Posted: 5/20/2012 6:53:25 PM EDT
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I'm new, I'm new, I don't know what to do.
What kind of cost would i be looking at to get a basic/entry level set up? Where would be a good place to look? |
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depends on what you want to do. with radios you can literally get into the hobby and spend as little or as much as you want. HF rigs can be found for $200-$17,000+ UHF/VHF can be found for free to $1000. there are plenty of hams out there with more than they will ever use and lots are willing to let older items go away for little or nothing if it means getting someone else into the hobby. worst case scenario you study, pay 15$ to take the tech exam and then you have 10 years to come up with a radio. until then you can borrow a friends. if you don't want to sink a lot of money into things right now, id take the tech, and then see if you can find a used 10 meter radio and a dipole or a 10 meter ham stick. tech have some privileges on that band and it has been pretty good lately so you could easily get on the air and hit up most of the US the Caribbean, and on a good day maybe further. as far as the tests go, I watched a kid who couldn't be more than 13 get his extra the other day. if he can do that, you can pass your tech. |
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depends on what you want to do. with radios you can literally get into the hobby and spend as little or as much as you want. HF rigs can be found for $200-$17,000+ UHF/VHF can be found for free to $1000. there are plenty of hams out there with more than they will ever use and lots are willing to let older items go away for little or nothing if it means getting someone else into the hobby. worst case scenario you study, pay 15$ to take the tech exam and then you have 10 years to come up with a radio. until then you can borrow a friends. if you don't want to sink a lot of money into things right now, id take the tech, and then see if you can find a used 10 meter radio and a dipole or a 10 meter ham stick. tech have some privileges on that band and it has been pretty good lately so you could easily get on the air and hit up most of the US the Caribbean, and on a good day maybe further. Wow I diddnt realize that there was a test. Thanks for the advice and ill look into it. |
Don't let the test intimidate you. It's easy and doesn't require a Masters degree in rocket science. A little time with the study guide and you'll be GTG for the Technician license. The Technician class license will get you on the VHF/UHF frequencies for using the local repeaters and simplex (person to person direct) as well as priveleges on the 10 meter band (just above the CB band). Long distance comms possible on 10 meters if the Sun is cooperating.
Equipment, as mentioned, can be as cheap or expensive as you make it, just like guns. Check out the "Wouxun" and "Baofeng" handheld rigs on E-Bay. They can be had for well under $100 with accessories and are a good way to get started. |
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I'm currently studying for the Technician Exam. I purchased the ARRL's manual which is a HUGE help. It gives practice questions right out of the exam's question pool. At first I was very overwhelmed by all of the information out there, but this book has made it easy and focused.
I got mine at Amazon. ISBN-10: 0872590976 ISBN-13: 978-0872590977 |
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One other thing on a more serious note.
I do not consider myself to be a ham by ANY stretch of the imagination whatsoever. What I consider myself to be is an entry level radio operator. It isn''t hard to become one, trust me on this one. When I bought an IC-718 I came here and said I wasn't going to be able to run it for weeks because it was pretty complex. BAM!!! One of the guys (AFM) shit me a basic get on the air NOW manual he had made up just for guys like me and I was on the air inside a half-hour. DO NOT be overwhelmed. This hobby can be either as simple or as technically complex as you want to make it. Want to just bang off of repeaters? Get a KW 281 and an antenna for under $200, NIB, ot an inexpensive Wousan HT for about $50. Want to DX on HF? Craigslist yourself an HF rig and find an Elmer to get you started. It is NOT hard at all. Seriously. You will wind up feeling stupid that you let yourself be overwhelmed when you make your first QSO Want to |
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DO NOT be overwhelmed. This hobby can be either as simple or as technically complex as you want to make it. That is the "No Shit" truth right there. 
You can do this, and it will not take you that long. You have to be willing to put a few min's a day into looking at the questions. It looks hard at first, but then you will get the hang of what is going on. A couple years back the Washington Hometown Forum swamped the VE's on a test night. one session we sat down 14 people. in total over 50 licensed techs in the WAHTF. |
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Ham Test Online Guarantees you pass with only 10 hours of study or your money back!
