/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Any posters beyond me sniffed and handled my used jizz sock

The Sirio yearns to be atop my apartment building. Its move in season here though, and management is here daily. Soon, however...

Inb4 some nigga posts the chudrepeater for the millionth time

It’s shit and whoever uses that shit is retarded as fuck.

>>2667213
>Old thread keyed down by K9RSY:
Sorry for not following up yesterday. They were on 7.2Mhz, but didn't say much more than 'what's on the grill'. I forgot to add a noise blocker and it wasn't worth sharing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyuweo6Qhck

>>2667213
If any Crofag hams are in here listen in on r6 Sljeme at about 23:00. I suspect Danijel is on here but im not sure.

>>2667213
chad the ham

>how do I scan shit?
https://openmhz.com/
>>2667286
You're fucked, if you want privacy you need to use a scapegoat mailing address and/or nickname when you're getting your license. You can update your registration but your old records will always be there.

Taking the test for my tech license in two weeks and trying to figure out what radio to get for my first. Everyone seems to suggest an HT, so I've been focusing there. My current list is a Yaesu VX-6R or the FT-70DR, but I've been considering going up the FT5DR if its worth it. My ideal would be a base station, but I know I'm going to need a lot more in equipment to get going. Any thoughts on a first radio?

>the Chad Repeater

>Anon's Chad Repeater

>uses your callsign
>nothing you can do about it

>>2667751
Are you that F6CDX troll?

Never give momey to the antenna jews just to DX.

>>2668101
That's all it took for me to get a DXCC Challenge in a few years.

>>2667638
>Any thoughts on a first radio?
Order a <$20 piece of shit first to see if HTs are even viable in your neighborhood. You won't regret owning a beater radio anyways, might as well.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805561056379.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805618923456.html (no USB-C)
https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480Mhz-1800mAh/dp/B074XPB313/
Programming cable:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H5DS4Y3/
For the $200-$300 range check out the Btech 6x2 pro and non-pro.

>>2667656
>>2667659
>the nigger repeater

Doing a Force on Force FTX. I know opfor will be using uhf/vhf radios. I want to construct a simple jammer that is field operable and mobile. Where can I find blueprints/instructions/guides to make such a thing?

>this is all for a book I’m writing in Minecraft

Does anyone have experience with buttons suddenly not working on a TYT mobile radio?
The PTT works, but the buttons one the mic aren't recognized.
I tried
>the unlock trick - pic related
>checked for any lock button or setting
>checked the manual that said nothing
>did a factory reset
>reviewed everything again
I'm at a loss. Mic appears in good condition and it has only been in my basement and never seen abuse

>>2668477
If you wanna jam nfm voice comms I would suggest getting a data radio module and an amplifier. You can use an mcu to make the module jump from channel to channel and transmit an annoying tone such as 300Hz. I've done it on 400MHz using sx1278 and a pic, but it takes some knowldege. How much do you know about programming mcus?

>>2668101
This is all you need pretty much. I am amazed that there are companies that can sell things like "Chameleon Tactical Dipole" for $399 when literally all you need is a wire ($15) and a balun/unun

>>2668567
I know some basic python, learned for it being broad language and easy. Micropython works on some boards.

Basically just need to be loudest signal correct? Dream is have a set of known enemy freqs and whenever they are used blast em with interference.

>>2668676
>Basically just need to be loudest signal correct?
Doesn't have to be the most powerful signal. You have to be at least as equaly as powerful as your targets to make their speech hard to understand. I used 1000 baud fsk with 6kHz deviation to make the tone with sx1278. You can do it with any board that has spi. I used pic12f1822.

I managed to get another image after making my own dedicated 137mhz v dipole, but where I live on the east coast the NOAA satelites only go overhead at like 8-10pm, and it's of course in IR only mode then. This image is nice, but halfway through it switched to IR. RIP

>>2668830
alt image

>"John is in the hospital due to an accident. We don't know if he is okay but his wife sa-"
>"CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST FA6GOT CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST"

>>2668830
>>2668832
Based I've been trying to do the same myself. I'm new to HAM and so just listening in on space assets is exciting for me. I'm thinking of getting an rtl sdr to extract images more effectively.

I need an education into antennas though. I don't really understand it.

>>2669344
The QSO party this weekend wasn't that popular, was it?

Which one of you trolls did this?
>488 grids
>1488
Fwiw, I never realized he had such an illustrious programming career.

>>2669363
thanks I made my own antenna instead of using rabbit ears and got a better pic yesterday.

>>2669587
When are QSO parties every popular?

Does reviewbrah ever posted in here?

>>2669850
Who?

>QSO party

Any good fiction books where radio plays a role?
Currently studying for the exam and could need some motivation, my autism gets fueled by reading some cool spy stories or something where operating radios is important.

>>2670193
I am interest too. A lot of new infornation about Cold war clandestine radios and burst encoders has surfaced these last couple of years, but there don't seem to be many stories about their use in the field. I suspect you know about cryptomuseum.com already, sir.

Uncucked baofeng anon reporting in

>>2670193
Not a book, but the 'documentary' about the Borat actor who was an Israeli spy ended when he was caught sending cw back home.
I guess you could check the footnotes, but 'The Thing' is a fun spy device that's in a Washington DC museum. Perhaps it was the Spy Museum I saw it in.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(listening_device)

>>2670193
In the absence of fiction, how about some real stories?
https://onetuberadio.com/2015/02/28/morse-code-secret-message-in-colombian-song/
There are also plenty of stories from WWII where morse code operators had to stay one step ahead of the counter intelligene agencies.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805561056379.html
CCP is doing a fire sale on Quanshengs. Great time to buy literally everyone in your life a radio.
>$11.13

This book is all about encrypted comms in WW2, although obviously not very technical it is nice to read from what I remwmber

>>2670583
Meant to reply to >>2670193 of course. Also forgot pic

>>2670556
>CCP is doing a fire sale on Quanshengs
For what purpose? Publicity?
>captcha:KW8H8Y
Anybody know that guy?

>>2670609
>For what purpose? Publicity?
CCP spying obviously. They are not buying a bunch of land in America and setting stuff up for nothing.

>>2670610
Parts of the Norwegian forces bought a large number of Hytera encrypted radios. Only a few asked if buying a Chinese brand was a good idea.
People are too naive.

Anyone ever watch Andrew Mcneil? Anyone know if he's OK? I hope he's OK

Can someone recommend a transverter, either step up or down?
I'd like to play on 630M or 2M, but only have an IC-7300

>>2670811
>dat pic
It's even more pathetic to see hams actively click themselves through WSJT-X for their DXCC.

>>2670832
The boomers on youtube also keep the audio on ... and talk over it.

>>2670811
I love boomers seething over FT8. We like it because we want to make quick contacts, not to hear them talk about their recent prostate exam. If I wanted to ragchew to boomers about their colostomy bags, I'd go on 80m.

>>2670883
>I love boomers seething over FT8
Have you been living under a rock?
Boomers love FT8 since they found out they can brag with their mad cutting-edge mouse-clicking skills to other boomers.
I didn't need that on top to hate FT8, though.

>>2670887
Not here. They berate you for using FT8, saying it's not "real radio" unless you make SSB or CW contacts. They also despise any digital modes like Winlink and JS8Call even for things like ARES.

>>2670900
Watch them turn around on a dime any day.

>>2670913
They won't. They're stuck in their old ways. The old fuckers don't even see the utility of APRS with GPS tracking.

>>2670962
>APRS with GPS tracking
I'm skeptical about the HAM side of it. Cell coverage in my area is surprisingly good so you can APRS over IP until you get into deep forest. And when you're in the forest you'll throw up an antenna and find that you also have issues hitting APRS with your radio...

My work uses a clock like this to clock employees on/off.
I want to set up a device to clock me in/ out when I'm not present.

Can someone point me in the right direction on how to do this?
Is it possible to fool these rfid machines by sending a 125Khz signal?
50+ metres range would be ideal so I can hide the device nearby

>>2671561
My brother in christ you need to keep it simple stupid. Just make a coworker do it.

>>2670811
If you want 2 metres with your IC-7300 it will be an upconverter, usually 28 MHz in/144 MHz out. For 630 metres it'll be a downconverter.

I haven't played with a 144 MHz transverter in many years. I dabbled with a Ten-Tec 1210 loaned to me for a while back in '96 so I could try 2M SSB but no one else in my remote community had that capability so I made no contacts. I used it with my Kenwood TS690S running barefoot.

