HAM Radio

I used to run a Yaesu FT857D with either a 10 or 20 meter stick, depending on conditions, and a 2m/70cm for the other side of the radio. Worked great for me. Wasn't a screwdriver antenna, but I got it done!

 

Congrats on going into the hobby, btw.

 

Congratulations on your license. I've been a ham for 53 years now and just talked my wife into getting her Tech license about a year ago. We have matchng Alinco DR-638T VHF/UHF rigs in both our vehicles. I have my Extra Class license, so In my Wrangler, I also have an Icom 7100 all-mode HF/VHF/UHF/DStar rig with a Lil' Tarheel screwdriver mounted on the spare tire bracket of the Jeep. VHF/UHF antennas on both cars are hood-mounted 5/8 wave type.

 

Yaesu FT-857D, FT-7900E, and RCI Ranger 2970n2 on 10m and 12m.

 

I run a Kenwood V71A.

 

I was surprised that I was able to pass the Amateur Extra exam. It was way over my head. It was like learning a different language.

I found a site with sample tests and just kept taking them over and over until I started to pass. I went in, took the test and passed.

Ham radios are a thousand times nicer than C.B.'s. It makes you wonder why anybody would spend hundreds of bucks on a cheap cb that only gets "40 - 120 channels" and sounds like junk.

It seems like the more money they spend on cb's the junkier it sounds.

73's
K7HY

 

Listen to 163 on that cheap CB radio.
Sounding better on a cheap radio than most people sound on a $10,000 radio is my idea of entertainment.

 

I am a general class, got it after the Morse code requirement was removed. I failed the extra class exam. I will study antenna theory and retake the test. QRZ.com was/is a big help.

 

This is the website that I took sample tests on. Each time you take the test, it's different than the one before it.
http://aa9pw.com/radio/

This is another test site which also shows call signs coming available, so you can choose your own. http://www.radioqth.net/exams/review/extra

The higher the license the shorter the call sign you can get, or you can keep your original sign.

I was up all night, a few years ago to request my call sign: K7HY the moment it became available (3 a.m.). 2 other hams were bidding on it.