Congratulations to all the new Hams!

[kew]

Thank you to both of you. I appreciate your help and advise.

[RobertW]

Ken, with a shoping list you will be okay. Just don't listen to a thing they tell you.
An HRO employee just told a new ham that a Larsen 5/8 wave base loaded antenna
did not need to be tuned and was all set to go for 2 meters. Nothing could be farther from the truth and this advice could potentially have ruined a new radio!

When I went in to get an adapter to hook up my handheld radio to the magnetic mount antenna, I needed a 239 to SMA adapter.  They asked if I wanted a "hard" or "soft" adapter.  When I explained that it was to connect to my handheld, they recommended the "soft" adapter as it wouldn't put as much stress on the antenna connector which could be a costly fix to the radio.

I thought that was some pretty good advice.  I guess it all depends on who is at the counter and who you talk to. 

[Wrightwood]

Doesn't sound any different than any other place that sells or distributes technical related supplies or services. Some people have, some don't and others try to bluff their way through it.

[RennMan]

When I went in to get an adapter to hook up my handheld radio to the magnetic mount antenna, I needed a 239 to SMA adapter.  They asked if I wanted a "hard" or "soft" adapter.  When I explained that it was to connect to my handheld, they recommended the "soft" adapter as it wouldn't put as much stress on the antenna connector which could be a costly fix to the radio.

A mag mount antenna?  Oh the horror!  Clint will have you in irons for that!     (He just teased me about my mag mount Sirius antenna on my truck)

Actually, that's not a bad idea, since I haven't figured out what radio I want, in which vehicle.  The mag mount would allow me to still use the HT, get better signal, and be able to transfer it between vehicles until I get the funds together for a true mobile unit.  And decide what vehicle to install it into...

I assume this is for a 2M HT.  What antenna is recommended, mag mount aside?

[Wrightwood]

Matt,
Have you looked at HF's yet?

I'm putting in to refi the house.

[clint]

I have used a hard SMA to BNC on my handheld for years. As have many of my old time ham friends.
It costs less than the flexible one.
The flexible one uses RG-174 coax which is horribly lossy.
I have never broken or even a bent my connector.

But I suspect HRO makes more profit on the flexible one.

[RobertW]

When I went in to get an adapter to hook up my handheld radio to the magnetic mount antenna, I needed a 239 to SMA adapter.  They asked if I wanted a "hard" or "soft" adapter.  When I explained that it was to connect to my handheld, they recommended the "soft" adapter as it wouldn't put as much stress on the antenna connector which could be a costly fix to the radio.

A mag mount antenna?  Oh the horror!  Clint will have you in irons for that!     (He just teased me about my mag mount Sirius antenna on my truck)

Actually, that's not a bad idea, since I haven't figured out what radio I want, in which vehicle.  The mag mount would allow me to still use the HT, get better signal, and be able to transfer it between vehicles until I get the funds together for a true mobile unit.  And decide what vehicle to install it into...

I assume this is for a 2M HT.  What antenna is recommended, mag mount aside?

Clint knows my situation with the magmount.  My Toyota has a sunroof (when open it slides to the back of the hardtop on the inside) so I can't go in through the top and I don't think the trunk is the best place for the antenna.  On the Blazer which I usually run around Wrightwood in, my wife does not want antennas on HER car and I remove them when we get back off the mountain.   

You haven't heard Half of the HORROR!  My Handheld is actually a Kenwood TH -F6a Tri-band.  So I went with a Diamond CR320A Tri-band antenna.  Don't tell Clint or he won't talk to me anymore.  Most of my contacts have been on 440 repeaters thus far, so I needed that extra band.  I couldn't see buying three cheap radios and carrying them around.

Clint has his reasons for not recommending a multi-band radio, but for my use it seemed the most practical.

I really like the radio so far and like the fact that I can monitor two channels in different bands at the same time.  I also like the fact that I can program any freq into it and "monitor" say the USFS or San Bernardino Fire, while using the HAM freqs.

[RennMan]

I'm interested in seeing how the install of the antennas, scanner and mobile radios came out, in Clint's Xterra.  It sure was shaping up as a good project, and I'd like to see the outcome.

We just bought a "commute" car for me, so radios and such will have to wait a bit.  I didn't want to refi the house to pay for gas for my truck, to go back and forth to work...