If price is no object, the 630 metre band transverter by Monitor Sensors is pretty good. I wish I could say I have experience with it but I don't. A local near me had one for a short time but sold it off for the 2200 Metre band version which I did get to see in action. A robust and well made unit. Simple to use. I almost bought his but I don't have the space for the antenna required and i'm plagued with noise in the LF band at my QTH. I like the LowFer band.

>>2671561
>125 kHz
Kek! The big challenge, other than the possible encryption, would be hiding the antenna with a loading coil the size of a Rubbermaid garbage can.

>>2671576
>>2671588
Ok I guess my plan isnt feasible. Thanks for the input. Ill see if I can man in the middle the ethernet connection somehow

>>2671588
That would probably be his first step. Install a weighted trash can or large fake potted plant nearby. He'd need an RFID transmitter, and a small computer or microcontroller with a GSM shield so he can control it by phone remotely. Then there is how he is going to power it.
I might be a bit of a boomer, but back in my day when the bosses would be dicks we would install phone lines all over the building and use them to talk to friends and family (back when landlines were the cats pajamas). You could probably camouflage such things as a cable drop. But don't get caught hahaha. Anon what are you doing? ,Installing a cable drop! ,WHAT!?! Why?, uhhhh, and then the "spaghetti" will fall out of your pockets. The other anon is right. Have another employee clock in.

>>2671561
And also, you didn't provide make and model of the scanner. Without such information it's impossible to help you in any meaningful way.

How has 40/80 meters been lately for night DX?
There's a digi contest this weekend I wouldn't mind pulling an all-nighter to finally punch my 80m DXCC card

Good one, anon

>>2671561
You could do it with a flipper but you can also just have a co-worker do it.

What sort of weird stuff do you guys hear?

>>2672039
One time, I heard a boomer on 80m not talk about his medical issues.

I tested the remote kill meme on the Quansheng and it actually works.
>enable remote kill in chirp
>enable DTMF decode in the menus
>assuming you're using the default ANI-ID key up your second radio and mash the ANI-ID and the kill command like
>102*77777
There's some other DTMF menu stuff, whichever team designed this radio had way too much fun with this.
https://youtu.be/22n9aTNIipw?t=228

>>2672115
found some good ol' information
https://github.com/RE3CON/K5-Wiki/tree/master
And here's where you mod your UV-K5 variants if you haven't seen this already
https://whosmatt.github.io/uvmod/

>>2672115
>>2672117
Even more reason not to go with chinese crap.

I found this antennae on the roof of a dilapidated project house that I acquired. What’s the setup here? It looks like a tv antenna but are these microwave antennas attached to it? If it’s useable I want to try to use it

>>2672222
Checked
My guess would be an old 80Mhz OTA antenna with a wifi / cellphone antenna

>>2672229
So something like a Rohde & Schwarz HL023A1 with this
https://beamboost.us/shop/beam-boost-5g-phone-signal-booster?gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIweiI68b6gAMV65paBR0Nqg0ZEAQYASABEgIA4vD_BwE

>>2671561
dont get a coworker to do it. they will get you caught by telling other employees or directly narcing on you.

>>2671561
>I want to commit fraud because I'm too lazy and fat to work

>>2672177
Anon please have more fun. The radio's on sale for $11.13. It's literally less expensive than FRS radios at the big box store.

>>2672222
The bent over yagi with the corner reflector is a VHF-Lo/UHF tv antenna. Looks like it has a rotor on the mast. Inside the two white things you'll probably find a LPDA etched on a pc board. Could be 2.4 GHz wifi or a cellular phone antenna like the other anon mentions.

>>2672382
>have fun
*enters kill code for everyone listening on the repeater*
Lots of fun.

>>2672382
I wish HF radios were that cheap and convenient.

>>2672382
>on sale for $11.13
Where'd you find it for that low? Amazon's like 30.
For $30 I could get a UV-5R, but for $10 that's a killer deal.
I could use a few sacrificial radios to test antenna designs on.

>>2671561
Just replace it with your own

>>2672782
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805561056379.html
New accounts only.
>I enjoy using this radio so much that I straw purchased more of them so I can share them with friends
The Quansheng UV-K5s are cheaper than Baofengs, performs better, has more software features, optional mods and a UI that is somehow even easier to use. I cloned repeater tones the other day with a button press and all I had to do was guess the offset.
>pic related, both had pretty good graphs on 2m but the Baofeng is dirtier on 70cm

Does anyone know how to calculate the WW Digi scoring?
It sounds like
> Score = QSO Points X number of unique grids per band
> QSO Points = 1pt per unique QSO x 1 point per 3,000km in distance
Either I'm wrong or my score wins the all time worst performance.

>>2672039
I read the alphanumeric pages in my area. The hospital sends all kind of unencrypted info out on their paging system. I also keep track of the freight trains that pass through town by logging the data from the EOT devices.

>>2673759
>I read the alphanumeric pages in my area
USA? I took a stab at that and couldn't get anything from the 5 hospitals in my area - closest is about 15 miles away

Dude just..

https://m.apkpure.com/radio-garden/com.jonathanpuckey.radiogarden

>>2673314
>I cloned repeater tones the other day with a button press
Wait, can that radio clone squelch tones on FRS/GMRS?

>>2673777
>USA?
A small town in Canada.
There isn't anything too exciting usually. The only reason I even became interested in it was because I set up a personal pocsag paging service on the VHF amateur band so I could ditch my mobile phone.

CQ CQ CQ DE ANON

is it just new to me or is idling 7.200 hilarious? 70 year olds acting like /b/tards is incredible.
I'm actually thinking of getting my General just so I can join in.

>>2674751
It gets old very quickly.

>>2673759
>fellow Canuck
Pagers, now that takes me back. I remember when they were all over the place and the scourge of scanners. I lived in a small town out on the left coast. In early 90s I had a Universal M400 on long term loan to catalog the signaling tones in my area. Pleasantly surprised to discover it could demodulate ACARS and pagers.

I used it with an Icom R7000, an Apple Lisa 2 computer, and an Icom W2A to ferret out a dozen drug dealers in town. Great fun.

>>2674047
>I set up a personal pocsag paging service on the VHF amateur band
If that's still relevant today, I'd love to know more about it

>>2667656
>>2667659
I have a shed in the backyard that has power and room for 2 antennas.
I'm considering adding a repeater - what freq would be the most beneficial to help?
First I thought
>VHF
>GMRS (have that license too)
now I'm wondering about digital, maybe APRS or as recently brought up, pagers.

>>2674990
It's a fun project that can be done with old surplus equipment. Paging is just a digital mode and POCSAG is the simplest of the protocols to work with. There's a few ways to go about it. Some people use a MMDVM interface board with a vhf/uhf radio and lean on the DAPNET software as foundation to add their own features, such as having emails or instant messages sent to alphanumeric pagers.
If you want a phone number with numeric paging it becomes more complicated. With some tweaking you can get an asterix pbx to generate the pocsag paging protocol and send it to gnu radio to encode the data. There are people smarter than me who've already written software to accomplish this. I use gr-mixalot; it will encode POCSAG, FLEX, and Golay paging protocols.
Around 20 years ago there was a flood of commercial rack mounted pocsag systems available cheaply on the used market, but they are rarely seen now. I'd buy one without hesitation if given the opportunity.

>>2675035
Get in touch with your local/regional repeater coordinator.

>>2675142
>asterix pbx
Interesting. I'm running FreePBX to spoof my number and make VOIP calls. I don't have an incoming number, but I'm over the peak of that project, so to say. This is a tempting endeavor!
>>2675147
That's great advice I overlooked.

Has anyone connected a FT-7900 or similar radio to use PC audio?
I'm using a boom mic for my IC-7300 that's fed through my pc - that way I have one microphone for PC audio and ham - I was curious if I could incorporate VHF with this as well.
I have a data to RT Systems usb cable, but the audio isn't immediately recognized by the pc.

>>2675557
Stupid me.
As soon as I asked that, I realized I merely needed the pinout of the mic cable.

Anybody have a simple guide on how to make a radar?

>>2675586
Yes.
Read the FAQ.

>>2675609
I mean a real step-by-step guide on what I need to build one.

>>2675586
>>2675628
Fuck off shit bag.

