Your teaching methods are very good and and clear. You have tons of videos and I will eventually watch them all. It will bring back some of things I have forgotten and more that I didn't have been taught to me. Thanks again for having these videos.
Thanks dave For your videos, I stumbled cross your videos on RUclips. They inspired me to become a ham radio operator I got my technician ticket 3/ 21/24 Got my general ticke 4/4/24 Working on an extra now, I hope it's okay for me to look up. To you as an Elmer, thanks Dave and God bless.
I have never been able to learn it due to loss of hearing in one ear. I just enough hearing in that ear to interfere with the other ear. but daves Videos has got me interested
Thanks for another episode. I think you are very easy to understand and learn from. Even for me who speaks english as a second languange. I have recently started to study for the Swedish hamradio certificate.
Thanks Dave for the excellent videos! I am a General Class license holder W5HSJ in South Texas and have been away from the hobby for about 35 years. I feel like I am having to relearn everything so your videos really explain a lot about the characteristics of each of the HF and UHF/VHF bands. Please keep up the excellent work! Mark Glasson
To John Matson; Unfortunately Google isn't giving me an option to reply directly to your post. The antennas you describe take considerable matching to present the transceiver with a 50-ohm load. There is no "best" antenna that works for everyone. I would say continue to experiment until you find something that works well for you. I'm impressed with my 80-meter full-wavelength horizontal loop; it performs well on all bands 80-10 meters, but needs a serious tuner, in this case an MFJ-993B. As for the 20-meter full wavelength loop, I suggest getting it higher in the air than 1/8th wavelength. An antenna at 1/8 wavelength is pretty much firing straight up, which is great for NVIS on 80 and 40 meters, but NVIS doesn't work on 20. So try to get it a half wave in the air (that's only 30 feet). You might also try a vertical loop given the height of the trees. Try a so-called Delta Loop, meaning a triangular loop with the apex at the top. Depending on where you feed it, it will be either horizontally or vertically polarized; you can find considerable information on delta loops on the Internet. Good luck! 73, Dave
David Casler he is also on RUclips. Also thanks for your videos. It has helped me pass my Tech and General and gave me a better overall understanding of Ham Radio. Keep up the great work! Ryan W6ZAR
Thank you for your videos. I have been a ham for a few years and will often pull up your videos when something just isn't clicking. I find them to be very helpful. Also love the pics and hope to be able to ride the Colorado area soon. 73's de KK4LCO
You are my Electronic Elmer, Dave. LOL Great video productions. As I'm primarily interested in PC-CW, RTTY, JT65 and PSK31, this really explained things clearly for me. 73, KD2MCH Upstate NY
Got my DXCC on 20 years ago....this is a great explanation of the band and I have learned many things from this video....Thanks for teaching an old dog
David, I have a run of paracord about 70 feet in one of my trees. It has been there for 2 months, as I can't decide what to do with it. My other antenna is a center fed 178 foot long 40 meter DEZ. 450 ohm L.L. straight into Matchbox, 96 feet long. Problem is, being an even harmonic of 40, it doesn't like to load with the Amp on... a homebrew GS-35 Tube based amp. My question is I would like a more resonant antenna on 20, that may match up better with the Amp. I was thinking of building a 20 meter Full Wave Rectangular verticle loop, fed 1/8 wave up from a corner via a 4:1 Balun for a low angle and somewhat rotatable {Manually} antenna with gain over a dipole. I also looked into an EXTENDED LENGTH inverted V with 70 feet being the feedpoint. LMR 400 fed, or maybe 300 ohm to the matchbox... Any opinions or length calculations you could share? Also, feel free to give me a favorite 20 m antenna of yours! Thank You! John
Great video Dave, how about some suggestions for 20m vertical antennas. In a month or so I am going to be living in a senior center on the 3rd floor and still not sure what my limitations will be. Thanks and 73 Tom KC3QAC
Hi Dave and thanks for these videos. My question is this. Last night after a thunderstorm I noticed my SWR for ALL bands were much lower on all bands?? Today, these SWR's have changed again, 20 meters shows a good SWR (Below 3:1) and usually 1:5-1:7 but some of the others are so high as to prohibit transmission. Any idea what is going on? I'm running a Yaesu FT-857D with a G5RV Jr. antenna and a Kenwood 130 tuner. Variable SWR's is something I didn't think could happen. THX-Pat
Patrick Slevin Hi Pat, sorry to hear about the difficulties. It sounds as though the storm damaged the antenna. Getting water into the feedline could create a resistive path to bleed off some signal, which would show up as a lower SWR. And when it dries out, there might be an open circuit somewhere. I would suggest taking the antenna and feedline down and examining both carefully. SWR will vary a bit with weather, but shouldn't vary that much. Good luck! 73, Dave
New hams, if you don't hear much on 20 meters, don't despair, the sunspots for the last few years and for a few years to come is poor.. If you're inclined to operate at night 75/80 meters is very active pretty much every night and all night still. So popular even today, it's hard to find an open frequency from 3.7 to 4 mhz LSB many nights.. Lots ot interesting ragchewing conversations on this band.
