HF and you

[KC8ULU]

Lemme ask, if I may, just why everyone wanted to upgrade? Here are my reasons;

1). HF sounded like alot of fun
2). I like to watch the people across the streets touch light blink on and off
3). I get to talk to alot of people I may never talk to on 2m
4). The looks I get when I am on top my tower messing with my dipole
5). Cuz I could http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[flyslow]

um, cuz i couldnt remember the frequency allocations!

73 flyslow
KB4FLY http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kd5icr]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC8ULU @ June 09 2003,19:20)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Lemme ask, if I may, just why everyone wanted to upgrade? Here are my reasons;

1). HF sounded like alot of fun
2). I like to watch the people across the streets touch light blink on and off
3). I get to talk to alot of people I may never talk to on 2m
4). The looks I get when I am on top my tower messing with my dipole
5). Cuz I could #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Well #I want to upgrade so I have room to move around. Not that I don't have room now but I did buy a nice HF rig (nice to me at least) I mean just look at the roon on HF. #I just can't see being on UHF/VHF forever. I have want or need for microwave
nothing wrong with it but good lord I see it as VERY EXSPENSIVE. And I cant wait to see the looks when I am up on that tower heck I might get some local kids interested.And I do like the idea of the lights in the &quot;hood&quot; flashing. And I dare say a lot more people than 2m, The repeters here seem to be dead.
Thats IMHO.
Bill

[ke4pjw]

Because it was cheaper than doing weak signal VHF/UHF. :)

[w3sy]

Because HF stands for Ham Frequencies.

2 meter repeaters are ok for keeping in touch with your local friends during morning and afternoon/evening commute, but ham radio does not begin and end there.

&quot;Should I work HF?&quot; is not the question. A better question should be, &quot;What do I have to do to earn the privileges I need to work HF?&quot;

HF is where it's at, baybee.

Out.

[WB2GOF]

Ham Radio is where it's at, baby. That's wherever YOU choose to operate. To some, it's HF. To others, VHF &amp; UHF, or microwave. To say it's only HF is irresponsible, and just plain not true. Everyone has different interests and needs. You cannot put all Hams in the same bucket.

[w3sy]

Ok, let's clarify it a bit....

HF is not the beginning and end of ham radio either. There are some people who have elaborate VHF shacks at home. They run moonbounce, fast scan TV, VHF DX... There's a lot of cool stuff out there.

But the &quot;shack in a shirtpocket&quot; thing isn't really hamming as far as I'm concerned. That's a phenomenon invented by the FCC when they (regrettably) scrapped the Novice ticket and made VHF-Only Technician the entry point into the Amateur Service.

To anyone whose hamming is confined to hitting the repeater with an HT, I URGE you to seek out a local ham with an HF station and sit in for an evening of operating some time. THAT'S hamming. Okay, it's not EVERYTHING about hamming, but it's hamming.

Better?

[k3sam]

I don't know what it is like to go from Tech to General as I went straight from Novice to General, however I will comment on General to Extra.

It was actually my wife's idea. #She was taking practice tests for the technician class and wanted me to take the extra class tests. #After passing the first, and most of the others, it became a personal challenge. #

The only area that was of concern was satellite and moon bounce communications. #Never did it, doubt if I ever will do it. #So, a bit of study and I was ready. #I took $ 80 with me so that I could take the test a total of 8 times in case I didn't pass the first time (hihi). #The examiners thought that was funny too.

I did pass the first time and came home with $ 60, ten for gas and ten for the test. #We ( the wife and I ) made a mini trip of the whole thing. #The only VE test within 200 miles of me that weekend was in Canton, Ohio so that is where we went. #Nice people, nice trip, and nice ending.

I don't use the extra frequencies ( no pun intended ) available to me that much but it is nice to know that I can use them if I want.

The Geratol group has a net on 75 meters called the Geratol Net designed to work all states in the exclusive 75 meter extra phone band. #That was another challenge for me. #Of course Hawaii and Alaska were the hardest but got that done also.

Again, <span style='color:blue'>a Personal Challenge</span>.