Made some ft8 contacts on 20m and 40m with a usdx V2 and a chink mini antenna with integrated tunner.
You would have to be very convincing about why do I need a 10x more expensive station this time.

>>2676002

>>2668101
A long time ago i saw an article on some magazine about some pajeet, iirc, who managed to use a tree as an actual antenna. the article didn't went into technical details, just the news about it, but pic showed a tall tree with what looked like a collar around the base, guessing the coax was attached to it. yes, the tree itself was the radiating element, not just the supporting structure for the antenna.

>>2676102
btw, what sdr to get for Android phones (model/features/price)?

>>2676106
>do everything for me

>>2676129
>I'm dead clueless but like to pretend I'm uber leet
ok nigger

>>2675779
>>2676162
>reddit words
>4chin words

>>2676240
>words
>like maffs, but with letters
yes, I know; so racist...

CQ CQ CQ DE ANON

Anyone here knows how to make a directive microwave antenna that is circularly polarized? It is important that it receives one polarization and rejects the opposite and also linearly polarized signals around the same wavelength. A opening angle of less than 90 degrees is what I am looking for, preferably less.

>>2676879
another
>do everything for me
post

>>2676879
Let me guess.... You've made zero serious attempts to research this topic on your own before posting.

>>2676881
>>2676884
I have searched the net already. This is the last resort.
I found tons of directive microwave antenna designs for linear polarization. It is the circular polarization WITH rejection of the other polarizations that drops the spanner in the works. At this point I am not even sure if it is possible.

>>2676879
>Anyone here knows how to make a directive microwave antenna that is circularly polarized?
that's an helicoidal antenna like a spring, you need the way of rotation of the polarisation, clockwise or counter clockwise
>and also linearly polarized
what ? Make another antenna and couple them.

>>2676925
>what ? Make another antenna and couple them.
I think he wants it to also reject linearly polarized signals, which wouldn't work since they are equivalent to two circularly polarized signals with opposite directions. A circularly polarized antenna will always receive half of a linearly polarized wave for this reason.

>>2676879
Look up helical antennas, there's some parametric models that can be made for any frequency. I've seen them used for WiFi and drone stuff, and at least the former is at microwave wavelength. Not sure about the angles however.

Anyone recall the old school code requirement for Extra?
Are there perks of having a cert of proficiency outside of getting your name published? I thought I read someone gave you a discount for passing the test

>>2676925
>helicoidal antenna
I looked up that
>For monofilar designs the radiation is linearly polarized parallel to the helix axis. These are used for compact antennas for portable hand held as well as mobile vehicle mount two-way radios, and in larger scale for UHF television broadcasting antennas. In bifilar or quadrifilar implementations, broadside circularly polarized radiation can be realized.
And if it is broadside it is omnidirectional, and we are back to square one.

>>2676955
>I think he wants it to also reject linearly polarized signals
Correct.
>Look up helical antennas, there's some parametric models that can be made for any frequency.
I have.
>I've seen them used for WiFi and drone stuff, and at least the former is at microwave wavelength.
Correct
>Not sure about the angles however.
Literature suggests it is omnidirectional.

>>2676992
>For monofilar designs the radiation is linearly polarized parallel to the helix axis. These are used for compact antennas for portable hand held as well as mobile vehicle mount two-way radios, and in larger scale for UHF television broadcasting antennas. In bifilar or quadrifilar implementations, broadside circularly polarized radiation can be realized.
Maybe if you read the paragraph right below you'd see that's not the only type:
>In the axial mode or end-fire helical antenna, the diameter and pitch of the helix are comparable to a wavelength. The antenna functions as a directional antenna radiating a beam off the ends of the helix, along the antenna's axis. It radiates circularly polarized radio waves. These are used for satellite communication.
Anyways, here's a video that shows how to make one: https://youtu.be/xp6B3nVEFCI?si=5rMbS7zw9Lpx2Cdk

Anyone know when the WW Digi posts contest results? It has almost been 2 weeks

I bought an x6100 for mobile ops and I'm deeply disappointed. It's heavily overloaded by AM broadcast stations even 30 miles away. It gets hot as fuck but easily overloaded, and it doesn't have any selectivity at all. The side connectors on the X6100 are not supported, they are simply tacked to the board. What happens if they lift and rip the platings off the board? Well there is nothing left to solder to. Kinda shit for an outdoor rig. It has no parts support either.

I'm going to beg for a refund or sell it. I should have put that money towards an 891. The x6100 has no power and nobody could hear me on 10m, the 891 is the same price and a full 100w with better filtering and sound quality. I feel like a fucking idiot buying this chink shit.

>>2678100
Should have asked us on here. We would have told you that it more of a toy to play and experiment with instead of for using on serious comms.

>>2678100
Yea, stupid. We knew it was a toy and not a real radio.
You shouldn't expect a real radio for $600, dummy..
Stupid, stupid, dummy, poo poo face. I'm sure you don't have your General. Just stick with Baofag and Xiegu since you're going to break whatever you buy anyway. Stupido.
When you grow up and have a brain and responsibility, come back and be ready to learn what serious comms are.

>>2678100
I started boycotting the chinks during covid. I'll never forgive them for their role in the wuflu. They can take their chink shit and shove it up their waveguide.

>>2678207
>>2678213
>>2678224
I bought it because these threads highly recommended them.

>>2678260
I've spent some time reading a lot of this thread and I honestly can't tell you what was truth and what was acting.

>>2678260
>>2678271

>>2678260
Dear El Dumbo,
Had you consulted the right thread wherein Mercury was in retrograde coming into some bullshit with Planet X, you would have learned otherwise, Senor Stupido!
El retardo,
Xiegu is muy bad-o, you dumb-o
Buy something better-o.
Imma troll-o.
But seriously I haven't used a Xiegu, but can appreciate the headaches you incurred -- which you shouldn't have had at that price point.
The FT-891 is a solid idea, but I'd also recommend teh 706, 7100, or ft991 if you think you'd be wanting to incorporate VHF

>>2668477
>Get 50w mobile UHF/VHF amo
>Connect to output of hackRF+portapack+mayhem
>Get fast step scanner
>Step scanner around until you find them
>punch numbers into portapack and press jam
>50w uhf amp steps it up a bunch
?>?????
PROFIT
>Punch Hack

>>2678333
What, no Yaesu - FT-710 AESS?

I'm a little bit of a newb with an embarrassing question.
I was able to go from zero to Extra in one sitting last month and have setup a ham shack and made some contacts which is awesome.
The problem comes from finding people to work.
I see all these charts and 'spots', but my computer won't let me go to those frequencies. Other US stations are spotting these, and the freq is in the band chart, but I can't get the radio to move there.
I'm not sure where to start. Is it defective software? Radio? Hardware connection?

>>2678493
>I was able to go from zero to Extra in one sitting last month and have setup a ham shack and made some contacts which is awesome.
Congrats!
As for the problem, tell us what radio and software you have.

>>2678662
I splurged and picked up a Kenwood TS-890S paired with a LDG AT-200. I just have a 20 meter dipole in the yard, but hope to upgrade that soon.
The software is WSJT. The "Test CAT' and 'Test PTT' work fine, and I can control the radio through the dropdown of frequencies, but it's very limited.
For example, today I saw a POTA spot around 14.295Mhz. WSJT never recognized that frequency or allowed me to go there. How do I unlock 14.295? Do I need a third piece of software? Do I need to get a WSJT license? Is it a Kenwood problem? I called GigaParts but they couldn't understand the issue at hand.

>>2678673
>WSJT
Did you check if the list of frequencies in table "Working Frequencies" is filled in with the frequency you are looking at?

>>2678863
I have to add all the frequencies there too?!
Is that what Chirp is for? I can't believe I have to add every frequency of the ham bands. Is that a Kenwood shortcoming? An FCC technicality? Does that come with the paid version of WSJT?
I'll try adding it this afternoon. Someone said I should try and work 7.20mhz during the day.

>>2678879

>>2678884
Wow, I wasn't aware there was any ham operation possible outside of wsjt. The handheld wired thing that came with the radio is something to talk into - I thought it was a vintage, pre-USB audio cable for the pc. My mind is blown.
This seems so odd. Why would anyone actually talk on the radio without a pc?

