My Recent Radio Journey

This may encourage others to bite the bullet and make radio more enjoyable than CB/PMR446 alone. I'm not so great at typing my thoughts as some on here but here goes.

18 months ago I came back to CB after a 20 plus year break and purchased a CRT SS6900 which although a great radio for the money was not good for me due to the QRM at my QTH. I discovered a forgotten President Madison which had been in the loft for at least 15 years but alas it had hum problems.
So I purchased a used Yaesu 450at as members on CTDX have stated the export type radios are prone to noise whereas Amateur HF radios have much better filtering, and voila S1-2 QRM maximum I was/am well happy.

Now the next part of my radio journey, apart from the Southern Area and South Coast SSB Net my enjoyment on 11M is lacking of what I would like which is partly due to the many *%^$£*+ breakers in my county with a number openly boasting up to 1000W burners and knocking out my RX/TX (yes, I know there are some gooduns) along with many hours each day of garbage and swearing etc. on Ch19 UK and on CEPT frequencies DXing is difficult due to the high power/bleedover from the kW stations.

In a previous thread 

Victor wrote:

I know what you mean with ass-hole 'breakers' on CB Tony after experiencing it myself when I first came back to it all.

Got to thank them really in the end.....it's part of what pushed me into getting a Ham licence and I've never had so
much radio fun! Very noisy on SSB

A seed had been sown which germinated after a few months and I decided to study for the Foundation Course with Essex Ham. I did originaly plan to sit the RAE nearly a quarter of a century ago but life got in the way.

The last part of this story:
10th Aug - I registered for the course which was due to start on 4th Sept, but by the 23rd couldn't wait another couple of months to finish the course and take the exam so booked with RSGB to take it online on 5th Sept. My thinking was I know Ohms Law as my background was in electronics although not radio related and my old brain still works to a small degree so why go through the torture of studying for hours when I know the basics.

If anyone is still reading my rambling, the end is near.
I passed on the 5th Sept., disappointingly only just. Certificate arrived on Sat 10th Sept and registerd my callsign with Ofcom Sun 11th.

I am now a HAM! I guess the hard work starts now, HF/VHF antennas etc.

A special thanks to Victor for the number of times he has prompted new/long time members to get the ticket, which has pushed me to acheiving something I thought I would never do. Also to other members who have posted their experiences of getting licenced and the fun they now have.

Cheers and 73
Tony
26CT4013 and M7DVQ

Well done sir. And congratulations on passing and becoming a licenced radio amateur

Many congratulations to you there Tony!!  


Very well done with your Foundation pass, I'm extremely thrilled for you as I'm sure you are yourself.

If any of us at Charlie Tango were any influence whatsoever then the community spirit surrounding the radio interest here is playing it's part immensely.

I have always been often overjoyed at reading about others adventures in the radio hobby and none more so than when someone announces that they've obtained their Amateur Radio licence.


It's all go from here Tony - you'll now be able to enjoy those extra bands and frequencies on your more than capable FT450 and it won't be long before you're stringing up bits of wire and antennas to access them.

Again, many congratulations and I look forward to the possible opportunity of being able to work you on the bands. (I see you're already on QRZ! )


Awesome stuff, awesome news and I hope you have an awesome time with it all!


All the very best to you,
Victor

Fantastic news Tony.
I did the RAE in 92 or 3 but divorce got in the way and she burned i think my paperwork along the rest of my belongings and i hadn't got my call.
Fast forward to 2 years ago and try as i may i couldn't get a call had all the info but not the paper so no way.
Gave up then.
Then i am on here and along comes our Victor and a few kicks up the bum from him and i took the test big big thanks M7VIC from MW7TTA.
So Tony this forum has helped many and we are all grateful to each other ???.
Enjoy radio now Tony and again well done.

Awesome Tony, well done!

Nice one Tony and many congrats 


Sounds like a very familiar journey lol 



Craig

Congratulations Tony, well done!!!

I hope to work you on the bands!!

73's Gary.

Congratulations Tony, I've enrolled for a foundation course run by Essex Ham.
Fingers crossed it won't be too long before I can take the test (and hopefully pass) and gain my Amateur Radio Licence.

All the best
Derek

Hi Tony 

Congratulations Tony . Look forward to hearing your contacts further a field on the other bands.

Well Done .

Regards John 

26CT4515

Thank you guys, and a special thanks to the team who run this great website.  

Victor wrote:

it won't be long before you're stringing up bits of wire and antennas to access them. (I see you're already on QRZ! Smile )

Yep that will be the hardest part for me as the old body doesn't work as well as it should. As for QRZ I thought I would get some of the basics done this week, then next week get onto "bits of wire".

Alan Pilot wrote:

divorce got in the way

That was my reason for not going for it at the time as well! Ex partners, you've gotta love 'em.....NO

DerekF wrote:

I've enrolled for a foundation course run by Essex Ham.
Fingers crossed it won't be too long before I can take the test (and hopefully pass) and gain my Amateur Radio Licence.

Best of luck Derek I hope it goes well for you, I will watch out for your report maybe Dec/Jan time.

GaryWilson wrote:

I hope to work you on the bands!!

As you mentioned elsewhere the 40M Sunday net, I will hopefully set up a long wire for that.

Thanks again to all, I really appreciate the messages.

73 Tony

Razz229 wrote:

Well done Tony and congratulations on your pass.


