First Contact

Last night as usual I switched on my TTI-TCH-H100 hand held, not expecting to hear much as it has been a month of listening to static, a couple of very faint voices and nothing else. If I make a 19 call out, again, silence or dependant on setting static.

However, last night, clear as day two Scottish voices came through, one loud and clear the other not so much. I have never been so happy to here someone say ‘I’m just gonna make a wee cup o tea’ is a broad Glaswegian accent. They then got a reply from a chap in my neck of the woods in South East England call sign 26GE07 (I think, the Scotsman was clearer). Anyway, as no one could pick me up I left them to it and pit the kids to bed.

As I woke up this morning I started the search for a base station set up.

Exciting times ahead.

73’s

Ian

Hi Ian,

Sounds like you have cought the bug! I know how you feel.

Good luck on setting up a base station.

Do you have a base set up in mind? May I suggest a rig with SSB? this will give you a lot more channels and open up more opportunity to make more contacts.


Kind regards

As OZZY says go for ssb set.
Also with a base antenna you will hear 100% more and even be able to talk to them.
You will get one hell of a buzz when someone comes back to you and you have made your first full contact.

Edit
You could always ask on here for equipment somebody got a nice ssb set not long ago from a member at a reasonable price.
Loads of info on radios and antennas on here where people have asked for advice have a look round.

Hi Ian,


Really great to hear of your excitement with some radio activity on your handheld radio.  

That 'buzz' can last you a lifetime and many of us still awe at radio contact even years later.
(I still get excited at others excitement!)

I wish you all the very best with your endeavours to setting up a homebase station.


73's,
Victor

Hello Ian,

Well done on the contact. I hope it is the first of many for you.

73s John.

Evening all

Thank you for the replies and encouragement . Just a quick question off the back of the base station question, does anyone have any recommendations for a radio that can do both CB & HAM, I have just started the licence course with Essex Ham and I would like to be able to do both.

Thanks again

73’s

Ian

Plenty about on the bay wide-banded is what you need.
The Yaesu 450d is a good starter and not too big if you want a drive out with it.
Well the one i had looked good on the dash of my BMW X5 not that Linda thought the same lol.

Cheers for the advice Alan, I’ll see what I can find and report back.

73s

Ian

Hello Ian,

Just to echo Alan's recommendation. I also use a wide-banded ft450d for static-mobile work on 11m. From the ham side it covers all the hf frequencies, plus 6m too. A great radio to use for both home base and mobile.

73s John.