>>2678899

>>2678903
I couldn't help myself.
The lack of self realization of zoomers existing outside the scope of computers - extending to the unconscionable human interaction - was too funny to try and not play around with along with the growth of ft8 which go hand in hand with each other.
I don't have a TS-890S. It took me 2 years to go from Tech to Extra.
>How do I unlock a phone freq in WSJT
>What is phone? Ham IS WSJT ...
lulz

im gonna kerchunk all the repeaters and no one can stop me

whoever suggested the Quansheng a few weeks ago, thanks. I think it beats my collection of UV82s.

i went 0 to xtra over a year ago but im pretty sure id fail the extra exam today

>>2679101
>102*77777
Enjoy your brick.

>>2679143
I'm not licensed yet, but I've found that almost all tests I've take don't expect you to remember every detail forever, just that if you see the right thing and the wrong next to each other, you'll likely pick the right one, and that you know where to look for the answer.

what would happen if i solder a wire to each side of my house's metal roof and put in 1090mhz

>>2679551
to receive btw not a terrorist

>>2679551
>milli Hertz
Not much. Half a wavelength would reach multiple turns around our planet.

>>2679563
how about i shove My foot up your ass grandpa?

Damn Germans. Only they could think of a contest involving QTC which are a 5 minute string of numbers
>the unique feature of QTC-traffic adds much fun and another operating challenge to the contest

>CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST

>>2679753
Say what you will, but I picked up 7 new phone countries in the past 24 hours.

>>2667213
Damn, this is proper attitude. What happened to women? I need a wife like that before I can get all of that equipment.

>>2667213
Also, isn't that chad balding or it's just the haircut style?

>>2679824
My dad's been a ham for 40 years and my mom said she was happy when he was busy talking to his queer party friends on the radio because she didn't have to look at his fat ass all day.

>>2679836
ugh. from a romantic picture to this image in my head. i am not taking the red pill.

>>2679734
You want to provide some fucking context, or what?

>>2679568
A milli foot on a millipede? Not much.

>>2679891
>MAYA HILL LODGE, a German gated community in Believe had it's own ham shack
>It burned down 3 years ago.
>They post pics and shill for donations
>claim the ham shack will cost $250,000 to replace
>Gated community in Belize e-begging
I had a hearty laugh in the middle of this contest
>https://gogetfunding.com/v31hq-burned-down/

RPI zero w 2 boards have been basically unobtainable for two years now (unless you buy a starter kit which costs more than a 4gb rpi4). I'm convinced the Ukrainians are buying up the supply chain for use in their drones. I know the boards have other commercial uses but something isn't right with the extended shortages. I don't believe the supply chain excuses anymore. No, something nefarious is going on.

>>2680317
Normally half the volume goes to the professional market, never heard of any weapons use.
Just don't be tricked by scalpers, use the locator:
https://rpilocator.com/

Odd how noone has stepped forward and mass produced a rx/tx high bandwidth 0-6ghz sdr
We only need one

>>2680404
>odd
not really

>>2679824
They exist for sure. But it helps to get most or all of your equipment before you meet. Also recommend a prenup categorically stating 'paws off' the radio electronics and accessories.

>>2679836
Kek!

anyone else

>>2680404
LimeSDR?

I am more surprised nobody is filling the vacuum left by 817 and 818.

I'm embarrassed that my Phone DX is only at 60-sum countries. Those are rookie numbers.
Most of those countries have come through contests as the SSB allocations seem dead otherwise.
Any tips to fix this? I work from home and can multitask - I just can't find anyone else in the ether.

>>2667213
I always found ham to be cool but more the hardware and science aspect of it. Once I got it set up, then what's the end game? Being able to talk to other boomers in my country or abroad? Lame I can do that in person.
Then the whole certification process is mighty gay and filled with insufferable autismo gatekeepers. Super hard pass.

>>2680739
>Once I got it set up
There is no end to the possibilities in hardware and science. People have just begun to use modern DSP tech in rig hardware.

>>2680361
>never heard of any weapon use
Then you need to pay attention better.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/comments/5bxlim/raspberry_pi_spotted_in_ukrainian_missile/

https://www.alamy.com/kyiv-oblast-ukraine-20th-june-2023-first-military-grade-drone-from-skylab-a-ukrainian-civilian-drone-company-skylab-a-ukrainian-civilian-drone-company-tested-their-first-military-grade-drone-as-a-step-to-support-the-war-effort-in-ukraine-the-company-claimed-the-drone-based-on-a-raspberry-pi-computer-has-an-operational-range-of-7000km-with-weapons-loaded-along-with-a-maximum-payload-of-68kg-and-30-minutes-of-operational-time-photo-by-alex-chan-tsz-yuksopa-imagessipa-usa-credit-sipa-usalamy-live-news-image556287743.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/raspberry_pi/comments/10by11r/raspberry_pis_found_in_ukrainian_drones/

>>2680826
>Then you need to pay attention better.
This is exactly where I believe all the pi zero 2 boards are going that would have otherwise been destined to the consumer market. All I want to do is upgrade my shitty hotspot with a pi zero 2, but apparently that is too much to ask.
I will never forgive NATO and the Ukrainians for this.

>>2680404
q900
pluto

>be me
>23
>had my extra license since 2015
>got an adult job
>I can finally afford an HF rig
>gonna xiegu G90 that shit with a 9:1 unun and a dipole
which band should I hop on first, lads? i'm thinking i'll wait to get the 100 watt amp and just run qrp for now

>>2680739
>Then the whole certification process is mighty gay and filled with insufferable autismo gatekeepers
Yes but as I keep reminding people here, bandwidth is a finite resource. Playing by the rules keeps people from ruining it for everyone else. You have to qualify before a marathon otherwise it becomes a mess.

>>2681062
This whole post is gross

>>2681064
>You have to qualify before a marathon
No, you don't with 99.9% of marathons. Only certain marathons require you to qualify (e.g. Boston). All marathons are a mess.

T. Runner.

>>2681062
Pick the highest band you can hear others on and the lowest noise. I haven't heard many SSB QRP, but know several QRP enthusiasts. They favour CW.

That said, you never know what you'll hear. I've had 2 memorable QRP contacts. Summer '93 I was standing at the entrance of a cave in a mountainous area couple hundred km from civilization (see attached pic, not me btw). On hikes I would put out my call at top of the hour on 146.52 MHz with my Icom W2A ht. I almost fell over when a guy driving by on the highway about 5 km away answered. Our QSO was very short as he was going out of range quickly but next day I had an eyeball QSO with him when he was visiting my town. We both marvelled that the timing & location had to be just right. Still got the QSL card.

The other one was on 80 M. Buddy built a 5 W SSB radio the size of cigarette pack that we took backpacking. We had dipole up about 10 metres in the trees by the beach, less than ideal but best we could do. Condx were poor & we had an evening sked with a couple of locals back home about 80 km away. Bang! Clearest signal breaks in, some W7 who is kayaking up the coast & camped out in a remote cove about 150 km away. For a week he could hear people but no one could hear him. He too was QRP. He dialed down the band and heard us chatting away around 3735 kHz & gave us a call. So here we were sitting around a campfire talking to another guy who was also sitting around a campfire. All the while the 2 or 3 stations at home couldn't make him out at all but could hear us talking to him. We did some message handling for him. We relayed his location & msg to my friend back home where he went on a net in Washington State the next day & passed along the info that was destined to his parents. After that, word spread among the radio community in my region & numerous stations kept an evening watch for him as he made his way north.

>>2681111
anonymous this does not negate my point. Use whatever other example you want that's parallel, i'm sure you have the brain power for it.

>>2681123
>80 M
I'm thinking I might have the best luck with this one. I got back into CW so one way or another a QSO should be reasonable on just about any band
>>2681088
You are bloated with illness and the worms have encysted themselves in your soft muscle like hard almonds

Yesterday I hiked 5 hours to get to the repeater and I jammed everyone with a baofeng at low power and pissed them off. I am a ham too so I can get away with it.

Has anyone played radio in the military?
I have a few degrees and am an Extra. I realized the max age is 39 now, up from like 32.
I wouldn't mind making a career change to play radio ...

>>2681062
what anon >>2681123 said, you should at least hear FT8 on X.075 for the main bands, like 14.075 MHz, 21.075 MHz, etc. if the band is usable at that time and location

>>2681712
>Has anyone played radio in the military?
That is a weird way of putting it. For what it is worth, I was a military Morse code operator.