[kew]

my wife does not want antennas on HER car and I remove them when we get back off the mountain.   

I'm thinking our wives may be related. I showed my wife a picture of the roof mount antenna connector. Her immediate reaction - "You can do whatever you want to YOUR car but don't even think about drilling a hole in MY car."

[clint]

Xterra radio installation update.

Antennas went in exceedingly well and with ease.
Has room for one radio easily, two with minor cutting of plastic, three with major relocating of some knobs.

Don't have the scanner in yet.

The snag came when I tried to get through the firewall with a power cable. Just was'nt gonna happen!
So I now have a 1/2" liquid-tite flex, the old style with plastic over aluminum, run from the battery to underneath the transmission hump, it's grounded so it shields the cables from picking up noise, and has two 10 AWG wires pulled through.. This is fused in both leads at the battery.

Not hooked up at the radio end yet. Been a little busy creating the land nav class.

Oh, and I have two speakers cut into the headliner now one for the ham radio and one for the scanner.

[RobertW]

Ok all you OLD TIMERS.  I have to admit that since I've become a HAM, I have some very old traits that I fight to keep from coming out.  As I've mentioned, I was an avid CBr back in the day.

I am conscientiously trying not to sound like a CBr when making contacts on the HAM bands.

When trying to make contact with another HAM I know, I fight the feeling of saying:  "WB6K, this is KI6IMF, you got you're ears on?"  What is the proper way of asking if you're contact is online without sounding like a newbie or an old CBr?

I also want to say "KI6IMF on the side" when ending a contact and monitoring the frequency.  How do you OLD Timers say it?

Any other "expressions" that I should, or should not use, that won't expose me as a conformed CBr?   

[clint]

First question, how to call someone.

"KG6ZEP, KI6MIF"

That's it. if they are there, they will answer.

Second question

At the end of your converstion simply say your call sign "KI6IMF
And by the way, this is precisely the type of stuff we covered in class. 

Maybe you can come to the next one and learn all the other stuff the book didn't tell you. This is why I don't teach to the test. I try to give you all these fundamentals of actually being a ham as opposed to just becoming a ham

[RobertW]

First question, how to call someone.

"KG6ZEP, KI6MIF"

That's it. if they are there, they will answer.

Second question

At the end of your converstion simply say your call sign "KI6IMF
And by the way, this is precisely the type of stuff we covered in class. 

Maybe you can come to the next one and learn all the other stuff the book didn't tell you. This is why I don't teach to the test. I try to give you all these fundamentals of actually being a ham as opposed to just becoming a ham

No need to attend a class.  You answer all the questions I ask.   

Thanks for all your help Clint.  I'll bet you thought you'd never see the day I took your advice and became a HAM. 

[Bob C]

I am conscientiously trying not to sound like a CBr when making contacts on the HAM bands.

Of course, leave the echo box and "roger beep" turned off

[clint]

LOL

[Toolman]

I am conscientiously trying not to sound like a CBr when making contacts on the HAM bands.

Of course, leave the echo box and "roger beep" turned off

 If you can find a Ham radio with echo and roger beep....id be surprised.
 There's no magic to this...just hold a regular conversation and you'll be well accepted into the Ham community. Many like to toss their callsigns out after ever transmission. Sign of a newbie....you have 10 minutes before you need to toss your call out.

[RobertW]

I am conscientiously trying not to sound like a CBr when making contacts on the HAM bands.

Of course, leave the echo box and "roger beep" turned off

 If you can find a Ham radio with echo and roger beep....id be surprised.
 There's no magic to this...just hold a regular conversation and you'll be well accepted into the Ham community. Many like to toss their callsigns out after ever transmission. Sign of a newbie....you have 10 minutes before you need to toss your call out.

Now I DID get that question right on the test...

[kew]

At the end of your converstion simply say your call sign "KI6IMF
And by the way, this is precisely the type of stuff we covered in class. 

Hey Clint, you also told us to never say "Break KI6IMO" unless we're declaring an emergency but I've heard that phrase used at least a dozen time while I've been monitoring the Ham Bands.

[KWBoy]

Don't worry if you screw up and say something wrong and some one hassles you about it and they asked who taught you to become a ham say proudly KB6CLA did!!! 

[clint]

Ken, you will hear people saying all kinds of things that are wrong and bad operating practice. That's why you guys were taught what's and on the test and what's real and right.