Wait! Pass Your Exam First! (
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 10 июн 2024
- Hams you should get you license before you buy your radio. Watch to learn more for some reasons its better to have your license first.
Subscribe: / davecasler
Edited and Videographed by Aidan Jakeman
#amateur radio
#ham radio
#ke0og
#dave casler
#ham radio answers
#antenna
To learn more about me, visit: dcasler.com
To support my channel financially, visit: dcasler.com/support (offers several options)
To pose an Ask Dave question, email to askdave@arrl.org. Feel free to include pictures or drawings to help clarify. I may answer your question directly, via an Ask Dave video, or in my monthly column "Ask Dave" in QST.
Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy RUclips Music Library. You can listen to the entire song here: • Sour Tennessee Red - J...
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)
My primary website: www.dcasler.com
My publishing website: www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books.
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4. 
Наука
Dave, great video and even better advice. I got my tech license on 3/22/24, my general license on 3/28/24 and my amateur extra on 4/11/24. I denied myself from getting a radio because I knew it would distract me. The day after I passed my last test I went and bought a radio. Now I have the rest of my life to play radio. I really love the hobby! 73! KQ4QEL
I got my novice license back in 1988. The written test was a piece of cake. A first grader could probably have passed it. I did have a hard time with the 5 wpm code test, but did manage to pass it. I immediately went out and bought a 2 meter radio. They weren't cheap back then. It cost almost $400 for a 2 meter single band mobile radio. I then went in and took and passed the technician test, and easily passed it. A couple months later I took and passed the general test. That gave me a whole year to pass the 13 wpm code test. I was never able to even come close. I figured that would be the case, so I did not buy an HF radio. I did not get my general until 2009. Then I bought a used but like new condition Icom IC-728 from a local ham, the one that got me into amateur radio in the first place. I wasn't really that exited. I loved the idea of being able to talk around the world with no repeaters. VHF/UHF is kind of like commercial radio. It almost always works. HF is more like fishing. Sometimes you catch something, but most of the time you don't. But the problem with HF is that it is mostly contesting. Very few long QSOs like on 2 meters and 70cm.
Today is different. You can now get a cheap chinese radio for a tiny fraction of what I paid in 1988, for a name brand Japanese radio. If you never get your license, you haven't lost much. Not that I am recommending getting a chinese radio, for a couple of reasons. They are not just cheap in price, they are also JUNK. And they are also coming from a communist country, which I consider to be an enemy. I have never owned one, and never will. But I have bought a number of used name brand Japanese radios. I have a couple of used handhelds and a used 2 meter mobile. I don't have to worry about getting a scratch on them. And unlike the cheap chinese junk, they are still good radios.
I would suggest obtaining a low-cost second-hand HF receiver and random wire antenna. If you find that you enjoy listening to amateur operations and feel the urge to participate, then study for your license. If you obtain a license, then follow Dave's advice.
Thanks David, i just passed my Extra this Monday. Got my technician 10/22, missed general by 1 point. Got my general a month later (11/22). Then, ordered a HT, a month later got a ICOM 7300. Love HF. Had a blast. Recommend the Hy-Power antennas, I have a 20m/40m fan dipole, rugged, inexpensive, works great. Then, studied for my extra. 73
I went out and bought a icom 7300 and DX commander sig 9…listened to radio and learned while doing..also was studying at the same time..passed the technical now studying general
Hey David, having been in CB radios for years, and having export radios, and linear amplifiers, I wanted to do things right. I began studying in December or 2023, got my technician January 14th 2024, my General in February 12th, 2024, and then my Amateur Extra March 16th 2024. I did this so I could focus on obtaining my licenses first, and then focus on building antennas, buying radios, and having fun after all the hard work. I totally enjoy 10 meter, talking around the world with only 200 watts. I do have a 1000 watt amp on order. The fun is the result of the hard work. I am glad I completed my licenses first so I can enjoy and have fun. I have all the time now to research antennas, radios, and amps. I plan on building different antennas as I enjoy various frequencies.
Thanks Dave. New subscriber here. I started technical college many moons ago but had no antenna theory. I'm starting to learn more from you and the other Ham folks while learning more on SDRs. You guys are picking up on the knowledge of antennas that I was lacking. Thank you, and all Hams for being there when we are ready to learn. (my only investment is an SDR and cheap antenna)
Thank you for picking my letter from w3oj
Your wisdom is spot on to my own thoughts. I'm just now starting with Software Defined Radio and will be building a multi-band long-wire out of CAT6 flat. I will be taking it slow... and saving.
Dave thanks for answering my question this is John w 3 OJ
When my wife and I were studying for our tech licenses in Spring 2020, it was during Covid season and a time when electronics weren't always in stock. We decided to buy a Yaesu ft 7250d, when we could find it, even though we didn't have a license yet. We had been studying online and both were passing the online tests, so we knew it was only a matter of time. I am glad we ordered the 7250 when we did since when we actually got our licenses the radio was out of stock and soon after it was in stock but higher in price. I wouldn't recommend doing this if you were buying and hf rig, but the technician license is relatively easy to pass.
