TheRadioBoard

Hello, it's been a while since I have logged in, but I still love & use my crystal radio's.

I have some questions about ham radio, I know this is not a ham radio forum, but I also know you guys are friendly to my newbie questions. I posted this question on the antique radio forum, but just recieved a few vague replies. I have been a member there since 2007, but that's still a newbie to them folk and easy to get looked down on.

I don't know nothing about ham radio, typically I'm a hands on type as that's how I learned crystal radios here. I don't want to spend $500 on ham equipment just to learn I don't care for it. I am not much of a talker, but I think it would be cool to be able to occasionally (a couple times a year) or in case of emergency, who knows, maybe I would enjoy it & become a talker ?

What goes on, on ham radio ? What can I expect to hear ? Why would one become a licensed ham ? I have no problem buying a ham radio to check it out, but I don't want to get a scanner and then decide I want to talk and then throw away the money spent on the scanner to upgrade, I have been down that road before.

I have googled ham radio, but everything talks about getting licensed, morse code (which I wouldn't care for) or the different bands which I'm glassed eyed trying to figure out. Before I get licensed, I want to know what goes on on ham radio ? I think it must be top secret stuff because I cannot find out

Can someone tell me the basics of why someone would want to get licensed in ham radio ? Maybe recommend what to buy to get started ?

Oh, and I live over 2 hours away from a ham club, I will probably check it out, but would still like to know the basics first.

Thanks guys !
Dan

Hi Dan, I think you could ask that question to 10 different hams and get 10 different answers. Ham radio offers so many different aspects with lots of different niche groups, it would be impossible to cover them all. Some people like myself like CW, you said you didn't think you would care for that. Some like building their own gear, either from kits or from scratch. Some like to chase DX, some like chasing awards (wallpaper). Some like talking (phone). Some like digital modes, rtty, psk etc. Some of us like to help beginners, they call the helpers Elmers.

You can find lots of on the air activities, contests, sprints and nets. There are clubs that cover nearly any aspect you can think of too. As with anything, there are always a few rotten apples in the barrel, but for the most part, ham radio operators are usually nice and helpful towards each other. I guess I'm a little biased towards CW, but it is very rare that you ever hear any bad stuff on CW. Not like some of the sideband operators on say 75m.

I think my favorite aspect of ham radio is building stuff and being able to use it on the air. I often think I'd rather be building than operating. I've been a ham for a long time and have been using morse code for 40 years now. I think even when I was a little kid, I always knew someday I would be a ham radio operator.

Try google and lookup the ARRL that's a great place to get more information on getting started and what you might expect once you get your license. Maybe some of the others will chime in with more words of wisdom? All I can say is, it's been a lot of fun for me! Click on my website link below and you can see some of the stuff I've built.

_________________
73, Bill NT9K
http://www.nt9k.com

If you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small..

Beautiful keys Bill. Is that stone you have used on some of them? or an epoxy composite brew.

You have a real talent - amazing.

..........................

Dan,

Tell us something about your radio interests. Then we can tell you if there are aspects of ham radio that may suit them. Also, your local library probably carries some American Radio Relay League books (look under "amateur radio") and perhaps either QST or CQ magazine, or both. Ham radio is vastly diverse. It would take more than a lifetime to get to know all its aspects.

73 (Best regards),

Jim

_________________

http://kr1s.kearman.com/
http://qrp.kearman.com/

Thank you! Those keys are made from Corian and Avonite, which are different brands of kitchen counter top material. It's some weird stuff, cuts and drills like wood, but it shatters like rock if you hit it with a hammer. It's easy to work with and I can use ordinary woodworking tools. Polishes up nicely too.

I built a crystal set out of it recently too. Look here:
http://www.nt9k.com/crystal_radio/nt9k_xtal2_a.jpg
http://www.nt9k.com/crystal_radio/nt9k_xtal2_b.jpg

_________________
73, Bill NT9K
http://www.nt9k.com

If you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small..

Jim, Im kinda the Jack of all trades & master of none when it comes to radio. I have recapped a few 1930's radios, but that's about it for my mechanical abilities, I built a 1 tube broadcaster, I enjoyed learning crystal radio concepts and have built a few now, I enjoyed building various antennas. I am definatly a listener, not a talker. I honestly like surfing the shortwave bands, but a lot of times there is just nothing out there. I enjoy listening to oddball stuff some of it I would be embarrassed to mention. I enjoy the old Art Bell coast to coast radio shows and listen to replays whenever I can find them. I do enjoy some (key words "some" ) Christian radio talk. I guess the old coast to coast radio shows describe my most enjoyable listening. (told ya I'm a little weird that way ) I would like the option of occasional talking, but I don't know to what degree, I guess that depends on the conversation.

