HAM Radio For Beginers. IE: me...

[Burt Gummer]

Alright so i've recently picked up a Handheld tripple band HAM Radio. Specifically a Yaesu VX-6R.

The problem is i'm not a coms guy, i've always just loaded the fill and pressed PTT.
And so I consulted the interwebs like we all do, except I didn't know radio guys talk a different language (might as well be)
Comes down to me looking for a starting point to learn how it works, why I need to do what i'm doing how I can apply that know how in a practical way in case of a grid down scenario.
Any and all help / input will be greatly appreciated, because you likely know more then me.

[APX808]

I got my license a few months ago.

I strongly suggest you to contact your local HAM club and enlist in the course to get the license.
There are a lot of topics to cover and many of them are very technical related to electromagnetism and electronics.

Also you can get a copy of Ham Radio for dummies. http://amzn.com/1118592115

There are many tutorials online on how to operate, types of antennas etc but HAM world is so big you will get lost and won't know were to start.

More related to prepping use of radio you can follow the awesome Youtube channel GuerrillaComm http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSOElgoCSU9wNcN5VpgoEw

And also you could check Signal Corps blog, previously it posted nice stuff, lately it just publicizes his upcoming courses, but whatever http://sparks31.wordpress.com/

[crudos]

That is a nice radio Burt. If you can find a local ham who is willing to walk you thru the basics, that might be your best option. Or just dive-in, head first and learn by doing. Yeah it can definitely be overwhelming with all the info out there.

[rah45]

I googled your radio model, got a pros/cons page. Vast majority are 5/5, but one guy gave a 1/5 and kept fussing about "intermod" problems in urban areas. What is he talking about?

Don't you think about having one of these in a urban area with many systems around you. I live in downtown Miami and this radio is simply useless. I have an FT-60R that handles Intermod great, buy one of those instead. The VX-6R is well build, metal case, Li-Ion battery, many features in the menu, DCS, narrow/wide band, 220Mhz!.etc etc etc...Simply take it outside your house and go to downtown and you will have a useless full bars signal box with nothing to receive. Sorry Yaesu, but not this time. I tried 4 diferent units between last year and last week. I returned all. Same problem, INTERMOD INTERMOD INTERMOD!!!!!!!.....Specially in UHF. Ft-60R is a winner, VX-3r and VX-5r handle fairly well. This one becomes useless. Save your money and get an FT-60R...You will be able to see the light!

[JohnyMac]

Burt, great to hear you are getting into HAM.

When you get a chance you might want to read this discussion on this forum earlier about HAM and specifically BAOFENG HAM radios.

What APX wrote:
I strongly suggest you to contact your local HAM club and enlist in the course to get the license.
There are a lot of topics to cover and many of them are very technical related to electromagnetism and electronics.

I am lucky because a neighbor up at the cabin is an old HAM. He took me to a meeting last winter and gave me a cd with a whole bunch of educational things to read. He has been a big help but I have not taken the test yet to get my "ticket."

Check out this club. Their next meeting is the 27th of this month.

Good luck! 

[brat]

+1 for getting involved with your local club. There will be plenty of folks to "tell" you about HAM and there'll be a couple who will "show" you. Those are the ones to buddy with and one or more will be your "homer" (ham speak for mentor). You'll meet a lot with the same interests. They are "particular" in the way you operate and are a stickler for the rules..... FCC licensing and procedures, but are, for the most part very receptive to "newbies" and will help you a lot. My experience has been that they are as serious about HAM radio, as you are, say about prepping or firearms.  My .0125, after taxes.

[Burt Gummer]

Thanks for the great links guys!
I've looked into clubs before only I work 3rd and a lot of hours. and these club's members appear to be 50+  retired, all the time in the world, Fcc worshipers. And so I've been reluctant to join any. If I'm wrong an you've got different experiences please correct me.

It looks like i'll be able to learn a lot from Guerrillageek I would never have found that on my own.

And the signal core guys really seem to know what they are doing.
And are debating the same issue i'm mulling around with
http://sparks31.wordpress.com/the-last-word-on-the-ham-license-debate/#comments

[APX808]

No Burt, you're right. Radio clubs guys are just what you described. But usually they can explain a lot of mathematics and formulas in simple sentences.
I always wanted to learn about radio by myself, I learned a shit load of stuff reading, but radio isn't one of those, is pretty boring and huge, I didn't even knew were to start.

Also in the radio clubs the guys have radios for every band, measurement equipment and antennas that you won't be able to have for yourself, they are extremely expensive, and some bands need really big antennas, I'm talking about 40 meters long wires.

 

[Kentactic]

I just bought my first radio aswell. A UV-5R. Im thoroughly enjoying the learning experience and once you start understanding stuff (which im sure you're now well ahead of me based on the date of this thread and that you are a smart feller who has a thirst for knowledge like myself) It seems very simple. Im reluctant to get my License because using repeaters that the government or other private citizens maintain wont really do any good when the lights go out. The only way to make use of Repeaters post SHTF is to have your own on some sort of off grid power supply(cheapo repeater costing upwards of $2000 not including off grid power supply) But i MIGHT get my license eventually... well see...

But anyways I havent even hit the PTT button once and im having a blast setting my radio up and learning. I will be doing tests soon as my buddy just got a UV-5R aswell.

[Burt Gummer]

Maybe when i'm closer to the west coast this summer I can get your signal. 

[APX808]

Im reluctant to get my License because using repeaters that the government or other private citizens maintain wont really do any good when the lights go out.

Hey Ken, most repeaters are on top of hills already working on solar power and batteries.
HAM radio is the only communications that works on all SHTF scenarios with exception of EMP related ones.
The only problem is that they'll have heavy traffic/monitoring.

Getting a license will help you to meet other HAM guys who have a shitload of equipment, and in a SHTF situation you could contact them for them to pass a message to the other end of the US. Contacts are always helpful

[Kentactic]

Maybe when i'm closer to the west coast this summer I can get your signal. 

Thatd be cool. Keep me posted.

[kokopelli]

I have been a HAM since 2009. And very active in all the local HAM Clubs. I went from 0 to being able to identify what I need in a short time. Very helpful to get involved. HAM is a good way to stay informed to what is happening in other parts of the world. I also have that radio, among others. I use the hand held when I hike with my family. My wife and son are also HAMs. Good Luck in learning. It would be nice for guys like us to communicate via radio one day. I currently log into a net hosted from Montana on Sundays. A prepper group. But you need a General license for HF. Good Luck. K5ZUP.

[JohnyMac]

Thanks for your words of encouragement Kokopelli!  And welcome to the forum.

Don't for get to do a short intro when you get a chance on the Introduction board.

[thatGuy]

Koko, do you think you could pick up my 4 watt handheld down there on a clear night? I'm in just south of Belen, NM.

[kokopelli]

Short Intro? Ok, I am still learning. I will look into that.

[kokopelli]

We could probably accomplish that on 20 meters and in morse code. Have you studied Morse Code? You can get anywhere with only 1 watt.

[kokopelli]

Belen is a nice area. I have family in Mescalero NM. I visit a couple of times per year.

[thatGuy]

Mescalero, NM is really nice..

I need to study Morse code for sure.