What's it like having a M callsign and will the good lady like more antennas in the garden or on the roof?

Thanks Ray, did you have to put it in bold red lettering.

Which "good lady" are you refering to? If you mean 'er indoors she glares at me whenever she hears that word.  
I wound her up today by saying that I am going to make a 2M/70cm antenna and test it this week.
What I didn't explain was it will only be made out of two wire coat hangers and go in the loft.

2M/70CM aerial was the first one i made.
Got 2 welding rods the type used for gas welding and a bit of roof batten.
Cut them allowing for a bend at the bottom and bolted them to the wood.
Second nut to hold the terminals on and it worked a treat lol.
Think it is still about somewhere behind the old shack.
The fun has started Tony enjoy.

Alan Pilot wrote:

2M/70CM aerial was the first one i made.
Got 2 welding rods the type used for gas welding and a bit of roof batten.
Cut them allowing for a bend at the bottom and bolted them to the wood.
Second nut to hold the terminals on and it worked a treat lol.
Think it is still about somewhere behind the old shack.
The fun has started Tony enjoy.

The fun sure has started Alan, shortly to be followed by a battleground or another divorce!
The battle will begin when the parcels start arriving eg. SWR meter, decent cable, and of course a 2M/70cm radio, along with any other goodies I need/spot online. I will keep the space-u you sent just for pmr446, which will make life easier.

I hope my first attempt will be as successful as yours, will update in due course.

That Space-u worked well on 70cm.
That was where i tested it with a m8 some 28 to 30 miles away and it lit up all the led's on his radio.
Shame it didn't have 2m on it would fit in the ashtray in my car lol.

Alan Pilot wrote:

That Space-u worked well on 70cm.
That was where i tested it with a m8 some 28 to 30 miles away and it lit up all the led's on his radio.
Shame it didn't have 2m on it would fit in the ashtray in my car lol.

I don't doubt it Alan, I have listened around the 70cm band and it's receiving well but haven't keyed up yet as it's only on the 466 antenna.
Thats another reason I am going to get a dual band radio for ham use only, with the coathangers.

Tony, not sure what antenna you've got for PMR, but it should be fine for 70cm. A lot of people use 70cm antennas for PMR. I wouldn't get hung up on SWR, especially if just pushing out low power. It won't be perfect on both bands but it will be useable. I'd give it a go, you might be surprised at the results.

Neal
I know what Tony is going to say lol.
We don't know what the aerial is.
It is a short thing and 466 written on it with a black marker pen.
I tested the radio out on my dual bander on 70cm.
But like you say i would give it a go but that's me lol.

SangueG wrote:

Tony, not sure what antenna you've got for PMR, but it should be fine for 70cm. A lot of people use 70cm antennas for PMR. I wouldn't get hung up on SWR, especially if just pushing out low power. It won't be perfect on both bands but it will be useable. I'd give it a go, you might be surprised at the results.

Neal I would be more surprised if the radio started smoking at such a young age.
I was caught many years ago with a CB radio and not checking swr, once bitten.................

As Alan said,

Alan Pilot wrote:

We don't know what the aerial is.
It is a short thing and 466 written on it with a black marker pen.

I have now ordered a VHF/UHF swr/power meter, to check the unknown antenna and my coathangers.

Well done Tony and welcome to Amateur Radio.

May be we catch each other I'm not far from Brighton.

Tony a word of warning.
Don't add up what you spend on radio from now on.
2 Reasons why.
1 You might cry.
2 You might talk in your sleep and the wife might find out and that could be scary lol.
My station commander Linda gave up asking and just shouts me in "parcel".
All good fun so say nothing.

Ivy Mike wrote:

Well done Tony and welcome to Amateur Radio.

May be we catch each other I'm not far from Brighton.

Many thanks Mike, would be good to catch you at some point. Might take a while I have spent about 6 hours so far just trying to understsnd the Space-U user manual.
Next step is an HF antenna for the better stuff.  

I spotted where you live, just a stones throw from Michael at Option Energy!
ps. Love your antenna farm and shack.


Alan, thanks for the warning but she has already noticed the transactions on our joint account and I've only just started.

No worries Tony, fully understand your reasoning for not wanting to just give it a go without doing checks. I'd be upset to lose a radio's finals too. That said, I have never burnt one out ever even by doing crazy things as an inexperienced young person like trying to run a rig off a model train power pack with a bit a of wire stuck in the antenna port held in with bluetak. I guess I have just been lucky.

Do let know what SWR meter you've bought and how you get on with it. I should really look at getting one at some point for UHF. I've repurposed an old CB one which gives general ballpark indications for VHF, but totally not usable for UHF. For 70cm I am just measuring and stick bits of wire up and it just works

SangueG wrote:

Do let know what SWR meter you've bought and how you get on with it. I should really look at getting one at some point for UHF. I've repurposed an old CB one which gives general ballpark indications for VHF, but totally not usable for UHF. For 70cm I am just measuring and stick bits of wire up and it just works

It arrived this afternoon and is This one, it's not compatible with digital but I havent got that anyway.
No VHF radio yet but it seems good on UHF, checked on 430 & 440MHz - 1.3 max and on 446 Ch1 is 1.2 and Ch16 is 1,0 on the unknown 446 antenna.
Assuming it's somewhere near accurate, I'm a happy bunny so far!

Coathangers not operational yet.

Is that 430-440 on your home made of the unknown antenna.