Let the rest of us "Ham's" know what you purchased with your $2000.00. This way we can salivate a little.
73's
Bernie KD2JYU
Nice to meet you, fellas! I'd kinda forgotten I had started this topic, and it's nice to hear there are other Hams in this group.
Update - On Dec 2, I took and passed all three exams in one sitting, earning myself an Extra ticket. Just got my call sign issued last week, AJ6AR. Just might keep that one since AR is the first two initials in my name (also stands for "Amateur Radio" :)
The "F Cee Cee" no longer issues paper licenses but my wife is getting my CSCE framed:
Also, you might be interested in the article I found that ran in our home town paper when I first earned my Novice license in 1962:
Today, we're heading to Oakland in the SF Bay Area on a Christmas shopping trip to a Ham Radio Outlet warehouse. Wife said I can spend $2,000 to get my rig and antennas set up. Looking to get an ICOM 7300 as the centerpiece.
Hmm, maybe someone here would know...
Had an RF Systems MLB and it looks like the squirrels took to it like a hickory nut.
RF Systems no longer makes these (might be out of business), but it looks like Palomar makes something similar.
Anyone ever tried the Palomar and if so, does it work well?
I'm not familiar with using long-wire antennas or baluns for them, but I've read some good things about using long-wire antennas.
My limited understanding of long-wires is that you can use virtually any length of wire and it can be made resonant at many different frequencies. Some hams and SWL'ers like using those for working 160 meters or lower frequencies because they don't have to string up hundreds of feet of wire just to match a limited frequency range within one band.
One thing bad about them I've read is that you can't bring that wire anywhere near your radio because it will radiate along it's entire length and you could get a nasty burn. That's where the balun and a coax feeder come in.
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9209
If you have an Apple iPhone. There is a called "My First Antenna". It calculates leg length and total length of the Dipole antenna. Works for 10m SSB, 20m PSK, 20m SSB, 40m PSK, 40m SSB, 80m PSK, 80m SSB. Another program called "HamAntCal v3.1" also calculates wire lengths. On VHF 30 to 300 Mhz. and UHF 300 to 500Mhz. Another program "Antenna Tool" go antenna type drop down menu. Punch in your antenna type and it automatically calculates length.
73's
Bernie
Thanks for that. I'll check those out!
Wanted to buy ready-made antennas first, then work on constructing my own. I may put up a broad loop around the property since I have the room and the trees to do it. But it may need to wait until my next cash infusion. I'd sort of forgotten how expensive this hobby can be. Literally, the sky's the limit :)
