Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017) • Hacker News Board

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#41

Post by vvanders » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:31 PM UTC

tomswartz07 wrote: post #20

AmVess wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a drawer full of new ones so I can show newbies how bad they are. The three that I have all perform differently; they are the same model. You got one that may perform closely to specification, but frustration for the newbie arrives when they get one that performs poorly....if at all. This is the norm for Baofeng equipment. So you might spend $35 a few times until you get one that works well, and then another $…

I think your argument is sound, but what OP is trying to say is, it's a $30 radio- and so long as you don't expect it to perform as well as a $300 radio, then it's fine. I have three Baofengs and they all work spectacularly well, because I purposely purchased non-knockoff models. For a beginner, who's not sure if it's worth the time and money investing $300 on a radio that might not be used, it's a very good idea to…

Yeah, there's an attitude(you see it a lot WRT the digital modes) to be very dismissive if it wasn't the route you took or a part of the hobby that you care about.

It's a shame because I feel like there's a ton of groups of people(younger, more diverse backgrounds) that would be around if they weren't pushed out. I know a few really sharp people who build their own hardware but got chased off because their aspect of ham radio didn't involve contesting/etc.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#42

Post by rhombocombus » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:37 PM UTC

friesen wrote: post #33

vorpalhex wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Baofengs are terrible but they're cheap and extremely accessible. Also they provide enough room for experimentation with antennas and basic theory. Not all equipment has to be the best equipment. Sometimes "OK" is enough.

Exactly. I picked up a slightly more expensive baofeng (UV-5X3) for my fist radio. Sured it's far from the greatest radio in the world (although it's leaps and bounds ahead of the UV-5R), but it gave me an inexpensive path forward. My only real complaint is that the included antenna is garbage for transmitting. So I built a cheap roll-up j-pole out of some old twinlead. The radio works quite well with that. I have si…

The nagoya flexible antennas dramatically improve the functionality of the Baofeng HTs (particularly in 70cm). I have had zero trouble with the four or so I have loaned out or otherwise lost. That's the real beauty there, if you lose one it is frustrating but ultimately trivial compared to a yaesu or something.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#43

Post by Kadin » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:43 PM UTC

wwkeyboard wrote: post #37

Ao7bei3s wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ham radio does not necessarily mean expensive equipment. It tends to get expensive, but with some knowledge about electronics, you can build transceivers and antennas very cheaply too - and after all, being allowed to do that is the main, unique perk of a ham radio license. And yes, you can still do long-distance connections that's your goal. Yes, while using repeaters is one of the less interesting aspects of the ho…

If you are in anyway maker-inclined there are a bunch of QRP kits that are not expensive. You won't be immediately spending all evening rag chewing with the old farts on your local repeater, but to take a bag of semiconductors and turn it into a radio that can actually talk with other people is amazing!

The QRP kits are cheap (and some very clever!) but QRP operation can be very challenging as a way to start in.

Personally, I think an inexpensive 10m rig is the way to go, although if you live in a place with a decent 2m or 70cm repeater network there's an argument to be made for getting a cheap HT first. There's almost an assumption in most clubs that everyone has a 2m HT (e.g. talk-in channels for events and stuff).

A club that I joined years back handed me an old Radio Shack 10m SSB on my second meeting, it was sort of the "village bicycle" radio that everyone got to use until they bought their own. That was a fine way to start; I think it put out 10-12 watts or so (I'm dead sure internally it shared a lot of parts with some CB radio they must have sold at the same time), but that's enough to get a feel for things without too much frustration, even if your antenna isn't optimal.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#44

Post by geff82 » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:46 PM UTC

sevensor wrote: post #28

geff82 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a German (in Germany) having the Extra Class ham license and soon becoming a volunteer examiner for the ARRL. I can tell you: at least getting the Technician License is a piece of cake. If you just want to have your license, one day of clicking through exams at hamexam.org should be enough preparation.

Definitely. Most of the questions on the tech exam are there to make sure you understand what it means to be a radio operator and responsible for your transmissions. Pass it and you can use HTs (VHF/UHF walkie-talkies), which is pretty nice. General lets you use SSB on HF, which actually lets you talk to distant people. You have to know some basic EM and electrical safety for General. Personally I had a hard time stu…

...it is worth mentioning that indeed the ARRL license manuals are worth every penny! Just great books.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#45

Post by Kadin » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

AmVess wrote: post #15

Ao7bei3s wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ham radio does not necessarily mean expensive equipment. It tends to get expensive, but with some knowledge about electronics, you can build transceivers and antennas very cheaply too - and after all, being allowed to do that is the main, unique perk of a ham radio license. And yes, you can still do long-distance connections that's your goal. Yes, while using repeaters is one of the less interesting aspects of the ho…

Baofeng radios are only marginally useful on the receive end, and generally terrible on the transmit end. A decent Yaesu is $165+, but will last for many years and actually fulfill its role if you need it to. Look up tests of Baofeng radios and you'll see how poorly they carry out their intended function.

