Amateur Ham Radio License Class Session 2abbreviated for emailing

1
Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession
2abbreviated for e-mailing

• Tonight
• Questions?
• Discussion of exam structure
• More on radio selection and station setup,
  including lots of photos
• Clubs
• Visit station KJ4EU

2
Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2

• Technician Class Equipment Survey
• Will concentrate on 2 meter 70 cm FM radios
  HF radios are another subject
• Emphasis on emergency public-service usage
• Your ARRL License Manual has some ads in the back
  to look through as well!

3
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Popular brands of Amateur VHF-FM radios
• Alinco
• Icom
• Kenwood
• Yaesu
• Can also use commercial sets (Motorola etc) but
  convenient programming can be an issue

4
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Sources of supply
• Storesclosest is Evansville (Ham Station)
• Mail-order AES, RL, HRO, Ham Station etc
• Hamfests
• Madisonville May 3
• Dayton OH May 16-18the biggest
• Marshall Co Junkfest (Georgefest) May 24, 8AM
  at Forgotten Past on US 68
• eBay (sellers with ham calls safer?)
• Personal sale

5
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Sources of knowledge
• Magazines (QST, CQ, etc)
• Catalogs (AES)
• On-line reviews (eham.net, etc)
• Elmers and other hams (club meetings)
• Personal experience testing

6
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Hand-held radios (aka HTs, portables)
• Very portable
• Limited range
• Better range with outside antenna and amplifier
• Cost (new) 100 - 580 depending on features
• The simpler, less expensive sets are easier to
  operate
• Types of hand-helds
• Single-band (probably 2 meter, 144-148MHz)
• Dual-band, one-at-a-time (2 m 70 cm)
• Dual-band, two-at-a-time (2 m 70 cm)
• Tri-band

7
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Other factors on hand-held radios
• Antenna usually a rubber duck with set
• Antenna connector BNC or SMA types are common
  some sets dont have one
• Battery types Alkaline non-rechargeable, or
  NiCd, NiMH or Lithium rechargeable
• Rechargeable batteries lifetime 1-2 years
• Snap-off batteries are a convenience
• Most sets will receive out-of-band, may have wx
• Case size considerations tiny to large
• Be cautious if buying used
• Portables get dropped!
• Older sets may not have needed features (CTCSS)

8
Sample hand-helds mentioned

• 2 meter only
• Kenwood TH-K2AT, 140
• Yaesu VX150, 118 on closeout
• Yaesu VX170, 120 on closeout
• 2m/70cm hand-helds (1 band at a time)
• Yaesu FT-60R, 190
• 2m/70cm hand-helds (2 bands at a time)
• Kenwood TH-D7A(G) Data Communicator 345
• Tri-band hand-helds (1 band at a time)
• Yaesu VX6R 250
• Tri-band hand-helds (2 bands at a time)
• Kenwood TH-F6A 330

9
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Mobile radios
• Mounted in autos, or at home (more later)
• Higher power, greater range
• Require power source and outside antenna
• Cost (new) 130 - 650 depending on features
• The simpler, less expensive sets are easier to
  operate
• Types of mobiles
• Single-band (probably 2 meter, 144-148MHz)
• Dual-band, one-at-a-time (2 m 70 cm)
• Dual-band, two-at-a-time (2 m 70 cm)
• Tri-band and quad-band and multi-mode types are
  available

10
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Other factors on mobile radios
• Antenna not supplied with set
• Antenna connector UHF connector
• Power source 12VDC auto supply or converter (not
  supplied)
• Most sets will receive out-of-band, may have
  special weather-band reception
• Power levels generally 50 to 75 watts out
• Cautions if buying used
• Need to verify operation completely, but usually
  less risk than portables
• Older sets may not have needed features (CTCSS)

11
Sample mobile radios mentioned

• 2 meter only
• Icom IC-V8000 200
• Yaesu FT-1802M 130 closeout
• Yaesu FT-2800M 140 closeout
• 2m/70cm mobiles (1 band at a time)
• Yaesu FT-7800R 255 closeout
• Icom IC-208H 275 closeout
• 2m/70cm mobiles (2 bands at a time)
• Kenwood TM-V71A 400
• Yaesu FT-8800R 355 closeout
• Kenwood TM-D710A Data communicator 600

12
Technician Class Equipment Survey

• Base station radios
• Most stations adapt mobile radios for base
• Greatest range, if good outside antenna used
• Require power source and outside antenna
• Cost (new) like mobile sets, plus power supply
  and antenna
• 120VAC to 12VDC Power supplies 100
• Can use storage battery with trickle charger
  this also provides emergency power. But
  lead-acid batteries need servicing and have some
  inherent dangers, and only last 2-3 years.
• Theres only one true base-station radio marketed
  today Icom IC-910H, 1279.

13
Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2

• Amateur Radio Clubs
• A source of information and help
• A source of helpers for events
• Club operating activities provide opportunities
  to learn practice skills

14
Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2

• Amateur Radio Clubs
• Murray 1st Tuesdays, 7PM, MSU IT 237
• Net Mondays 9pm 146.940MHz, PL 91.5Hz
• Paducah 2nd Mondays, 7PM, KCTCS 142
• Net Sundays 9pm 147.060MHz, PL 179.9Hz
• Benton 3rd Tuesdays, 7PM, Rescue Squad
• Net Wednesdays 9pm 145.390MHz, PL 118.8Hz
• Mayfield 3rd Thursdays, 7PM, hospital lobby
• Net Mondays 800pm 145.270MHz, PL 141.3Hz
• Union City TN 4th Thursdays 630pm, Public
  Library
• Net Sundays 9pm 146.700MHz, PL 100Hz

15
Amateur (Ham) Radio License Class

• Next time (2 weeks away)
• May 12, 430pm, in Murray (IT-237)
• Questions/Answers?
• Antennas, including pictures of installations
• Nets, activities, personal operations
• Exam session
• Suggestion read the License Manual!
• Suggestion take those on-line practice exams, at
  qrz.com or eham.net