Does it matter if I impedance match this antenna?
http://dl1dbc.net/SAQ/Mwhip/pa0rdt-Mini-Whip.pdf
It doesn't look specifically 50Ω matched at all. I suspect my cable length will end up being no longer than 30m, but the shortwave reception on this radio (and on this antenna) can go up to 30MHz, which is a 10m wavelength, so it will almost certainly matter.

The schematic doesn't look like it's impedance matched in the first place, or rather the impedance looks dependant on frequency, pic related.

Maybe something with a transformer like this:
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0109031.pdf
Would be better impedance matched?

FYI this is to mount out back of my workplace atop a spare pipe, I doubt I can erect a large antenna. All the cabling I have access to is all 75Ω, the radio says 75Ω or 50Ω but has an F-type connector. I just want something more interesting to listen to than common FM. Like CCP propaganda.

>>2681962
>It doesn't look specifically 50Ω matched at all.
It doesn't matter as it is for receiving. SDR receivers input might be high impedance instead of 50 ohms

>>2681963
Yeah but I'll lose dB down the long coax line to the receiver, reducing my ability to pick up weak signals. I'm not too trusting in the noise floor of my receiver:
>https://www.jaycar.co.nz/digitech-world-band-am-fm-sw-pll-radio/p/AR1748
The manual says the AM gain setting should be preemptively set to maximum when listening to shortwave stations. Though I guess there's nothing saying I can't put an additional amplifier stage in there.

>SDR receivers input might be high impedance instead of 50 ohms
If that is the case, I believe I can just add a passive splitter and a burden resistor at the input. But since the mini whip has a common-collector amplifier, I believe the output impedance is quite low, in the realm of 220Ω / hFE, which is likely less than 75Ω. So maybe I can just add series resistance on the output to add it up, or maybe change that 220Ω resistor until the output impedance is right for 75Ω coax.

I really need to buy a VNA.

>>2681947
Are there desirable officer tier positions that I could worm my way into at 36 y/o?
Perhaps overseeing a team at an elephant cage?

>>2682049
>Are there desirable officer tier positions that I could worm my way into at 36 y/o?
Intelligence agencies are on a recruiting drive unlike anything I have ever seen before. If you have a clean record this might be something for you.
>Perhaps overseeing a team at an elephant cage?
I see you too are a man of culture. It seems they stopped retiring the elephant cages, seems they realised not everything is going over satellite comms, and that a guy with a tiny HF transceiver can reach very far.

>>2682152
>they stopped retiring the elephant cages
You made my week. I heard they were in the process of being decommissioned and it broke my heart after watching documentaries about the men and women who worked there.

>>2682161
The larger installations employer 1700 men and women working over 3 shifts, so yes, this involved a lot of people. Germans built a new CDAA near the border to Denmark, close to where one of the first Wullenwebers were built.

Been to ham fest today. It's nice to see that so many young faggots are interested in radios nowadays.

Heard another SK today. It's nice to see that so many boomers are dying off.

>>2682673
>I hear dead operators
Non, are you well?

>>2682837
>not hearing the dead on the bands
I question your skills as an operator.

>>2683076
>not hearing the dead on the bands
Sometimes I send messages to my dead relatives using CW. They might hear it.

>>2683095
>They might hear it.
No doubt, but can they copy?

>>2683095
good on you, anon

>>2683076
>>not hearing the dead on the bands
Is that the reason why 80m is so full of boomers talking about their medical issues?

>>2667293
Bro listening to crotchety old men bicker back and forth is like icecream for the ears

OK guys I have some questions that maybe you can help me with. I'm new to HAM and I'm coming in with 0 knowledge but I am certainly fascinated. Been reading as much as I have some questions about things so that I might be able to wrap my head around this stuff a bit better.

Question 1: I have checked local frequencies on radioreference.com and have seen that the frequencies will go anywhere from the 150s all the way to the 850s. If I'm not mistaken, 30MHz-300MHz is VHF and 300MHz-3000MHz is UHF. So if I were to buy something like
https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=7CDB93B02164B1FB036530FBD7D37F1A&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
that would only allow me to receive up to 580MHz which is only a portion of the UHF frequency. So I wouldn't be able to get the frequencies in the 850s that I looked up, am I reading this stuff right?

Question 2: Is hitting a repeater of the utmost importance? I am searching around but I'm not finding too many that seem to be within a reasonable distance from me. I am afraid this will impact my ability to get signals from home and that I'll need a big antennae to reach one.

Question 3: Let's say I want to listen to the EMS or police dispatch and I'm sitting on my ass at home. I'd need to be in range. Some of the handheld devices that I've seen seem to have something like a 15Km range. That's pretty far, but what if I'm not in range? Do I get a new antennae? Will hitting a repeater help me get more range? What does the setup look like for someone who can get 200 miles of transmission range?

Question 4: Do you have a recommendation for a good UHF/VHF transceiver or scanner for a beginner who knows jack shit? I don't have a license but I do learn better if I can play around a bit.

Thanks for letting me ask. I have to go to bed now but if I get any responses I can check them tomorrow. Wanted to get my thoughts out while they were still fresh. Thanks again.

>>2682049
>>2682478
Cool. We still have the 2 in Canada. Still active but remoted out of Lietrim. Japan built a couple of smaller ones recently. And there are still several Krug's operatinh in the russian far east.

>>2683752
>that would only allow me to receive up to 580MHz which is only a portion of the UHF frequency. So I wouldn't be able to get the frequencies in the 850s that I looked up, am I reading this stuff right?
Correct.
A RTL-SDR will give you a larger bandwidth.

>>2683752
Hitting a repeater is important only if you need the repeater to get your signal out. The repeater is typically on a hill, mountain or employs a tower to achieve coverage of a given area. If your friend is across town you probably won't be able to reach him directly from your HT because of obstructions in the way (UHF/VHF is basically line of sight). But if you use a repeater up on a tall hill, it will most likely have line of sight for the entire town. That way both you and your friend across town have line of sight to the repeater thus making it possible to communicate even if you have many obstructions between you (such as buildings, hills, etc).
You can also have networks of repeaters connected to each other. So you can make a call to someone across the state and if they're in range of the network they will copy you.
Repeaters are usually owned by local clubs. They'll often have 'nets' once or twice a week where everyone can check in regardless of club membership. Anyone can use them if they're licensed, but sometimes the old timers can get a little territorial.
UHF/VHF is fine for local or satellites comms. But if you want to speak with old men from half way across the world about boring and mundane topics, you're going to need to look at HF rigs.

>>2683877
Interesting. Thanks. Is there a reason why they decided to stop at 580MHz for that device I linked? Maybe some sort of technical/legal constraint or maybe it's too expensive to make the range bigger or do you think they just said "fuck it" and not do it? I come from a computing background so I understand how bits work and the constraints therein, wondering if it's similar for radio frequencies.
>>2684032
Gotcha. So if I get a HT (which ofc I cannot transmit on due to the lack of a license) I'd still have to be in range of a repeater to get a decent range to transmit or to hear signals. The HTs I've been looking at only go up to like 10 miles or so, so I'd only be able to get signals about 10 miles away if I was sitting on my ass at home. What if I want more range? I'd probably have to invest in something that's got a higher wattage consumption and get a better antenna, right?

>>2684051
>Is there a reason why they decided to stop at 580MHz for that device I linked?
From what I know, and I may be wrong, the hardware of the RTL-SDR was originally developed for USB TV tuners. So there was probably no reason to go much higher than the signal they actually wanted to decode. Feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong here.

>>2684032
>But if you use a repeater up on a tall hill, it will most likely have line of sight for the entire town.
Probaby much more than just his town. One of my local UHF repeaters is on top of a 1000 meter hill and people have used it from over 200km away with a handheld. When my country was at war with a neighboring country hams from both countries used the repeaters to talk shit to each other.

>>2684051
>What if I want more range?
The antenna is the most important factor. For example, I hit a local repeater by bouncing my signal off the side of a mountain to reflect it down an adjacent valley. The repeater in that valley is about 65 miles away and I can get a strong signal in with as little as 10 watts if conditions are good using a 5/8 wavelength whip antenna mounted to an old filing cabinet as the ground plane. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive to work well.
I'd recommend looking at a mobile base unit to get your teeth wet. Set it up with a cheap 5/8 wavelength whip. Mobile units usually run around 50 watts and it doesn't have to be new or fancy. My home VHF radio is an old jap unit from the 90s and it beats the pants off many new rigs in terms of sound quality. It also monitors air band which is neat.
HT's are useful if your walking around but for home or vehicle use you'd be better served with a mobile base unit.