Question - On the 20 meter band I look at my contacts and most or all are 500 miles plus. Is this dead space normal and how do I reduce it. (Butternut 9 vertical)
Thank you Dave. Very educational as is all your videos. Viewing them is like post-graduate education after graduation. I am "extra" ham and want to learn more of everything everyday and you have been such as great provider. 20m band info is great. Did you do 40m? If not, I would really like the same detail band information. Bless you
You do an outstanding job communicating, educating, inspiring. You roll at a good pace, no hem or ahs Well prepared thought sequence. Q. 50 yrs ago I bought a Heath kit 101 from a friend at work. It worked well then. It has been in storage since. Waiting for me to get license, witch I did Jan 2018. (I missed getting my General by one Q. ) Do you have any suggestions, cautions about putting this unit back in service?. These old tube units consume lots of power and may not be worth the expense to maintain it, and the performance does not compare to solid state units. What say you?
That’s up to you. Before you even apply power, consult local hams who have done restoration work, or you can damage it. You will likely find that a more modern radio may make your on-the-air time more enjoyable
Being a new ham this video was very helpful. Highlights of the 10,40 and 75/80 meter bands would be helpful too. I would be very thankful for any help. AF5VP
Hey dave a quick questjon about 15 meters rtty... i see they allow techs to use cw here but there is nothing on rtty so can techs use digital modes here or are we restricted to 6 and 10 meters?? Kg5cuo Johhn
Thanks Dave. As others have said, very informative. I'm a new ham and a perfect target for these videos. One thing that concerns me is that because there is so much going on in each of the bands; the boundaries at which certain modes are able to operate by the laws of physics; are allowed to operate by FCC reg; are tunable to operate by rig and antenna design; are preferred to operate by polite convention; actually operate by current signal conditions, etc. are so massively confusing I fear that once I get on the air I'll probably be spending more time stepping on people's toes than using the bands as they are supposed to be used. Your Highlights chart points out the many boundaries in rather startling detail. When an open frequency finally presents itself, how do you know in advance that it is actually OK to use without digging through a lot of preferred use charts first? Do people actually memorize these boundaries?
If you're using single sideband, simply ask if the frequency is in use. If nobody replies, go ahead and call CQ. Don't worry about making mistakes is a newbie. Just get on the air, be patient, be forgiving (both of yourself and others), and persevere.
Dave, Which HF band(s) are best for phone CQ? I'm new to HAM and have yet to set up an HF shack and I live in a heavily regulated HOA area and my antenna options are likely limited to flagpole antennas. Most flagpole antennas access 40m and below, but an 80m antenna likely pushes the limits of the covenants. I love your channel and appreciate the content, production, and instruction! Kd9gns - northwest Indiana
Hi, David. I hope you are being able to monitor these early videos comments. I have earned my technician and just today the General license. I've bought a nice radio and guys from my local club have put up a good antenna for me. They have also set some memory channels for our local area. But, now I'm stuck. I have absolutely no background at all in electrical anythings but am fairly computer literate. I'm trying to watch youtube videos about my particular radio without much understanding. Do I just dive into the radio manual and hope I'll figure things out? Even the manual seems to assume quite a bit of previous experience and knowledge. I won't give up but where is the starting line on this new hobby of mine?
