Questions tagged [equipment]
Questions relating to equipment for Amateur Radio operation.
42
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How to force a signal generator to sync with an imprecise frequency near 10 MHz?
I would need to synchronize a function generator with a 80 +- 0.1 MHz signal source. Normally I would do it by dividing the 80 MHz signal source by 8 getting 10 MHz that I send to a 10 MHz sync link ...
- 13
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3
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Do I need a precision wattmeter or will a $50 one suffice?
My transceiver has a built-in wattmeter but I've decided to buy an outboard one to monitor the antenna system before it reaches the ATU. I'm capable of putting out 100 Watts and I see that several ...
- 453
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2
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108
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How should coax be physically wired to a "stud" mag mount?
I picked up a variety of antennas at a swap meet a while back, and am having trouble characterizing an unlabelled HF (or low VHF?) vertical element that screws into a stud in a magmount I also brought ...
- 7,229
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246
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What is a "feed-through load" and how does it work?
While browsing some miscellaneous RF test equipment supplies I stumbled across a two-port component sold as a "feed-thru load".
Take for example the Pasternak PE6026 (datasheet), which looks ...
- 7,229
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Maxtrac 300 speaker
How do I make the internal speaker work on a Maxtrac 300 With the 5 Pin accessory port
on the back of it. My other radio has 16 pins and i jumped 15/16 for that one But lost on how to do this one.. ...
- 41
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147
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How to check second-hand ICOM IC-718?
I’m buying a used IC-718 from a local ham. I can verify its function before I decide to buy. I’ve read the manual and know the functions and capabilities.
What should I check / look for, apart from ...
- 321
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3
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354
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Can I communicate 40 miles away with a base setup
I’m wanting to get a ham radio license and a good base station set up in my home. The reasoning is to communicate to my family approximately 40 miles away from me in case of a emergency or SHTF ...
- 11
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134
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Does the price of ham equipment normally rise during winter?
Recently licensed technician here, and going straight into my general class, I'm keeping an eye on cheap (sub-$400) HF radios. I keep reading articles that suggest used radios that normally sell for ...
- 199
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Can you use a satellite dish for a ham radio antenna?
Can I use a satellite dish as a ham radio antenna? I was thinking that because there are two unused, working satellite dishes that have all appropriate wires attached conveniently to the roof of my ...
6
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7
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352
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Space Requirements
As I progress in my path to getting a ham license I notice that a lot of radio enthusiasts avidly talk about their radio shacks (or do they call it cabins?).
Do I need that much space to start?
Do I ...
4
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2
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93
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Equipment Pricing
I am wondering about the exact pricing of kits. What is the range of each radio? How long do they last? Should I buy a portable or not? My complete budget is $100.
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Looking for headset to use with BTech UV-25x2
I have a BTech UV-25x2 that I'm using as a portable base station. This radio has a "TRRS" connection (GND/SP/MIC/PTT) which I would like to get a headset for. I'm relatively new to ham radio, so don't ...
- 123
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220
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What exactly was a decremeter and how did they work?
In A Century of WWV, I found this mention of an unusual sounding instrument that may have once been commonplace:
Calibration work was mainly focused on decremeters, instruments designed for ...
- 7,229
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2
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184
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How long would a radio last in storage?
For a modern rig, any rigs that come out within the last 20 years. How long would it last in storage? By that, I mean "dust it off and plug and play". Assume it is in a dry and cool place, without ...
- 135
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Can my neighbors ham radio station be preventing my TV antenna from proper reception? [duplicate]
I have a winegard 8200 series antenna and it worked flawlessly in getting me reception of more than 70 stations. The wind blew it down and I couldn't replace it for about 6 months due to the fact that ...
- 11
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How do I listen to the amateur radio satellites?
I'm new to amateur radio, and I would like to listen to those satellites in the orbit.
Where do I start?
What types of amateur radio satellites exist?
- 573
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4
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What is a simple kind of amateur radio transceiver I could try to build, as a beginner?
I am new to amateur radio, and I'm trying to learn the basics of the hobby.
I would like to build a simple radio transceiver from scratch (i.e. not from a kit).
I have searched the Internet for ...
- 573
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4
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752
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Suitable acoustic foam rubber for headphones?
These are photos of the headphones that I use in my ham shack. As you can see, the dark gray foam rubber inside is deteriorating, and I need to replace it. It appears to be open-cell foam "rubber" ...
- 7,843
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1
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289
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Measuring S21 against TX-RX distance (a.k.a path loss modelling) with a network analyzer didn't give expected results
Task: Path loss modelling
Target frequency: 433 MHz;
Laboratory environment: in a basement where there were other equipment and metal shelves. A few acoustic absorbers were placed around the setup.
...
- 57
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3
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WWV, WWVH, and WWVL may be shut down. Are there any alternatives?
The US government is proposing to shut down the NIST standard time and frequency stations WWV, WWVH, and WWVB in Colorado and Hawaii.
If that actually happens, are there any free or inexpensive ...
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1k
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Receiving audio output from IC-9100 through USB port
Can someone please give me a clue here? I'm having problems receiving data from the IC 9100 radio.
I want to receive ax25 packets using FSK G3RUH modulation with an IC-9100 radio. It is configured ...