When I started in the early 60s I bought a cheap receiver and if I did not pass any tests I could always be an SWL. Luckily I passed all I wanted to.
My radio club awards a "Mountain Topper Award" to anyone who passes all the exam elements at one sitting.
I agree totally. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Great advice David, I passed my radio ham theory and morse test, must be 40 years ago.
The same day that I passed I purchased a New Kenwood TS140S and I still have the same radio today, (still works as good as when it came out of the box).
David HS0ZQA Thailand
If you ask me, all of these radio clubs and maybe even the ARRL should be putting on classes to teach people electronics, building antennas repairing equipment and the like.
I was one of those zero to hero, I had my extra license for 2 years before buying my first radio, I refused to spend that amount of money, it is crazy. I ended up buying a broken com Ic-706mkiig off of ebay for a couple of hundred dollars, the fault was that the unit would not power on, I'm an EE so I was not too worried about repairing it and no power on's are usually pretty easy to fix and it was. Truth be told building my own designs and repairing broken equipment is the part of the hobby I enjoy the most, I am not really interested in talking for the sake of talking but talking on something I designed and built is so satisfying.
Good Day Mr. Casler, This is such a nice and informative video. The phrase you used, " ...a license to learn,," is so true. I got my tech license, bought a radio, and am just beginning to learn, lol. But it is true, you do learn so much more from listening to you, using your radio, and in general, hearing the stories from other folks about putting up antennas, buying the right coax, or just figuring it all out. You once read my letter about "all those buttons". It really helped me, and I thank you for that and all you do for all of us. I hope you keep doing these videos for a long, long time as I plan to get my general license and will surely be watching you for tips. Thanks again sir! Blessings to you and yours.
73, Melinda, KQ4JFE
I started with UV5Rs and GMRS. Being ignorant and watching the wrong RUclips videos, I quickly fell into the Feng trap. No regrets, the Fengs still work for simplex field work. Still learning and growing. 73, KF0NNQ.
Wise words, Dave. 73 - KF0MSN
Hello Dave, I have my tech license and I "partially" agree with you on getting licensed prior to making a radio purchase. Twice, I had the money for an FT-710 and had to use money for some "emergency" (according to my wife, haha). The third time I made a little extra money, I bought my Yaesu FT-710AESS, this is before getting my General license. I currently scan, play and listen (only) as I'm studying for my general license and the chapters make a lot of sense more than the time I was studying for my technician lic. Thank you Dave for all you do!
One of the issues I see is a completely unrealistic idea of what that radio you bought, because it’s always a Baofeng UV-5R, can do. They think they can talk to the ISS at will, or communicate to family 700 miles away because they saw it on a RUclips video. A lot of these people would be much better served with an SDR dongle to start with.
Nice video, Dave.
Following your advice. SDR for start plus antenna theory. 👍📡
@@electrictao5180 I started this way and it was unbelievably helpful. First, you get all the bands and modes FM, HF, SSB, CW, Air Band, etc. Plus, seeing it in the software just kind of brings it home in a way that really helped me. Good Luck.
Learning to fly a 747 is easier than learning how to use most of these radios.
things has changed a lot since 1980 when I got my license. back then there were a lot of things to listen to Police, Fire, Ham conversation, phone patch, Shortwave stations. but now, Ham radio is only good as Ham radio. specially in large city like Orange County CA AG6JU
Got my tech and bought a ht, bought my ftdx101d on black friday, then passed general, tomorrow i test for extra then its antenna time and shack build. I sort of followed your advice.
David had you heard about MFJ?
How about no license needed. I remember after getting my tech I was looked down on, an old tech scoofed at me and said home brew kid. I no longer cared to upgrade because of that, I went cb . We are going to lose the frequencies do to lost by big money.
There could also be a temptation buying a transceiver to 'just try it out'.
I knew an amateur who gave up after spending quite a lot of money on gear, he wasn't really interested.
Way back people got a cheap-ish short wave radio to listen on the bands before making a decision to get a licence.
I made a H.A.C. one valve kit aged 14 and listening to local amateurs on Top Band thought I would like to do that one day. Then a 2nd hand Trio 9R59DS, it gives a feel for the bands by listening. I used a long wire and h/b tuner.
G8 on 2m for three years, Pye Cambridge tx only with a Command Set rx and converter, cheap!, As a G4 had a 2nd hand KW202 rx and 204 tx, new FT101E then went QRP with h/b ssb/cw 4 Watt gear, only luxury is an audio c.w. filter. Radio licence to learn and build. Various others too, new FT817ND, tatty old 1944 Wireless 19 Set and other ones what people would call tatty junk radios, the ones other people walk past.
G4GHB.
It’s called listening to youtubers and running to discord servers. That’s basically what happens. See it every day. They go there seeing people flex their Elecrafts etc and start spending before they have a license.
Thanks. N0QFT