Hopefully someone from your club can help you out, either at your place or theirs. Maybe you can take your radio to their house and hook up to their antenna and power supply for some training. When someone is showing you how to operate your radio, take good notes and make good drawings. Somehow some button will be pushed that your fingers never went anywhere near, but it changed all your settings. (Ask me how I know this) While you're trying to figure it out at your own residence, you can just do a lot of listening. Play around with the dial and see what you run across. Do you know that with most HF bands they are primarily operated on SSB - with certain ones using upper sideband and others using lower sideband? You can find which is which easily enough online. Though I've never heard anyone say it, there may be some out there not wanting newbies wasting their time when they're trying to make a lot of contacts, but I get the general idea most are welcoming and helpful of newcomers. Just answer a CQ ("calling any station" - and you're one of those stations) with your own call sign then tell them you're new. They'll give you a signal report - how readable are you (on a scale of 1 to 5) and how strong is your signal (from 1 to 9). They probably also want to know where you're located. If they're just trying to make a lot of contacts, say thanks and sign off (after giving them a signal report also - there are probably meters on your radio that give you those numbers when they're talking). Also, have a notebook handy to making a record of that conversation. Or - most modern people log it on a computer. Or, you might stumble onto a conversation in progress. Feel free to listen in. If you're in a conversation on the radio, don't say anything about politics or religion someone can take offense to. "I love America" is fine - "I hate the guy in office now" isn't. "God bless you" is fine, "All members of this denomination are going to Hell" isn't. An argument over which caliber is best against wild hogs is fine if the conversation is about hunting wild hogs, arguing over the morality of guns and killing animals isn't. You might find a "net" starting up with people reporting in. Is it something open that anyone can join? It never hurts to ask - the worst that can happen is they tell you no. What is the net for? Maybe for people to discuss some particular activity which happens to be your favorite hobby. As for figuring out the radio itself, if you can't get help from a live person, then yes, open the manual but also with the radio on so you can experiment. One never knows ... someday I may even follow my own advice. Just remember that this is what radio clubs are for - to put together people with questions and people with answers (and people who need help putting up antennas)
***** They're in the queue. So many things to talk about in the Ask Dave series! There's lots of interest in grounding and antennas, so those may dominate for awhile. 73, Dave
Hi Dave! Tried to email you... I’m looking at getting my second one. I’m between the Yaesu FTDX 3000 and the TenTec Orion 1. I’d like to hear your thoughts on the 3000 as I know you have one. What are your liked and dislikes on it? I’m looking for a quality quiet front end.
Wow, that would really take a couple videos to answer. I love the RX in the 3000--I've never had a better one. The TenTec Orion is a great radio too, though I've never operated one myself.
That’s why I’m buying one. The quiet RX in it. You might want to think about a video that talks about “hearing loss from the volume being too high overtime.“ When I was in professional radio, my program directors would always remind me to “keep the cans low.“ i’ve talked to a few hams that have been in the hobby for many years and now only do digital because they can’t hear phone. That’s too bad. My way of fighting that problem was to get a 3000 so I have a much quieter front end.
hey dave what all can effect swr on a mobile antenna on top of my tool box in my office? my swr is off the charts right now and I'm just trying to talk and listen local here while I study for my licence the antenna is a k40 magnet and a cobra gtl dx 200 radio
The first rule of antennas is that everything affects everything. Antennas like to be in the clear with nothing around them. Good luck with your studying!
For anyone reading this years later -- I'm not familiar with this radio but I think it is a 10-meter radio (HAM band) that can be convereted to 11 meter band (CB Radio). If someone is talking on 10 meters without a license, they're wrong. Now, on to the technical part -- The antenna needs to be right for the band on which he's talking. 10 meter antenna for 11 meter frequencies won't work well, and vice versa. Also, if he's in a metal building the antenna won't be as effective. Try moving the antenna outside with the coax running through a window or a hole in the wall. Try moving the antenna around. If it's not near a window, try moving it close to a window. Try moving it up, but also try moving it down (so the tip is closer to the window.) Move it away from the computer and the television. I presume this is a magnetic mount antenna on a metal toolbox? Try setting it on something else - like a pizza pan. Etc, etc, etc ...
