Issue #25: Heard on the 2m Band . . .

I'm still pretty new to the hobby but no stranger to electronics, electricity!
having taught quite a few apprentices I'm used to training people.
the hobby is just another facet that i can use.
I don't mind being an Elmer!
If what i can teach here keeps someone from toasting themselves then its a blessing.
I do know from some of the things I've learned on this forum I'm going to build a highly directional portable am radio (Listener) for tracking down noisy insulators.

 

Thanks for the comment on QRZ forums . . . I've learned a TON about ham radio by reading forums, AND by moderating these discussions on Trials and Errors, where regulars like you pop up to teach me something! Dave, W7DGJ

 

2m is alive and well in this area. Several repeaters covering the region are available. Sponsored by our local club and provided to anyone free of charge. We even have a repeater on top of the police department's 300' tower. Club meetings are nets operating on the repeaters. Sporadic traffic other times.

KJ5CTX

 

Hi Monty, great fish you hauled in on that QRZ photo! Thank you for noting the local activities on 2m. I'd love to have an email from you, or a public post your choice, to tell me what would attract you to upgrade from your Tech license into General or Extra. You'd have a BLAST on the HF bands if you like 2m in its present status! Dave, W7DGJ (PS - QRZ has a great series of practice tests on the site, see the item under "Resources" on the top blue left to right bar). Select the General Test and see how many you'd get right. General isn't THAT much harder than Tech. Dave, W7DGJ

 

Helluva a deal for anyone who wants a solid HT:
For Sale - Icom V-80 2m HT | QRZ Forums
$40 shipped!!!

I'd buy it, but I already have 3 HTs and don't need a 4th.

Chris

 

So do I! It's a pain (to me at least) getting old, but I'm sure it beats the alternative!

73

 

I'm setting up s dual polarized 10 element Yagi to try both FM and SSB CW and FT8 work soon at home. Icon 7100 and a 350W amp. I'm giving up on the mobile work and repeaters both 2m and 70cm. I'm in south east FL. there is almost zero action down here on FM or C4FM.

 

Yesterday I did a combined SOTA/POTA activation in the Blue Ridge Mtns entirely on 2m/1.25m/70cm FM. The main goal was to wring out a new (to me) mobile rig I acquired for portable VHF contesting. I need to make sure the entire "system" of radio, battery, coax, and antenna(s) performed well in the field and to identify any shortcomings before my next contest outing. Call it a pressure test if you will.

I got more than enough contacts to successfully activate for SOTA and POTA. Of the ones I got, a small minority were active SOTA participants. Another small minority were aware of SOTA but not active in an organized fashion (ie they knew it existed and that's it). The rest were random people who heard my plaintive cries into the Aether and responded with a verbal lifeline.

I chit chatted with a few, so it wasn't all "59 and gud luk in the 'test". My log has some sizeable gaps between contacts and this is why. Usually, once I completed one conversation, I had another fish on the hook in less than a minute.

I even made a contact on 70cm. The guy wasn't watching spots, just hear me calling on 446 and wanted to let me know I was getting out and sounding good. My lone 1.25m contact was a fellow SOTA'r who was doing non-SOTA radio things in the region and decided to answer my call. I was using an HT for that one, but it worked all the same.

Chris