-Sam

[KC8QMU]

Don't get me wrong, I operate my share of 2m FM, on both simplex and repeater modes, but if you try to tell yourself that there is no good reason to upgrade you are ultimately cheating yourself; you are putting forth more effort copping out of studying than you would if you would just study the material in the first place. DON'T CHEAT YOURSELF OR SELL YOURSELF SHORT. Even if it takes a few times you will get it, and how sweet it is. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[n0xas]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (flyslow @ June 10 2003,19:25)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">um, cuz i couldnt remember the frequency allocations![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Seconded. Got tired of looking at the nifty band chart, now i don't have to!

Pure laziness, that's why I upgraded. As for the other -- well, I never did hold a VHF/UHF only ticket, so it wasn't a factor. I got a Novice ticket in '80, never did get on the air once, let it lapse, got Tech+ in '94. V/UHF is great for the car, used to be useful for packet and stuff, but HF is where the real adventure is for me.

[w9ass]

What about the other reasons?

1: So I could snub every no-code tech alive
2: So I could ONLY operate CW (I am &quot;above&quot; voice)
3: So I could hear a continuation of 2 meters on 75 instead, just with longer-distance QSO's
4: For the pileups
5: That RTTY noise makes me hallucinate
6: So I could use one of Bob Heil's cool mics.

I smell subtle VHF knocking. I like VHF and UHF so much I scored an Icom IC-910H for all mode versatility with Icom quality. Why? Because I don't see myself upgrading for at least 3 months. By that time, I will go ape and get a Yaesu FT-1000 Field. You can SSB and CW with the best of em on good ole 144. You can also whup the camel on 440 fast scan style. VHF is the mode's abode, yo.

73,

KC9DGM

[KB9BVN]

Why did I upgrade?

1. It makes me more handsome.
2. I can jump higher now.
3. My neighbors think I am a genius.
4. Free Long Distance phone calls.
5. So I could be a VE
6. To learn about conjugate matching
7. So I can understand the CW in Klaatu records
8. Explains why my car looks like an upside down dead bug.

73

[KB1GYQ]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KB9BVN @ June 11 2003,18:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">6. To learn about conjugate matching[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
That what dating services are for. Opps I thought you said &quot;conjugal matching&quot;. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kc0kvu]

I may not be an extra, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night....

[w3dub]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc0kvu @ June 11 2003,18:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I may not be an extra, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
HAHAHAAHA that's classic..

No-code tech here and quite happy with it for the time being.. I don't have the money for an HF rig at this moment (I'd rather get something good and do it right the first time) plus there is so much to VHF/UHF that I haven't touched yet...

I have registered for the mid-July VE test session locally to take my General.... but in all likelihood - I will probably have my general ticket yet spend a majority of my time on V/UHF anyway due to lack of equipment at least in the near future.

As the song goes... &quot;they got it all on UHF...&quot; http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73....Ed

[KC8QMU]

Now DGM, you and I are about the same age, and like you I am far from some kind of geek but........


1: So I could snub every no-code tech alive
only if you are interested in this sort of thing, get a radio and you will understand 99% of hams are not like this...........

2: So I could ONLY operate CW (I am &quot;above&quot; voice)
only if you wanted to..... most operate ssb....... but there are subbands for both

3: So I could hear a continuation of 2 meters on 75 instead, just with longer-distance QSO's
Well, yes, both contain converstations of real people about real lives. Only on 75 you might learn about the difference between an npn and a pnp transistor. Damn those guys that actually know something about electronics! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Listen and you might learn a lot! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

4: For the pileups
I avoid these at all costs...... if I wanted this I would have stayed on 11m.... however, there are so many facets to hf that if you don't want too, you can avoid it, most of the time.

5: That RTTY noise makes me hallucinate
..... I only wish............ it would save on beer money! j/k


6: So I could use one of Bob Heil's cool mics.
well, I'll stick to my Kenwood MC-50, but nothing is stopping you from using it on 432 SSB or whatever.......


Trust me, it's really nice to produce your own signal without the aid of someone else's repeater. I enjoy 2m simplex, and have worked the world on 6M SSB, so I understand the wonders of VHF. But if you want to converse with hams from all over the place, HF is the way to go. I love it all.... it's all interesting in it's own way.... from DC to daylight.

