I am limited in what I can do, I have a 5w 2m & 440 handheld but there doesn't seem to be a lot of people listening in on the local repeaters. I also have been looking at echolink but haven't found anything there either. any suggestions?
I am limited in what I can do, I have a 5w 2m & 440 handheld but there doesn't seem to be a lot of people listening in on the local repeaters. I also have been looking at echolink but haven't found anything there either. any suggestions?
Welcome to the Island!
If there isn't anybody on your local repeaters, there isn't a lot anyone can do to help you.
As far as EchoLink, have you looked at the conferences to see if there is anything there that interests you?
Have you looked into joining a club in your area? If you go to: http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club and plug in your zip code, you will get a list of several in the area.
Other than that, its going to be tough with just a dual band HT.
Scott - NØIU
President - National Sarcasm Society
"Like we need your support!"
Barkeep.....the house special for the new guy.....of course on Da Pope's tab!
And a shot.... try 146.52 simplex. And up that way, you should be able to hit any repeater west of Snoqualmie with 5W. Should give you some more options.
Last edited by W7XF; 04-13-2014 at 01:40 PM.
Encrypt everything. Even if you have nothing to hide. It increases the noise floor.
Are you sure you're getting into the repeaters well? There are a lot of them in that area, but an HT might not be the whole answer. Let's look at some possibilities for you.
You say you've tried EchoLink. Have you tried any of the nets there? You can join the EchoLink_Nets group on Yahoo, and they have a calendar under 'Events' of all the EchoLink nets they know about. During the week, the 'Breakfast Club' meets on the *DODROPIN* reflector at 7 a.m. Eastern, and goes most of the morning - they usually have over 100 checkins. Here's a listing for the week for *DODROPIN* -
Net Schedule
Saturday 9:00 PM Eastern *DODROPIN* Saturday Night Net/Newsline ON Monday ~ Friday 7:00 AM till 1:00 PM Eastern BREAKFAST CLUB NET ON Sunday 8:00 PM Eastern OCARC Sunday Nite Net ON Monday 8:30 PM Eastern NFARL TECH NET ON Every Third Monday 9:30 PM Eastern AmateurLogic ON Tuesday 7:00 PM Eastern LADIES TEA TIME NET ON Wednesday 10:00 PM Eastern HAM NATION ON Thursday 8:00 PM Eastern OCARC ARES NET ON Friday OPEN OPEN OPEN
Here are some more on different nodes:
Net Echolink Node Times Days Web site NHC / Skywarn Voip WX-TALK 8pm ET 1st Sat of Month
(May to Nov - Every Sat)http://www.voipwx.net/ South Coast Amateur
Radio Service VoipSCARS 8am-10 am ET Saturday http://voip.southcars.com/ South Coast Amateur
Radio Service VoipSCARS 10am ET Sunday Ragchew http://voip.southcars.com/ Southeastern Linked Repeater Net KI4NGD-R #317195 9pm ET Wed http://selinkedrepeater.net/ The Breakfast Club DODROPIN
#3558007am ET Mon-Fri http://www.centralmiarc.com/nets.php State of Franklin Friendship Net KE4KQI-R
#4764839:30pm ET Thur https://www.facebook.com/stateoffranklinnet World Wide Friendship Net world
#KF0PB-R8pm ET Mon-Fri http://www.worldwidefriendship.net/W...ship%20Net.htm
The World Friendship Net is fun to listen to.
You live in the land of IRLP, also - it started in the Vancouver area. There are MANY IRLP nets and reflectors that are always busy.
You will need to get into an IRLP node repeater or simplex node in order to use IRLP. http://www.irlp.net/ See if you can find a node that you can access, and contact the owner for permission to use his IRLP link. Most of them are 'open'. Once on IRLP, you can access a number of things. I like the WIN System, the PAPA System, and the Western Reflector.
If you don't already have an outside antenna, putting one up would open new worlds to you. 5 watts into a ground plane on the roof will probably vastly outperform an HT on a rubber ducky antenna. I would expect you to be able to hit high level repeaters all up and down Puget Sound with a good antenna. The next step beyond that might be higher power and a beam antenna. The more you increase your range, the more repeaters and simplex stations you can reach.
Ultimately, though, most people tire of VHF/UHF FM fairly quickly. So, to keep yourself entertained in the long run, I'd start thinking about HF capability. The difference there is that HF is typically useful around the clock, and there is an unending supply of new people to talk to, unlike the VHF repeaters that turn into pumpkins after commute hours, and have the same handful of people on them all the time. As a Tech, you have 10 meter SSB capability, as well as digital and CW there. You also have CW on some of the lower bands. Honestly, you can 'work the world' with 200 watts of CW most of those bands, and when 10 is open it doesn't take much to do it.
Heres a simple cheap improvement on using your HT. Simple easy to build antenna for a few $
Just stick it on the pole like Randy shows and you will get a big improvement on your distance and coverage area.
Welcome to the Island!
Last edited by W5BRM; 04-13-2014 at 01:56 PM.
Thanks for the reply i have looked at some conferences but most seem to be out of my language or just no activity. There is only really one club locally and unfortunately my work schedule makes it so i can't attend the meetings. I do hope to one day get on the HF when I have the $$Originally Posted by n0iu
Welcome to the Island! First round for newcomers is always on the Vatican's tab. And don't cheat yourself with well drinks—go for the top shelf stuff. We never pay the tab anyhow.
I can't add much to RGR's excellent post except to say that you don't need even 200 watts to work the world. From here on the Left Coast I've worked countries as far away as New Zealand on SSB phone with only five watts on the 10m band, where you have full privileges.
Last edited by NQ6U; 04-13-2014 at 02:09 PM.
All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.
Ask the bartender for some Green Dragon.
Echolink is fun sometimes, so is IRLP. Try linking up to a repeater during "commute time" for the locals.
For instance London England is a lot of fun to talk to when they are stuck in traffic. ;)
My favorite upgrade antenna for an HT is at this link, The Twin Lead J-Pole
TwinLeadJpole.gif
Last edited by WØTKX; 04-13-2014 at 02:18 PM.
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman
Welcome to the Island!
Welcome to Hamdom!
I listened to 2m on a scanner for years before I had a "ticket." Once I got on the air, I realized that 2m wasn't my crowd. I went to 6m &10m then upgraded to General. Now I'm an elitist Extra and I haven't looked back.
Thanks for that sounds like a project for next weekend! i have a car antenna that i stick on a cookie sheet and that seems to work somewhat good. but this would be a better long term solution.
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