What are some of the most frequently used ham radio tools?
- Thread starter kc0bus
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I'd start out with basic hand tools. Pencil and paper to make notes. Screwdrivers, slotted and Philips in small sizes (don't scrimp on the Philips screwdrivers as some of the cheap ones will bugger the screw heads). Needle-nose pliers. Wire cutters. Small to medium slip-joint pliers. Small to medium Crescent wrench. 6-inch stainless steel ruler. X-acto knife. Wire stripper (I stay away from the all-in-one stripper/crimper tools as many of them are junk--Klein and Ideal have some decent strippers that you can find at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, or Amazon--make sure it's for smaller wire sizes). Small set of nut drivers in both SAE and metric.
You'll get lots of comments about soldering irons and some of it is personal preference. I have a Weller WLC100 40-watt soldering station that works well for my occasional soldering needs. It has a temperature adjustment, but the temperature is not regulated. I mostly use it for soldering the pins on DB-9 connectors and for assembling simple kits with through-hole leads. I see Amazon has it for less than $40. With any soldering iron, get a small assortment of soldering tips in different sizes.
Some sort of holding tool will help if you are soldering connectors or working with small circuit boards.
A good light with magnifier is also a good idea. There are lots of choices out there for table-top LED lights that are bright and white without generating a lot of heat.
You eventually might look at specific-purpose strippers and crimpers for coax and Anderson PowerPoles if you are into that sort of thing.
You'll probably be referencing a lot of manuals and diagrams via computer, so think about how you might do that with a desktop or laptop computer.
Then we get into the test equipment. A digital volt-ohm meter is a must. And you will probably make good use of an SWR/power meter. The cheap ham-oriented ones will work to start out, but save your pennies for a Bird 43. You can buy good used ones for less than $200. Don't forget to budget for the necessary "slugs".
A small digital camera with a good close-up lens might be helpful if you are disassembling things with intent to reassemble. A good set of photos of how things were before you dug into the problem may be helpful down the road.
I'm sure you'll get lots of other ideas.
You'll get lots of comments about soldering irons and some of it is personal preference. I have a Weller WLC100 40-watt soldering station that works well for my occasional soldering needs. It has a temperature adjustment, but the temperature is not regulated. I mostly use it for soldering the pins on DB-9 connectors and for assembling simple kits with through-hole leads. I see Amazon has it for less than $40. With any soldering iron, get a small assortment of soldering tips in different sizes.
Some sort of holding tool will help if you are soldering connectors or working with small circuit boards.
A good light with magnifier is also a good idea. There are lots of choices out there for table-top LED lights that are bright and white without generating a lot of heat.
You eventually might look at specific-purpose strippers and crimpers for coax and Anderson PowerPoles if you are into that sort of thing.
You'll probably be referencing a lot of manuals and diagrams via computer, so think about how you might do that with a desktop or laptop computer.
Then we get into the test equipment. A digital volt-ohm meter is a must. And you will probably make good use of an SWR/power meter. The cheap ham-oriented ones will work to start out, but save your pennies for a Bird 43. You can buy good used ones for less than $200. Don't forget to budget for the necessary "slugs".
A small digital camera with a good close-up lens might be helpful if you are disassembling things with intent to reassemble. A good set of photos of how things were before you dug into the problem may be helpful down the road.
I'm sure you'll get lots of other ideas.
N5TWB
Member
Ditto to W9BU above ^^ with a comment on this:
"Then we get into the test equipment. A digital volt-ohm meter is a must. And you will probably make good use of an SWR/power meter. The cheap ham-oriented ones will work to start out, but save your pennies for a Bird 43. You can buy good used ones for less than $200. Don't forget to budget for the necessary "slugs"."
The Bird 43 is the industry standard for what it does and the flexibility of using the slugs for accuracy at varying frequencies. The tool to add in this category is an antenna analyzer, especially for adjusting antennas for the correct frequency. The ability to find the resonant frequency quickly makes the chore easier. I have an MFJ and I know a lot of people don't care for their stuff. OK, spend a little more but put one on the list of stuff that make the hobby easier/more fun.
