I'm currently studying for my Tech and General and hope to do a double at our local Hamfest coming up. (wish me luck) :-) I have some general questions about Hamfests and I know some of the answers will probably be 'it depends'. I currently have no equipment at all.
1) Are Hamfests a good place to purchase new equipment vs online? Can I expect the prices to be lower, about the same, maybe higher? I guess I'm talking in general here. If prices aren't going to be much cheaper, I guess I won't feel pressured to make a decision soon (Hamfest is in about a week and a half). I've looked at either an FT-857D or FT-897D and have read other threads contrasting the two. However, I've made no decision at this point other than to get an all mode rig that I can either use as a portable / mobile or as a base (mostly base)... something that I can grow into.
2) What other essential equipment will I or any other new Ham need? SWR meter, filters, etc.? Is there a checklist somewhere? Again, is a Hamfest a good place to pick this new equipment up or is Online going to be about the same cost? Don't even know enough to ask about antennae's at this point other than I want to work local and DX. Have restrictions of no antennaes in my sub-division so I'd be looking at an attic installation or some other covert install. Good size attic with approximately 12 feet of headroom at points but is probably only 20 - 25 feet off the ground.
I have contacted a local club and want to learn as much as possible BEFORE making decisions. I guess I'm letting the Hamfest coming up be a trigger point for me under the assumption that I'll get good deals on equipment. If that assumption is not true, I can relax and take my time and continue to learn before buying. And boy is there a lot to learn! The assumption / attraction for me is that I'll never be done learning in this hobby.
I'm currently studying for my Tech and General and hope to do a double at our local Hamfest coming up. (wish me luck) :-)
Good luck on the test!
I have some general questions about Hamfests and I know some of the answers will probably be 'it depends'. I currently have no equipment at all.
1) Are Hamfests a good place to purchase new equipment vs online?
Heck ya!.. Hamfests are the ONLY best way to get started!
The swap section here on QRZ is the second best way to acquire stuff.
Can I expect the prices to be lower, about the same, maybe higher?
Typically prices are lower at hamfests. Sometimes, people even give stuff away because they don't want to haul it back home with them but yes, the best deals are going to be found at the hamfests.
Online prices tend to be higher because you often factor in the costs of shipping etc.
I guess I'm talking in general here. If prices aren't going to be much cheaper, I guess I won't feel pressured to make a decision soon (Hamfest is in about a week and a half). I've looked at either an FT-857D or FT-897D and have read other threads contrasting the two. However, I've made no decision at this point other than to get an all mode rig that I can either use as a portable / mobile or as a base (mostly base)... something that I can grow into.
Some equipment is not always going to be available for sale at hamfests. Especially the "newer" stuff unless there is a ham radio dealer present selling such rigs. However, most dealers usually discount their prices during hamfests. The general rule of thumb is that most "newer" rigs etc are usually (no not always) sold "online" and the older stuff is usually found at the hamfest tables.
I collect and restore older radios. The best deals I have found are always found at the tables in my experience. First, I get to haggle on a sorry looking non working dusty hulk of wires and metal chassis, I make a deal and take my bargains home, I take the radio apart, clean off the dust, resore them to like new working condition again and put them on display on the boatanchor rack in my shack. I find this is the best part of the radio hobby for me.
Another issue is buying heavy feedline and antenna's. It is for this reason many hams will often buy large antenna's at hamfests instead of online. Large antennas are not very easy to ship online, especially HF yagi's etc.. Hamfests are a great place to shop for antenna's, spools of feedline etc.
2) What other essential equipment will I or any other new Ham need? SWR meter, filters, etc.? Is there a checklist somewhere?
No checklists. Your equipment is going to be based on actual need. A typical station has feedline, a transceiver, antenna and microphone. Beyond that, there is no limit or typical equipment requirement.
Again, is a Hamfest a good place to pick this new equipment up or is Online going to be about the same cost?
...Hamfests! But again buying something "new" is not always going to be the best deal or bargain in my opinion.
Don't even know enough to ask about antenna's at this point other than I want to work local and DX. Have restrictions of no antennas in my sub-division so I'd be looking at an attic installation or some other covert install. Good size attic with approximately 12 feet of headroom at points but is probably only 20 - 25 feet off the ground.