Hello Dave I really could use your help of tried reserching and I'm stuck I have recently gotten back into hf and got a yaesu ft891 it has a rear usb for cat and audio I wish to set up for digital modes and also use the function of rear mic ie the audio comes from the pc for ssb audio .this way I can use my computer mic and pc for audio addjustments for my ssb audio .the problem is I don't know what software I need to do this and I'm at my white end with it .id be happy to make a donation to the channel for your help in this Dave .and thank you in advance -.. . /..--- . ----- -. .--- -.-
Getting set up for digital modes for the first time can be frustrating. Generally, digital software is designed to do digital modes only, and won't allow you to route the computer microphone to the soundcard output, because all the vendors figure that you'll plug the microphone directly into the rig. I'd suggest you use the radio's mic for SSB and the rear input for digital modes. Take a look at the Rigblaster Advantage (www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=rb_adv). It allows you to plug in your microphone, and easily switch between digital and analog.
Darrell Harris Hi Darrell. The 11 Meter Amateur Band was turned into Class D Citizen's Radio Service (Citizen's Band, or CB) back in 1958. CB enjoyed quite a vogue, then settled down. Truckers today are major users of CB. CB equipment is still available and may be used by anyone. With the advent of the Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), most people looking for easy "walkie-talkie" type radios have abandoned CB. There's a nice article on CB on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio.
+Seth B Each band has not only different propagation characteristics, but different usage patterns. 60 meters consists of only five channels and sees very little activity.
I feel your pain. My experience has been that among Ham Radio operators, the longer they've been doing this and the more they know, the more difficulty they have in realizing they're using a language the people they're talking to can't understand. So ironically, your best teacher might be someone who hasn't been involved in Ham Radio very long. If you're lucky you'll be in a club where there's at least one member who realizes this and knows how to explain things to new people. I know this is almost a year after you posted, but hopefully you've figured it all out. If not, hang in there and it will come eventually and be worth the wait.
Your teaching methods are very good and and clear. You have tons of videos and I will eventually watch them all. It will bring back some of things I have forgotten and more that I didn't have been taught to me. Thanks again for having these videos.
Dave, your videos are excellent. You interject just the right amount of opinion and experience to make the raw facts and data useful. Thanks.
Thanks dave For your videos, I stumbled cross your videos on RUclips. They inspired me to become a ham radio operator I got my technician ticket 3/ 21/24 Got my general ticke 4/4/24 Working on an extra now, I hope it's okay for me to look up. To you as an Elmer, thanks Dave and God bless.
I appreciate how well spoken and structured your videos are. Keep up the awesome work!
This is the kind of info I've been looking for. Love that you mentioned CW, as I am actually interested in learning it, including straight key.
I have never been able to learn it due to loss of hearing in one ear. I just enough hearing in that ear to interfere with the other ear. but daves Videos has got me interested
Great stuff. I'm an Extra and a VE, but I still didn't know this information.
Dave, nice job. Your are a great teacher and easy to understand. Thank you!!!
Thanks for another episode. I think you are very easy to understand and learn from. Even for me who speaks english as a second languange. I have recently started to study for the Swedish hamradio certificate.
Good luck with your studies!
Great info for a new Ham working to get his first HF Station setup! Thank you Sir! 73!
Excellent Dave, looking forward to many more
Excellent Dave keep them coming!!
I like the presentation, Im a novice to ham radio - well done David!
Thanks Dave. Greetings from Wales UK
Thanks Dave for the excellent videos! I am a General Class license holder W5HSJ in South Texas and have been away from the hobby for about 35 years. I feel like I am having to relearn everything so your videos really explain a lot about the characteristics of each of the HF and UHF/VHF bands. Please keep up the excellent work! Mark Glasson
Welcome back to ham radio!
Another great video. Good to know about 20 meters and the different types operating on 20 meters.
Thanks, David. Very informational.
