Comments | frostyw: Furry's Newest Ham

frostyw

Furry's Newest Ham

Jan 09, 2008 20:28

Since sitting with a couple Ham friends at MFF, I've had an interest to go for my amateur radio license. When I got home from the 'con, I picked up the ARRL Red Book to study for my Technician (entry level) class license. After I finished the book, I started taking several online practice exams, e.g. at AA9PW.com and QRZ.com, and started getting ( Read more... )

ham radio

Comments 20

shelbystripes January 10 2008, 02:39:17 UTC

You keep talking about this stuff, you're going to make me go out and get my license too. =oP

frostyw January 10 2008, 02:44:28 UTC

I fail to see the downside of this.

shelbystripes January 10 2008, 06:07:59 UTC

Don't I have enough expensive hobbies already?

frostyw January 10 2008, 17:37:21 UTC

Hm. Yeah, publish first, then radio. ;D

jmaynard January 10 2008, 03:09:11 UTC

Congratulations! de K5ZC

giza January 10 2008, 03:57:35 UTC

Sweet!

If you're coming to Furry Connection North, I could bring my HT along if you'd like to play with it.

73,

K3TCP

frostyw January 10 2008, 19:44:54 UTC

Thanks, man! Unfortunately, I won't be an FCN; March is going to be a pretty crazy travel month for me -- I'm planning on visiting friends in upstate NY at the start of the month, some social time around my birthday, and then Technicon at the end of the month. By the time April comes around, my travel budget is probably going to be wiped out! :(

I'll be at AC, but I know you'll be running around in six directions at once there. ;-) I'll probably catch up to ya next at WufM (if it comes early this year) or FurFright!

73

skorzy January 10 2008, 04:23:20 UTC

Congrats! Now.. go get thee a vanity call once your FCC one gets listed. :) K1RAT

Get yourself a decent HT first. I really love the newer Yaesu ones. VX6R, 7R etc. Those are solid, well made bricks. Kenwood are good radios, but overpriced and a bit behind in the technology. I've got an ancient Icom (W32A) and a teeny tiny Yaesu VX2R for con use.

Oh yes.. Ham radio = $$$$

anterus January 10 2008, 05:22:44 UTC

Hey, a W32A is not an ancient Icom it's only...what 10 some years old? And solid, at that. We finally had to do some repairs on mine, the antenna connector screw (that one that helps stabilize it, on the back) had become loose enough that the connector rocked enough to break the solder joint in there. Opened it up, resoldered, good as new.

I've been really happy with mine, as you can tell. Just gotta get some newer batteries for it.

skorzy January 10 2008, 05:31:30 UTC

Avoid, at all costs, any and all batteries made by Kendoo. Piece of JUNK and that's being kind.

Never had a problem with W32, other than the print on the buttons have worn off with time. Did the band-opening modification on it and it worked like a charm. Kind of impossible on newer radios.

jmaynard January 10 2008, 14:56:41 UTC

Hm. I've replaced my VX-5R with an IC-91AD...and could be talked into selling the Yaesu. Normally, I'd be trying to talk you into getting a D-Star capable radio (and the IC-91AD is a good buy right now), but there's no D-Star repeater in the Boston area.

Thread 10

darkwolfie January 10 2008, 06:44:59 UTC

Congrats! That's pretty big, Frosty!

Get a radio with TOOBS!

frostyw January 10 2008, 19:46:08 UTC

The toob operating the radio (me) isn't enough? :D

And thank you!