Google the term "stealth antenna"
Any ordinary wire can be smartly disguised to appear as something else in about a 1000 different ways.
Tons of information regarding such antenna installs have been posted right here on QRZ in the past. Do a little digging around, you will find it. Keep in mind that whatever antenna you choose, outside is always a better choice than installing indoors for a variety of reasons. Flag pole antenna's are a popular option in your situation but there are many others.
I have contacted a local club and want to learn as much as possible BEFORE making decisions.
Excellent idea - Highly recommended but it's not a deal breaker when shopping around for a radio bargain.
I guess I'm letting the Hamfest coming up be a trigger point for me under the assumption that I'll get good deals on equipment. If that assumption is not true, I can relax and take my time and continue to learn before buying. And boy is there a lot to learn! The assumption / attraction for me is that I'll never be done learning in this hobby.
Yes, that is absolutely true and hamfests are a great place to find old books, learning materials etc. I recommend looking around for a copy of the ARRL handbook (any year) as a very good learning tool when you are getting started.
Sorry for the long post!
My pleasure and good luck on the exam !! Remember to come back here and let us know when you passed.
You'll want a good tuner. That should have a Meter in it.
A Dummy load is a good tool to have on hand.
Plan on investing in 1 or 2 coax switches. You'll have to plan ahead on that one. You'll need at least on that is rated for UHF use. You'll want to switch from Vertical to Horizontal on at least 2M for FM and SSB work.
You might find a deal on good coax and you'll find lots of shiny new antenna supplies and stuff for home-brewing antennas.
Have fun, You'll find there is lots of fun to be had and you get to learn as you go.
Good luck on the test.
DOH!!!! I forgot, you should see lots of Books. Buy all that you can afford. An Antenna book and the Amateur Radio Handbook are must haves.
IC-290H 2M ALL MODE; $125
TM-721A ( 144 / 432 dual band FM ); $150
Garmin GPSII; $20. FUBAR display, fine for APRS
missed out on another Kenwood 2M FM for $45
eyeballed two Kenwood TS440s, $400 each.
Drake, Ten-Tec, Hallicrafters, National and Heathkit were represented.
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I'm currently studying for my Tech and General and hope to do a double at our local Hamfest coming up. (wish me luck) :-) I have some general questions about Hamfests and I know some of the answers will probably be 'it depends'. I currently have no equipment at all.
1) Are Hamfests a good place to purchase new equipment vs online? Can I expect the prices to be lower, about the same, maybe higher? I guess I'm talking in general here. If prices aren't going to be much cheaper, I guess I won't feel pressured to make a decision soon (Hamfest is in about a week and a half). I've looked at either an FT-857D or FT-897D and have read other threads contrasting the two. However, I've made no decision at this point other than to get an all mode rig that I can either use as a portable / mobile or as a base (mostly base)... something that I can grow into.
2) What other essential equipment will I or any other new Ham need? SWR meter, filters, etc.? Is there a checklist somewhere? Again, is a Hamfest a good place to pick this new equipment up or is Online going to be about the same cost? Don't even know enough to ask about antennae's at this point other than I want to work local and DX. Have restrictions of no antennaes in my sub-division so I'd be looking at an attic installation or some other covert install. Good size attic with approximately 12 feet of headroom at points but is probably only 20 - 25 feet off the ground.
I have contacted a local club and want to learn as much as possible BEFORE making decisions. I guess I'm letting the Hamfest coming up be a trigger point for me under the assumption that I'll get good deals on equipment. If that assumption is not true, I can relax and take my time and continue to learn before buying. And boy is there a lot to learn! The assumption / attraction for me is that I'll never be done learning in this hobby.
Sorry for the long post!
Congratulations on your life-changing decision. You won't regret it.
No apologies necessary for the long post. I'll just retaliate with a longer post.
From the Opus:
Zero-Budget Ham Radio
Getting an amateur radio license and actually getting on the air can be two very different things. An Amateur Radio license is a piece of paper; an Amateur Radio station is usually a bit more. But, fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a whole lot more.