>>2684052
Gotcha, that's interesting. I'm wondering now why it seems that so many of these devices won't do the whole VHF/UHF spectrum. Like, why stop at 580MHz? Why not just make it cover all of UHF up to 3000MHz? I guess maybe you're getting into the microwaves at that point which is above 2.45GHz so maybe you just start frying everything around you or something.
>>2684056
Cool. Thanks. I need to start reading about antennas and stuff, that's a whole bunch of shit from physics class that I absolutely do not remember at all.
It seems like with every device there's some sort of a tradeoff, like this one can't get certain frequencies, and that one is way overpriced, and that one's digital only, etc. I'm looking around for a nice medium and I'm kind of thinking https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=3BEE472B7584ACA7C6A71F41B8ADCEC9&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
Amazon has it for a little over $300 and I have like a grand in gift cards. But I dunno. Seems like it has a good range of frequencies and wouldn't need an upgrade for a while unless I feel like trying out something digital.
Am I retarded or does my reasoning seem OK?

>>2684051
>Is there a reason why they decided to stop at 580MHz for that device I linked?
Not sure. It is a Japanese device so it may relate to Japanese regulations. Much of what is above 400 MHz relate to mobile phone bands, and since these are encrypted tere is limited value in receiving those.

>>2684052
>RTL-SDR was originally developed for USB TV tuners.
True. However >>2683752 was asking about the Yaesu radio. The RTL-SDR may have been made with digital TV broadcasting in mind, but I think most have been eliminated in favour of mobile phone use.

>>2684068
>I'm looking around for a nice medium
The Yaesu FTM-6000r is a great little radio. Good choice. Match it with a nice dual band antenna and you'll get many years of service from it. You don't even need to upgrade to another radio to play with digital modes; just hook it up to something like a digirig mobile or any old TNC.
That said, pretty much any radio from the big three will serve you well (icom, kenwood and yaesu). Don't forget you'll also need a 12.8v power supply for your new shack.
I'd also strongly recommend getting licensed. Its not difficult. You'll probably find it interesting and enjoyable to study for the exam. You'll get much more enjoyment from the hobby if you're licensed and on the air.

Will a General Class study guide actually go over all the principles being tested, or just go over the questions? Am I better served by studying a more general electronics book first and then just using a test-centric one to fill in the FCC specific gaps?

>>2684108
Thanks. I've been looking at it some more and I think that's the one I'm interested in. It's got a jack on the back so yeah, looks like I wouldn't need to buy a whole new thing to give digital a shot.
>Don't forget you'll also need a 12.8v power supply for your new shack.
Gotcha, good point. I've done a bit of basic research and I don't think I need to go full retard. Just some simple switching PSU that's like $100. 13.8v and 30Amps I think seem OK such as
https://www.amazon.com/Regulated-Designed-Communication-Equipment-Cigarette/dp/B08GSK6CHL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=312JD5NW4OA0M&keywords=switching+power+supply&qid=1695178727&sprefix=switching+power%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-5
I like the little meter on this one.
>shack
Lol I have a 3x3 foot area of the floor and I'll snag an old nightstand off the street. It'll have to do for now until I get a bigger place.
>getting licensed
I probably will eventually if it's something that I want to spend more time doing. I've already spent 2 nights reading about this stuff so I'm having fun, but there's a ton of stuff that I still don't know. I'll find some books and some practice tests to get more comfortable, then I don't think

>>2684209
>then I don't think
I'll be in the dark so much that I feel like I'm still just "getting into" it. I'll know a thing or two about a thing or two.
I posted before I finished reading. Got distracted reading manuals. Whoops.

I just got this hallicrafter s40a from my grandpa who thinks I'm some ham expert but I'm a retard. What am I in for?

>>2684911
Either
>more retardation
or
>actually learning something in the process

you guys just talk buying new this and new that, but what kinds of conversations are you actually having? anything interesting?

>>2684911
replacing every capacitor in it. probably replacing the power cord. the instructions for winding the dial string is wrong. aligning it will require a good frequency generator. replace the out of spec resistors. replace the 6saz with a 6sb7y.

mine took 3 months.

>>2684911
they're pretty cool, but really dated given it doesn't even allow for SSB.
If my grandpa were still around, I'd pay to have it fixed up and present it to him. I'd hint that I did the work, but that it was really hard and I couldn't do it again.
That was the peak of entertainment for your grandpa's era as kids.
Hell, that may have been his which he spent years falling asleep to.

>>2684961
HAM is the epitome of gearfagging anon.
Kerchunk and consoom, all day long

>>2684961
>ham
>conversations
Thanks for the laugh, Anon.

>>2685010
>>2685096
Let us not forget the culinary discussions, especially omelettes. Any news from im?

>>2685207
haven't heard from omelet bro in what must be a year or two.

>RTTY contesters causing interference on JS8Call using RTTY
FUCK OFF, CONTESTERS. Stop causing interference everywhere.

>>2684911
It's like owning an old car, depends on how good of shape it is in. I'd start collecting spare tubes for it.

>>2685006
>it doesn't even allow for SSB
Not quite correct, it can receive SSB signals but requires some fiddling with the knobs. Tutorials online on how to do it.

Personal comment: To the best of my recollection the S40 is the first shortwave radio I ever saw. I was about 8 yo and the father of a school friend had one. He didn't like us playing with it but I was fascinated by it and often tried it out when over visiting. I do remember him pointing out russian jamming signals. -sigh- This was just before the CB radio craze.

>>2685725
>>russian jamming signals
More about this?

>>2685725
>Not quite correct, it can receive SSB signals but requires some fiddling with the knobs.
That's an understatement. I have an old Hallicrafters receiver and it's hell to pull out a SSB station.

>>2685006
>they're pretty cool, but really dated given it doesn't even allow for SSB.
Even the R-390 series didn't. You could add an attachment, but I never saw why they didn't make a R-390B and R-391B to modernize a design that lasted decades.

>>2668296
K, so I bought a QS UV-K5. Been listening to the local repeater that's only active on Sunday and military airplanes. Slapped UVmod on. That's about it. What's the next step? 27MC is totally dead I think, even though I have lots of truckers driving nearby.

>>2686609
>27MC is totally dead I think
You might need a better antenna. 27 MHz is close to 10 m, so you need an antenna that is 2,5 m tall, preferably with a ground plane.

>>2686609
>What's the next step?
You can use this radio to "help you talk on FRS" ;) that's the most common band I hear outside. Unfortunately most FRS radios have completely random tones set up for both RX/TX so you're gonna have to use the clone toner.

>program the FRS channels into memory and put them in scan list 1 or 2
>start scanning
>when you hear someone key up press F + *Scan to scan that frequency and wait till it captures the tone
>save the channel to channel 200 or something so you don't overwrite any of your memories
Now that you have the tone you (cannot ;)) transmit FRS your Quansheng that would be illegal, pull out your FRS radio and field program the tones.

Don't bother with this tone list I have the common tones programmed in but they're seriously not common.
https://www.k0tfu.org/reference/frs-gmrs-privacy-codes-demystified.html

>>2686980
>>2686609
Also I don't know if you have your license yet but you can definitely listen. Check out satellites with HAM repeaters onboard.
https://www.n2yo.com/passes/amateur-radio.php
The most popular satellite is the ISS which has FM voice and APRS. You might be able to hit it with a rubber duck but the conditions have to be perfect.
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

You can do APRS using an Android phone by getting a Kenwood to 3.5mm cable and downloading APRSDroid.
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-APRS-K1-Interface-APRSDroid-Compatible/dp/B01LMIBAZW/
https://aprsdroid.org/download/APRSdroid-current.apk

>>2686993
I thought they had vans that go around and they can pick something up on the superheterodyne receiver and tax/fine/seize/imprison you. For televisons, too. I heard in the uk they even have a crazy watching television tax—they actually have the balls to tax you for getting government proganda beamed into your head.

>>2686980
>>2686993
This is what I came here for. Thanks anons.

>>2686999
>I thought they had vans that go around and they can pick something up on the superheterodyne receiver
The UV-K5 is direct conversion like pretty much every other FRS radio so obviously it can't do the local oscillator emission meme like superhets.