A member of the antique radio forum did post this and it cought my attention "I can spend hours just listening to the guys talk. It runs the gammat from radio related, to politics. You can get some interesting insights to what seem like candid conversations. I've heard retired CIA people discuss Cuba. Engineers discuss antenna set ups, audio compensation, transmitters, etc. I've received transmissions from Europe and Africa. And, some real junk to that you won't believe".

Maybe I'm thinking it's something it's not, I guess that's why I'm asking before I dive in.

Dan

Dan,

Well, it sounds like the HF bands (3-30 MHz) are your cup of tea. Most scanners won't properly cover them. You need a SW radio that can receive SSB signals. It will also receive Morse Code, though there is no requirement for a code test to get any U.S. ham license anymore. You have a choice among new commercial radios running about $125, or building your own. That might be a good way to get in. A SW radio will cover the broadcast stations as well, so you have a variety. After you listen to hams talking for a while you can decide if you want to join in.

73,

_________________

http://kr1s.kearman.com/
http://qrp.kearman.com/

Thanks for that advice Jim, It is the best I have heard so far !

I was advised by a couple of guys to get a scanner (on the other forum) then others replied saying no and I was left confused Now I know why I wouldn't want a scanner, thank you ! You also narrowed it down to the HF bands, thank you again.

One more question, do I get just a radio to listen to all this (a receiver) or do I just get a transceiver to begin with ? I know that's a loaded question and hard to answer, but if a transceiver is not that much more, why by a radio that I cannot talk with, just to end up buying one and wasting my money on just a receiver ? I realize all you can do it give an opinion on that question, but your opinion is worth a lot more than mine right now. I guess to help you give me advice I would say I'm leaning towards a transceiver right now What would an entry level transceiver cost ? Now that we have it nailed down to what bands would interest me.

Thank you very much !
Dan

Hi, Dan,

Transceivers are much more expensive. The SW radio I have in mind would be a portable, in the $125 range. A Tecsun PL-600 or Sony ICF-7600GR. A new transceiver will be several times that cost; even used ones are much more expensive. You will always enjoy having a portable receiver. I would bet almost everyone reading this forum has at least one (I'm not telling!).

73,

_________________

http://kr1s.kearman.com/
http://qrp.kearman.com/

Thanks for your kind advice ! I will be looking for just a receiver then so I can decide if I want to pursue further, your advice has been very helpful
Dan

If you're able to and like to build crystal radios, and want to get started listening to hams, one way to start would be to build a 2-transistor regenerative receiver. I did, as my first shortwave radio project (having built solderless crystal radio sets as a kid), and was astonished at how much such a simple, self-built receiver can hear - including ham band signals. There are plenty of simple regen designs on the net. And once you get used to them, building and using regens is strangely addictive and fun.

Hi Dan,

Jim and the others will give you good advice - they know their stuff.

Ham radio takes-in so many activities that maybe it would help if some of us described what we currently like to do. Everyone has different interests. Something might pop out that interests you.

I like to build simple battery powered morse code transceiver kits ($ 60 or so) that teach me a bit about radio as I build.

Operating using slow morse code, outdoors, battery powered, with simple homemade antennas has enough challenges to keep me interested and learning new stuff. It’s an inexpensive, laid-back operation where the primary objective is to build simple things and get them to work - not do a lot of yacking. Lots of friendly folks operate like this and go out of their way to welcome and help newcomers.

Learning morse code is a little bit of a challenge, but it’s fun, kind of unique, and gives you a real sense of accomplishment when you make that first cw contact even if it’s just across town. And there are groups of hams dedicated to helping newcomers learn and use morse code.

Ham radio can be as technolgically up-to-date as you want, or, as basic and simple as you want.

Welcome aboard.

73, Dan

I like your thinking !
Dan

Hmmmm............ I need to check into this more, I enjoy building crystal radios, I know the basics of radio repair, I can solder and test tubes, resisters and such. I understand the concept of radio, but still can get overwhelmed real fast but maybe building a simple receiver to hear ham signals would be a fun next step !
Dan

Edit: Thanks for referencing your build post, that will make some good reading for me tonight

I like building antennas, but I'm a receive only guy. My most fun antenna
is a rotatable Flag antenna. A Flag/Delta antenna has a wide null area so you
can eliminate signals you don't want. Here's a picture.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37 ... 010128.jpg
The antenna is 14ft x 29ft with a matching transformer and a resistor that helps create the null. I used mine mostly for AM radio, but it was designed for 160 meters.
Almost everything you want to know about flags is here;
http://www.angelfire.com/md/k3ky/page37.html
Mikek