HAM questions

[R-32]

I was working a shift at the fire station a couple months ago, and we had to goto the local thrift store for an alarm. anyway I noticed that there was a box with a little handheld 2m/70 cm for $10.00 (Radio Shack HTX-245) so I went back and picked it up the next day just for kicks. When I was a kid I was in the Civil Air Patrol, and we took our Novice tests ( even had to learn Morse Code back then) so we could use the packet system (?) I never did get into the Ham stuff back then other then using it so I could fly my R/C airplanes on the Ham bands, and it is long expired by now. Flash forward, Last week I was cleaning out my truck and found the box with the radio behind the seat. I kinda have the bug to take the test. I seem to be doing well with that QRZ online test, and think when I get some time I will go and take it, but I have the bug to buy a moble/Base rig... Im thinking Tri-band. The RACES guys have a little station set up where I work in the dispatch center and other then this little HT I have never really seen anything Ham before. At the RACES station there is a ICOM IC 38a, Kenwood TM441A, and another Icom IC229H. I kinda like the looks of the little Kenwood. I also would like to get another hand held that may take a better beating Im thinking Icom, or Yeasu...

Are there even any stores local to the Everett area that I can go and look at other radio's?, I also would like to get a better antenna for this little thing I picked up. It looks like it was brand new, and never used, but it needs SMA ( ? ) type antenna. Also, anybody know where I would look to see who offers the test, When/Where?..

Sorry for the Noob type questions, but I gotta ask somewhere.

 

[Stavro35]

There are no stores in the metro area period of which I'm aware. ABC communications in Seattle.But I don't think they do HAM radio. They do old scanners..

 

[R-32]

There are no stores in the metro area period of which I'm aware.

So it pretty much is true...


HAM Radio is a dead/dieing hobby being kept alive only by old men, and old men with internet stores?

How do you all check out the equipment you want to buy then?.. You just trust some write-up in a magazine, or trust the pictures and ad's on the internet?

 

[mikepdx]

HAM Radio is a dead/dieing hobby being kept alive only by old men, and old men with internet stores?

I regularly QSO with a 14 year old ham that lives
nearby who would likely disagree with you.
He got several of his buddies interested,
and they're all on the air as well.

How do you all check out the equipment you want to buy then?.. You just trust some write-up in a magazine, or trust the pictures and ad's on the internet?

I find it very odd myself that Seattle has NO amateur radio stores.

If I had no store near me, I would check out equipment reviewed by hams
on eham.net, or equipment discussion forums, get together
with a local ham club (their members will gladly show you/show-off their equipment),
or of course, make the trek to Portland or Vancouver BC to a ham store there.

 

[lowboy654]

Ham is not dead in this area i will look around and repost here I have a few links to hams in this area I know that everett and people at boeing are in to the Ham thing as well as people in marysville, stanwood and up north to

 

[mcooke]

Eham.net is a great website, especially the product reviews which are user submitted. If you're seriously looking at spending some cash, and want to go hands on with a number of radios to try out, drive a few hours south to Ham Radio Outlet in Portland. They have most of the radios set up on a table that you can listen to and tinker with. Also a very helpful staff.

Mike, KD7QLU

 

[R-32]

Bummer deal!...

I would think that there would be something at least semi local. O-well, I guess it is just another hoop to jump throug in the quest to get started.

Thanks everyone for the info.

 

[ke7joi]

try the arrl web site it has a list of area hamfest in the area near you I have gotten most of my radios from hamfest and friend I have no equipment that I have purchased new this area is very active with hams just try putting 145.190 or 147.200 into your scanner and listen i used 145.190 lyman mountain repeater almost daily

 

[T68]

Amateur Radios

Well, unfortunately the ham's are their own worst enemy when it comes to "local" stores. The ones that were in business in the Seattle/Everett area over the past 15 years were struggling against mail order outlets - ones that could get you a better price, no tax, and shipping to your door (usually for free). The ham's went mail order, and the local stores slowly went out of business.

I bought my Kenwood TH-F6A tribander at Radio Depot (in Seattle). He did his best to match the online pricing, and was within about $15. I wanted to support my "local store", so I bought from him.

