Rubber duck has better signal strength than new roof antenna

[WA8ZTZ]

That awful noise may be a digital voice transmission.

There is also the mater of intermodulation interference (intermod) which may be factor due to the intermittent nature of the interference.

The tall trees surrounding your home will attenuate VHF/UHF somewhat. The more trees, the more attenuation. You will notice a difference in Autumn after the trees lose their leaves.

 

[jwc1926]

SWR meter came today. RF power output is 4.6 watts. I was getting 1.04-1.06 on UHFs and 1.08-1.09 on VHFs.

 

[alcahuete]

SWR meter came today. RF power output is 4.6 watts. I was getting 1.04-1.06 on UHFs and 1.08-1.09 on VHFs.

Perfect! You aren't going to get better than that.

 

[ladn]

I'm not sure how close I am to the nearest commercial repeater, but there is a 220 foot tower less than a quarter of a mile from me.

Repeater or not. That could very well be the source of your overload.

 

[cmdrwill]

Maybe take your radio over near the "tower" and listen,

 

[KO4IPV]

Thanks much. The PL tone for the repeater is FM 131.8. It's in Uniontown, OH (WB8OVQ). It's about 5 miles from me. I will try entering it in. Another issue is that I live in the woods surrounded by trees. We once inquired about solar panels. The company took one look at the satellite image below of our house (I added a yellow circle to show where the antenna is), and they said, "Yeah, right." Not sure if being surrounded by huge oaks, maples, and tulip trees could cause problems. I'd have to have my antenna on a tower to get above them. They are old giants.

Anyway, right after I submitted my question, I did start reading quite a bit about the overload problem on the Baefong UV-5R. Most of the responses I read said, "Man, looking back, I really should have purchased the Yaesu FT-60R." I looked into that radio, and it seems to get excellent reviews. I may get it and keep my UV-5R in my car. I might also pick up the Mirage BD-35 VHF/UHF amplifier to beef up my signal. Maybe that's overkill, though. Not knowledgeable enough at this point to know.

I really appreciate your response. Passing the Technician test was not difficult, but I feel like someone just handed me the keys to the space shuttle after a couple hours of training. It's pretty overwhelming, and things seem to have come a LONG way since I used to listen to my dad down in his basement shack. He passed away in 1990. I think he renewed his license shortly before that, so his call sign was retired by the early 2000s. I looked and it's not in the FCC database. I am going to make a vanity request for his old call sign once I get mine. I plan to make my first call under his old call sign, and I just can't think of a better tribute. It will be an emotional moment because I have such fond memories of my dad's love of amateur radio. Not sure why it took me this long (I'm 49) to get started with it.

Thanks again!

View attachment 90560

I just read your story about you listening to your dad talking on the ham radio and the passion he had for that hobby, sounds just like my memory of my dads enthusiasm for the ham radio hobby, my Dad passed some 10 years ago now and he let his liscence expire so I won’t be using his call sighn on my first call to any station, as much as I would like to, and don’t feel bad about beginning this hobby at 49 , and why it had taken you so long , I am 65 and just getting started, our Dads really influence our minds in very deep ways sometimes it takes time to realize. Good luck with your new space shuttle!!!

 

[jwc1926]

Repeater or not. That could very well be the source of your overload.

Well the Yaesu FT 60R arrived today. The problem is completely gone. I am guessing this is the "smoking gun" for the overload hypothesis. And wow. The radio doesn't feel like a toy and actually locks into the charging base without falling over. The manual is much better. I am anxious to get started. Alas, I must wait until September 15th to see if my vanity request is approved. I really want to make my first call under dad's old call sign. Thanks everyone!

 

[jwc1926]

I just read your story about you listening to your dad talking on the ham radio and the passion he had for that hobby, sounds just like my memory of my dads enthusiasm for the ham radio hobby, my Dad passed some 10 years ago now and he let his liscence expire so I won’t be using his call sighn on my first call to any station, as much as I would like to, and don’t feel bad about beginning this hobby at 49 , and why it had taken you so long , I am 65 and just getting started, our Dads really influence our minds in very deep ways sometimes it takes time to realize. Good luck with your new space shuttle!!!

Couldn't you do a vanity request for his call sign since it is expired? After I confirmed that my dad's old call sign hadn't been randomly resurrected, I filled out the vanity request form and and checked the box that I was requesting the call sign of a deceased relative. It was a free and easy process. Even if your dad's old call sign is still in the database, I wonder if you could take it over?

Sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how much time passes. It always feels like yesterday, right? I used to watch him fly that "space shuttle" in such a state of awe and wonder. And yeah, you nailed it. It's interesting how we continue to learn throughout our lives from those we've lost.

 

[jwc1926]

Maybe take your radio over near the "tower" and listen,

Problem solved with the Yaesu FT 60R. It must have been overload on the UV5R.

 

[KO4IPV]

Couldn't you do a vanity request for his call sign since it is expired? After I confirmed that my dad's old call sign hadn't been randomly resurrected, I filled out the vanity request form and and checked the box that I was requesting the call sign of a deceased relative. It was a free and easy process. Even if your dad's old call sign is still in the database, I wonder if you could take it over?

Sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how much time passes. It always feels like yesterday, right? I used to watch him fly that "space shuttle" in such a state of awe and wonder. And yeah, you nailed it. It's interesting how we continue to learn throughout our lives from those we've lost.

Yes I will certainly try to get his call sign great Idea , thanks

 

[K9DWB]

FWIW my vanity request done on the FCC ULS with no middleman was completed in 13 business days, in other words Mon-Fri only. Vanity call requests have up to 25 call combos to have FCC consider, I only put 2 on it.

If I said the info before, sorry I've got early old timers kicking in at 51. Where's that sarcasm font button?

 

[mmckenna]

Well the Yaesu FT 60R arrived today. The problem is completely gone. I am guessing this is the "smoking gun" for the overload hypothesis. And wow. The radio doesn't feel like a toy and actually locks into the charging base without falling over. The manual is much better. I am anxious to get started.

Baofengs seem to have their place in the hobby (maybe…) but I'm glad to hear you not only got a better radio, but recognize the value. Having put Baofengs on service monitors, I'm not at all impressed by them, even for the cost, and not surprised it was the source of your issues. Trying to get new hams on a limited budget to understand this is difficult.
I have a few family members who are hams and have FT-60's. They seem like a good solid radio at a great price. Never owned one myself, but used theirs a few times.

 

[alcahuete]

Yay!! Glad to hear it's working properly now.

 

[jwc1926]

Baofengs seem to have their place in the hobby (maybe…) but I'm glad to hear you not only got a better radio, but recognize the value. Having put Baofengs on service monitors, I'm not at all impressed by them, even for the cost, and not surprised it was the source of your issues. Trying to get new hams on a limited budget to understand this is difficult.
I have a few family members who are hams and have FT-60's. They seem like a good solid radio at a great price. Never owned one myself, but used theirs a few times.

Well I just discovered dxengineering.com. I know it won’t be too long before I’m lured in by HF. I see the General test in my near future. I’m already eyeing a multiband base station. I feel like I’m at the event horizon of a spending black hole. Haha! I really appreciate all the help here. What a great community!

 

[alcahuete]

Well I just discovered dxengineering.com. I know it won’t be too long before I’m lured in by HF. I see the General test in my near future. I’m already eyeing a multiband base station. I feel like I’m at the event horizon of a spending black hole. Haha! I really appreciate all the help here. What a great community!

Oh no! We've created a monster! Ha ha ha! Ham radio is most definitely a spending black hole. But it's so much fun! LOL! HF is an absolute blast.

 

[jwc1926]

Oh no! We've created a monster! Ha ha ha! Ham radio is most definitely a spending black hole. But it's so much fun! LOL! HF is an absolute blast.

Echolink will have to do for now. I’ve got the software installed and the USB interface is on the way. I’m thinking I’ll spend a year exploring VHF,
UHF, and Echolink, and then ratchet things up with an improved station with HF. Something to look forward to.

 

[KK6ZTE]

Congrats and welcome to the ranks of amateur radio operators. Most hams are very friendly, there are a few (well more than a few) old farts, but there's plenty of younger people too.

I carry commercial radios all day since I work as a radio tech, but my FT-60R sits in the glovebox ready for the call. It gets used whenever I have interference complaints to investigate/track. It's a fantastic little radio and I'm happy I bought it (for $100 used 5 years ago).

I didn't have any family involved with amateur radio, but when I applied for my vanity call (my initials), I found out a little bit about the person that carried the call before I did. It's quite nostalgic.

 

[mmckenna]

Well I just discovered dxengineering.com. I know it won’t be too long before I’m lured in by HF. I see the General test in my near future. I’m already eyeing a multiband base station. I feel like I’m at the event horizon of a spending black hole. Haha! I really appreciate all the help here. What a great community!

That's good. It's a big hobby. I agree, though, take some time to explore the hobby before spending a bunch of money. Figure out where your interests are. It's too big a hobby to go in all at once.
I've played around on HF, but not in many years. Don't have the time to do it properly. Maybe when I retire I'll take it up, but right now 2 meters suits my needs.

 

[K9DWB]

I think you've found a lot of friends that would be glad to help you spend money you don't have.

 

[ladn]

Well I just discovered dxengineering.com. I know it won’t be too long before I’m lured in by HF. I see the General test in my near future. I’m already eyeing a multiband base station. I feel like I’m at the event horizon of a spending black hole.

I'm glad the FT-60 resolved your issue. There's a significant difference in the technology and design between the two radios.
As you progress (descend?) into HF, you'll find an even more confusing matrix of specs and information. DX Engineering is a well regarded vendor and friends have said their staff offers great personalized service (I've only purchased via the Internet and didn't need to talk with anyone).

Since you're eyeing a multiband base radio, I'll suggest the Icom 7300, while I don't own one (yet), I've looked at a variety of reviews, including one by my close friend, Dave Casler KE0OG, who has the Ham Radio Answers Youtube channel. A big factor in HF is the antenna--they're BIG. As you work through your General study material, pay attention to the antenna material and look over relevant posts here on RR to get a better feeling of real world experiences.

Here's to your enjoyment and future success in ham radio!