If you are a new ham and are looking about to create a station of your own, the VERY LAST PLACE ON EARTH you want to look for equipment is in the ham catalogs. We are dead serious about this. (I am free to use the “Royal We” because I’m the creator of this tome). Let’s look at this situation a bit further.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away, just about every college, high school, and a lot of elementary schools, had a working amateur radio station. The average novice (with a small “n” to distinguish it from the now defunct Novice class license) had no lack of opportunity to get his feet wet in amateur radio without spending a dime. Most club stations had a pretty eclectic collection of radios to try out, ranging from excellent to abysmal. Usually, Norman Novice had a pretty good idea of what he wanted...or wanted to avoid...well before he went out to spend his hard-earned dog-walking money.
Working amateur radio stations are rarities in institutions of “education” these days. Funding of such extravagance seems to have fallen somewhere behind metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs. Personally, I think a kid with a soldering gun in his hand is much less likely to be holding a shoot ‘em up type gun in the same hand...but that’s just my silly logic getting away from me, I suppose.
So, except for a few rare cases, the new ham has to find the second-best alternative, which may actually be the best alternative, after all. We’re talking about finding a local, experienced ham with a real operating station, a mentor.
Such people are called “Elmers” in ham lingo, though nobody is exactly sure why. We are told that it has nothing whatsoever to do with Elmer Fudd.
In any case, your number one assignment as a newly licensed ham is to find an Elmer. As we mentioned in the introduction, every neighborhood has one...you sometimes just have to look. The guy who administered your license exam probably knows where you can find an Elmer in your bailiwick.
Now, be forewarned. It is well within the realm of possibility that your Elmer may indeed bear a striking resemblance to Elmer Fudd. Don’t let this disturb you too much. There’s probably a lot more activity going on under that tattered hunting cap than you might suspect. You are likely to find that Mr. Fudd is more than willing and able to impart some of that wisdom to you. But even more than that, Mr. Fudd has something you really want: a ham radio station you can operate for FREE! Take advantage of this as much as possible. Be willing to do a few chores around the shack in exchange for your free room and board. I highly recommend you acquaint yourself with Phil Gildersleeve’s famous Jeeves character. Phil Gildersleeve was an illustrator and cartoonist for QST Magazine for decades. His cartoons were the epitome of “Elmering.” Jeeves was a butler willing to do anything for his unseen master...and learned a whole lot in the process.
Now, sooner or later, you will have outstayed your welcome at Mr. Fudd’s castle. You will want to have a station of your very own. Ideally, you will have learned something of the fine art of home brewing from your Mr. Fudd. At the very least, Mr. Fudd will be able to guide your stumbling steps through the gobbledygook in the stacks of ham catalogs on his desk...a treacherous path you should never attempt on your own.
However, this may not be necessary either. Your Mr. Fudd, in all likelihood, has a few extra radios lying about, and will probably be more than willing to part with one or two on a “permanent loan” basis. This is how I got my start in ham radio.
I should mention here that I was licensed for thirty-five years before I ever owned a single piece of new ham radio gear! I’d already been a “semi-famous” ham for a few decades, having written lots of articles in QST and most other existing (and defunct) ham magazines before I splurged for a newfangled software-defined radio. By all rights, I’ve “deserved” new ham radios as much as anyone. But I never felt deprived in the least. I’ve always had top-notch radios...LOTS AND LOTS of them...even a few that seasoned in-the-know hams would DIE for. But I’ve never paid more than a fraction of the full price for any of them. My secret? Simple. I’ve just always waited till they were no longer new! It’s called delayed gratification. It’s actually a very good skill to acquire, whether buying a house, buying a car, or getting an education...or even a wife.
It’s also politically incorrect, but so is most of this book, as you might have guessed by now.
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-----Wofgang Pauli-----
Thanks for your feedback! Sounds like Hamfest is the place to pick up equipment at the best deals. It would appear that not only do I need to cram for the test but I also need to research equipment to get me in the ballpark on what I want / need. I know... terrible problem to have! But that's part of the fun of it for me.
AD5MB, I hear ya on the cheapskate thing... I just don't know enough to know if I'm getting a good deal or getting ripped off. I really need to partner up with one of the local club members for some guidance.