I used that service for my General Upgrade-it is the BOMB! and well worth the bux (YMMV) It's really pretty simple...as mentioned above, if Pic and I can do it (and communicate from SC to PA on our rigs) anybody can!!!!! you can get into local repeater comms from $60-$120 (Baofeng, or Wouxun) for a nice handi-talkie, a mobile/base radio is only about $150 (Kenwood TM-281 from Main Trading Co.) . for about twice that you can get an HF rig to talk all over the world (with you General class lic) for real bro, read around here, ask questions, study link above and get the ticket. Nothing says "NERD" like your Ham Radio Ticket!!!   
ETA: in OK there's gotta be a bunch of locals to help you along as well...storm chasing and all 
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| I'm not too worried about the test. I'm working towards my CPA liscense currently so studying isn't an issue. I have a tendency of getting into things for fun and end up dumping a small fortune into it, I'm sure mist of you know how that works. So I'm cautious to go down the path. |
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I'm not too worried about the test. I'm working towards my CPA liscense currently so studying isn't an issue. I have a tendency of getting into things for fun and end up dumping a small fortune into it, I'm sure mist of you know how that works. So I'm cautious to go down the path. For what it's worth, I got on the air for less than $200 including license, new handheld radio, and upgraded antenna 
You don't have to go nuts and spend a fortune to get on the air. |
| I was in your shoes a few short years ago. I didn't know if I'd be into this radio thing, but liked the idea of having some type of comms if the power is out and phones not working. So I studied for about three days, passed the Tech test, and bought a Yaesu FT60 which you can get now for about $150. Didn't talk much, but turned it on pretty often, especially when weather was approaching as the local guys donate great job with real time updates on what is coming. Fast forward about five years and I got more interested in the global HF type stuff. Again studied for about a week, passed the next test, got a great starter HF radio in an Icom 718 for $400 and am having a blast talking all over the world using a friends borrowed antenna. You really can do as much or as little as you want. |
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I got started last June, studied for a week and passed Tech and General, Bought a wouxun HT and a FT1900 2 meter rig. A month later I was at the EOC again taking and passing the Extra test. Fast forward to 2 months ago, I bought an Icom Ic-718, Samlex SEC1223, LDG IT-100 tuner and a G5RV antenna all new for right around $1k from HRO and have had a blast learning and talking to people from as far away as Italy and Croatia. The Tech/General is not hard, just need to study for a week or so....give it a shot!
ETA: I also got the quick start guide for the 718 from AFM, it helped alot. 73 |
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I'm not too worried about the test. I'm working towards my CPA liscense currently so studying isn't an issue. I have a tendency of getting into things for fun and end up dumping a small fortune into it, I'm sure mist of you know how that works. So I'm cautious to go down the path. For what it's worth, I got on the air for less than $200 including license, new handheld radio, and upgraded antenna ummm ... and then what happened next? 
ar-jedi 
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One other thing on a more serious note. I do not consider myself to be a ham by ANY stretch of the imagination whatsoever. What I consider myself to be is an entry level radio operator. It isn''t hard to become one, trust me on this one. When I bought an IC-718 I came here and said I wasn't going to be able to run it for weeks because it was pretty complex. BAM!!! One of the guys (AFM) shit me a basic get on the air NOW manual he had made up just for guys like me and I was on the air inside a half-hour. DO NOT be overwhelmed. This hobby can be either as simple or as technically complex as you want to make it. Want to just bang off of repeaters? Get a KW 281 and an antenna for under $200, NIB, ot an inexpensive Wousan HT for about $50. Want to DX on HF? Craigslist yourself an HF rig and find an Elmer to get you started. It is NOT hard at all. Seriously. You will wind up feeling stupid that you let yourself be overwhelmed when you make your first QSO Want to Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get.
