If, no, when I pass the general exam January 15 I'm going to buy the THF6a.
I'm not going to get it sooner because I probably would spend too much time
learning it and not enough time studying for the exam. I'm consistently
scoring around %90 on the QRZ practice test and so I think I'm going to do
ok.
HF is going to wait for about a year. Meanwhile I'm trying to learn all
that I can about the best way to go. Here is what I think so far:
Fifty watts should be plenty. Just enough to drive a linear amplifier
legally if it is ever needed. More power, from what I read here, is ruff on
antenna tuners etc
All HM transceivers operate on 12 volts and therefore any of them can be a
portable in a disaster so the only things to consider are accessibility,
reliability, and durability. Yes, cost too but from what I hear here, there
hasn't bin any real reason to upgrade for many years. If I have any
additional nickels I'm going to put them into an antenna and I sure hope I
hear more discussions about antennas from you guys here. I have ruled out a
Yoggi, quad, and delta loop because I just don't have the space. Many
people have a back yard pool. I have a pool back yard and there just isn't
room for anything else. Vent pipes here and I suppose everywhere are now
PVC and so the chimney seems to be my only option. Even they are just
stucco and sticks with a double metal pipe in the center where cool air is
drawn down through the outer chamber of the pipe cooling the hot air pipe in
the center. A very ingenious idea but not so very strong. So, I guess I am
looking for the best nondirectional multi band antenna. Right now, my
thinking is that I will forget about 40, 80, and 160 meters to keep the
weight down. Any efforts to straighten out my thinking will be greatly
appreciated.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: accessible VHF equipment
> Okay, a duel band magnetic mount will do fine. Most operation will be
> repeater based. So how far away are the active repeaters? Have a ham
> come
> over with an HT to see how he gets out. And your budget is an issue. If
> you buy a 50 watt mobile type radio, you will want a handy talky, but if
> you buy a handy talky, you will want a 50 watt mobile type
> radio. Eventually you will want both anyway.
>
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