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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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5th Jul 2014, 9:41 pm | #21 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 686
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Re the Clansman 320, if you are not aware, they are USB only. There is a relatively simple mod to give them USB and boards are available from time to time for around £27. The mod is well documented on the net. I'm just about to mod mine and I can tell you that you will need steady hands and a fine soldering iron bit. Good eyes helps as well!
There was earlier mention of the frequency decade switches making them less than ideal for scanning the bands; what makes this worse is that they do not go all way round, i.e. you cannot go direct from 0 to 9. As to them being lightweight, well that all depends on your definition of light! Don't let me put you off, they are a very good set. Gordon G7KNS - 320 user. |
6th Jul 2014, 11:47 am | #22 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 39
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Re: Amateur Licence.
My rule of thumb is don't buy anything with SMD's in it unless you just want to be an operator
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8th Jul 2014, 9:05 am | #23 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Amateur Licence.
The "USB only by default" issue on the likes of the PRC320 is less of an issue than you'd expect these days. The "LSB below 10MHz" tradition of amateur operation is rapidly becoming a thing of the past [it dates from the first days of 9MHz xtal filters then mixing the SSB with a 5 to 5.5MHz VFO could cover both 3.5-4MHz and 14-14.5MHz albeit with sideband inversion and sometimes non-instinctive tuning.
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8th Jul 2014, 1:21 pm | #24 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: North Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 638
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Yes, the 10 MHz convention is a thing of the past. My data software uses USB for everything by default for those modes where the tones are generated by the sound card, even RTTY if generated by AFSK rather than FSK. Historically that was always LSB. Old fashioned point to point services used to recognise the convention but I think that these don't exist any more. USB for more or less everything now, except amateurs of course.
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8th Jul 2014, 5:50 pm | #25 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire,UK.
Posts: 1,172
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Re: Amateur Licence.
But the fact remains that LSB voice is universal on 40m, 80m and 160m. If you want to work anybody on those bands you will have to use LSB. Datamodes it is of course irrelevant.
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24th Jul 2016, 12:07 pm | #26 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Peterborough, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 17
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Hello, I've had the same transceiver for over 30 Years, I got it from my Grandfather and used it as a SWL, once licensed it's used daily ever since it's a Kenwood TS 820, only mod I've done is Frequency display, it may go to a 3third generation , my youngest daughter 15years old and interested electronics & Amateur Radio, my fault I'm pleased to say.
Paul M0BSW |
24th Jul 2016, 3:06 pm | #27 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.
Posts: 68
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Congratulations on your return to amateur radio! I hope all goes well for you. I've no doubt that my question to you is not going to please some on here but it's honestly well intended so I will risk it. Are you really ready for the hassle that this hobby is likely to provide? Your initial efforts are almost certain to generate some interference for someone nearby so you will need understanding and friendly neighbors. Even if your transmissions are 100% clean, as soon as your complex aerial is erected the neighbors will suspect it's down to you every time their tv or hifi makes a crackle or chirp and you may receive visits. I'm not really trying to put you off. A bit of care can prevent a lot of interference and for understanding neighbors a trip to their house with a handful of filters when there is an issue can be seen as a friendly act. Others on here may care to comment on this side of your new venture. Genuinely, best of luck, its a great hobby. pete
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25th Jul 2016, 10:11 am | #28 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 3,601
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Re: Amateur Licence.
I think my first rig was as good as any I have had since, it was a Yaesu FT101ZB, excellent audio quality and you can repair them yourself, the only down side was frequency drift with temperature.
I live out in the wilds about 1/4 mile from my nearest neighbour but its even getting noisy hear, I had virtually no noise in the '80s but you need to have station of reasonable strength to be able to resolve it satisfactorily. A lot of noise is generated in the home so it pays to go round turning off anything with a SMP supply. I have plenty of room so can get a decent sized antenna up, I used to have a tribander and a selection of wire dipoles but now only have a 200' wire dipole fed with twin feeder which will tune up on all bands. The HF bands don't seem in very good shape at the moment but their are still quite a few stations about. Peter G0HET |
25th Jul 2016, 9:32 pm | #29 |
Triode
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Les Salles Lavauguyon, France
Posts: 43
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Andy,
I'm sure you can find something to satisfy the desire for some older amateur gear, however, I see your location is given as Perigord-Noir, some 60 radio kms south of me. I wonder if you are aware that you may only use F/home call for 3 months maximum, and if permanently resident you are obliged to apply for a French reciprocal callsign. R. |
26th Jul 2016, 9:58 am | #30 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,748
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Re: Amateur Licence.
