Do we have any Ametaur Radio Operaters on Crappie.com?

[gcromer]

Hi OM
I had a couple here that know me to send me this thread...

CP, it's been a while since we chatted and hope all is well with you.

Guys, I've had my ticket since 1960 or was it 1961, at my age memory isn't what it use to be. I'm pushing 79 real soon. I'm not active like I use to be, mostly because I'm a caregiver now and that takes up my time. I still have all of my gear and a couple of antennas up though. In my later years I was more into UHF and above and was real heavy into ATV for a number of years. I was Manager of Transmitter Operations for a number of years for South Carolina Educational TV Network. I had 11 TV stations, 8 FM stations and all of the Weather transmitters to worry about. So operating ATV was real easy for me. Of course being in the TV world for over 30 years I also had to have my 1st Class ticket. I use to make all of the Ham Fest and I was a real tinker from the word go, building was the only way.. I was working 2 meters when people said that you couldn't work across town. I was working 60 and 70 miles with a Heath Twoer. I had the first 2 meter mobile when the locals were trying to work 6 meters. I was working 432 SSB with 300 watts when the local said that you couldn't do that either. And you'll never see anyone in town on live ATV, we were working 100 to 125 miles with 160 watts Peak of sync out and with the antenna gain we were running about 3500 watts ERP. You know ham's, don't tell them that it can't be done... In 1992 I was awarded the Technical Excellence Award at the Dayton Hamvention in 1992 for the antenna I developed for ATV repeaters. So I've had my 15 minutes of fame and now it's all gone, in my ole age I think of all of the fun that I've had as a ham. Enjoy it while you can, hamming will bring you a lot of enjoyment and good DX to all of you.

73’s
Gerald K4NHN
Cayce, SC

[Bobo Greybeard]

Hi OM
I had a couple here that know me to send me this thread...

CP, it's been a while since we chatted and hope all is well with you.

Guys, I've had my ticket since 1960 or was it 1961, at my age memory isn't what it use to be. I'm pushing 79 real soon. I'm not active like I use to be, mostly because I'm a caregiver now and that takes up my time. I still have all of my gear and a couple of antennas up though. In my later years I was more into UHF and above and was real heavy into ATV for a number of years. I was Manager of Transmitter Operations for a number of years for South Carolina Educational TV Network. I had 11 TV stations, 8 FM stations and all of the Weather transmitters to worry about. So operating ATV was real easy for me. Of course being in the TV world for over 30 years I also had to have my 1st Class ticket. I use to make all of the Ham Fest and I was a real tinker from the word go, building was the only way.. I was working 2 meters when people said that you couldn't work across town. I was working 60 and 70 miles with a Heath Twoer. I had the first 2 meter mobile when the locals were trying to work 6 meters. I was working 432 SSB with 300 watts when the local said that you couldn't do that either. And you'll never see anyone in town on live ATV, we were working 100 to 125 miles with 160 watts Peak of sync out and with the antenna gain we were running about 3500 watts ERP. You know ham's, don't tell them that it can't be done... In 1992 I was awarded the Technical Excellence Award at the Dayton Hamvention in 1992 for the antenna I developed for ATV repeaters. So I've had my 15 minutes of fame and now it's all gone, in my ole age I think of all of the fun that I've had as a ham. Enjoy it while you can, hamming will bring you a lot of enjoyment and good DX to all of you.

73’s
Gerald K4NHN
Cayce, SC

Awesome post. Thank you for sharing. We are still at the beginner stages, but I think I may have another addiction. LOL This weekend I am suppose to help out with communications at one of the largest Bicycle races in the Country. Tulsa Tough is celebrating its 10th year and I was asked to help.

Bobo KG5HSJ

[lowe rider]

Hey Bobo, I am aware of the no code license but I'm not sure what all frequencies you're allowed to operate on with it. Even though I've been inactive since about 2005 I have kept my ticket current. When I got involved in it around 1980 I started with a novice license that only allowed CW operation on portions of the 10 thru 80 MHz bands. After a while I took the test for General and passed the written portion but failed the 13wpm code test by one question.

At least that gave me the Technician license and could operate voice on VHF and UHF bands. I done a lot on 2 meters, 220 and 440 MHz in those days. I finally upgraded to general awhile later and that's as far as I went.

Ham radio licensing has change a lot since I started but if it hadn't I think it would have died with the birth of the Internet. Like I said I've been thinking about checking it out again but the only radio I have is an old Radio Shack 2meter HT so if I got back into it I'd be starting from scratch.

[Bobo Greybeard]

Here is a chart that shows who can say or do what on what frequencies.



If you want to go Dual Band voice on the cheap, check out the Baofeng UV-5Ra. I had to order one for a friend and we got the radio with some accessories such as a collar mic for less than 40.00. It is a nice little handi talkie. It is what I have been using for both 2 meter and 70 centimeter.

Bobo

[Bobo Greybeard]

Catherine and I spent Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon running cables and getting this little antenna up. I also have a small 2meter / 70 centimeter on the mounting pole now.




I have been told that I may need to raise it up about another 5 feet to clear the obstructions caused by the house. I guess as soon as I get a power supply for this radio, I will find out. LOL

Bobo

[gcromer]

Bobo, yea, the higher the better. Trees do suck up RF on 70cm, but be sure and use a good low loss coax. You can loose all of your RF just in the cable.. On 70cm I always used N connectors too..

[skeetbum]

I used steel water pipe for my stick, one inside the other about a foot and a bolt to hold it. That gave me a little over 30' to the bottom of the antenna and it survived Florida hurricanes. Had the tower for the PDL-II and later the Moonraker. I miss all that stuff, maybe I'll get back to it if I can find someone to work with in a few months.