Doesn't Icom make an entry-level 2m radio anymore?

I have an Icom sitting around somewhere that I am pretty sure I got brand-new for under $100 back in 2004-2005. It's pretty primitive, sure, and I don't think it even came with a rechargeable battery at that price (but you can drop eneloops into it and it's just fine), but I suspect it doesn't produce nearly as much QRM as a Baofeng.

If Icom/Yaesu have stopped making entry level radios, shame on them.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#46

Post by twothamendment » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:51 PM UTC

wwkeyboard wrote: post #34

friesen wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seconded. I spent about two weeks studying with the mobile version of this site in my free time and managed to pass the technician, general, and amateur extra exams in one sitting.

Thirded, I used hamstudy to pass all of the tests and after a few years on the air I finally know enough to understand the ARRL manuals. I'm reading the extra manual and it's pretty incredible, they walk you through the theory of building a transceiver starting at doping silicone to make semiconductors.

Fourthed, I always recommend hamstudy.org to people. My wife and I both used it to study for a bit each night and easily passed our tests.

We live in an area that doesn't have good cell coverage, or some days the tower just goes down and there isn't any service where there was great service the day before. Even cheap, basic radios are very useful.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#47

Post by twothamendment » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 4:58 PM UTC

AmVess wrote: post #15

Ao7bei3s wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ham radio does not necessarily mean expensive equipment. It tends to get expensive, but with some knowledge about electronics, you can build transceivers and antennas very cheaply too - and after all, being allowed to do that is the main, unique perk of a ham radio license. And yes, you can still do long-distance connections that's your goal. Yes, while using repeaters is one of the less interesting aspects of the ho…

Baofeng radios are only marginally useful on the receive end, and generally terrible on the transmit end. A decent Yaesu is $165+, but will last for many years and actually fulfill its role if you need it to. Look up tests of Baofeng radios and you'll see how poorly they carry out their intended function.

Yes, Baofengs are the bottom of the barrel, but they are an excellent way to get someone into the hobby. If they decide they don't care they are out $40 instead of hundreds. I only had Baofengs for a few years and was able to join in the rag chew on the local repeater.

Fast forward a few years and I've graduated to a Kenwood in my truck and a Kenwood HT with all the bells and whistles. Are they better? Of course they are, but the UV-82HP was plenty to get started with.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#48

Post by rdl » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 5:10 PM UTC

knob wrote: post #6

As was mentioned by tony-allan, this article is from last September. I'm living in Puerto Rico and situation is now stabilized regarding communications. I want to take this time to thank everybody that has sent help this way, and those that have enabled for help to reach this. Everybody from ham radio operators, to the electrical service brigades from dozens of States, to emergency personnel, everybody. Thanks. PS: I…

If you can find a ham-cram session (where a volunteer organization gets together and does test prep and test on the same day), it's pretty easy to go from zero to tech or zero to general in a single day.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#49

Post by twothamendment » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 5:13 PM UTC

Ao7bei3s wrote: post #16

AmVess wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Baofeng radios are only marginally useful on the receive end, and generally terrible on the transmit end. A decent Yaesu is $165+, but will last for many years and actually fulfill its role if you need it to. Look up tests of Baofeng radios and you'll see how poorly they carry out their intended function.

Look, a decent Yaesu costs 5x as much, and the Baofeng fully fulfills the role I recommended it for - which is to get a beginner started quickly. The entire point was that you don't need to take part in the pay to win game. Noone said Baofengs are high-quality devices. But that's kind of the point, and it is easily good enough to get onto a local relay to get some easy satisfaction and practice the non-technical aspe…

> Besides, what's so interesting about 70cm/2m handhelds that makes getting an expensive one worth it anyway?

APRS, GPS. I love my Kenwood TH-D74 for hiking around. Before I had it I used a Baofeng UV-82 with a http://www.mobilinkd.com/ TNC paired to my phone with Bluetooth. Smart phones suck up battery, so it is a lot nicer to have APRS all in one unit that doesn't depend on a smart phone.

Does everyone need the bells and whistles? No, but depending on what you want there are some nice features.

Re: Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico (2017)

#50

Post by efosmark » Fri, Mar 09, 2018, 5:21 PM UTC

rdl wrote: post #48

knob wrote: post #6

As was mentioned by tony-allan, this article is from last September. I'm living in Puerto Rico and situation is now stabilized regarding communications. I want to take this time to thank everybody that has sent help this way, and those that have enabled for help to reach this. Everybody from ham radio operators, to the electrical service brigades from dozens of States, to emergency personnel, everybody. Thanks. PS: I…

If you can find a ham-cram session (where a volunteer organization gets together and does test prep and test on the same day), it's pretty easy to go from zero to tech or zero to general in a single day.

Be sure to also learn best practices & procedures on how to be a good operator if you go this route. The ARRL tech manual is great for this.

This is similar to what I did; I bought the tech manual, and then used hamstudy.org to learn the tests. Once you get your radio and are able to actually get on the air, use the tech manual as a reference on how you should operate.