To John Matson; Unfortunately Google isn't giving me an option to reply directly to your post. The antennas you describe take considerable matching to present the transceiver with a 50-ohm load. There is no "best" antenna that works for everyone. I would say continue to experiment until you find something that works well for you. I'm impressed with my 80-meter full-wavelength horizontal loop; it performs well on all bands 80-10 meters, but needs a serious tuner, in this case an MFJ-993B. As for the 20-meter full wavelength loop, I suggest getting it higher in the air than 1/8th wavelength. An antenna at 1/8 wavelength is pretty much firing straight up, which is great for NVIS on 80 and 40 meters, but NVIS doesn't work on 20. So try to get it a half wave in the air (that's only 30 feet). You might also try a vertical loop given the height of the trees. Try a so-called Delta Loop, meaning a triangular loop with the apex at the top. Depending on where you feed it, it will be either horizontally or vertically polarized; you can find considerable information on delta loops on the Internet. Good luck! 73, Dave
David Casler Take a look at AG6IF Talented Balun for you 80m loop. I use it and do not need a tuner for 80,40,20,17,15,12 and 10. It works great.
Thanks for the info about the AG6IF balun. Looks interesting and has great reviews on eham.
David Casler he is also on RUclips. Also thanks for your videos. It has helped me pass my Tech and General and gave me a better overall understanding of Ham Radio. Keep up the great work! Ryan W6ZAR
Thank you for your videos. I have been a ham for a few years and will often pull up your videos when something just isn't clicking. I find them to be very helpful. Also love the pics and hope to be able to ride the Colorado area soon. 73's de KK4LCO
thanks again Dave...love your pictures too
Again, I learn so much from your videos.
You are my Electronic Elmer, Dave. LOL Great video productions. As I'm primarily interested in PC-CW, RTTY, JT65 and PSK31, this really explained things clearly for me. 73, KD2MCH Upstate NY
I really enjoyed this video Dave. Thanks.
Great video Dave! Looking forward to next 73
Good info Dave, especially for new hams...but it could do with an update i.e. FT-8 and WSJT-X (not WSJT) are an example.
Got my DXCC on 20 years ago....this is a great explanation of the band and I have learned many things from this video....Thanks for teaching an old dog
I think it is very educational. I have a general ticket, but it was most memorized.
Thanks David, great information. I am looking forward for more video’s. 73
Very well Dave, I watch your videos for learn english e ham radio. 73 from PY1XW.
Dave, YOU ARE MY VIRTUAL ELMER!!!! PLEASE KEEP UP THESE VIDEOS!!!
Excellent video how about a video on magic band 6 meters
I'm trying to get into ham - this is very helpful!
David, I have a run of paracord about 70 feet in one of my trees. It has been there for 2 months, as I can't decide what to do with it. My other antenna is a center fed 178 foot long 40 meter DEZ. 450 ohm L.L. straight into Matchbox, 96 feet long. Problem is, being an even harmonic of 40, it doesn't like to load with the Amp on... a homebrew GS-35 Tube based amp. My question is I would like a more resonant antenna on 20, that may match up better with the Amp. I was thinking of building a 20 meter Full Wave Rectangular verticle loop, fed 1/8 wave up from a corner via a 4:1 Balun for a low angle and somewhat rotatable {Manually} antenna with gain over a dipole. I also looked into an EXTENDED LENGTH inverted V with 70 feet being the feedpoint. LMR 400 fed, or maybe 300 ohm to the matchbox... Any opinions or length calculations you could share? Also, feel free to give me a favorite 20 m antenna of yours! Thank You! John
WOW! Excellent video! Very well explained! You really know what you are saying! Yes, make more videos like that!
The 20m band is great because it means the 12m and 17m band are free for me without annoying interference and QRM.
+Ade Larsen I am watching this again. I must be a full call amateur......
Great video Dave, how about some suggestions for 20m vertical antennas. In a month or so I am going to be living in a senior center on the 3rd floor and still not sure what my limitations will be. Thanks and 73 Tom KC3QAC
Hi Dave and thanks for these videos. My question is this. Last night after a thunderstorm I noticed my SWR for ALL bands were much lower on all bands?? Today, these SWR's have changed again, 20 meters shows a good SWR (Below 3:1) and usually 1:5-1:7 but some of the others are so high as to prohibit transmission. Any idea what is going on? I'm running a Yaesu FT-857D with a G5RV Jr. antenna and a Kenwood 130 tuner. Variable SWR's is something I didn't think could happen.