4
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1
answer
324
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Two way ham radio to communicate between two stations
Apologies if this not the right place for this question.
I'm into electronics and now endeavouring into radios and communications.
Unfortunately I'm not sure what terms to use to find what I'm ...
- 143
2
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2
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1k
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Building a portable APRS iGate/digipeater
I've been experimenting with APRS for the last year or so. There are a lot of areas that I go that don't have digipeaters or iGates. (Luckily, I live about three blocks from one, so around home I'm ...
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SDR set up that will TX & RX on CB, UHF and VHF
I would like to use SDR to receive and transmit on CB, UHF and VHF. Is this possible and if so what type of equipment will I need (antennae, dongle etc)? I currently have both UHF/VHF and CB but atm ...
- 51
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361
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Identify this “large TNC” coax connector
I have recently acquired a nice looking dummy load on military surplus sale. Being relatively new to the hobby, I assumed the connector on it was something common. Turns out it is not. So far nobody ...
- 143
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4
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14k
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UV-5R 4W BFB297 vs UV-5R 8W BFP3-23 (difference 4W vs 8W)
How big difference will it be between UV-5R 4W & newer UV-5R 8W (difference between 4W & 8W), in real life use 1 on 1 HT.
In SAME conditions, how much different distance / range will we get? (...
- 63
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645
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Using the VHF port for 6m on an Icom IC-706mkIIg transceiver
My Icom IC-706mkIIg transceiver has two output ports:
one for its VHF/UHF bands (i.e. 2m/70cm)
one for the HF bands, and also 6m!
I have a couple of broadband VHF/UHF antennas whose transmit specs ...
- 7,229
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2
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257
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(HF) How to maximize probability of successful transmit given constrained packet duration? [closed]
I need a HF link that will be (mostly hah) operational 24/365. Edit: at least at local daytime.
The link is supposed to transmit a controlling signal (just one bit) in one direction for quite a ...
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Why do some straight keys have a slider that shorts the contacts continuously?
I ended up with an old straight key that has a curious feature: below the main arm that you would tap on, there's an extra metal flange that can sort of loosely pinch an extra sliding lever underneath,...
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327
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Scanner radio purchase advice for someone that's nosy but not technological?
If it sounds like a stupid question, it probably is.
My mom loves being nosy... When she hears the police siren, an ambulance, firefighters, or something like that, she's the first one to run to the ...
- 119
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Computer cables in shack — what to do with them?
What should I do with all the cables connecting this to that?
Coiled, folded, cut-to-length, wound on ferrite?
Anyone have the definitive answer to this?
My rat's nest is getting more messy.
The ...
- 21
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Broadcasting a WiFi SSID long-distance
Which equipment would be good for broadcasting a WiFi SSID the longest possible range? We're making an orienteering race in a forest and would place a sender somewhere high over the trees, ...
- 79
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What rig should I start with when trying to get hands-on experience with Fldigi?
I would like to get hands-on experience with Fldigi. What setup is recommendable?
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Using standard headphones with the Yaesu FT-60?
I just got a Yaesu FT-60R handheld, along with the MH-37A4B earpiece. After having it around for a couple days, I think I'd like to be able to connect standard headphones to it, so as to be able to ...
- 24.2k
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What rig or rigs are onboard the ISS?
This article mentions the Ham Shack aboard the ISS. From the picture it looks like a small very light rig like a Yaesu FT-817. What radio(s) do the astronauts use when they talk to Hams and School-age ...
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211
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SDR software support for National Instruments USB-4431 ADC?
I have an opportunity to purchase one or more of these 24 bit, 4 channel, 102ksps USB ADCs, but before I do I want to understand how difficult they would be to use with existing SDR software.
Are ...
- 12.1k
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632
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What is the essential gear to have in a VHF/UHF FM base station? [closed]
I'm trying to assemble a VHF/UHF FM base-station at home. Assuming I have the following pieces of equipment:
VHF/UHF FM transceiver
power supply - 30 amps, no meters
antenna that's resonant on 2m and ...
- 923
10
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What does a lightning bolt symbol next to an antenna connector mean?
On the back of my Yaesu FT-897, next to each of the antenna connectors, there are lightning-bolt-ish symbols. What do these mean, and is there something I ought to be doing because of that?
I have ...
- 24.2k
6
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924
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What makes a good emergency-capable QRP rig for travel?
It's wintertime, which drives the concept of emergency preparedness here above the 45th Parallel. Am emergency-capable QRP rig is an excellent item to stuff into one's Go Bag or vacation gear, always ...
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1k
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What is the point of a SWR/power meter where the needles cross over each other?
There are SWR/power meters with two separate gauges, and others that have them mounted so the gauge needles cross over each other.
Aside from looking cool, does the cross-over point of the two meters ...
- 12.1k
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What is a waterfall display?
High-end transceivers apparently come equipped with a water-fall display - something to do with improved spectrum visibility. This is supposed to lead to potentially higher QSO count and rate.
What ...
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Simple cheap foxhunting?
I'm currently looking to do a foxhunt for a youth group, and need to keep it inexpensive and easy enough that it won't be impossible for those new to foxhunting and ham radio, but difficult enough ...
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