Experts and Beginners Q&A Item

Jul 23 15:53 UTC 1998

Do you have a Question about CB or HAM or you want to answer someone's
question?  Post it here!!!  I will try to get an expert to help.  I you want
to help Email me at mark1.  See ya!!!

response 2 of 108:

Jul 23 17:52 UTC 1998

I thought it was "45" - or was that the answer to everything, not just life?

response 4 of 108:

Jul 25 14:29 UTC 1998

Well i have a question,  Where can i get info and Equiptment?
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

response 6 of 108:

Jul 26 04:52 UTC 1998

Or, try a ham radio equipment store, where you can get both the gear
and info.

response 8 of 108:

Jul 29 04:45 UTC 1998

  Sure.

  Novice-  Pass Element 2 and morse code element 1(a)
  Technician- Elements 2, and 3(a)
  Tech Plus- Elements 2, 3(a) and element 1(a)
  General- Tech Plus reqs plus code element 1b (13 wpm)
  Advanced- General reqs plus writtem element 4a
  Extra- Advanced plus element 4b (20 wpm)

  You should start with the Tech. Since it is codeless, it will only
be 2 short written exams which can be done in about 30 minutes. You
will have your license in less than 10 days, so if you're in a hurry to
get on the air this is the path to go. 
  After your new license comes, start with the 5 wpm code. With concerted
effort, you can probably learn the code and pass the test in about 45 days.
The General takes a bit more effort, and you can spend anywhere from 
6 months to 20 years on it. 13 word code is not tough, but it's not a cake
walk either. But sticking with it will produce results.
   The Advanced is the bitch. 55 questions on tough theory, plus the 
13 word code. That is, if you don't already hold the General. Pass the
Advanced and people will bow and scrape at your feet. Ace the Advanced and
you'll be diety material. 
   The Extra is the top of the heap. 20 wpm code plus a 45 question test. It's
not as bad as the Advanced, but there is prestige. It can be done in as little
as 2 yrs, or like me, 2 yrs, 10 months, or like my dad's friend, 22 yrs.
It all depends on how bad you want it.

   The classes all convey priveliges. The codeless tech will give you
access to all bands allocated to the amatuer service above 50 mhz.
   Pass a code test and you'll get access to the bands below 30 Mhz.
   As license class goes up, so do privs.

   You can buy a book from Radio Shack, or Purchase radio. I recommend the
ARRL books available from Purchase. They take you the hows and whys of
the theory without a lot of bull. There are several good code practice 
tapes out there, but off the air copying is probably the best practice you
can get.
   Chris, I will be glad to answer any other questions you have and I
will even help you find an exam, and allay any fear you might have. Just send
me e-mail, or ask here, and I'll do my best.

response 10 of 108:

Jul 29 18:03 UTC 1998

  I did, but I think I covered what I missed.


   I should add that you have a year's credit on each element. That is, if
you pass a written element, you have one year to pass the code test or you
get to do it all over again. The best way to avoid this pressure is to
pass both elements at the same time.

response 12 of 108:

Oct 29 15:53 UTC 1998

Is there any software available that I can download (as in for free), to
enable me to learn Morse. I have a 486 dx Win 3.1 and the PC speaker.
Thanks

response 14 of 108:

Nov 28 12:47 UTC 1998

I'm finding I would really like more antenna on my scanner (living in a 
steel house does have drawbacks).  Rather than buy a dedicated antenna 
and then have to mount the sucker outside, is there any reason I 
couldn't tap into my existing TV antenna on the roof?  It has the usual 
protection against lightning, plus an inline amp.  I'm thinking I could 
just put a little splitter and connector adapter right there by the VCR, 
and plumb the audio into my stereo.  I know the TV antenna wouldn't be 
the most efficient, esp. at certain frequencies, but would there be any 
risk of scanner damage, etc?

response 16 of 108:

Nov 28 19:44 UTC 1998

(It's all coax inside the house; the amplifier is in a little metal tube right
on the antenna)

response 18 of 108:

Nov 28 21:25 UTC 1998

That's a possibility.  It would turn my whole house into an antenna, since
the cable is grounded to the metal walls.  But then I can't use an audio
connection to my stereo, due to the backwards grounding.  Unless I use an
audio matching transformer for isolation...

response 20 of 108:

Nov 29 12:21 UTC 1998

Well, if the scanner has a common ground for both audio and antenna, then
using a house ground for the antenna signal means that the scanner ground
cannot be grounded without shorting antenna input to ground.  OK, it does form
a loop, which might be worth a try.

response 22 of 108:

Jun 3 03:25 UTC 1999

Ham radio operation would be intermittant, during transmission. This
sounds like a steady EMI source.

A real possibility is "dirty" computer equipment - a lot of devices are
only class A interference-compliant, which is for commerical use and not
guaranteed not to cause interference with radio or TV if used in a
residential area.  Home computers must be Class B compliant. Such things
as (inexpensive) off-the-shelf Ethernet hubs are mostly only class A.
Someone may have a home network nearby. On the other hand, ZIP drives
are class B.

The users of class A equipment are responsible for correcting any
interference by adding extra shiielding and filtering.

(Sindi asked me this question on e-mail and the above was my response.)

response 24 of 108:

Jun 9 16:34 UTC 1999

We need more data....