Icom radio (Page 3): Today people do not build or repair radios. just put them in the trash can and get a new one. I have two radios : one from the 1930s the other one from the early...

Bill 45

Wallen wrote:

The times have changed too much. Cellular phones a... (show quote)

Today people do not build or repair radios. just put them in the trash can and get a new one. I have two radios : one from the 1930s the other one from the early 1940s(pre-Dec.7,1941), no one in Northern New York I could find repair old radios. To ship one of the radios to someone to repair it, the shipping cost has become too high for me.

Ray and JoJo Loc: Florida--Tenneessee

My friend both photo and ham; Moved from Florida due to taxes, people (politics) and insurance companies, telling me what I can and cannot do. 19 years ago I, 1) sold house in Fla 250 k bought house in Ten (just a nice) 44K, 2) Annual; Ins., Utilities, and taxes : Fla. <10k, Ten. >4K, 3) In the counity in Fla, over 1 mil voters in Ten 15000 (I feel the pollition needs to appease me to get my vote and it does count), 4) Insurance, tree fall on house, 250 deductabel on house tree not covered, tower, 50 foot, fall on house 1,000 duc but the tower is covered for 3,000.

Ray
W4EJY

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

Guess it depends on what you want to get out of amateur radio...being a new ham ( and newly retired with varied interests) I’m quite happy in the 2m / repeater world!
Dave. KM6SWL

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

Webguydave wrote:

Guess it depends on what you want to get out of amateur radio...being a new ham ( and newly retired with varied interests) I’m quite happy in the 2m / repeater world!
Dave. KM6SWL

2 meter world here (salisbury md.)isn't too active....i hope it's active in other areas so the frequencies aren't lost to other services.....

Bmarsh Loc: Bellaire, MI

I still have my tower but no longer use it nor am I able to climb it. Tried it about a year ago and got half way up and was very lucky to get back down without falling. Got a ton of ham equipment I need to somehow get rid of.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Bmarsh wrote:

I still have my tower but no longer use it nor am I able to climb it. Tried it about a year ago and got half way up and was very lucky to get back down without falling. Got a ton of ham equipment I need to somehow get rid of.

That is why I have a guyed tilt over tower with a hand winch to lower it. It’s only 30’ of Rohn + a 10’ mast with a tribander at 33’ and az-el sat antennas at the top and a 40M quarter sloper plus a vertical and discone on the side, but I can work Europe and Africa pretty much whenever I want on 20M from N.C. and have even worked Australia a few times. I can crank it down in just a couple of minutes by myself (I’m 75) for maintenance. I wish it were taller, but I probably couldn’t handle it without help.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

Quick question, if you don't mind. When I head out West beyond the reach of cellphones is there a portable radio that might reach help, if necessary? Even cb is probably not a safe bet. Thanks in advance.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

skylinefirepest wrote:

Quick question, if you don't mind. When I head out West beyond the reach of cellphones is there a portable radio that might reach help, if necessary? Even cb is probably not a safe bet. Thanks in advance.

A SatPhone is the answer. No long range radio you can use without a license. Imarsat or Iridium have plans in the $250/month range, but I see that Roadpost has some usage plans using their networks for as little as $59/month, but you’ll have to buy, lease or rent a phone.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

I don't mind getting a license...I had one for cb for many years. Isn't a satphone exorbitantly expensive?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

skylinefirepest wrote:

I don't mind getting a license...I had one for cb for many years. Isn't a satphone exorbitantly expensive?

The cheapest Sataphones I see are in the $600 range plus the cost of the service. There may be comapanies that rent them as well, but haven’t checked. Under the best of conditions (flat terrain, good antenna), a CB is good for no more than 5-10 miles - not much better than a cellphone. A Ham radio VHF mobile may be good for 15-40 miles depending on the power and the height/distance to the nearest repeater as well as the terrain. That would require a minimum of a Technician class license. Unlike a CB license, which requires nothing but an application, an Amateur Radio license requires an in-person test from a licensed volunteer examiner and assignment of a station and operator license by the FCC. A marine VHF radio would provide similar range to a Ham VHF transceiver, but not sure if it’s legal for terrestrial use and (the biggest issue) you need someone on the other end. Fine at the coast, but not much use in the terrestrial wilderness. Anyone else have any ideas?

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

Thanks...looks like it's not a simple problem at all.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

jjandpop wrote:

... About a year ago my property insurance broker ordered that I had to take down my tower...

About 25 years ago my wife took down my tower.
I had bought a new tractor and I had a 5 foot mower on it for the lawn. So I mowed the lawn 4 times a year whether it needed it or not.

My wife decided she wanted to mow the lawn. Ran the tractor close to the tower. ROPS snagged a guy wire. Fortunately it bent the tower in the middle and it fell away from her.

A couple weeks later she decided she had to get her confidence back and mowed the lawn again. Went between the garage and the house and ripped off the bulkhead. In retrospect it was probably a good thing because the old bulkhead leaked and the new one didn't.

I had the tractor all to myself after that.

AI3E

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

skylinefirepest wrote:

I don't mind getting a license...I had one for cb for many years. Isn't a satphone exorbitantly expensive?

What TriX told you was right on. Also,if you know someone who is an amateur radio operator (ham), they can look up locations of repeaters (vhf & uhf) in the close vicinity to where your are moving. Could even have 6 meters or 10 meters although less likely and would probably require a different radio. Tell us where you are moving and any Ham on UHH who has a repeater directory can help.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

TriX wrote:

The cheapest Sataphones I see are in the $600 rang... (show quote)

Sat phones were a requirement when I was working in the Aleutians and expensive to rent.
Renting was cheaper in the long run than buying because you still need to sign up for the service.

On the antenna/tower issue, one very solid mount is a utility pole.
They are available in various lengths, sometimes recycled, and available from many sources online.
They are not expensive but the one time transportation and install can be, so you want to find the closest vendor possible.
If you know some one who works for the phone or power company, they may be able to work you a deal.
One should always check local rules & regulations first. i.e. Height limitations, Permits etc.
Some Insurance companies view these differently than a tower as they can be considered a permanent instillation.

A hurricane can easily destroy whatever antenna is mounted on it, but if takes out a 50' pole, the shack will be gone first.

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

Don't give up the hobby... There are so many different modes you can use and still enjoy the hobby...
been in the hobby since 1979... Owned a repeater for almost 39 years... I hope you don't quit... Perhaps even elmering some youngster or even learning some new tricks from one of the younger hams...

Best of luck no matter what you do

kb9l