| Author |
Message |
    
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 990
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 5:29 pm: | 
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I just returned from taking my amateur radio exam. I found out Friday afternoon that testing was today. Took the QRZ tests a few times, went in, and....... PASSED WITH A SCORE OF 100%!!!!!!
I’m beginning to think I should have tried for the general even if I would have failed, what would it have hurt? It’s the same price to take as many as you want.
I should have a call-sign by a week from tomorrow!
Prepare yourselves for a barrage of radio questions from me 
I would personally like to thank all of you, what I have learned from this site solely would have allowed me to pass, a little brush up and learning different organizations took me the rest of the way... again....
THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!
Chad |
Moderator1516
Moderator
Username: Moderator1516
Post Number: 270
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 6:13 pm: |
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from moderator516:
congrulations chad
moderator1516 |
Starface
Advanced Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 715
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
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Chad Congrats and can't wait to make a 6 meter contact with you and the rest now, just need to get me an all mode HF so I can ,again Congrats
KI4NBE
George |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3099
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 9:16 pm: |
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CONGRATULATIONS chad!!!!
yeah, george, you gotta get something so you can talk to the rest of us 6 meter guys! you, too, chad!! lots of rci5054dx radios on auction-some even well priced....except for the 1 that just went for nearly $400-the 25 watter no less! also the mfj9406, of which i just picked up 1 REAL CHEAP....thinking about going bicycle portable, just not sure where to put the 'halo'  |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1906
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 11:14 pm: |
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cool deal chad!
my guess is that you're gonna want your general pretty soon.
nice job!
matt |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10555
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 11:27 pm: |
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CONGRATULATION's
CHAD!
ANOTHER CEF RADIO CLUB HAM MEMBER!
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2  |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1306
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 9:53 am: |
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Congratulations Chad! |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 991
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
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Thanks for all your kind words. YES I plan to go ahead and get my general, at least do the written test quite soon.
I would very much like to get on 6M with you guys, as of now I have NO radio and am having a hard time finding one that will do 50/144/430 in one shot.
I have discovered after shopping around that this is going to be a slower build than expected. This stuff ain't cheap!!!!!!
I'm gonna have to start mowing yards, walking beans, and bailing hay!!!
Even the antenna's are expensive, again, trying to do 6M/2M/440 in one shot vertical. I'm going to have to really resist my temptation to impulse buy and knuckle down and do research.
Chad |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1759
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:49 am: |
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Congrats to you Chad! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3108
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:06 pm: |
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SSB on 6 & 2 for DX uses horizontal polarization. as does 430. (no FM for me). i'm only on 6, using a ku4ab.com square loop with, lately, less then 10 watts PEP from my ic551d, & STILL made over 100 mostly 5/7 to 5/+20 report contacts this past weekend during the CQ mag contest, no beams, no serious watts! have 2 other loops, 1 to stack, another for my truck, but time hasn't allowed. (ku4ab makes loops for 2 & 430 as well, stackable & even a 2/430 combo. check 'em out!) the 551d will do almost 65 watts, but TVI issue currently being worked on precludes that. also have an rci5054dx100 that i used all last season with EXCELLENT results-that will eventually go in my mobile. & my new toy, the mfj...if i get around to it. plenty of auction radios available, too, old yaesu ft690, 551 & 551d, alinco dx70t, ic706, ts60, mfj9406, etc. for new, look at a yaesu ft857d, around $700, or what i'm still saving for, an ic706mkIIg, around $950-both are all mode, 160m-430mHz. check out the book 'six meters-a guide to the magic band' by ken neubeck wb2amu, a local by me....that's what made me decide on 6 meters after i got my license. though i'd love to try 2m SSB, no hf privileges hasn't bothered me at all. when i get it, i get it. |
Moderator136
Moderator
Username: Moderator136
Post Number: 272
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 6:34 pm: |
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CONGRATULATIONS Chad!
Yes you can spend some money on equiptment and Antenna's , But you can build your own antenna's from dipoles to Jpoles for vhf and uhf, and save a bunch of money.
But the best antenna iv got is the 2 and 6 meter is a vertical ANTTRON 2/6 meter ground plane that i bought from COPPER. And made over 43 contacts on 6 meter band in the last 3 weeks and talked over a 100 miles on simplex on the 2 meter side this is a great anntenna i would suggest this to you and for the price it cant be beat.