But don't categorize bands you have never operated solely on the opinions of the cop outs that occasionaly appear here........ as I said before don't cheat yourself. I look forward to hearing you on 75m, you will have a blast and learn a lot, if you want too. Nothing like working the lower 48 on 100W and antenna that YOU have built..... and having some cool conversations with people at the same time...... its much less anal on 75....

Don't sell yourself short.... you've gotten this far.... you can go the distance with a little effort.... and its definitely worth it.......

I look forward to chewing the rag with you when you upgrade, hopefully soon, but until then feel free to pm me with any questions or advice, im more than willing to help or even just to BS with you about it........... and let me know how the 910 is working out... I was scoping those out and they seem to be a pretty sweet all mode rig.

[N2KIN]

...So I can give myself headaches and frustration

[KC7HDE]

1. So I can continue to learn more.





73
Norm. T.

[N0RKX]

DXing and Contesting.
Whether some here know it or not most of the worlds DX hang out in the low ends of the bands and a majority of those don't own microphones.

[n6hle]

I am upgrading next month for a simple reason... Because I want to. Has nothing to do with wanting to get on HF bands, my employer's sorry excuse for a salary makes sure I can't do that for awhile. Has nothing to do with wanting to prove anything. I just want to.

73,

Harry - KG6PTD

[w3sy]

Matt KC9DGM... Dood, this post is so unlike you, knaamean? Let's look --

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;What about the other reasons?
1: So I could snub every no-code tech alive&quot;</span>

El wrongo. When you are on HF, you won't be WORKING any no-code techs, but that doesn't mean that your class of license demands that you snub these guys. You'll still work 'em on the repeater and see 'em at club meetings. And if you are a decent sort (as most hams certainly are), you'll help THEM upgrade too (if they have the desire).

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;2: So I could ONLY operate CW (I am &quot;above&quot; voice)&quot;</span>

Newbie, you're way off on this one. We used to HAVE a license class where you could operate only CW. It was called &quot;Novice.&quot; There wasn't anything snobby about being a Novice.

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;3: So I could hear a continuation of 2 meters on 75 instead, just with longer-distance QSO's&quot;</span>

Ok, I'll give you this one. There are some real dingalings on 75. They drop F-bombs and S-bombs, but at least there's no CB lingo. HAW!!!

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;4: For the pileups&quot;</span>

Aaah, pileups! You must be joking. A brawler like you would LOVE a good pileup now and then. C'mon, pileups are fun. You can't get entertainment like that on the repeater! geez...

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;5: That RTTY noise makes me hallucinate&quot;</span>

I thought that's what all that Hippie Lettuce was for. Haw!! If you think RTTY is mind blowing, find some MFSK16 on the band. THAT sounds real freaky.

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;6: So I could use one of Bob Heil's cool mics.&quot;</span>

Dood, you can use a Heil mic on VHF, I suppose. I have an HC4 that I use in pileups. (See above.)

<span style='color:blue'>&quot;I smell subtle VHF knocking.&quot;</span>

Nothing subtle about it, OM. Har... But let's clarify again. There are some cool things you can do on VHF. In fact, when the FCC first conceived the Tech license, it was to encourage VHF experimentation. But most of the &quot;experimentation&quot; going on now consists of seeing what repeaters can be kerchunked with a 2 ounce HT. This is just my opinion, but what's exciting about totally confining your hamming experience to talking to locals on the repeater? Compare that to the first time a new HF operator makes contact with the opposite coast -- or a station on another continent.

When the Novice ticket was the entry level license, that was the kind of thrill we experienced. For me, anyway, that was the real &quot;hook.&quot; Been 33 years, and I'm still hamming. What is so exciting about repeater operation that would inspire newbies to stick around?

But hey -- if you can completely amuse yourself on VHF, you don't need HF. Let me repeat my previous suggestion -- Find a ham in your town with a decent HF station and invite yourself over for an eveing of operating. Check it out and decide if it's for you.

bum-diddy-bum-bum... #bum-bum

Out.

[K9STH]

SY:

The Novice class license has always had some type of phone privileges. When the FCC took away the 2 meter privileges (145 - 147 MHz) in 1968 they did give privileges at 1296 MHz.

