I was a novice in highschool (obtained 1990) but lost interest during college, career, and marriage/family. Now, I'm interested in getting going again.
I still have my old rig, a nice Drake TR-4C transceiver and MJF tuner. I'm in the process of studying for my technician ticket (with the intent of moving up over time). I'm also designing a dipole (I have to be under the radar where I live).
I noticed that technicians now have 6m privileges. My father used to operate 6m mobile back in the 60's. The band intrigues me.
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself. Hopefully I'll get the test done in the next few weeks and will be back on the air before year's end.
Techs have a lot of new privileges. They have most of what were the General Class CW bands on 80, 40, 15, and 10, plus SSB and digital modes on part of 10. If you can remember some CW, you can get on HF right away with up to 200 watts. 40 meters has been excellent lately, and 15 has started to open up again.
You may want to consider an all-mode all band rig like the FT-857 or IC-706 as your first rig. The IC-746 also gives you HF + 6 and 2 meters.
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Thank you sir. I must admit the new mobiles look nice. I think I'll get back into using my existing gear and then go from there. It still works (or at least receives) extremely well.
I do remember my code, or at least I can write it out. I haven't tried any copy lately (could only ever go SLOWLY) but hopefully it will come back to me.
I don't know why I missed it, but I didn't see that you have the TR4C. Assuming it's working, that's still one of the best rigs ever built. Maybe you should look for a TR6 to go with it for 6 meters.
Of course, if you can remember the code even at very slow speeds, you will be able to make a lot of contacts. The region around 7110-7120 is the watering hole for low speed folks on 40. You'll hear folks doing 3 WPM there, and lots of more experienced CW ops hang out to answer CQ's from newbies.
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I went straight for the proverbial throat and got my general a couple months after passing for Technician. My father and I took the tests at the same time.
The irony came about when we were getting ready for the General test. I'd been sweating bullets getting my CW up to 5WPM when he said, "Oh, by the way, I found my old Novice ticket from the '80s when I cleaned out my wallet. I don't need to take the morse code part." So, I had to take the CW portion entirely on my own. I did pass, although sweated bullets all through.
The REAL irony is that they announced the elimination of the CW requirement the week after.
So, look forward to seeing you get back into the hobby!
Good for you, and welcome back to the hobby. Your ol' rig should give you plenty of fun. The newer stuff is amazing, though, so jump at any chance of visiting another ham to play with some new equipment and modes.
Digital modes will be completely new to you, but with a computer, a receiver, and a little wire you can begin to receive them right now. Google PSK31 for some basic info about it (and that's just one of many digimodes), and pop in here or the Q&A forum if you have questions.
CW, no longer being mandatory for a ticket, has suddenly become more interesting to many folks. If you check out the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC), you'll find lots of events that are actually geared to slow speed CW enjoyment. The SKCC "Elmer" frequency is 7114, the focal point for slow speed operators to get their feet wet & build confidence at the same time they're having fun. 73
Thanks guys. I really still like my Drake. A nice scent of hot tubes is a pretty cool thing. The receiver on it is really great.
K0RGR - boy would I like to find a TR-6. It would look great next to my HF transceiver. I researched it a bit and looks like very few were manufactured, so I guess that's hit or miss...and I imagine the price tag is commensurate with its low production.
I'm satisfied with what I have for the time being. I just need to get my ticket and throw up a dipole. I also have a Kenwood general coverage receiver which has brought me much joy over the past 20+ years.
Like you, I've had a LONG absence from radio. I got my novice ticket at age 14 (1975), and was active for several years. I moved 800 mi from home and left all the radio gear at home so my dad could use it. Now, some 35 years later, I'm FINALLY getting back in the groove.
I'll be sitting for my Technician test tomorrow. I still have all the "vintage" gear my dad and I used back in the day: Heathkit DX-60B transmitter and a Realistic (Radio Shack) DX-160 receiver.
I fired up the transmitter last week and she loaded up like a champ - after all these years of sitting dormant. I was impressed. I agree with you, those tubes do smell good!
Anyway, right now I'm in the process of putting up my inverted vee antenna. Hopefully I'll be back on the air in several weeks.
It's great to hear you have the bug again. Stay with it!
Ron - WB5UPS
P.S. It's always nice to see another Texan here on the boards!
Actually, the Technician Class license has always had 6-meter privileges starting with the inception of that license class back in 1951. Until 1959 the Technician Class licensees did not have any 2-meter privileges although the Novice Class did have the 145 MHz to 147 MHz segment available. In 1959 the Technician Class was given the same privileges as Novice Class, the 145 MHz to 147 MHz segment. In the late 1960s Technician Class licensees gained the 147 MHz to 148 MHz segment in addition to the 145 MHz to 147 MHz segment. It was not until the late 1970s that Technician Class licensees were given the entire 2-meter band.
Also, with incentive licensing, only Advanced Class and Amateur Extra Class operators were allowed the CW only portion of 6-meters (50.000 MHz to 50.100 MHz) effective 22 November 1968. It took a number of years before the Technician Class regained that portion of the 6-meter band.
In which part of Dallas do you live? I am in the Collin County portion of Richardson (Canyon Creek).
I'm glad to see that there are others like myself who earned a novice ticket in ancient history and who are now upgrading and getting on the air. I earned my Tech license last month and am going to take the General License exam this coming Thursday. Have a couple of guys (VEs) who have offered to help me put up antennas in the near future--I'm hoping that's 11/14. So far I'm not on the air yet.
However, I'm lucky. From my Dad, former W5IFE and K7BSY, now Silent Key, I inherited:
Drake T-4XB Transmitter
Drake R-4B Receiver
Azden PCS-6000H 2m FM transceiver
iComm 207H VHF/UHF FM transceiver
MFJ Versatuner II (Model MFJ-945B)
Heathkit SB 2202kW linear amplifier
Hallicrafters Model S-108 receiver 540-34,000 kHz
and a few other items.
I'm working on getting the supplies to build the quadrifilar helix 2m antenna described in the Oct QST, and I've got wire, coax, connectors, etc. to put up an 80m and a 40m dipole.
That's what I have & have planned. I also want to go mobile, though, especially on 2m in order to get into emergency operations. I've had various recommendations--the newest Yaesu handheld has been both recommended and not. One guy recommended a Kenwood, another guy recommended the iCom 2720 . . . I'm frankly confused! Do you guys have any clarity to offer?
We appreciate your support.
Becoming a Ham again
Linear Mode
