I recently got my license (General class) and figured I'd start with a "marginally better than a Baofeng" radio, the ~$30 TYT TH-UV88.

The few attempts I've had trying to trasmit have resulted in people reporting "you got the repeater to register, but no sound" or missing significant parts of the message. I suspect the headset/mic setup that came in the box was dodgy at best (the earpiece was cracked in two, and I was never 1000% sure if the little module with a button on it was a mic or just the PTT button that would activate the on-unit mic) so I'm using the onboard speaker/mic. But I'm sure there's an art to "how do I hold the mic, how loud, and how far do I speak from it for optimal legibility".

What's the best way to develop an understanding of these techniques? I feel like it's rude to be just constantly begging for sound-quality reports. I thought about turning on my recieve-only RTL-SDR to record the local repeater, then try different styles to play back, but I figure I d

Hi

I guess it fits there: I was a bit frustrated by my FT-450D because of its lack of waterfall display when I was a listener. When beginning the hobby I was on 11 meters, and listening on 10 to 12m, didn't want to spend more than that, but I already knew that hacking your hardware was part of the fun...

Now it's fixed, more like hacked ;)https://toobnix.org/w/qkkH3wsSNC4cGT4Sccsaj4

Using an RTL-SDR that was sitting on the shelve, and a 60€ IF card adapter, it's a whole new thing!

Maybe this will encourage you to upgrade this nice and affordable transmitter, use it more and pass your exam ;-)

Kind regards F4IPZ

(edit: this content was moved outside of Google/YT/Reddit, now on SDF community systems <3 )

What cool stuff is going on with IP over ham radio? I want to build simple services accessible to other hams in my area, and would love to learn about what's out there.

• New Packet Radio: This looks pretty cool, although until the FCC makes a decision on updated VHF/UHF bandwidth and symbol rate restrictions, I'll hold off on buying any dedicated hardware
• Broadband HamNet: I'm not sure if there's any existing network in my area. Since it's 802.11 with yagis and amplifiers, I feel like you'd need a good density of local users for anything cool to develop.
• AX.25 with TCP/IP: I might play around with this. It doesn't require equipment except a UHF/VHF radio, antenna, and a computer, so it might be easier to convince others to try it too. Obviously you're very limited in bitrate, but it would be fun to set up a gohper hole or a BBS.

Are there other technologies or projects worth looking into? Even though I'm not personally interested in buying new equipment for it, I'd still

Opensource Linux contest logger not1mm has added ARRL VHF contests.

source at: https://github.com/mbridak/not1mm

Installable with pip or pipx

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/9321551

I'm really intrigued by digital modes. Stuff like JS8Call seems really cool, and I want to get into it.

I don't have any HF equipment. SSB isn't very interesting to me, so I was thinking of getting a digital-only transceiver and saving some money. I think it would be cool to take a small QRP box with a laptop or raspi, and do digital mode Pota with it.

I've seen the QDX which looks exactly like what I want and seems to get good reviews. Any others that I should be aware of?

I'm just getting into ham (my technician exam is tomorrow night), and I'm looking for ideas on starter kit.

For now, my interest is in making contact with a friend who lives ~10 miles away, as well as other amateurs in the county (there's a repeater ~2 miles away). This friend needs to reapply for his license, but he has a mobile 2m/70cm transceiver from his old call sign. Eventually, we'd like to get into digital communication between our houses.

Even further down the line, I think long distance HF sounds cool, but that looks like a money pit I'm not quite ready to dig just yet.

I don't want to set up any crazy antennas just yet, as partner and I are house hunting. This also means we could end up more like 15 miles from my friend, depending on what we find.

I was wondering if anyone here could suggest beginner's equipment for my goals. I'm ok to spend a bit more on systems that are still useful if my interest in ham expands beyond these initial requirements.

Hey ham heads - Was/is anyone using SMSGTE with APRS? It appears the service is currently down due to regulatory issues. If so, is anyone aware of an APRS to phone SMS gateway alternative?

tnx es 73 de w4luc

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/790265

I'm glass I wasn't on the air.

Would the perfect title for the blog post I hope exists somewhere. I, like a few other posters, just grabbed one of these things. I also took the step of reading through a good chunk of Ham Radio For Dummies just to get a handle on the basics.

• What can I (legally) do with this thing without a license?
• Any pointers for learning the basics on this particular machine?
• I should read the manual cover to cover, right?
• Looks like it's easier to program from a computer, any tips on that?

Hey Everyone,

I got my license (General) a few years back and have played around with short wave a bit but wanted to start to get more into the FT8 side of things. Does anyone have a low cost introduction to FT8 or even some good resources to start to learn more about it?

It's nice, looking at a computer screen outside for a change :-)

Hi -

I'm W4LUC and hello to all hams!

--73

I have a Yaesu FT-70D, and I have had it for almost exactly one year now. My review is this: it's OK. It's not great, but it was also pretty affordable, as far as VHF/UHF HTs that aren't just junk go. (It normally runs about $175, but seems to go on sale pretty frequently for quite a bit less.)

First off, a disclaimer: I really only use VHF/UHF when I travel and for events. I'm not a big FM rag chewer. An HT is a tool for me, not something particularly exciting. I have a mobile radio mounted in my vehicle, and I have at times (I do not currently) had a mobile set up as a base station in my home for either voice or digital traffic, or both.

As far as positive features, the FT-70DR is a very comfortable size, has a very serviceable loudspeaker, and the transmitted audio quality is reportedly good. It does have Yaesu System Fusion (although I've been able to exercise this very little due to lack of convenient local support). While there are many online complaints about battery l

One of the local radio clubs (of which I am a member) is hosting a hamfest tomorrow morning from 8 AM until we get tired (vendors welcome at 7 AM). Entrance is $8 for all attendees (vendor or browsing), vendors should bring their own tables. It will be at the Cambria-Wilson Volunteer Fire Hall on Cambria Wilson Rd. in Cambria, NY.

Map: https://openstreetmap.org/search?query=4631+Cambria+Wilson+Rd%2C+14094

This is our second annual summer hamfest (we used to hold them in the winter), and last year's was very well attended. It looks like tomorrow's weather should be great, so I'm hoping for a good turnout again. We're close to Buffalo, Toronto, and Rochester.

I'll be wearing a navy LARA polo shirt with my call sign (KB8OJH) and (probably) a leather wide-brimmed hat. If you should drop by and see me, say hi!

What are you doing for Field Day this year? Anything fun/interesting/unusual?

Mondays at 0000 UTC on Echolink node 9229 (TECHLINK)

They're cheap, poor-fidelity, horrible propagation radios with handfuls of bugs (the one I bought years ago has a lot of trouble with frequency bleed).

But they're also now less than $20 USD on Amazon.

This seems like a good community to have here since we have a large amount of interest in ham radio among SDF members. Let's discuss radio!

73,

~ anthonyg (N6SH)