From the inception of the Novice Class in 1951 until either 1960 or 1961 (don't remember just which year), the Novice Class could operate on 145 - 147 MHz using CW and phone but the Technician Class licensee had privileges on 6 meters and then 220 MHz and above. However, the Technician Class licensees did NOT have any 2 meter privileges! Then, the Technicians were given the 145 - 147 MHz band and then finally all of 2 meters. However, for almost 10 years Novice Class licensees had 2 meter phone privileges and the Technician Class did not.

The reason that 146.940 MHz became &quot;the&quot; 2 meter FM frequency was because under the old commercial regulations on &quot;high band&quot; the channel spacing was 60 KHz. 146.940 MHz was the first &quot;channel&quot; spacing down from the 147 MHz Technician band edge. Prior to the Technicans being given 2 meter privileges, &quot;the&quot; 2 meter FM frequency was 147.300 MHz.

Anyway, since World War II, all classes of amateur radio licensees have had some sort of phone privileges.

Glen, K9STH

[KB9BVN]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kg6ptd @ June 12 2003,08:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am upgrading next month for a simple reason... #Because I want to. # Has nothing to do with wanting to get on HF bands, my employer's sorry excuse for a salary makes sure I can't do that for awhile. #Has nothing to do with wanting to prove anything. #I just want to.

73,

Harry - KG6PTD[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Harry,

You can be on HF working the world for less than $60.00 - visit http://www.smallwonderlabs.com (http://www.smallwomderlabs.com) and check out the lineup of SWL+ rigs for $55.00

I have a 40m and a 20m version, and use an attic dipole. #These rigs deliver just over 2w of output, can be easily modified to 5w, and I have worked the world with them. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

You can too!

73 de KB9BVN

[w9ass]

SY:

I get harsh sometimes. Kinda when I get snubbed by extras or No-code techs who think they know everything, or if I suddenly run out of Southern Comfort or if the female factor is low... Last night I was able to work some VHF SSB which was fun, but HF will have to wait for like at least 2 months. My code is still slow and choppy, and I have a serious VHF/UHF rig so I have to make use of the frequency privileges and allocations. Now that I can work all modes (minus AM), I am having a little more fun. Besides, we have a good group on 2m here, I don't know if I could duplicate that on 40 meters...

I will whole-heartedly reap all challenges/rewards when they are available. Besides, I have to be able to construct an adequate HF station which will be limited space-wise. When I go I will go golf-balls out, and I am doing that now on 2 meters. Besides, it is local lore that the &quot;upper eschelon&quot; operate on 440...When I am tired of the lacking signal propagation (which is happening slowly), I will make the transition.

I have been on 2 meters every night because my HF rig is taking a dirt nap. I think my next project will be some 2 meter CW...thats the ticket!

73,

KC9DGM

[WA2ZDY]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K9STH @ June 12 2003,11:19)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">SY:

The Novice class license has always had some type of phone privileges. #When the FCC took away the 2 meter privileges (145 - 147 MHz) in 1968 they did give privileges at 1296 MHz.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Actually Glen, I have to disagree with you here. Not that it matters in the overall scheme of things, but when Novices were evicted from the 145-147MHz phone band, they were CW only until &quot;Novice Enhancement&quot; which occured as I recall around 1983. That was when Novices gained 10m phone, 222 MHz and 1296 MHz (whatever the exact bandsplit was.)

I was a Novice (WN2ZDY) from January through December 1975, and at that time it was CW only 3700-3750, 7100-7150, 21100-21200 and 28100-28200. At least I missed the crystal control only era, even though I spent most of my Novice days with exactly one crystal on 7123!

[kf7qq]

For h.f. of course. In my days, that is where the action was, and still is today. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[kd5kfl]

Bacause, if you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly. Why would you NOT upgrade? 3 simple tests, you're at the top.

[w3sy]

Quite true, on all counts.

Again, this is no knock on VHF. A lot of cool stuff happens there.

If you use your license ONLY to work 2 meter repeaters (that would include the majority of VHF'ers), you're really missing something. 2 meter repeaters have their place, but that ain't all there is.... ya dig?

Out.

[KD7KOY]

I kind of like the idea of making lights blink on and off http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif