Subj : Looking into HAMing... To : Deuce From : Angus McLeod Date : Thu Aug 18 2005 09:05 pm Re: Looking into HAMing... By: Deuce to All on Thu Aug 18 2005 03:51:00 > A few questions I'd like some advice on: > 1) Do I really need 9600baud for the TNC? As I understand it, it's only > useable on 2m and since I'm relatively speaking in the boonies (south-east > saskatchewan) I'm not sure if there's enough digipeters around for anyone to > actually use it there... was thinking of using 20 or 30m for that so I don't > expect more than 1200baud... am I off base on anything in there (Haven't loo > into packet too much, just know I'd want to play with it) I have a TNC that will do 9600 baud and used to access the PACSATs with it. It is a legitimate option, even if you have simple omni- antennas. You won't get much 9600 baud traffic on HF, so if youreally only want to use HF you won't need 9600 baud capability. > 2) Do I want a dedicated tranceiver for the TNC? I expect to have even les > calls via packet than I get via telnet (ie: statistically zero) so is it wor > even thinking about? Understand this: *NOBODY* will call you on packet. Packet has degenerated into a network of unatended nodes sending message traffic back and forth. You can post messages/bulletins, and read those posted by others, but there is very little keyboard-to-keyboard traffic on packet. Particularly on HF. Of course, if you and a few friends decide to become active on packet, you can create your own sked for that work. But if you want to set up a packet message node (BBS) then you will want a separate rig for it, because once it's set up you won't wnat to take it offline for 30 minutes while you switch to the repeater for a ragchew. But if you do *not* intend to operate a packet node, then you can manage with one rig for everything. > 3) What should I be looking at for antennas to start off? Should I even > consider picking up a used antenna? What I was thinking of to start off is > basic whip-style mobile andtenna... one for each band. Would I be better of > spending the money on an antenna tuner and building my own antennas? Build > own damn antenna tuner? Would building my own end up costing me more? You have not said if you mean for HF or VHF, whether it is to be mobile or fixed, multi-band, directional or omni- or what. For fixed, omni- VHF then I'd recommend a home-brewed J-pole. Dead simple to construct, works well, not an eyesore, prolly cost ya a buck, and if you want more gain you can easily build a co-linear J-pole. For fixed, directional you can build your own yagi, but a quad or helix is actually easier, and gives good performance too. If you want real high gain you could build (or buy) a long-boom yagi, add more turns to your helix or more elements to your quad. You'll need a rotator of some sort, even if just the 'Armstrong' type. VHF mobile, you'd be better of with a mag-mount whip or similar. You can run a J-pole or other homebrew antenna mobile, but they tend to be a bit of a bitch to build and mount *neatly*, so I'd say buy a mag-mount. HF fixed, omni- I'd suggest buying (or building) some sort of vertical, but expect high levels of noise. I don't know what your realestate is like, but a horizontal loop is cheap, easy, invisible, and gives fair omni- performance, but needs to go high, and takes up some space. Or you could build a crossed-dipole array fairly easily, for omni- performance. If you used inverted V's instead of true dipoles, you could build one with only a single high point (mast/pole/etc). Do not ignore the viability of a random wire and a tuner. My first 8P <-> VK contacts were with an old transformer unwound, and the wire tossed outside and over a tree. Fixed directional, there are a HOST of wire antennas for you to play with, from simple delta-loops, square loops, dipoles, inverted V's, G5RV's, etc, before you even begin to construct a yagi. And again, a quad is probably easier to construct than a yagi, and has good performance. HF Mobile is tough to build. Not impossible, but not easy. Particularly if you need it to be multi-band. I'd look to buying something like an Outbacker if you can get one at an affordable price. --- þ Synchronet þ CQ DX! The ANJO BBS calling on 56K dial-up... .