HAM test

[ttlradioman]

Well guys, I'm going to take my tech test on thursday! I've been cramming like crazy, and I meticulously wrote down every question and answer! Any advise, comments, frequencies I can use or anything else would be appreciated.


Thanks, ttlradioman

 

[crayon]

good luck!

 

[K8PBX]

Well guys, I'm going to take my tech test on thursday! I've been cramming like crazy, and I meticulously wrote down every question and answer! Any advise, comments, frequencies I can use or anything else would be appreciated.

Thanks, ttlradioman

Take the practice tests at www.qrz.com

 

[freqscout]

First off let me say GOOD LUCK!

There are several active repeaters in OK!

http://skynet.entz.net/webpages/shorty/orsi//ORSIFreqs.htm

This is the online list of repeaters coordinated in the state of Oklahoma. Keep in mind that just because they are coordinated that they are not always active so do not be discouraged if some of them cannot come up on your radio.

 

[W2SJW]

Good luck, man!

I'm going for my general on Saturday morning...

 

[ttlradioman]

I passed! I missed 7 though. Ill hopefully have my callsign by tuesday.

 

[crayon]

I passed! I missed 7 though. Ill hopefully have my callsign by tuesday.

yay! Good for you!

 

[mam1081]

Congrats!

Now all you need is a radio! Let me/us know if you need help deciding on one. There are always people around that are willing to help. Heck, there might even be someone here in the Metro that has a radio for sale.


I would recommend a dual-band radio (at least). There is a lot of activity on VHF and UHF here in the metro.

 

[ttlradioman]

I was looking at a yaesu vx-7r for a handheld, but im still not sure on what to get for a mobile. I was looking a the ft-7800r but it doesnt do ct or dc. The 8800 looks good though. Any suggestions?

 

[K5MAR]

I know several who have been happy with the 8800, and I set one up for the local Red Cross van, so I'm buying one for myself at the hamfest next weekend. I'd say you can't go wrong with the 8800.

Mark S.

 

[ttlradioman]

How much does the 8800 run?

 

[mam1081]

I have a VX-7R, and it's a good little radio. I don't use it much on 6m, but 70cm and 2m work well. Low power on 220 hasn't seen much use either.

What do you mean by CT or DC ? Surely not CTCSS or DCS...

Both the 7800 and the 8800 do that. Main difference is the 8800 is dual-RX, while the 7800 only has one-band-at-a-time. You can save about $100+ getting the 7800 if dual-RX isn't that important.

Prices found on the Yaesu 8800:

$389.95 from Universal http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/0080.html

$369.00 from Gigaparts http://www.gigaparts.com/parts/profile.php?sku=ZYS-FT-8800R (free separation kit)

$374.95 from HRO http://www.hamradio.com/ (search for it) (free separation kit)

 

[n4voxgill]

the best bargain today is a Icom IC-T2H that is a 2 meter 5 watt handheld. Uses 8 AA batteries can be NIMH, Nicad or even alkalines. Less than one hundred dollars. Plenty of capacty and can be programed with a computer. I bought mine from www.gigaparts.com

This is great as I have a bunch of AA NIMH 2500 ma batteries and they last a long time even when transmitting. I use the new MAHA battery charger that charges one to eight batteries at a time..

I have several dual band radios, and frankly hardly ever use 440 MHz.

 

[ttlradioman]

so the 7800 does dcs and ctcss? Ill just get that one then. Ill get my handheld first.

 

[mam1081]

the best bargain today is a Icom IC-T2H that is a 2 meter 5 watt handheld. Uses 8 AA batteries can be NIMH, Nicad or even alkalines. Less than one hundred dollars. Plenty of capacty and can be programed with a computer. I bought mine from www.gigaparts.com

This is great as I have a bunch of AA NIMH 2500 ma batteries and they last a long time even when transmitting. I use the new MAHA battery charger that charges one to eight batteries at a time..

I have several dual band radios, and frankly hardly ever use 440 MHz.

I've never heard of an open 440 repeater in New Braunfels area - is there one? I used to live in Seguin, and yes - just about all the ham activity is VHF there.

OKC is a different story. There are quite a few VHF repeaters, and quite a few UHF ones also. I think it has some of the best repeater locations around this area. There are several that I know of that have RX/TX antennae >1000' AGL! (ours was like 200' in Seguin - 146.76). Needless to say, a VHF/UHF dual-bander would serve you well. In addition to using it for ham, you can listen to public safety stuff on it also. VHF will let you listen to OCPD (for the time being), Nichols Hills, Moore, and a few others; while UHF will allow you to listen to the SO, The Village, Warr Acres, Bethany, Midwest City, etc...

Sounds like the HT will get you started. It is a little complicated at first, but the VX-7R has everything! I usually hang out on 444.775 + 107.2 (KK5FM)

I would think the 7800 would do you well. Try reading some reviews on www.eham.net before you finalize your decision!

 

[Drifter]

Take the practice tests at www.qrz.com

He he he, took one test just for the heck of it... 80%
Okay, been waaaaaay too long since I studied that stuff!
Felt stupid after two of the questions though...sort of a "DOH, I knew that!"

 

[W2SJW]

7 guys plus myself in my club have FT-7800's. We love them to death! It was a smashing success as an upgrade to the gremlin-ridden FT-7100.

Now, my fellow club members are still jealous of me because I'm the first in this part of Central NJ to own an IC-7000...

 

[K5MAR]

Just FYI: through the end of March, the remote mount kit for the 8800 (a $50-$60 value) is included for free. If you don't remote the head, that's not a factor, but I do, so that's the deal clincher for me. If there is a vendor at Green Country, I'll get one there. Otherwise, I'll be mailordering it. When you mailorder, be sure and watch the shipping charges.

Mark S.

 

[freqscout]

Hey TTL did you take your test at the Norman Fire Training Center last night? If so I was the one in the back who didn't test and d_stew was the guy in the front in the middle, directly in front of the VE's. The girl in there is my wife who passed and the d_stew passed as well!

Congratulations!

 

[freqscout]

Also on handhelds...
If you don't think you are going to use the six-meter portion of your VX-7 choice then you could go with a VX-6. It is about a hundred dollars cheaper. Problem is that you cannot do dual simultaneous receive (vhf/vhf, uhf/uhf, vhf/uhf). If that feature is something that you are not interested in then that could save you about a hundred dollars toward an upgrade on something else like a nice antenna, etc.
I have a VX-6 and have been very pleased with it so far.