I'm going for my Driver's License test on the 12th and hopefully I can get a job after that meanwhile any thoughts on cheap but decent beginner ham equipment?

First I would check for local ham radio clubs.  They will usually know where the local "deals" are. Try Googling "ham radio clubs" and you home town or area.  Next I would look for near by HamFests.  You can find these by going to the ARRL web site (www.arrl.org) and click the HamFests link at the top of the page.  Put in the requested search info and it will give you a calendar of hamfests for the requested area.  You can also check the calendar on www.eham.net . 

You can also  check things like craigslist and ebay but I think your best bet is to hook up with a local club and ask them for their recommendations.

For a starter radio, a dual-band handheld would probably be your best bet.  That would be a radio covering the 2 meter (VHF) and 70 centimeter (UHF) bands.  The less expensive used radios will usually be found at the hamfests and new equipment can be had from any of several earlier listed (in this thread) online retailers.  Dig around on the ARRL site and the eham sites listed above as they each have sections on new ham information that may be helpful. 

I took and passed the Extra Class test this morning. It was a bit easier than the GROL, but was very similar in content. Now I need to come up with a cool personailzed call sign!

Major Lord

Quote from: Major Lord on February 08, 2009, 10:02:51 PM
I took and passed the Extra Class test this morning. It was a bit easier than the GROL, but was very similar in content. Now I need to come up with a cool personailzed call sign!

Major Lord

Congrats!   So are you saying that passing the Extra is a good sign that you can pass the GROL?

Joe,

Thanks! I am not sure how well it works the other way around, but passing the GROL makes the Extra fairly easy. I took the Eham practice tests for the Extra a couple of times ( I am home recovering from some minor shoulder surgery) and I think I did okay on the test. (Note: Ham tests should not be taken while on massive quantities of Percocet) I am  not sure what my actual test score was, it was just pass-fail. I did not think I was actually going to pass, but I found that there was a test session today about a mile from my house and figured I could always study and try again later if luck and multiple-guess test stategy did not work out. I don't really know what I am going to do with the extra class ticket. Most of what I do is digital mode VHF/UHF stuff. I might actually have to set up a home HF antena now!

Major Lord
KG6HXO (for now)

Quote from: Major Lord on February 08, 2009, 10:02:51 PM
I took and passed the Extra Class .......

Congratulations!!

Thanks!

Major Lord

Quote from: Major Lord on February 09, 2009, 12:26:52 AM
Joe,

I don't really know what I am going to do with the extra class ticket. Most of what I do is digital mode VHF/UHF stuff. I might actually have to set up a home HF antena now!

Major Lord
KG6HXO (for now)

You SO need to play with Winlink 2000 on HF -- then you can get upset that CAP won't permit it and become a bitter comm guy like me. 

Joe,

I have thought about playing with it, but have not had the time. CAP always seems to be about a decade behind in Comms, and I understand your frustration. My main CAP goal is to get our local system using our own APRS network. The Com-God of CAWG has given me permission to send experimental packets over the air. and if I can ever get the time to really make it work, I am sure that all the players will like it ( except for the ground teams hiding at in-n-out burgers while claiming to be searching a swamp....)

A Tech-rating has been on my "bucket-list" for about a year now: just need to get off my duff and do it, if nothing more than to give me some commonality with some of our Comm folks and expand a few horizons.......

Quote from: Major Lord on February 09, 2009, 07:27:36 PM
Joe,

I have thought about playing with it, but have not had the time. CAP always seems to be about a decade behind in Comms, and I understand your frustration. My main CAP goal is to get our local system using our own APRS network. The Com-God of CAWG has given me permission to send experimental packets over the air. and if I can ever get the time to really make it work, I am sure that all the players will like it ( except for the ground teams hiding at in-n-out burgers while claiming to be searching a swamp....)

The new 100-1 if published as proposed would squash it anyway since there is no provision for data anymore.

That said, there's a lot of technologies that CAP could adopt from the ham radio world (like they did packet..).   Sadly, the leadership doesn't want it.   

(Shutting up now - I could vent for a long time on this topic...)

I have not seen the new 100-1. Is your interpretation of it that data burst after unkeying is not permitted, as in ANI systems? Or just that we don't have a dedicated data channel anymore?

Major Lord

Quote from: Major Lord on February 10, 2009, 12:57:07 AM
I have not seen the new 100-1. Is your interpretation of it that data burst after unkeying is not permitted, as in ANI systems? Or just that we don't have a dedicated data channel anymore?

Major Lord

Data is no longer a permissible mode.

Man! We just spent a zillion dollars on APCO compliant radios and we can't even use the digital mode? Okay, now I am turning into a cranky Comm guy!

Major Lord

Quote from: Major Lord on February 10, 2009, 04:03:03 AM
Man! We just spent a zillion dollars on APCO compliant radios and we can't even use the digital mode? Okay, now I am turning into a cranky Comm guy!

Major Lord

Join the club, we have t-shirts.  The shirts even have a nifty chest pocket.  But your not allowed to use that feature.

Along the lines of getting a Ham license, where do you go/how do you find someone to give you the test?  I'm about ready.

Quote from: Gunner C on February 10, 2009, 05:12:32 AM
Along the lines of getting a Ham license, where do you go/how do you find someone to give you the test?  I'm about ready.

Try here first, http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

Or do a google search for some repeater clubs in your area and see if any offer testing sessions.  If you can't find anything, fire an email off to one of the repeater club leaders and they'll probably be able to point you in the right direction.

Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on February 10, 2009, 05:30:01 AM

Quote from: Gunner C on February 10, 2009, 05:12:32 AM
Along the lines of getting a Ham license, where do you go/how do you find someone to give you the test?  I'm about ready.

Try here first, http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

Or do a google search for some repeater clubs in your area and see if any offer testing sessions.  If you can't find anything, fire an email off to one of the repeater club leaders and they'll probably be able to point you in the right direction.

Thx!

Quote from: Major Lord on February 10, 2009, 04:03:03 AM
Man! We just spent a zillion dollars on APCO compliant radios and we can't even use the digital mode? Okay, now I am turning into a cranky Comm guy!

Major Lord

ROFLMAO!   :clap:

Somebody, somewhere, is going to have to say, "..but that's not what I meant."   

he date and location of exams is what's holding me up currently.