THX-Pat
Patrick Slevin Hi Pat, sorry to hear about the difficulties. It sounds as though the storm damaged the antenna. Getting water into the feedline could create a resistive path to bleed off some signal, which would show up as a lower SWR. And when it dries out, there might be an open circuit somewhere. I would suggest taking the antenna and feedline down and examining both carefully. SWR will vary a bit with weather, but shouldn't vary that much. Good luck! 73, Dave
Thanks!
Also, about jt65, I met the guy that made that mode and several others a few months back. He's a good man.
73 de n2eee
Great info. Enjoy your videos and your presentation. I am a new general class amature. Much to learn. Thanks again. David Byrd KN4BHS
Very helpful, thank you.
New hams, if you don't hear much on 20 meters, don't despair, the sunspots for the last few years and for a few years to come is poor.. If you're inclined to operate at night 75/80 meters is very active pretty much every night and all night still. So popular even today, it's hard to find an open frequency from 3.7 to 4 mhz LSB many nights.. Lots ot interesting ragchewing conversations on this band.
Thanks for your video’s!
Question - On the 20 meter band I look at my contacts and most or all are 500 miles plus. Is this dead space normal and how do I reduce it. (Butternut 9 vertical)
Thank you Dave. Very educational as is all your videos. Viewing them is like post-graduate education after graduation. I am "extra" ham and want to learn more of everything everyday and you have been such as great provider. 20m band info is great. Did you do 40m? If not, I would really like the same detail band information. Bless you
Thanks for the reminder. I'll make sure 40 meters is on the list of topics to cover.
You do an outstanding job communicating, educating, inspiring.
You roll at a good pace, no hem or ahs
Well prepared thought sequence.
Q. 50 yrs ago I bought a Heath kit 101 from a friend at work. It worked well then.
It has been in storage since. Waiting for me to get license, witch I did Jan 2018.
(I missed getting my General by one Q. )
Do you have any suggestions, cautions about putting this unit back in service?.
These old tube units consume lots of power and may not be worth the expense to maintain it, and the performance does not compare to solid state units.
What say you?
That’s up to you. Before you even apply power, consult local hams who have done restoration work, or you can damage it. You will likely find that a more modern radio may make your on-the-air time more enjoyable
Being a new ham this video was very helpful. Highlights of the 10,40 and 75/80 meter bands would be helpful too. I would be very thankful for any help. AF5VP
Hey dave a quick questjon about 15 meters rtty... i see they allow techs to use cw here but there is nothing on rtty so can techs use digital modes here or are we restricted to 6 and 10 meters?? Kg5cuo Johhn
Thanks Dave. As others have said, very informative. I'm a new ham and a perfect target for these videos. One thing that concerns me is that because there is so much going on in each of the bands; the boundaries at which certain modes are able to operate by the laws of physics; are allowed to operate by FCC reg; are tunable to operate by rig and antenna design; are preferred to operate by polite convention; actually operate by current signal conditions, etc. are so massively confusing I fear that once I get on the air I'll probably be spending more time stepping on people's toes than using the bands as they are supposed to be used. Your Highlights chart points out the many boundaries in rather startling detail. When an open frequency finally presents itself, how do you know in advance that it is actually OK to use without digging through a lot of preferred use charts first? Do people actually memorize these boundaries?
If you're using single sideband, simply ask if the frequency is in use. If nobody replies, go ahead and call CQ. Don't worry about making mistakes is a newbie. Just get on the air, be patient, be forgiving (both of yourself and others), and persevere.
Dave,
Which HF band(s) are best for phone CQ? I'm new to HAM and have yet to set up an HF shack and I live in a heavily regulated HOA area and my antenna options are likely limited to flagpole antennas. Most flagpole antennas access 40m and below, but an 80m antenna likely pushes the limits of the covenants. I love your channel and appreciate the content, production, and instruction! Kd9gns - northwest Indiana
My best bands for calling CQ are 20 and 40.
Good information.