I note that the OP hasn't been seen since the start of this thread.
For what it's worth, I started out using a 19-set for my first CW QSO on 80m. I immediately realised my mistake, the receiver has barn-door sensitivity and the transmitter gives only QRP levels of output. With the case on, you can't even see the valves glowing any colour, and I didn't think the HT2 was high enough to elicit a blue glow from an 807 anyway, but I am open to correction. Keep the WS19 for vintage AM nets by all means, but for simple and cheap, reliable HF operation I'd suggest a Yaesu FT857, Icom IC-706 or similar.
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Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts |
26th Jul 2016, 10:34 am | #31 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,795
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Hi peeps... Just seen this posting....I can fully agree with AL "Skywave" and that is just what I am doing....making a 40M SSB exciter, with the possibility of more bands later, as the second mixer will allow that. The RX is my trusty Eddy 888, but that may be superceeded. Like other "lazy" G8's I had other things to do than learn morse...and it was nice to know the rules were relaxed and now my G8 is "all bands". My Linear will be about 15W to start with...and go from there .. IF.. the reports of signal quality are ok.
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Should get out more. Regards Wendy G8BZY |
26th Jul 2016, 12:20 pm | #32 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 5,000
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Re: Amateur Licence.
This is yet another old thread that has been brought back to life - there's been several just lately, but it's all interesting stuff, so nothing wrong with that (I may be resurrecting one of my own soon). However, it's always worth checking the 'start' date of these type of threads.
According to his 'statistics', the starter of this thread was on here only yesterday, so he's likely to be still reading it! |
26th Jul 2016, 1:19 pm | #33 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
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Re: Amateur Licence.
At various times of the day (and night), including week-ends, I occasionally search the 80m. and the 40m. bands for Amateur Radio signals. And often I am surprised - and disappointed - just how little appears to be there. The 20m., 15m. and 10m. bands just the same. Same applies to S.W. broadcast bands. Does all of that reflect the continuous and slow decline of H.F. radio comms., professional and Amateur? Or is my receiving aerial inadequate / defective? (Not my receiver, since I have several in regular use: same results on all of them).
Al. |
26th Jul 2016, 5:56 pm | #34 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 998
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Al, the hf bands are in terrible condition vis a vis propagation at the moment. Very often you will nothing at all, absolutely nothing. We are there, but not getting out. Amateur radio is far from dead and Morse code far from dead and buried.
David. |
26th Jul 2016, 7:10 pm | #35 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Thank you, David, for your post: so there is room for hope!
When you say that "propagation is in a terrible state at the moment", in your estimation, for how long has that state of affairs prevailed? It seems like months since I heard anything more that one or two medium to weak sigs. on 80m. and of the other bands, much the same, although 40m. seems to have fared a little better. Al. |
26th Jul 2016, 7:30 pm | #36 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Amateur Licence.
You can get a reasonable idea as to what's what on the amateur bands on Hack Green's live Web SDR site here:
http://hackgreensdr.org:8901/ Lawrence. |
27th Jul 2016, 9:39 am | #37 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: West London, UK.
Posts: 867
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Re: Amateur Licence.
I was also going to say that HF conditions are not good at present.
However I normally find some activity on 40 or 20 metres. You may find plenty of stations this weekend 30-31st for the IOTA (Islands On The Air) contest. To the first post well done on getting your licence. I notice you have France as your QTH, will you also apply for a French call sign?. Maybe you live in a rural area if so you are fortunate. I use a half size G5RV in my small London garden, plus a long wire for top band. A 2 band co-linear for 2m and 70cm. If you have a large garden you can try lots of different antennas, make them yourself and it is not expensive. QRM is a problem noways and if affected you may want to get a noise cancelling speaker. It is a great privilege to be able to operate on the different bands with different modes, so I hope you enjoy the hobby. Try and find then join a local radio club. Morse code is still alive and can be fun. 73's John G7OXK |
27th Jul 2016, 11:39 am | #38 | ||
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Quote:
Al. Quote:
Thanks, Al. |
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27th Jul 2016, 11:50 am | #39 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,748
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Quote:
Al, try here: https://www.bhi-ltd.com/noise-cancel...ling-speakers/
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Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts Last edited by Phil G4SPZ; 27th Jul 2016 at 11:53 am. Reason: Hyperlink added |
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27th Jul 2016, 11:53 am | #40 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Amateur Licence.
Quote:
EDIT: Woops...post crossed. Lawrence. |
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