>>2686999
>I thought they had vans that go around and they can pick something up on the superheterodyne receiver and tax/fine/seize/imprison you
yea if you live in 70's Eastern Germany

>>2686993
APRSDroid also works with the regular programming cable and a USB OTG cable.

>>2687011
I'm skeptical that will work on cheap radios but I'll try it later.

>>2687014
You're probably right that it won't work with everything, but it works for my Quansheng UV-K5

>>2687023
How did you set yours up? I have a CH340 chipset programming cable hooked up but nothing interesting happens.

>>2687071
I plugged it in a USB A to USB C OTG cable, started the app and put in a callsign as the app asks at first and hit "start tracking". Then nothing happened and I remembered to set the radio to the APRS freq. Then the packets from other senders came flooding in.

>>2687114
And you're using this cheap cable? Is the link set up as audio or TNC?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H5DS4Y3/

>>2687116
Close
https://www.amazon.nl/gp/aw/d/B07KVWCP4K

Nothing about audio is asked. My phone sees it as serial and asks to open aprs when I plug it in.

just ordered a UV-5R, pretty excited

>>2687123
I'm mad confused. I tried a second programming cable, it looks exactly like what you linked but that didn't do anything either (another CH340.) Are you sure you're not just looking at your own packets?

After a year of off and on trying, I think cw finally clicked thanks for a morse training podcast
>https://morsecode.ninja/podcasts/feeds/course-20-10wpm.rss
Send at 20 wpm, but give 0.6 seconds between so you can recall.
I listened to that for 3 hours and 'graduated' to a different episode where I can copy full words.

>>2667659
What's the box in the middle doing? Couldn't you really just link the two baofengs and turn on vox for one of them?

>>2687608
it's a cavity filter, a very steep filter to separate the frequency used by the repeater for receiving (for example 145.000 MHz) from the frequency used by the repeater to transmit (for example 145.600 MHz) if the output of the repeater is not filtered enough, it will trigger the input in a permanent loop.
By the wway repeater is not exact, it is a relay, a repeater will have the same input and output frequency, you talk for 20 sec, it records it and emits it back, hence the name repeater

>>2687611

>>2687149
Yes, because I'm not sending any and I see callsigns that I can find on aprs.fi

>>2687620
FFS, sorry, I am stupid, it is the relay logic, no idea what it does, you put the emitting baofeng in vox mode and feed it the audio output of the receiving baofeng it it is enough

>>2687620
Radio is wireless power that gets into everything and causes mayhem. They build anti-mayhem technology into repeaters so they don't gimp themselves.

>>2687149
>>2687622

I took a look at the driver CD that came with it (never needed it though).

PL23XX Prolific. But I also see CH-340 mentioned.

OP’s picture reminds me of… (Tom on MySpace long ago)

>>2687638
I already have an APRS cable but good to know some serial cables can do that.

Guys! What are we doing destroying ham radio with our misogynistic memes of a picture that might play on the suggestion men find women attractive?!!!
Don't you understand all of ham radio balances on not disrupting the misogyny? This is the fundamental pinning of our ecosystem!!!!
JUST BE GAY!!

>>2687928
I found your problem
>browsing QRZ forums

What’s generally the next stage of radio autism after kerchunking your local repeater with your baofeng gets old?
I don’t know if it makes sense to buy a dual band mobile radio or just save up for a legit base station.
I’ve got an RTL-SDR but I just have the dipole antenna kit and I haven’t been able to do much with it.
Any pointers on where I should go from here?

>>2688143
HF.
Sounds like you're a tech which is fine.
Set up a HF station - portable is perfectly fine.
Get on 6 & 10 meters FT8 or talk on 10 meters to someone halfway around the world.

>>2688143
chasing satties with repeaters on them
>>2686993
I'm gonna see if I can borrow a general's HF rig and see if I want to upgrade my license VHF/UHF is way too quiet in my area.

>>2687928
Reminder, alphabet people literally feel it is part of their identity to shove it in your face and volunteer for moderator duties on all forums, even if they don't actually like it.

There's a gaggot posting gay porn on danbooru for some fucking reason and no one ever clicks on it but he won't stop and the other gay mods made him a mod

>>2687928
qrz.com, Simps, Cucks and FT8 sub-forum

>>2688154
>>2688162
>>2688136
He's a federal judge from a certain lineage that likes to start shit ...

>>2688149
I’ve got my general, so I’ve got options.
I’m paralyzed on what HF gear to buy. I want a rig that’s pretty capable. I’d rather buy nice than buy twice.
>>2688150
Satellites and weather images are definitely something I want to try. I’m just not sure what kind of antenna I need or if I need an up converter. A better SDR than the cheapo RTL-SDR might be worth it too.
I’m not poor, but I have a kid on the way so I’m trying to be wise with my hobby spending.

>>2688194
>I’ve got my general, so I’ve got options.
Good job, anon
>I’m paralyzed on what HF gear to buy. I want a rig that’s pretty capable. I’d rather buy nice than buy twice.
I respect that line of thinking, but I took the other side of the coin; you don't hand a 16 year old learning to drive keys to a new Ferrari.
Your money and experience may differ, but without playing with a beater for awhile to eliminate rookie errors and know what I liked, I wouldn't spend big $$.

>>2688194
You don't need anything to chase satties, most of them are VHF/UHF. Voice can be hard to with the short windows.

I've picked up the ISS with a K5(8) and a signal stick but I haven't been able to get anything back to them. I should build a yagi or buy one. You can use this app to help you align yourself:
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.rtbishop.look4sat/

>>2688202
I was thinking something like an icom 7300 or yaesu ftdx10. They seem pretty solid, but you can certainly spend more on a base station. What would you consider to be a beater that’s good to learn on?

seems kind of unclear but i need my technical before i can upgrade to general before i can upgrade to extra right?

>>2688397
The volunteer testers will usually let you take all 3 at the same time. You need to pass all of them to get extra. Otherwise your license falls on the highest class you've passed all exams for.

>>2688388
I have a IC-7300 and it's very nice. If I were in the market though, I'd do a long comparison between that and the FT-991A

The IC-703/IC-706 is nolstogic and has V/UHF. If you could find that for $400, that'd make a great learner and then backup/mobile/portable radio. The IC-7000 is a similar option that's becoming as affordable, but if $600 isn't an issue and you don't want a backup radio, get a IC-7300 or FT-991A

>>2688397
Duh, you have to pass first grade to get to second.

>>2688530
DX has the 7300 on sale for $400 off with mail in rebate this weekend and it’s super tempting. I’d still need an antenna and a power supply though. I have no idea where to start with an antenna. Might be able to diy one that will work in the short term but I don’t know if I’ll need an antenna tuner too.

>>2688570
You need to come to terms with the facts that initial entry into the hobby will cost, at a minimum, a few hundred dollars. To not be a total menace and run on HF, you'll need:
Transceiver
Microphone, Key, or digital interface
Resonant antenna or a non-resonant radiator and tuner (and possibly a balun/unun)
Feed line (coax, window/ladder line) and jumpers
Power supply
An external watt/swr meter (not required but a dumb thing not to have)

>>2688570
I bought the 7300 new circa 2019 for $999.89 - $100 rebate, so $900
$1K doesn't seem like a screaming deal, but I've seen it more expensive.
On second thought, just go with the 7300 or 991A for the same price if you want V/HF. The added $400 difference isn't worth the trouble of a used radio and all the extra learning a new interface, then fighting with PC adaptors and shit.
You'll absolutely want an automatic antenna tuner.
The AT-100 can be found in the $150 range if you want to buy used. $1,080 will set you up with a HF setup that far exceeds most hams.
>swap.qth.com/
AT-100 $150
>https://swap.qth.com/view_ad.php?counter=1649593
7300 $850
>https://swap.qth.com/view_ad.php?counter=1657257
PS - $80
>https://swap.qth.com/view_ad.php?counter=1657403
And you'll need coax.
DIY your own antennas with spare electrical wire. $40 of wire will give you years of use.

>>2688613
Fuck, I just noticed the 7300 doesn’t do vhf/uhf, which seems like it would be really nice. That’s pointing me more toward the yaesu ft-991a. These both have internal antenna tuners, which should get me off the ground until I can buy a decent one.
I’ve just got to figure out the antenna build. I don’t have any trees tall enough to use as a mast. I might be able to run a wire along the top of my 6ft wooden fence to make a big horizontal loop. I also saw something that uses your rain gutters, but that seems like a total gimmick.

