General Lee Ham Bands

When you mentioned a 6 meter through 160 Meter radio I wondered if there is even available one antenna that would actually handle all those bands.
Have you found a mobile antenna that will do 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40, 80, 160?

I searched and much to my amazement I found one but its pricey. HD 6-160
I was ready to take my technician exam 3 months ago but didn't because of covid restrictions.
You can take it online as well but you have to have 2 cameras fixated on you at all times. One on your hands and keyboard and one aimed strait at your face and I didn't have that capability. Plus you have to give them a tour around the room so the examiners can make sure you don't have cheat sheets hanging all over the place.

This is an awesome sample study site plus the online tests are available all over the world when the student is ready or local it will tell where the local tests are too.
HamStudy.org: Cutting edge amateur radio study tools love this site.

 

The FT-891 and some other Yaesu radios pair nicely with the Yaesu ATAS-120a screwdriver antenna and doesn't need a separate controller box. It runs just under $400. It does 70cm-40m, so it actually covers VHF/UHF as well. If you don't have a Yaesu, the Little Tarheel II is also a very good antenna. 80 and 160 really aren't very usable on a mobile sized antenna, even if the antenna technically supports it. They just need much longer antennas than you can fit on a vehicle to really be efficient enough at those low frequencies.

I'm a volunteer examiner for ARRL and W5YI and help proctor the online exams for my local club. We don't require 2 cameras. Just one is sufficient, so if you have a webcam on your laptop or desktop, as long as we can see your face it's fine. We do ask you to share your desktop over zoom while you take the test and do a quick around the room on camera to make sure there aren't any test aids.

 

Ok awesome! I may have to get back to studying for the ham exam again. I had about decided that I didn't need another expensive hobby and I really don't but still love electronics, radio and antenna's.
What got me interested in Ham was the quest to make my 11 meter antenna's get out and recieve better and ham guys have a lot to say on that subject.

I asked the question the other day about an Italilion made WW2 plane in an RC model forum about what radio might have been in it.
Turns out it had a 60 to 100 meter radio that operated on telegraphy and telephony and had an antenna from the top of the rudder to the top of the ####pit.
How they made that work on 100 meters is a mystery to me or 60 for that matter..

 

Antennas are very fascinating and for the Ham guy their are so many sizes and variations to be used.

 

If you weren’t aware, starting April 19th, the FCC is imposing a $35 fee for new ham licenses. Before that date, it’s free, so there’s some additional motivation for you. At the same time, they’re also reducing the GMRS license fee from $70 to $35.

 

Ok thanks for that info Terlinqua! Does that apply to online exams as well? I noticed many times some of the online exams were cheaper than walkins like 12 dollars I believe.

 

The FCC license fee is separate from the testing fee. Previously, all you paid was the testing fee to the organization that is providing the test, which is only supposed to cover the costs of running the testing program. After April 19th, you’ll also have a $35 fee paid to the FCC on top of the testing fee.

 

Ok Yea I didn't know that. I had done all self study and sample test until I was passing every time. The general is a good bit harder with its more technical inductor , capacitor and resistor questions. I was passing it as well regularly but man its like if you don't practice it on daily basis it gets away from memory.