Also i bought what Pat was saying up above a mfj9406 at a local rummage sale for $20.00 and only 10 watts out made the contacts on 6 meter and 3 weeks time 43 contacts
73 Chad
Moderator 136
CEF 136
kc0svc
CVC#3 (R CA) |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 992
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 10:11 pm: |
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Pat,
YES The 706MKIIG is one fine looking radio, has caught my eye more than once!
As of now the Yaesu FT8900R has my interest perked, unfortunately it has no sideband operation, just FM.
That being said I would have no objection to getting a dedicated radio and antenna system for FM then another for 2M/6M SSB with a loop. Then, as time an money permits go with an all band/all mode and sell off/ re-allocate the other 2.
I will certainly look into that book you speak of.
A few months ago I had the opportunity to pick up an Icom IC-756PROII for around $1K and still can't sleep well knowing that I did not do it. It was fairly new and used little, it came from the estate of a silent key and I am good friends with his son. His son really wanted me to have it, he needed money at the time to finish up paying for the final arrangements and I was strapped coming off of Christmas 
With that radio and a little dual bander I would have been sitting tall!
Actually 2M/430 is VERY popular here, it's very flat land and home of a large engineering school (where I work) We have a very large amount of radio ops per capata. 430 is ALWAYS being worked, since I live smack between Champaign/Urbana and Danville I have access to a plethora of repeaters and clubs. I think Champaign/Urbana has many clubs alone, one large one is even student run and has a BEAUTIFUL shack on top of the engineering building with a nice antenna farm and a few LONG wires spanning between buildings on campus. another student club is in the Foreign language building and concentrates on international DX. Even with a terrible antenna on my scanner mounted inside (about to change) there is NEVER a time when there is no one talking, simplex mind you, 25 miles away.
I'm really looking forward to it, I guess I have to knuckle down, earn some spending money, and make some wise decisions. All of your help from ALL members is GREATLY appreciated!!!
Chad |
Chad
Senior Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 1002
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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I am KC9JVT as of this morning.
Chad |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10592
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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That is GREAT Chad
You are now:
Chad
CEF#433
CEF HAM #212
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Starface
Advanced Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 726
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 1:25 pm: |
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Chad I'll be listen for your call on 6 meters once I get a radio that has 6 meter..
anyway I have your call wrote down
again Congrats and welcome to the world of Amateur Radio
Till next time
Starface
KI4NBE
CEF476
CVC14
HAM181
Southeast Net Control
Auburndale,FL |
Sniper
New member
Username: Sniper
Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 6:40 pm: |
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CONGRATS' Chad hope to get my ticket sometime soon. I envy you ham guys you get to do it BIG...sniper... |
Sniper
New member
Username: Sniper
Post Number: 9
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 6:42 pm: |
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Now I have a question how much does it cost to take the Tech. test?? |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3116
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 6:50 pm: |
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'I envy you ham guys you get to do it BIG...sniper'-my 6 meter ham station DX's at less then 10 watts PEP into a 30" square antenna....that's just a tad smaller then my 11m mobile |
Milkman21218
Member
Username: Milkman21218
Post Number: 90
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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Sniper, Tech test here in Maryland Cost from FREE at Ham fest to $14.00. Free practice test at QRZ's Practice Amateur Radio Exams ,hope this helps. |
Chad
Senior Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 1003
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 1:41 am: |
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14 bucks, test up till you fail |
Sniper
Junior Member
Username: Sniper
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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Thanks guys for the test info. I guess it would likely be the same here in New Hampshire. I'll probably do it at the next hamfest here in New Hampshire in October.Hope to hear everyone tomorrow on 13AM. will be getting my Pres. WASHINGTON. back this week I think, My friend finished it and says it is ready to come home.YAAAAA!!!!!... sniper |
Sniper
Junior Member
Username: Sniper
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 8:45 am: |
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Patzerozero, How are you?. I wish my 11 meter had 10 watts. 3 to 4 watts is all it gets but when skip is right it talks... I'm 56 and figure its about time to get that ticket... I've always wondered about it but got away from radios for along time and just this year got re interested with cb and then started listening to 75 meter radio and it really sparked my interest. I really enjoy DX'ing and love to talk skip but want to do more with it. I have actually heard the ISS crew when they have talked to hams on the ground and that was awsome to hear, so up and onward!!sniper |
