Amateur (Ham) Radio License Class Session 2—abbreviated for e-mailing

1. Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2—abbreviated for e-mailing Tonight: • Questions? • Discussion of exam structure • More on radio selection and station setup, including lots of photos • Clubs • Visit station KJ4EU

2. Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2 Technician Class Equipment Survey • Will concentrate on 2 meter & 70 cm FM radios – HF radios are another subject • Emphasis on emergency & public-service usage • Your ARRL License Manual has some ads in the back to look through as well!

3. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Popular brands of Amateur VHF-FM radios • Alinco • Icom • Kenwood • Yaesu • Can also use commercial sets (Motorola etc) but convenient programming can be an issue

4. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Sources of supply • Stores—closest is Evansville (Ham Station) • Mail-order: AES, R&L, HRO, Ham Station etc • “Hamfests” • Madisonville May 3 • Dayton OH May 16-18—the biggest • Marshall Co “Junkfest” (“Georgefest”) May 24, 8AM at Forgotten Past on US 68 • eBay (sellers with ham calls safer?) • Personal sale

5. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Sources of knowledge • Magazines (QST, CQ, etc) • Catalogs (AES) • On-line reviews (eham.net, etc) • “Elmers” and other hams (club meetings) • Personal experience & testing

6. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Hand-held radios (aka HTs, portables) • Very portable • Limited range • Better range with outside antenna and amplifier • Cost (new) ~ $100 - $580 depending on features • The simpler, less expensive sets are easier to operate • Types of hand-helds • Single-band (probably 2 meter, 144-148MHz) • Dual-band, one-at-a-time (2 m & 70 cm) • Dual-band, two-at-a-time (2 m & 70 cm) • Tri-band

7. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Other factors on hand-held radios • Antenna: usually a “rubber duck” with set • Antenna connector: BNC or SMA types are common; some sets don’t have one • Battery types: Alkaline non-rechargeable, or NiCd, NiMH or Lithium rechargeable • Rechargeable batteries lifetime ~1-2 years • Snap-off batteries are a convenience • Most sets will receive out-of-band, may have wx • Case size considerations: tiny to large • Be cautious if buying used • Portables get dropped! • Older sets may not have needed features (CTCSS)

8. Sample hand-helds mentioned 2 meter only: Kenwood TH-K2AT, ~ $140 Yaesu VX150, $118 on closeout Yaesu VX170, $120 on closeout 2m/70cm hand-helds (1 band at a time) Yaesu FT-60R, ~ $190 2m/70cm hand-helds (2 bands at a time) Kenwood TH-D7A(G) Data Communicator ~ $345 Tri-band hand-helds (1 band at a time) Yaesu VX6R ~ $250 Tri-band hand-helds (2 bands at a time) Kenwood TH-F6A ~ $330

9. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Mobile radios • Mounted in autos, or at home (more later) • Higher power, greater range • Require power source and outside antenna • Cost (new) ~ $130 - $650 depending on features • The simpler, less expensive sets are easier to operate • Types of mobiles • Single-band (probably 2 meter, 144-148MHz) • Dual-band, one-at-a-time (2 m & 70 cm) • Dual-band, two-at-a-time (2 m & 70 cm) • Tri-band and quad-band and multi-mode types are available

10. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Other factors on mobile radios • Antenna: not supplied with set • Antenna connector: “UHF” connector • Power source: 12VDC auto supply or converter (not supplied) • Most sets will receive out-of-band, may have special weather-band reception • Power levels: generally 50 to 75 watts out • Cautions if buying used: • Need to verify operation completely, but usually less risk than portables • Older sets may not have needed features (CTCSS)

11. Sample mobile radios mentioned 2 meter only Icom IC-V8000 ~ $200 Yaesu FT-1802M $ 130 closeout Yaesu FT-2800M $140 closeout 2m/70cm mobiles(1 band at a time) Yaesu FT-7800R $255 closeout Icom IC-208H $275 closeout 2m/70cm mobiles(2 bands at a time) Kenwood TM-V71A ~ $400 Yaesu FT-8800R $ 355 closeout Kenwood TM-D710A Data communicator ~ $600

12. Technician Class Equipment Survey • Base station radios • Most stations adapt mobile radios for base • Greatest range, if good outside antenna used • Require power source and outside antenna • Cost (new) like mobile sets, plus power supply and antenna • 120VAC to 12VDC Power supplies ~ $100 • Can use storage battery with trickle charger; this also provides emergency power. But lead-acid batteries need servicing and have some inherent dangers, and only last 2-3 years. • There’s only one true base-station radio marketed today: Icom IC-910H, ~ $1279.

13. Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2 Amateur Radio Clubs: • A source of information and help • A source of helpers for events • Club operating activities provide opportunities to learn & practice skills

14. Amateur (Ham) Radio License ClassSession 2 Amateur Radio Clubs: • Murray: 1st Tuesdays, 7PM, MSU I&T 237 • Net Mondays 9pm 146.940MHz, PL 91.5Hz • Paducah: 2nd Mondays, 7PM, KCTCS 142 • Net Sundays 9pm 147.060MHz, PL 179.9Hz • Benton: 3rd Tuesdays, 7PM, Rescue Squad • Net Wednesdays 9pm 145.390MHz, PL 118.8Hz • Mayfield: 3rd Thursdays, 7PM, hospital lobby • Net Mondays 8:00pm 145.270MHz, PL 141.3Hz • Union City TN: 4th Thursdays 6:30pm, Public Library • Net Sundays 9pm 146.700MHz, PL 100Hz

15. Amateur (Ham) Radio License Class Next time (2 weeks away) • May 12, 4:30pm, in Murray (IT-237) • Questions/Answers? • Antennas, including pictures of installations • Nets, activities, personal operations • Exam session • Suggestion: read the License Manual! • Suggestion: take those on-line practice exams, at qrz.com or eham.net