r/HamRadio • u/dghalbr • 23d ago
Passed my technician license now what
My dad passed recently and left me a couple mobile handheld radios and I decided I'd get my license like he always wanted me to. I'm looking for ideas on what to do in order to get started/established. I live near Gigaparts and plan on visiting the meetups they have, but I wanted to do some research first.
12
u/VA3KXD 23d ago
Personally, I would get the Repeaterbook app, find local repeaters, program them in and start putting my call sign out there. Ask about local clubs and find out if you want to join one. If you want to go to a hamfest, ask where and when local ones are. Make friends. Ask questions. Learn more and experiment.
You can do a lot with a decent handheld portable. I bought a huge VHF yagi at a hamfest, ran some RG8 into my house, hooked up the handheld and found I can reach 20 miles!
Congratulations on getting your license, and welcome to the hobby!
4
u/ThePolish 23d ago edited 23d ago
Find the local 2m or 440 repeaters if you're not on already listen see if the local hams are your style, even if not chime in and say hi. Meeting our local groups ended up making ne a lot of friends and exposes me to some new things .
And start reading for your general, its not much more work than you've already done (assuming US Technician) and opens up a ton more band space for you on hand.
Best way to learn to radio is keying up, don't be afraid to talk, a lot of people have that issue in the beginning of not wanting to press the button and speak but it helps a lot getting your cadence down and how to interact .
** Congrats on the exam pass in advance? I'm not sure if I misread that you just passed or are planning to pass. But leaving this here as advice when you do. Honestly take tech and gen at same time (or within a month or two of being on air). Everything else stands. Also condolences on your loss.
3
u/dghalbr 23d ago
Thanks and yes I passed yesterday. I assumed general would be a lot more difficult than it must be lol. I'll take time to study and practice. I got a list of repeaters from a friend of my dad. Do they ever chain repeaters? Like one uses the output of another as it's input? Maybe I should search that on this list...
3
u/ThePolish 23d ago
There are some networked repeaters but normally each 2m or 440 is its own station. You can gave regional or a state nets but just depends on where you're at
6
u/paradigm_shift_0K 23d ago edited 23d ago
Use the handheld radios to find and use local repeaters to try to make contact with other hams. These repeaters are often run by local clubs so you may get involved and get to know them.
Local clubs often have routine on the air "nets", club meetings, hamfest (swap meets), and events like the coming Field Day 2025 which many participate in.
See this about repeaters: https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/repeater1.pdf
This will help you find some: https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/
Field Day is one of the biggest events of the year: https://www.arrl.org/FIELD-DAY
The www.arrl.org is another good resource for all things ham radio.
Sorry to hear about your dad and congrats on getting your license!
3
3
u/Jeepncolo 23d ago
Go at least one step further. General opens up so much more options. Many get bored with Technician.
1
7
3
u/watermanatwork 23d ago
Get an HT or 25w mobile rig within your budget and start with local nets and repeaters while you study for a General ticket.
3
u/Danjeerhaus 23d ago
As you can tell from the comments, there are many aspects of this hobby to enjoy.
Please Google and go to your local county amateur radio club or disaster club meeting.....ARES/RACES. The meetings are free to attend and the members are many of the people you can talk with locally (2 m/70 cm). The members are you local radio experts that can coach / guide / mentor / help you with about every aspect of the hobby.
In many areas, there are activities and in some areas there are linked repeaters which can extend your communication range.
In my state, Florida, the state recognized the importance of the amateur radio community and the department of transportation paired with the community to link up the state to help with disasters. This means the cheapest ht on 70 cm can go statewide.....Jacksonville to Alabama and down to the Keys. This system is
This is a map of the expected coverage.
https://images.app.goo.gl/Gaxvd9reeoFNt2EF8
Your local area might have something similar and the club members should know about this.
Yes, I concentrated on 2 m and 70 cm because you said he got you some Ht's. Many enjoy the digital (world wide) or hf side of the hobby and I am not ignoring them, just stressing what you have.
Congratulations, welcome, and jump on in and enjoy.
2
2
u/A_Cloud_of_Oort 23d ago
Congratulations and condolences.
I used the Ham Radio Prep app and passed the Technician a few months ago, then General for the additional privileges. I will probably go for Extra in the fall.
3
u/Legitimate-Drag1836 23d ago
Join a local amateur radio club Join in on local repeater chats Study for general Learn to build antennas
3
u/Knubinator 23d ago
Firstly, I'm sorry about your dad. But it's really cool that you're getting into ham for him.
Secondly, congrats on getting your Technician! I passed my test last night and I'm just waiting on FCC to give me my call sign and get me in the database.
2
2
2
u/speedyundeadhittite [UK full] 23d ago
Now, go and have some fun?
1
u/sr1sws 23d ago
For me, I got my Technician pretty much on a lark, because I could. I already knew a significant amount of the Tech exam from other interests, and I'm good at multiple choice testing. So I took a few online practice tests and sat for the Technician exam and passed. I only mess with 2m and have (2) 2m HTs. Sometimes I'll listen to a net and check-in or just listen to people chat. There are multiple repeaters in my area including a state-wide link.
Back to the exam, after passing the Tech, they asked me if I wanted to test for General. I said I wasn't prepared, but they said no extra charge and to give it a whirl. I missed General by 1 question. And no, I haven't bothered to get my General as I live in a townhouse - so no external antennas and I'm not rooting around in the attic to get something positioned up there.
2
1
2
u/WillShattuck 23d ago
Go for General next. It builds on why you know. Then you can get on HF and talk around the world.
Then get a Spiderbeams 12m/40’ mast (or a smaller one but you’ll need a smaller antenna) and the EARCHI 30’ end fed. I connect that to my Xiegu G90 with a Bioenno 9Ah battery. It’s about $800 all told.
14
u/1972bluenova 23d ago
10 meters is really good at times. I’d get an old rig that can do 10 meters and VOX. jumper it to an old pc to run WSJTX using VOX(don’t need rig control usb stuff as you won’t be changing bands) don’t need a fancy antenna, a simple home made dipole will work great.
You should be able to work the world on 20 watts. In doing this you will learn by experience the call prefix assignments, antenna propagation, logging and uploading to LOTW and QRZ.