not let me go to the MARS station to renew it (back then you had to have an Advanced or better give you the code test and the renewal test), so my license expired (there was NO grace period), so it was until 2000 when I took my Tech test and passed, and get back into the hobby, and within 3 years was a General.? I guess , to make a long story shorter, the reason I got back into it for the 2nd time was public service aspect.? I am really involved in ARES, AFMARS, and just using my equipment for helping other.? I enjoy talking as much as the next ham, but to me the reason for having the license is helping others, as it says in Part 97.1(a) “Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.” These are my reasons I got into the hobby. ? ? 73 de KC?JPO/AFA8JP?
John Murphy, B.S. C.J.; B.S. BusMgmt; MBA Marketing GMRS Licensee WQOW801 PopComm Monitoring Station KPC0JPO
"When all else fails...Amateur Radio" PIO Adams County (CO) ARES ARES/RACES/AFMARS Nothwest Area, Region 8 USAF Security Police, 1973-84 Owner, Oil Country Radio’s 701-421-1134 Business Email: ocr58763@... Personal Email: jmurphy7411@... ? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 7:59 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: [FT-60] general question? ? I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham. ? What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social. ? My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn’t have my license. ? So what makes you guys “tick”? What got you interested in being a ham? ? I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent. ? Thanks, ? Rick
|
??
On Friday, June
6, 2014 9:13 AM, "Jack Travis ae8p@... [FT-60]" wrote:
?
Look on top of the hill. ?Those are not flag poles.
Jack, ae8p
Rick, I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go. I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice. Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is
this "antenna farm" that you referred
to? - Mike At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo' ?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote: ??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in
college. So I
understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So
what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
Way back in ancient times, my SWL hobby influenced my job choice when I enlisted in the Army Signal Corps in 66. During my 20 years I operated & repaired fixed station RF radios covering the entire ranged from VLF to microwave as well as multiplexers, data modems & circuit conditioning equipment. That included being? Chief Engineer for a post radio station with two studios and broadcasting over closed circuit TV and low-power broadcasting and writing the technicial?& financial justification for the military's first authorized stateside FM broadcast station which was built after I went to Germany. ? Also spent two years at the underground Pentagon where our equipment included a truck I would love to have today.It was a 64 IH crewcab with a console & swivel seat in the back with HF, VHF & UHF radios with antennas mounted on the truck. We would take it out weekly for practice, mainly ussing the HF to contact our counterparts & some distant air bases. With a newwer truck it would be great for doing some mountain top DXing around here. ? I spent a couple of years in a Direct Support Maintenance Shop where I mainly worked on the AN/FRC-93, more commanly known as a Collins KWM-2A transceivers. We were directly responsible for Collins putting in pluck-out relays because the factory tech-rep for the battalion, who spent most of his time at our shop away from the
brass, got tired of us complaining so much about having to repair the wires to the relay all the time because of their spacing and the rate of relay replacement. ? Because I was the Station Chief of Fayetteville M/W, I was given the added job of Station Chief of AGA8MS, the Air Force Mars Station at Mangil San, Korea. It was fun as a Army SSG E-6 being in charge of a bunch of operators consisting mostly of?Air Force officers. ? I joke sometimes that my blood runs Signal Corps Orange. I had brought several novice/technician books & a couple sets of CW tapes over the years but got transfered overseas or got busy with duty and/or family while on active duty and then working to support the family (included time installing Primestar Satellite TV & repairing
test equipment for the telephone industry) after I retired from the Army. I finally got my license after a friend held a one-day class. I only get on HF when the club has a station set up but I spend most on my time on the club's VHF repeater which covers a large area. ? John? N4SME ?
|
Look on top of the hill. ?Those are not flag poles.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo'?rgsparber.ya@...?[FT-60] wrote:
??
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.?
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.?
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights (?). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn?t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ?tick?? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
|
Thanks to all for the great answers. Very helpful. ? Rick ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 11:57 PM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] general question? ? I'd been in CAP radio communications since 1958. ? ?Built power supplies to run WWII surplus radios, ?Built and aligned SSB transceivers. ?Modified part 95 sets for CAP use. ?etc etc. ?In 1980 I had some CAP cadets who wanted to learn more about radio so I was taking them across town to the HAM club's novice classes. ?Well since I had to be there (for the Cadets) I figured I might as well pay attention. ?We all took the tests (Code and written) and passed. As soon as I got my license in the mail i went over to the FCC office in New Orleans and wrote the general test to get my technician license. ? ?Never looked back. ?? Now my main interest is in public service comms, ?runs, walks, bike races, weather spotting, MARS radio, etc. Dave J ? ?N0GMP // AFA8CI (AFMARS) // Grasslands44 (CAP) ? ? I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham. What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social. My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn’t have my license. So what makes you guys “tick”? What got you interested in being a ham? I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent. ?
|
Mike, ? You provide a real show stopper of a reason to have a ham license and a HT. As with any insurance, it is best if you don’t need it. That is not to say that you can’t use the HT for social and practice reasons. ? The antenna farm is on South Mountain. You can see it when landing at Sky Harbor Airport. ? Rick ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 9:50 PM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] general question? ? Rick,
I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.
I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.
Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?
- Mike
At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60] wrote: ?
I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.
?
What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.
?
My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn???t have my license.
?
So what makes you guys ???tick???? What got you interested in being a ham?
?
I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.
?
Thanks,
?
Rick
Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@...>
?
|
Jardy, ? Excellent point. When I hike the mountains near my home, I can see the cell plus repeater towers and see Phoenix below. Yet cell coverage is spotty because the providers are beaming their energy off of the mountain, not to the mountain. Having an FT-60 for emergency communications could save the day as long as the repeaters do not have the same radiation pattern. ? By the way, quick rescue around here is absolutely critical. In the summer during the heat of the day, if a person runs out of water, they can be dead in 20 minutes. Happens far too often L ? Thanks, ? Rick ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 9:33 PM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] general question? ? Search and Rescue and Emergency Communications; | | | |
2013 - CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE Silver Star Search & Rescue is a non-profit organizati... | | | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | | | |
Jardy Dawson
WA7JRD Ham Radio
Sent by hurling dead pigeons over the wall by trebuche. ? ? I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham. What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social. My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn’t have my license. So what makes you guys “tick”? What got you interested in being a ham? I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent. ?
|
Dave Jeffries AF0DJ