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The Technician’s First Radio Station

This guide provides a three-point plan for technicians setting up their first radio station, including goal setting, making a plan, and seeking advice from experienced radio enthusiasts. It also offers specific recommendations for equipment, antennas, and frequencies.

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The Technician’s First Radio Station

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  1. The Technician’s First Radio Station

  2. Three Point Plan • Set Goals • Make Plan • Talk It Over

  3. Set Goals • Lack of direction is okay • Ignore fanatics • Sources: Club, QST, Internet • Try before you buy • VWS events • Visit Someone • Online alternatives • One goal at a time • Timeline: work backwards

  4. Make A Plan • Research • Tentative plan: • Things to learn • Actions to take • Items to acquire • Survey Physical Layout • Take limitations into account

  5. Talk It Over • More brains better • Casual reach out • Club Mentoring program • Who has resources to share? • Equipment that no longer inspires joy • Cascade of trade-ups • Bulk purchase overflow • Recommend give over borrow

  6. Overall • Don’t sweat the details; get on the air. • The fun part is getting there • Expect to revise often • Pay it forward

  7. Specifics • QRP is a hard place to start • Kits will probably not work as a first station • Membership survey

  8. VHF Repeaters: Brendan O'Neill KM4HRR, John TransueAF4PD Contesting and Weak Signals: John Young, KM4KMU Rat Meister: John Shell, K3US Antenna MacGyver: Ron Payne, WA6YOU Club

  9. HF • Station • Used Rig • Power Supply • Dipole • DC to Daylight? • SDR? • Boat Anchors? Power Supply Radio Coax Antenna

  10. Tech Spectrum • 80, 40, 20, 15m: CW • 10m: CW, SSB, Data • > 50 Mhz: All

  11. Expectations • Set your expectations regarding your new radio. • What’s your budget? • What do you want your new radio to do for you? • Single Band? Dual Band? GPS? APRS? Analog? Digital? Both? • How do you anticipate using this radio? Simplex, Repeaters, Public Service, EMCOMM, Search & Rescue, Family Communications? Camping? Travel? • Digital Voice Hotspots?

  12. Familiarity • Learn how to program your radio with software & front panel buttons • Use your radio often. The more comfortable you are with your radio the better able you are to fix things when they go wrong. Things ALWAYSgo wrong in the field. • Join and participate in as many local Nets as you can

  13. Handy Talkies Part 01 • HT’s out of the box are less than optimal * stubby antenna * no programming • with a little effort you can transform that HT in to a better performer • antenna upgrade – roll up j-pole (3rd party, Comet/Diamond) • dual band power amp • tiger tail (we can help - search Google) • extra batteries

  14. Handy TalkiePart Two • Learn the various way to program and edit your radio settings (front key pad vs programing software) • practice with your HT a lot so if you have a failure in the field you know how to fix it quickly - volunteer for every Public Service event available. • Nifty Guides for each HT you own/plan to use

  15. HT vs. Mobile • Handy Talkie • Small, lightweight, Portable • Mono Band/Dual Band (2m/70cm) • Low Power: .05w, 1w, 2w, 5w, 8w • Antenna: Stubby, 3rd party options Comet/Diamond (know the antenna connector type on your HT) • Mobile • Medium. Easy install in multiple/different locations • Mono Band/Dual Band (2m/70cm) • High Power: 5w, 15w, 25w, 50w • Better range/operating capability • Antenna: Car Roof Mag Mount, Hatch or trunk Lip Mount

  16. MEMBERS • ELMERS (Mentor) Program viennawireless.net/wp/about/elmer-program/

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