>>2688686
>both have internal antenna tuners
The 7300's tuner (and likely the 991) sucks. I'll only match an already practically harmonic antenna.
You could try something in the attic for the time being. Fence, flag pole, ... anything would work depending on surroundings. Gutters would work - use it as support and run an insulated dipole along the side. Doesn't have to be fancy or complicated.

>>2688570
First of all, you’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that you generally need a separate antenna for each frequency you want to receive/transmit on. The length is going to be ¼ or ½ the wavelength λ.

>>2688737
I have a vertical that handles 6, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 80 perfectly fine.

>just divide all this shit by 300 because speed of light
no I will turn the dial until I hear things

>>2688841
Just because you hear doesn't make it good for transmitting. I can hear SW stations on the 40m band on a CB whip antenna. If I use the same whip to transmit on 40m, the SWR is insanely high (my SWR meter only goes up to 9.99 SWR) and even on FT8, no one hears my signal.

>>2688576
>>2688737
Anything else I need to come to terms with?
I’m really just looking for a reasonable starting point that I won’t outgrow too fast.

>>2688871
>Anything else I need to come to terms with?
Retired boomers will never stop telling you what combination of $x,xxx gear you need to be a real ham. Never stoop to their level.

>>2688877
>just buy a $30 tv dongle and a baomeme like me

>>2688898
>>just buy a $30 tv dongle and a baomeme like me
How else do you think people become techs in 2023?

Old men waving around quad figure rigs jizzing theselves senseless about spurious emissions are killing the hobby. The good news is we'll see lots of cheap rigs on eBay soon.

>>2688898
>waste multi-thousands of dollars to do what I do when cheaper alternatives work just well for less!

>>2688871
No, but it's a hobby that can nickel and dime you to death, especially when first starting out.

>>2688918
>Old men waving around quad figure rigs jizzing theselves senseless about spurious emissions are killing the hobby.
I think this general does more for recruitment than ARRL.
>The good news is we'll see lots of cheap rigs on eBay soon.
Sure? Even old rigs go for ridicilous prices. Meanwhile truSDX is cheap and more SDR is in the near future.

>>2689068

>>2667213
Clearly a schlitz beer advertisement thread

Really need like at least $1000 to get into HF.
$500 transceiver
$150 power supply
$50+ coax
$100+ antenna like G5RV
I'm quite fond of running two tuners, autotuner one at the base of the antenna, or going with ridiculously thick coax to the antenna to minimize SWR loss.
Personally I find more satisfaction in tuning my station than talking to people so FT8 is my go-to.
Built a 0-1ghz wideband 'signal strength' chip that had like a 90db range. Slapped a screen on it and used the example circuit to make a 1kw to sub microwatt meter. Kinda cool seeing air static or whatever getting picked up on the meter.

>>2689248
I got a stolent ru20 and 40m of wire and it works just fine

Anyone here from Toronto?

Do you know if Toronto police is using encypted communication or would I be able to listen in with a SDR?

If I wanted to listen to police chatter on the move, what would you reccomend?

>>2689259
https://www.radioreference.com/db/sid/7995
>System Notes
>POLICE SERVICE IS ENCRYPTED

>>2689259
>Anyone here from Toronto?
I am, unfortunately.

>>2689261
Malfeasors cannot stand having light shed upon their deeds.
Officially they said it’s because the “organized crime unit” needs milspec crypto, although it went everywhere.
Of course, they could have just used cell phones for any sensitive communications. But then there’s the problem of needing to avoid federal scrutiny.

>>2689317
>But then there’s the problem of needing to avoid federal scrutiny
Couldn't the feds just record all the encryptped comms via SDR anyhow, and decrypt them when they get a warrant for the key?

>>2689439
The decrypted audio is already recorded, so they would just get a warrant for that.
Oh… wait, you “lost” it again? Oh well.

>>2689223
btw Schlitz is German for slit

>>2689482
Yea a proper system deletes previous traffic keys at each new key exchange.

can someone remind me, what are the callsigns of the based schizo boomers down South who say nigger on the ether?

>>2689958
k9rsy?
You can find youtube clips or comments on qrz of the guys who he shoots the shit with. I haven't heard them in a bit.

studying for my license and just ordered an FT-818ND, japanese model so the tx is restricted on some repeater frequencies but I'm not really interested in doing any of that
got it sub $600 after shipping, how bad did I fuck up, anons?

>>2690392
I hate weebs

>>2690392
it's ok, a good receiver, better than the chink QRP rigs. You can get an amplifier to go to 20-30 W in HF easily

Can anyone identify this connector type? Icom IC-41S handheld.

>>2690470
Icom AD98 you can find adapters to BNC and replacement antennas but that's it
https://www.icomjapan.com/lineup/options/AD-98FSC/

>>2690474
Actually looking to remove the nut from around the socket to disassemble the radio for a deep clean, the thing is filthy, but yeah, no tool available it seems. lol proprietary bullshit. Cheers anon.

>>2690475
Like almost all sockets for handleds, the socket is fixed in place with a ring with two grooves, you need a plier or something that can unscrew it.
I wouldn't recommend to totally disassemble the device, it will never be waterproof again (if it was before)

>>2690476
Am aware. It's 10.5mm diameter socket according to my measurometers, I can find something close and roll the dice but yeah, was looking for the socket name so I could hopefully buy the correct tool. I got it apart enough to realise that the socket was holding me up, the way it's constructed it appears the seals will not be damaged by removing the chassis from the shell, but they were free and I'm not intending to use them in wet environs, not massively worried.

>>2690480
maybe with a little pin punch you can get it to start turning and then unscrew it effortlessly. I'll do that on a baofeng, but it is your device

>>2690481
Yep, tried that on one of the dead ones, there's a fine line between hack job and butchering it and it has been crossed with prejudice. They may have used some sort of loctite on there to guarantee pooled moisture would not get in there but shit's not moving yo. Cheers for your input

>>2690398
it was the jap model or pay $800+ since they got discontinued in January. this was a compromise, not something I expressly wanted because Radio, JDM

>>2690411
ok, good to know I made the right call. the xiegus didn't seem great even though they were more affordable.

>>2690490
look for FT-818ND MARS mod, there is a line of pads you have to solder to change the area and open TX on all frequencies, something like that

>>2690495
seller said the tx restrictions were built into the firmware, I'll check that out though

>>2690496
I'll take a photo of the jumper configuration on mine (european version) so you can compare

>>2690496
People fiddle with this to open the FT-817 and 818 to some bands or all, a french guy says to solder the 9 connections, some american ones the 4th on the left to have MARS CAP bands, etc.
Here is mine, europe normal stuff

>>2690502
>>2690516
awesome, thank you. won't have the radio in-hand until next week but I'll check it out.

I really hate communicating with hams. I just think the technology is neat.

I had a QSL card that could complete my WAZ award.
Took it to a card checker who sent it to the ARRL.
The DXCC credit has been awarded, but the QSO information was not entered, thus the credit isn't being applied to the WAZ award.
Anyone know how to fix that shy of crying to the ARRL who don't care about one contact?

>>2690496
>>2690502
>>2690516
Yuro FT817ND, requires mod to work 60m, here's my jumper configuration.
It's easy to do, just use a good fine solder iron.

>>2690563
I enjoy recording them and using their voices to start arguments. I bought a $150 soundcard interface just for that. I pissed off a new guy using the recorded insults of an old man who died years ago.

>>2690601
Would you mind sharing your setup? I've been contemplating capturing days of audio and transcribing it.
AI transcribing I do professionally. I'm a ham. I haven't paired the two together yet.

>>2690682
Just a Signalink interface, a computer and a radio. You can use audacity to record the audio. Signalinks are expensive but they're definitely worth it. I've made a few interfaces myself but there's always noise.

>>2690563
Same. I'm mainly just in the hobby for the technical aspects of it.

>>2690496
>firmware
Has anyone reverse engineered the firmware yet? I searched and couldn't find the info, but web searches are no longer reliable.

>>2690900
There is no need to, most transceiver can be "opened" in Tx with jumpers like >>2690576 >>2690516
or by going in "hidden" menus but the limitation will be the final filters after the amplifier, you can't emit on some frequency they are designed to cut down. usually people want the 11m band in addition of the HAM bands and that's it

CHANGE QSY >>2690921
TUNE CHANNEL >>2690921
SWITCH FREQUENCY >>2690921
NEW >>2690921