"Then we get into the test equipment. A digital volt-ohm meter is a must. And you will probably make good use of an SWR/power meter. The cheap ham-oriented ones will work to start out, but save your pennies for a Bird 43. You can buy good used ones for less than $200. Don't forget to budget for the necessary "slugs"."
The Bird 43 is the industry standard for what it does and the flexibility of using the slugs for accuracy at varying frequencies. The tool to add in this category is an antenna analyzer, especially for adjusting antennas for the correct frequency. The ability to find the resonant frequency quickly makes the chore easier. I have an MFJ and I know a lot of people don't care for their stuff. OK, spend a little more but put one on the list of stuff that make the hobby easier/more fun.
Ditto to all above. I would only add that "wire cutters" may be heavy duty and small FLUSH CUT types.
Many of these tools are relevant to "what you are in to", so to speak. Personally, I am too old (eyes) for delicate PC board type work' some tools would not be needed. Guess what I am suggesting is "fit your needs." It will change as projects resent themselves.
73,
Jerry
Many of these tools are relevant to "what you are in to", so to speak. Personally, I am too old (eyes) for delicate PC board type work' some tools would not be needed. Guess what I am suggesting is "fit your needs." It will change as projects resent themselves.
73,
Jerry
AC9BX
Member
I'll echo what the others said, they about covered it. I'll add connectors, adapters, and patch cables. You'll always need to go from SMA to N to UHF to BNC, etc etc. A set of *convertible* adapters is great, you choose the what to what and gender and couple them together to make whatever adapter you need. An adjustable bench-top power supply is very helpful, again with adapters, Powerpole, coaxial from 1.5mm to 2.5, EIAJ, spade lugs, molex, etc.
A screwdriver made of gold.
(Sorry, couldn't help it).
(Sorry, couldn't help it).
50 ohm dummy load rated for at least 50-100 watts.
rapidcharger
Member
Dont forget your grounding strap.
Ask me how i know.
Ask me how i know.
jim202
Member
If your working with mobile radios,, it is a must to have some sort of bench DC power supply. Not the size 0of it depends on what your dealing with. I tend to think in the order of a 15 amp 13 volt power supply for the average 25 to 5o watt radios. If you plan on working on any 100 watt mobiles, then you will nee something in the range of 25 to a 30 amp supply.
You can find some of the 10 to 15 amp Motorola base station modular or case supplies on the used market. They tend to run high on the output voltage. But simply adding 3 diodes in series to the regulator circuit will bring the voltage down to around 13.7 volts.
The bottom line to your question on tools will depend on just what your looking to do.
As for computers, take a stroll down to your local computer repair shop and ask them if they have any old computers laying around that they might want to get rid of. In many cases, they might even just tell you to take it and have fun with no charge. You will probably have to spend some time working on it to get it back to playing smoothly, but that's half the fun.
You can find some of the 10 to 15 amp Motorola base station modular or case supplies on the used market. They tend to run high on the output voltage. But simply adding 3 diodes in series to the regulator circuit will bring the voltage down to around 13.7 volts.
The bottom line to your question on tools will depend on just what your looking to do.
As for computers, take a stroll down to your local computer repair shop and ask them if they have any old computers laying around that they might want to get rid of. In many cases, they might even just tell you to take it and have fun with no charge. You will probably have to spend some time working on it to get it back to playing smoothly, but that's half the fun.
N0IU
Member
These types of questions really make me want to scream!
With all due respect, and I mean that, if you want good answers, you really need to learn how to ask good questions. We have no idea what kind of things you are interested in and what kind of things you might need tools for. Without knowing any of that, how can we possibly suggest what kind of tools you might need?
I know I might sound like a jerk, but....
Please help us help you! If you are going to ask vague questions, you are not going to get good answers.
With all due respect, and I mean that, if you want good answers, you really need to learn how to ask good questions. We have no idea what kind of things you are interested in and what kind of things you might need tools for. Without knowing any of that, how can we possibly suggest what kind of tools you might need?
I know I might sound like a jerk, but....
Please help us help you! If you are going to ask vague questions, you are not going to get good answers.
Number 1 tool EVERYBODY needs to use...your brain.
And I'm being serious.
And I'm being serious.
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