Now, we have nothing local, and complain about it.

But, I have purchased a fair amount of gear from mail order. So, we are all guilty of letting the "local stores" die off.

But, to stay on topic....I would recommend the Kenwood TH-F6A as a portable. It's the only one that has full power on 144/220/440 bands, a great general coverage receiver (for it's size, anyway), and the battery life is real good. The local 220mhz activity is fairly good - at least, there are some great high level repeaters on the air, with some activity on them.

And, in my opinion, 50mhz in a portable radio is a waste. The "duck" antenna is so inefficient that it's performance is not very good - unless you are using it at a Hamfest for close in simplex, or line of sight with a repeater. An external antenna will help, of course, but it's still usually a 5 watt radio and that doesn't do a lot to overcome the inefficiencies of an antenna at those frequencies.

So, I guess the best way to evaluate radios now is:

Online forums (such as this one or e-ham);
Asking folks that actually have a particular radio, and see what they like/don't like;
Or, drive to Portland and check them out in person, side by side, at Ham Radio Outlet.

That's just the way it is now...I'm partial to Kenwood radios, but each manufacturer has had their great radios and duds.....you have any particular one in mind?

Also - the ARRL website (www.arrl.org) has information on VE Testing sessions, and I believe they can be searched by zip code (or some other geographic method). Usually, the Sno County Hams club has one every other month or so near the Boeing plant.

Brad/N7JGX
Whidbey Island, WA
147.540s
224.780r
444.300r

 

[R-32]

Brad,

Thank you for the well presented reply. Im going to go for the tech, and the general at the same time next month (as long as I can get the time off at work, if not the month after) Im kinda looking at the Kenwoods also, but at this time I am still trying to get a feel for what I will want.

 

[R-32]

Work cut me a really, really, really fat check, add in the monthly Vol. checks from the Fire dept. that I still have not cashed I have a little over $700.00 to play with, Im thinking FT 8800R ( I dont like the mic. but have never used one like that so I will give it a chance) I kinda like the Cross band repeat option even if Im not ready to use it yet. but still looking for a tri-bander wondering if I should get the Tri-bander in another Moble/Base type radio, or get it in the hand held..

The mission is to get one rig into my truck, one rig into my house ( Man room), and a hand held that will go around with me in my pack when I play with the Fire dept or SAR./ Work.

 

[jparks29]

grow a pair!

Grab an IC-7000.

:nana:

 

[R-32]

grow a pair!

Grab an IC-7000.

:nana:

Nice!

I have not even looked for a price yet, but Im sure after I add a power supply, antenna, tuner...

I will need another fat check.

 

[R-32]

OK I have pretty much settled on the FT-8800R for my truck rig, but Im still kinda up in the air on a Handheld.

Im looking at the,

Kenwood TH-F6A <--- This one seems to be in the lead but durability is a need for me.

Yaesu VX-6R <--- I hear that the batt life is on the short side, and there are some problems with power, and user friendlieness, along with no Duel receive.

Yaesu VX-7R <--- ?

I would rather have a tri-bander for my HT rig for now. are there any other good options?..

Also where do you guys around here order from? I want to get my 8800R, and handheld along with antennas for both here as soon as I can nail down which HT I am going to go with.

Then I have to make the hunt for the HF rig.

 

[hoser147]

Ham is very much alive and well in my area. Go for it............Good Luck Hoser147

 

[R-32]

Ham is very much alive and well in my area. Go for it............Good Luck Hoser147

I will keep that in mind, If I ever visit Ohio.

 

[rescuecomm]

Unfortunately, the guys are correct. The local radio stores went belly up due to the online stores being cheaper. The end of the CB craze also caused a slump in their bread and butter sales. The online stores have good prices, but I like to see what I am putting my money down for. Plenty of new hams around here including my 19 year old son.

And who you calling old anyway? Im 54 and still getting reps with 275 on the bench.

Bob

 

[R-32]

And who you calling old anyway?

Anybody older then me?..

 

[lowboy654]

Anybody older then me?..

just how old are you???/???

 

[R-32]

just how old are you???/???

34 going on 12.