Picture is awesome ly beautiful
Hi, David. I hope you are being able to monitor these early videos comments. I have earned my technician and just today the General license. I've bought a nice radio and guys from my local club have put up a good antenna for me. They have also set some memory channels for our local area. But, now I'm stuck. I have absolutely no background at all in electrical anythings but am fairly computer literate. I'm trying to watch youtube videos about my particular radio without much understanding. Do I just dive into the radio manual and hope I'll figure things out? Even the manual seems to assume quite a bit of previous experience and knowledge. I won't give up but where is the starting line on this new hobby of mine?
Hopefully someone from your club can help you out, either at your place or theirs. Maybe you can take your radio to their house and hook up to their antenna and power supply for some training.
When someone is showing you how to operate your radio, take good notes and make good drawings. Somehow some button will be pushed that your fingers never went anywhere near, but it changed all your settings. (Ask me how I know this)
While you're trying to figure it out at your own residence, you can just do a lot of listening. Play around with the dial and see what you run across.
Do you know that with most HF bands they are primarily operated on SSB - with certain ones using upper sideband and others using lower sideband? You can find which is which easily enough online.
Though I've never heard anyone say it, there may be some out there not wanting newbies wasting their time when they're trying to make a lot of contacts, but I get the general idea most are welcoming and helpful of newcomers. Just answer a CQ ("calling any station" - and you're one of those stations) with your own call sign then tell them you're new. They'll give you a signal report - how readable are you (on a scale of 1 to 5) and how strong is your signal (from 1 to 9). They probably also want to know where you're located. If they're just trying to make a lot of contacts, say thanks and sign off (after giving them a signal report also - there are probably meters on your radio that give you those numbers when they're talking). Also, have a notebook handy to making a record of that conversation. Or - most modern people log it on a computer.
Or, you might stumble onto a conversation in progress. Feel free to listen in. If you're in a conversation on the radio, don't say anything about politics or religion someone can take offense to. "I love America" is fine - "I hate the guy in office now" isn't. "God bless you" is fine, "All members of this denomination are going to Hell" isn't. An argument over which caliber is best against wild hogs is fine if the conversation is about hunting wild hogs, arguing over the morality of guns and killing animals isn't.
You might find a "net" starting up with people reporting in. Is it something open that anyone can join? It never hurts to ask - the worst that can happen is they tell you no. What is the net for? Maybe for people to discuss some particular activity which happens to be your favorite hobby.
As for figuring out the radio itself, if you can't get help from a live person, then yes, open the manual but also with the radio on so you can experiment.
One never knows ... someday I may even follow my own advice.
Just remember that this is what radio clubs are for - to put together people with questions and people with answers (and people who need help putting up antennas)
These are great. If time permits, it'd be nice to see similar descriptions of the other HF bands.
***** They're in the queue. So many things to talk about in the Ask Dave series! There's lots of interest in grounding and antennas, so those may dominate for awhile. 73, Dave
Is this outdated... I've noticed with the sunspot cycle last few years, 20 meters hasn't been that active...
Hi Dave, I'm new to AR and Really appreciate your program. Thanks for your straight forward advice and direction. Cara KM4YEL.
excellent
What about voice? Or did I miss something?
This is kd8uxe,nice job keep them coming.
Hi Dave! Tried to email you... I’m looking at getting my second one. I’m between the Yaesu FTDX 3000 and the TenTec Orion 1. I’d like to hear your thoughts on the 3000 as I know you have one. What are your liked and dislikes on it? I’m looking for a quality quiet front end.
Wow, that would really take a couple videos to answer. I love the RX in the 3000--I've never had a better one. The TenTec Orion is a great radio too, though I've never operated one myself.
That’s why I’m buying one. The quiet RX in it. You might want to think about a video that talks about “hearing loss from the volume being too high overtime.“ When I was in professional radio, my program directors would always remind me to “keep the cans low.“ i’ve talked to a few hams that have been in the hobby for many years and now only do digital because they can’t hear phone. That’s too bad. My way of fighting that problem was to get a 3000 so I have a much quieter front end.
now I know why I like the forty meter band.
hey dave what all can effect swr on a mobile antenna on top of my tool box in my office? my swr is off the charts right now and I'm just trying to talk and listen local here while I study for my licence the antenna is a k40 magnet and a cobra gtl dx 200 radio
The first rule of antennas is that everything affects everything. Antennas like to be in the clear with nothing around them. Good luck with your studying!