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I'm not too worried about the test. I'm working towards my CPA liscense currently so studying isn't an issue. I have a tendency of getting into things for fun and end up dumping a small fortune into it, I'm sure mist of you know how that works. So I'm cautious to go down the path. For what it's worth, I got on the air for less than $200 including license, new handheld radio, and upgraded antenna ummm ... and then what happened next?
ar-jedi http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9_vxQtZkHo/T7KSclBHADI/AAAAAAAANfA/p2bnC61HKoM/s1600/Paul%2BHarvey%2BJr.JPG Well... 
Okay, I'll admit it. I got on the air, built up some confidence...and then I went nuts
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[Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get. The get on the air NOW manual is for an IC-718. It addresses how to use it and get started and is IC-718 specific. If you want it IM me this weekend as I am presently located in Bumfuck, Egypt. |
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[Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get. The get on the air NOW manual is for an IC-718. It addresses how to use it and get started and is IC-718 specific. If you want it IM me this weekend as I am presently located in Bumfuck, Egypt. Here ya go! ICOM IC-718 Station Quick Start IT-100 b.pdf |
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[Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get. The get on the air NOW manual is for an IC-718. It addresses how to use it and get started and is IC-718 specific. If you want it IM me this weekend as I am presently located in Bumfuck, Egypt. Thanks pic,(&speargun) I thought it was more of a generalised "get on the air" than a specific radio start-up guide. Now for the good news. Local guy posted an ad on the local clubs website and for $450 I just picked up a Kenwood Antenna Tuner AT-230 with manual, Kenwood TS-530 Transceiver with manual & hand and desk mic, Barker & Williamson 590G 5 position coax antenna selector switch with ground and a (NIB) Hustler 6BTV Vertical 24ft HF Base Station Antenna and some kind of unidentified horizontal antenna. So, as soon as I'm smart enough how to connect all this, I'll be up and running.
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[Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get. The get on the air NOW manual is for an IC-718. It addresses how to use it and get started and is IC-718 specific. If you want it IM me this weekend as I am presently located in Bumfuck, Egypt. Thanks pic,(&speargun) I thought it was more of a generalised "get on the air" than a specific radio start-up guide. Now for the good news. Local guy posted an ad on the local clubs website and for $450 I just picked up a Kenwood Antenna Tuner AT-230 with manual, Kenwood TS-530 Transceiver with manual & hand and desk mic, Barker & Williamson 590G 5 position coax antenna selector switch with ground and a (NIB) Hustler 6BTV Vertical 24ft HF Base Station Antenna and some kind of unidentified horizontal antenna. So, as soon as I'm smart enough how to connect all this, I'll be up and running.
SHA-WING! Don't be surprised if the Cops show up and want to haul you in for Robbery! That is a deal! Eham reviews that rig 5.0 out of 5! |
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SHA-WING! Don't be surprised if the Cops show up and want to haul you in for Robbery! That is a deal! Eham reviews that rig 5.0 out of 5! It'll be a bit until I'm up and running, as I will have to mount the antenna and radials, and I still have to pass the General as I just have Tech, but he and I seemed happy at the deal as an Elmer (really his name) helping out a local newbie. Another reason I wanted that particular radio is each knob & button do one thing, no confusing drill down of menus to look for a function, unlike my 2M handheld, and Garand_Shooter & Phurba both said it is a very good radio and have been the ones mentoring me and said I couldn't pass it up for what he was asking for the radio ($200) and everything else will get me going in a one stop shop. |
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[Any chance I can get a copy too? Just passed my Technician test yesterday, and I don't know what I don't know and need all the help I can get. The get on the air NOW manual is for an IC-718. It addresses how to use it and get started and is IC-718 specific. If you want it IM me this weekend as I am presently located in Bumfuck, Egypt. Here ya go! ICOM IC-718 Station Quick Start IT-100 b.pdf The 718 is a very competent radio. The set up shown in that slide show would be a very nice way to start. I have not used that power supply so I am not sure if it is full of birdies or not. But the LDG 100 is very good. So for a few bucks you could be rolling and working all over the globe. |