HAM (Amateur) Radio

[Drago]

Rummaging round in the garage found the dual bander I had in the XC90. Its a wide bander and covers 446 which will be useful when camping, so thats going in the van this week.

 

[the_mikey]

CQ, CQ
Any other radio amateurs here?

de
MM0KOZ

I haven't done any amateur radio for a while, but I have an Icom705 in a bag waiting for when it takes my fancy. De M1MBZ

 

[the_mikey]

2EORGJ, but not currently active. So much has gone to digimodes and that doesnt appeal to me.

When I was off the bike with a broken collar bone in 2016, I spent a couple of months doing FT8 and WSPR but the appeal of that waned as soon as I had recovered the use of my arm.

 

[the_mikey]

Although I still hold the licence, G6DDQ, I am no longer active on Amateur Radio. Seems that there is little activity on 145 M/cs and above especially in this area.

Aside from the local club net and the retired old men who ragchew half the morning, 145MHz locally is quiet unless there's someone doing SOTA from the mountains in Wales or there's a contest of an event on.

This Tuesday is the 145MHz FM activity contest from 1900-1955UTC
Also this Tuesday, is the 145MHz SSB activity contest from 2000-2200UTC, look for stations approximately above 144.100MHz, most activity is between 144.150MHz and 144.390MHz but there can be some at 144.500+ during very busy evenings, particularly in the peak of summer.

 

[Drago]

I was big into PSK for a while, but once you've done Alaska on a measly 10 watts there isn't much of a challenge left.

Like Mr S. Scrutineer, I tend to stick to V/U mobile of late, maybe have another go at DMR some time.

 

[UglyWithaSidePart]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!
I mess about with radios, more often than not doing experiments rather than actually speaking to people. The hobby is whatever you want it to be, which is the main appeal to me.
Tell you what, though, there are some real curmudgeons on air, I don't know what it is about ham radio sometimes.
Oh and G5VHF btw.

 

[Drago]

Getting back into it a little bit now im safely ensconced in the new house.

Have the VU dual bander in the van, also programmed up for PMR446 and business PMR channels. Its also programmed up for the maritime channels on Rx, which makes for interesting listening when camping newr the coast.

In the process of setting up a similar dual bander in my study, which will be joined by my Sangean HF receiver as time goes by. I may even make the move into digital at some point.

 

[Drago]

Ordered one of these. A nice and inexpensive but full featured HF for QRP work...

https://www.radioworld.co.uk/xiegu-...HMUro2IbFcvHYOlhuDlR3Fzec-RjOQm8aAq97EALw_wcB

Ill get an interface and get set up for PSK31.

 

[Drago]

The Xiegu arrived on Saturday. Now awaiting the arrival of a length of antenna wire, a 9:1 UNUN and some coax.

 

[geocycle]

I’ve never thought of this before but I’m aware of people being called ‘radio hams’. What does ham (presumably not porcine) actually mean?

 

[Drago]

I think its somethjng do do with being an "amateur", and back in Accy's day "ham" was used as a form or mockery or mild derision used by professionals to decry amateurs. Of course, us amateurs couldn't care less and embraced the term with affection.

 

[DRM]

I’ve never thought of this before but I’m aware of people being called ‘radio hams’. What does ham (presumably not porcine) actually mean?

iirc the term "ham" as an amateur in anything, comes from way back when amateur actors were hams, or hamming it up on stage, due to ham fat being used to make their stage make up

 

[Drago]

iirc the term "ham" as an amateur in anything, comes from way back when amateur actors were hams, or hamming it up on stage, due to ham fat being used to make their stage make up

Even days a schoolday!