Radio Fun

[ralay]

This is definitely outside the realm of KISS and into the realm of hobbies, but are there any Hams with low budget HF setups on this forum?  Woody and I spent some time this winter learning about radios and just passed our Ham tests.  I now have the ability to use a lot of HF bands, but don't have any device capable of receiving or transmitting them.  A marine SSB with all the fixin's is probably outside our budget.  We're considering getting a receiver for weather/weatherfax or maybe even learning Morse code and building a little CW radio for fun.  Of course, a nice used SSB transceiver would be nice, but we'd have to get lucky finding a very cheap used one.  Anyone else using Ham/Marine SSB radios aboard?  Any ideas for low budget radio fun?

[CharlieJ]

I know nada about the radios, but congrats on passing the tests.

[Cyric30]

Ive known a Few guys into Ham radio and one think i can say, by and large there's not a group of ppl who are more willing to help you out than they are. look for a local group and they will most likely be able to get you started and point you in the right direction.  alot of stuff out there second hand, but again out of my realm of knowledge.

[ralay]

Thanks, CJ.

There is a club here in New Bern and back in Austin.  Unfortunately, we don't stay in one place long enough to get much out of clubs that meet infrequently.  One of the unfortunate aspects of living the nomadic life... 

[Cruiser2B]

I am one, General amateur. i have about $500 in my home setup talked as far away as Australia and Kuwait. I have Kenwood TS430($200), mfj tuner($50), Carolina Windom 80 antenna($50), coax($75) and power supply($75). Everything was bought second hand and works well. I am often found on 14.300mhz listening to maritime mobile, working on becoming a net controller. Also listen in on waterway net on 7.268mhz if i am home in the mornings. I check in to both once in a while. and I will listen in on Chris Parkers weather broadcast to the carribean once in a while on *mhz(SSB Freq)

I do a bit of ham radio and electronic repair on the side so, I know a bunch of people with used equipment. I also belong to a local club who shack happens to be on ICW at great locks bridge. A fun hobby and I try to keep it simple because this hobby can be expensive.

I am working on a setup for the boat. I have IC700pro that is broken(free) but it is a huge radio. I may buy a yaesu 857(great all in one HF/VHF/UHF rig) and open it up to Maritime bands for use if an emergency arises.

[Sooner]

Cruiser2b - How do you go bout opening up a Yeasu 857 to marine bands?  Have my ham amateur license but no ham shacks or clubs in the area.
KF5QJA

[Cruiser2B]

Requires solder or using a liquid trace pen to jumper a few small contacts on left side of radio. If memory serves me right its 4 jumpers.

After that just reset the radio...

whole procedure should take less than 30mins

[ralay]

Yes, a $200 HF transceiver would be nice.  We're in the awkward stage where we would need a radio to use to know more about radios, but don't know enough about radios to pick a good one.  I imagine this is how folks new to boating feel about looking through the thousands of boat ads with no sense of what makes a good or bad boat.