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Buying Your First Amateur Radio Handheld Transceiver (Video)
With many solid options available, choosing your first amateur radio handheld transceiver (HT) can be a challenge. DX Engineeringβs Michael Murphy, KI8R, breaks down the questions you need to consider when searching for the handheld thatβs right for you, from how much youβre willing to spend to how many bands you require. He also discusses HT accessories, radio programming software, and the importance of researching what others say about HTs on the market.
Watch the video and then click on the links below to begin your search for the perfect handheld transceiver atΒ DXEngineering.com.
- Handheld Transceivers from Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and Alinco
- Handheld Transceiver Accessories (battery packs, microphones, chargers, adapters and cables, and more)
- RTS Systems Radio Programming Software
- βGetting Startedβ Handheld Transceiver Packages, including HT, Handheld Microphone, Upgraded Antenna, Programming Software, and More
The post Buying Your First Amateur Radio Handheld Transceiver (Video) appeared first on OnAllBands.
via Hackaday: Backlight Switch for a Better Multimeter
A tale of two Tawas parks
On the spur of the moment, my wife, Silvia, and I decided to head up to East Tawas, MI on Lake Huron for an overnight excursion. Β It was a nice change of pace, and it helped us beat the heat a little.
One of the things I most enjoy about East Tawas is being able to operate at Tawas Point State Park (US-1545). Itβs a two-fer in that operating from there is not only a POTA activation, but also a lighthouse activation, as the park is home to the Ottawa Point/Tawas Point Light (ARLHS USA-837). And, as a little bit of a bonus, last weekend was National Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
Itβs about a two and a half hour drive from Ann Arbor to the park, but it took us at least 30 minutes extra, due to construction near Flint. We got there about 1:30 pm, and enjoyed the lunch we had brought while we looked out over Lake Huron.
I then found a nice shady spot to set up the rig. Last time I was here two years ago, I set up in the sun, and my KX-3 got so hot, I thought Iβd damaged it. This time, in the shade, the radio stayed nice and cool.
I was on the air for a little over two hours and made about 30 contacts. Most of my contacts were on 20-meter CW, but at the end, I ventured into the phone portion of the band and was able to make four park-to-park contacts. I figuredβcorrectly, I thinkβthat Iβd have better success hunting than calling CQ on phone. One tactic that seemed to work very well is to add βpark to parkβ to my call. That got the activatorsβ attention even though my 15 W was certainly not the strongest signal on the band.
A noisy activation at Tawas State Harbor
We stayed at the Tawas Bay Beach Resort that night. Itβs a nice hotel, has its own little beach, and is close to downtown East Tawas. Itβs also right next to Tawas State Harbor (US-6812).
Since we had to check out of the hotel by 11:00 am, I decided to get up a little early and make some contacts in the morning. That way, my wife could stay in bed and not have to sit out in the park while I operated. I left the room a little after 7:30 am, hiked over to the park, and was set up just before 8:00 am.
When I turned on the radio, though, I was quite dismayed to hear all the noise. It was peaking at S5! When I conjured up the plan to activate this park, I hadnβt realized that it was right next to an RV campground. My guess is that all that noise was coming from the campers. I tried re-orienting my doublet antenna, but that didnβt help at all.
Not only that, band conditions seemed quite poor yesterday morning. There were only a few strong signals. Couple that with having to operate with the noise reducer on means that Iβm sure that I missed a few calls just because they were below the noise floor and I couldnβt hear them. If one of them was you, please accept my apologies.
I operated until about 8:30 am, when I decided to give up fighting the noise and band conditions. Overall, I managed to make 16 contacts in about 35 minutes, so actually not a bad rate.
I packed up and headed back to the room. When I got back, Silvia was ready for breakfast, and so was I. We had a nice breakfast at the hotel, then took a walk out to the end of the breakwater at Tawas State Harbor. It was a little bit warm out there in the sun, but quite enjoyable looking out over the lake. From the shore, you could just spot the lighthouse, which had to be at least a couple miles away.
After our walk, we packed up the car and headed home. There were no major traffic holdups on the way home, and we made it in two and a half hours.
Exploring the Kenwood TH-D75A: The Ultimate Portable Handheld Transceiver
Ham Radio With K0PIR
So you've seen all the hype about the New Kenwood TH-D75A. Here's my breakdown. After reading, do you think this is the ultimate portable transceiver? I researched the best videos on YouTube and made a playlist for your conveience. (See...
The post Exploring the Kenwood TH-D75A: The Ultimate Portable Handheld Transceiver appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.
New Icom ID-50A VHF/UHF D-Star Hand Held Transceiver
Ham Radio With K0PIR
Recently, I had the chance to view (videos) the new Icom ID-50A. From what I saw, it looks like a solid option for amateur radio operators seeking an efficient and effective handheld transceiver. With its impressive features and specs, this...
The post New Icom ID-50A VHF/UHF D-Star Hand Held Transceiver appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.