KL7AJ, Now that you mention it, my High School did have a station. Forgot all about that. I've mentioned to several folks about my newfound interest and the response is typically the same... Why?! Don't you have a cell phone? Isn't it just a bunch of old geezers who are dedicated to some ancient technology that is sorely out of date?! I think the words relic and fossils were mentioned here and there. I now just don't talk to them about it.
Thanks for your feedback! Sounds like Hamfest is the place to pick up equipment at the best deals. It would appear that not only do I need to cram for the test but I also need to research equipment to get me in the ballpark on what I want / need. I know... terrible problem to have! But that's part of the fun of it for me.
AD5MB, I hear ya on the cheapskate thing... I just don't know enough to know if I'm getting a good deal or getting ripped off. I really need to partner up with one of the local club members for some guidance.
KL7AJ, Now that you mention it, my High School did have a station. Forgot all about that. I've mentioned to several folks about my newfound interest and the response is typically the same... Why?! Don't you have a cell phone? Isn't it just a bunch of old geezers who are dedicated to some ancient technology that is sorely out of date?! I think the words relic and fossils were mentioned here and there. I now just don't talk to them about it.
Not sure if it's been mentioned.
you for got one other common name used. "old F@rt" but thats another topic, hihi.
When you buy a radio at a ham fest, always ask the seller for there Call Signe. that way with luck you maybe able to contact them if when you get your prize home, it has a problem or you have questions. Not saying we hams are good sellers of junk, but there are a few unfortunatly that are about selling just to get rid of.
Good luck on the test. hope you get the double, you will then be part of an ever growing band of men woman and children. all with one thing in common. Amateur Radio.
Dave kg4uxr. in SC
I would stress the importance of having someone by your side as you look at the equipment at a hamfest.
Do not get your heart set on one item or even a few items. Do not view ham catalogs/websites and get fixated one one particular model of equipment-- you will be disappointed more often than not when you can not find it at the local hamfest. Keep an open mind, you may find a great deal that you never expected...I know I always do...
Hamfest coming up in a couple of days here. I'm planning on stocking up on antenna makings!
A good thing to do is to indeed go through all the catalogs, websites, and research prices. If you're looking for a rig -- check reviews. Download manuals, service manuals -- get familiar with what you're looking for. Make sure you know what to buy to suit your needs. Don't limit yourself to just one rig. I'm in the market for a dual band crossband repeating mobile rig. I know which ones I should consider, which ones I should avoid. Know what the new retail price should be. Be familiar with what the used price should be.
Just like ANY other thing you're going to buy -- be it a television, game console, oven, blender, or a car -- knowledge is power. Empower yourself and don't go running in there blindly -- and get robbed blind.
I wouldn't stress out over a radio decision quite yet. Focus on prepping for the tests!
There are so many possibilities, it's a little tough to guess what is going to fit your circumstances, but I guess if I were in your place, I'd look for certain things.
1. Unless you have some knowledge of radio repair, I'd avoid older stuff. If there are ham dealers at this hamfest, see if they are offering 'show specials' on new gear - those can save you a bundle.
2. One advantage of local hamfests is that you may know the sellers. If so, then you can buy with a bit more confidence. If not, then caveat emptor.
Sadly, there are almost as many snakeoil salesmen who travel around dumping junk at hamfests as there are online. Sadly, everybody wants to sell their gear at EBay prices these days. At most hamfests, the parasites show up first and buy anything that's a bargain, then try to resell it at EBay prices.
3. Hamfests are a great place to load up on 'consumables'. I tend to buy high quality coax connectors, adapters, and supplies that I use all the time there. I don't always have a use for them - I finally used some great bulkhead connectors I bought at a hamfest about 20 years ago!
4. 'Fests are a good place to bag test equipment, too. Meters, SWR bridges, antenna tools, GOOD soldering stations and much more tend to show up. These are usually priced low enough that you can take a gamble.
You're going for your General ticket, so assuming you're going to 'ace ' it, you will be looking for an HF rig of some sort. As a general rule, the best receiver wins, so have an idea of which rigs really have good receivers. But, the antenna is much more important than the radio.
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Aspiring Ham - Hamfest Coming Up
I find this is the best part of the radio hobby for me. 
But that's part of the fun of it for me.
Linear Mode