For anyone reading this years later -- I'm not familiar with this radio but I think it is a 10-meter radio (HAM band) that can be convereted to 11 meter band (CB Radio). If someone is talking on 10 meters without a license, they're wrong. Now, on to the technical part --
The antenna needs to be right for the band on which he's talking. 10 meter antenna for 11 meter frequencies won't work well, and vice versa.
Also, if he's in a metal building the antenna won't be as effective. Try moving the antenna outside with the coax running through a window or a hole in the wall.
Try moving the antenna around. If it's not near a window, try moving it close to a window. Try moving it up, but also try moving it down (so the tip is closer to the window.) Move it away from the computer and the television.
I presume this is a magnetic mount antenna on a metal toolbox? Try setting it on something else - like a pizza pan.
Etc, etc, etc ...
good show!
Hello Dave I really could use your help of tried reserching and I'm stuck I have recently gotten back into hf and got a yaesu ft891 it has a rear usb for cat and audio I wish to set up for digital modes and also use the function of rear mic ie the audio comes from the pc for ssb audio .this way I can use my computer mic and pc for audio addjustments for my ssb audio .the problem is I don't know what software I need to do this and I'm at my white end with it .id be happy to make a donation to the channel for your help in this Dave .and thank you in advance -.. . /..--- . ----- -. .--- -.-
Getting set up for digital modes for the first time can be frustrating. Generally, digital software is designed to do digital modes only, and won't allow you to route the computer microphone to the soundcard output, because all the vendors figure that you'll plug the microphone directly into the rig. I'd suggest you use the radio's mic for SSB and the rear input for digital modes. Take a look at the Rigblaster Advantage (www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=rb_adv). It allows you to plug in your microphone, and easily switch between digital and analog.
Brilliant!
HI DAVE HOW DID THE TRUCK DRIVERS GET THE 11 METER AM BAND. I BEEN ASK THIS AOT . I HAVE EXTRA CLASS LICENSE. THANK YOU KG7LNA
Darrell Harris Hi Darrell. The 11 Meter Amateur Band was turned into Class D Citizen's Radio Service (Citizen's Band, or CB) back in 1958. CB enjoyed quite a vogue, then settled down. Truckers today are major users of CB. CB equipment is still available and may be used by anyone. With the advent of the Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), most people looking for easy "walkie-talkie" type radios have abandoned CB. There's a nice article on CB on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio.
I have a tech license can I use 20 meter band for cw? Kk4qyn
No. On 20 you need a General or above.
David Casler How about 30 and 40 meter?
15, 40, and 80 meters - refer to the chart at 1:23 @@bobdemartino9752
David I need help with Gen license upgrade
Check out the list of General videos at www.ke0og.net/general.
I'm curious how a daytime band can be worldwide. Surely when it's daytime here, it's night time the other side of the world.
In general (and there are many exceptions), it means both stations are in daylight as is the entire path between them.
Thanks David.
What about 60 meter??
+Seth B Each band has not only different propagation characteristics, but different usage patterns. 60 meters consists of only five channels and sees very little activity.
The 20 meters band is a bit too sparse, at least in Europe. The 15 and 40 meters bands both seem to have much more operators listening and talking.
Sean carrol
Not knowing the terminology, and all the acronym's, left me dumbfounded.
I feel your pain. My experience has been that among Ham Radio operators, the longer they've been doing this and the more they know, the more difficulty they have in realizing they're using a language the people they're talking to can't understand. So ironically, your best teacher might be someone who hasn't been involved in Ham Radio very long.
If you're lucky you'll be in a club where there's at least one member who realizes this and knows how to explain things to new people.
I know this is almost a year after you posted, but hopefully you've figured it all out. If not, hang in there and it will come eventually and be worth the wait.
Hello Dave W5mpg name rex good job
I am having trouble with the math part i am studying for my technician class i am Donald Rossman kc3scz wife