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We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

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Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#111

Post by SOMA_BOFH »

apatters wrote: post #107

I've always been curious about this hobby but never jumped in. The technology is an interesting curiosity to me but speaking bluntly what would probably give me the impetus to really spend time on it would be tapping into any kind of underground content or social experience that exists. For instance I read that Art Bell got started by broadcasting his show over shortwave bands, what a fascinating experience it would…

Online SDR receivers are a great way to listen using other people's equipment:

http://www.websdr.org

Reverse Beacon Network and PSKreporter are excellent tools to see how people's signals are propagating:

http://www.reversebeacon.net

ttps://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#112

Post by ssimpson »

jimmcslim wrote: post #29

I'm interested in amateur radio but always feel that I can't get anything done without a big honking antenna?

All situations end up being a compromise. Most HOAs abhor antennas. I have an Endfed Halfwave antenna (EFHW) strung up in a tree. I can operate 6meter to 40meter band with it pretty well.

https://myantennas.com/wp/product/efhw-4010/

Also magloops are fun but are also a compromise.

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#113

Post by imroot »

snazz wrote: post #40

I am interested in ham radio, but I’m uncomfortable with broadcasting my call sign around (as required by the FCC) since in the US it’s super easy to get someone’s name and home address from their callsign. For currently operating hams: do you just deal with it, or is there something you can do to protect your privacy?

I've just dealt with it (K4IMW), but, I use my PO Box for my FCC ULS information. If the FCC or anyone else wants to get in touch with me, it's probably quicker to email me, but, I understand that there are times where a paper letter is more "formal," (also, QSL cards).

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#114

Post by nickysielicki »

Stratoscope wrote: post #95
nickysielicki wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Start with APRS --- a lot of people aren't even aware that there are packet radio networks that exist on VHF outside of 144.390M, but no matter where you are in the US, you probably will be able to get something going on APRS. There are all sorts of ways that you can go with packet radio. Here are a couple ideas: 1. Start monitoring APRS traffic in your area. I have a blog post that I wrote about repurposing a $5 sca…

> Hams are allowed to run standard 2.4GHz Wi-Fi equipment at higher power than normal people, provided that we stick to the FCC requirements (station identification in the form of our SSID, no encryption, etc.) Are you sure about that? It doesn't sound right to me, since 2.4GHz is not a ham band. But I would be happy to be corrected!

https://www.qsl.net/kb9mwr/projects/wireless/pwr.html

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#115

Post by taborj »

nickysielicki wrote: post #33
jimnotgym wrote: post #20

I would like to have a go at building a receiver for listening to CW with my kids. I don't want anything on the computer, just something I can solder that will work. Is there a kit that has a good success rate? I'm in the UK if that matters.

Check out the Pixie kits, they're extraordinarily cheap, like $5 on ebay cheap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwtErr2E1kQ

I'd recommend getting a couple different crystals, at least one at 7.030Mhz, which is likely going to be more popular than the typical 7.023Mhz they come with.

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#117

Post by apatters »

SOMA_BOFH wrote: post #111
apatters wrote: post #107

I've always been curious about this hobby but never jumped in. The technology is an interesting curiosity to me but speaking bluntly what would probably give me the impetus to really spend time on it would be tapping into any kind of underground content or social experience that exists. For instance I read that Art Bell got started by broadcasting his show over shortwave bands, what a fascinating experience it would…

Online SDR receivers are a great way to listen using other people's equipment: http://www.websdr.org Reverse Beacon Network and PSKreporter are excellent tools to see how people's signals are propagating: http://www.reversebeacon.net ttps://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

Oh man. This is amazing. Going to require at least one full evening to figure out WTF I am looking at though :)

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#119

Post by sasaf5 »

apatters wrote: post #107

I've always been curious about this hobby but never jumped in. The technology is an interesting curiosity to me but speaking bluntly what would probably give me the impetus to really spend time on it would be tapping into any kind of underground content or social experience that exists. For instance I read that Art Bell got started by broadcasting his show over shortwave bands, what a fascinating experience it would…

Search for rtl-sdr. It's a 10$ DVB dongle that can also work as generic RF front end. This plus GNU radio or gqrx and you can already receive some fm and ham radio signals

Re: We're in a Golden Age for Amateur Radio

#120

Post by brians »

hyperpallium wrote: post #116

What's the most lightweight, portable ham radio? Is it comparable to a smartphone?

More comparable to a raspberry pi. There are some UHF transceivers the size of thumb drives, and a couple beacon designs the size of lithium coin cells—the idea is you clip the coin cell on, then put this in your drone/rocket/balloon. Mass is a couple grams at most.

A typical low-power shortwave station will fit comfortably in my spare space in a backpack, as described at the link.

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