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@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social Several different things.. Sometimes just chatting (called rag chew) but I also do several digital protocols for relaying messages and data one of which i am designing myself. Think of it is a global mesh-network but slower than wifi, its similar and based off of APRS.
@freemo
Well done on getting things back in working shape. 1500 Watts is a lot of transmission power for a HAM. Wow.
Hope the main transmitter can be repaired. Good luck!
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
Yea its the legal limit for us HAMs. I rarely need to fire up the amplifier, I can stick to 100 watts or below and really reach most of the world anyway. But nice to know my amp is working.
Its the old vacuum tube style amp, still has wonderful quality on the output, just means I need to turn a lot of knobs if i want to use it.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
@freemo
Neat. I did a training course for ham operation many, many years ago, but never got the equipment, me being a broke teenager at the time. We could only get a license for the 80 m band, and my dad objected to my 40 m long antenna idea, lol... Early 70's.
Ham radio can be a great resource in times of troubles.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
80m band would be at least two levels in, so thats not even entry level, awesome if you got licensed at that level!
Lots of people do have 40m long antennas :) Mine is pretty big and can handle 80m band at its lowest but its a loaded antenna so it can be much shorter.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
@freemo
Oh, I never got the full license, it seemed unlikely I could ever setup (moeny and dad's restriction on my antenna length).
At the time, 80m was the entry level, lowest requirements band, only one for younger people to apply for.
Antenna theory and practice is fascinating, I remember reading and seeing many different types, ideas, how to reduce the size from the half-wavelength to a more reasonable and practical size.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
80 meters was never entry level, at least not in the USA.. there used to be 5 levels now there are three.
Perhaps we are talking about Canada though, not sure maybe you guys have weird laws there.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
@freemo
Not in the USA or Canada, back in the old country. 😄
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
I wouldnt claim to know the law of every country but as far as HAM radio goes that is unusual indeed. UHF and VHF are almost always the first level you get certified for obvious reasons (they dont travel around the world).
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
@freemo
Oh, this was a long time ago, rules might have changed since then. 2m band was restricted, you could only operate after getting some experience in the 40 m band (if applicant was an adult).
Transmitters and receivers were mostly older gear, Hallicrafters, etc. Some new flanged Japanese gear was coming, but price was high.
The idea of those high bands not propagating far and therefore being ok for new ops is a good one.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
thats so bizzare. I wasnt aware there was ever a time or place where 40m came before 70cm.. TIL
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
Well yea but even today you need to take CW tests to get on 80m and 40m in many countries. That is still surprising.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social
@freemo
Keep in mind that this was a long time ago (very early 70s or late 60s), and any license had exams for CW that must be passed as a requirement. People had to get some training, local ham clubs helped, etc.
Not as easy as getting one today I imagine, or the CB radio craze that came a few years later, mid to late 70s.
@realcaseyrollins@mstdn.social