Ham radio idiot here <--

**goldenbeagle** · 03-09-2011, 05:26 PM

I am looking for a small portable HAM RADIO setup for my son and I to mess with while camping. I learned in the military how to make/put up a portable antenna...but know nothing more.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Price is not really an option.

Thanks in advance folks.

**Oni** · 03-09-2011, 05:29 PM

Here's some info: http://www.arrl.org/

and here's a toy store http://hamradio.com/

**goldenbeagle** · 03-09-2011, 05:30 PM

Thanks!

**gary in ohio** · 03-09-2011, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by goldenbeagle

I am looking for a small portable HAM RADIO setup for my son and I to mess with while camping. I learned in the military how to make/put up a portable antenna...but know nothing more.

Before you even start to worry about what radio, you will need to get a license.
Best way to get a license is find a local club and work with them. Check out http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club to locate a club.

While studying for your license you can explore the various radio options.

**goldenbeagle** · 03-09-2011, 07:34 PM

cool cool ...thanks

**Spikepretorius** · 03-10-2011, 04:00 PM

Step one would be to do the course and get qualified and licensed before looking for a radio.

**grouch** · 03-21-2011, 05:51 PM

Step two would be to decide who you want to talk to and how you want to talk with them. Are you interested in local repeater traffic or does the idea of contacts with folks from far off lands sound better? The way you mentioned putting up a portable antenna and messing around with radio while camping sounds more like DX to me. Start with a tech ticket and mess around with 6M or 10M while you gain experience and study for your general. That's what I am working on now, just waiting on the radio that can get me on 6 & 10. Personally I find 2M boring but far off DX beyond fascinating.

**rusty_tlc** · 03-21-2011, 06:17 PM

You might also want to look into QRP, very low power radios used for DX communication.

**grouch** · 03-22-2011, 01:29 AM

Yea, I am beginning to think QRP is the way to go for the outdoor types. The videos I see on YouTube where guys activate SOTA peaks with Yaesu FT-817's and Icom 703's just looks like too much fun. On that note, my FT-817 should be here by the end of the week.

Now I gotta read up on building a light weight J pole for some 2m SSB and a 10m dipole so I can try out some DX for a change.

**xtatik** · 03-22-2011, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by 7wt

Yea, I am beginning to think QRP is the way to go for the outdoor types. The videos I see on YouTube where guys activate SOTA peaks with Yaesu FT-817's and Icom 703's just looks like too much fun. On that note, my FT-817 should be here by the end of the week.

Now I gotta read up on building a light weight J pole for some 2m SSB and a 10m dipole so I can try out some DX for a change.

Life's too short for QRP.....

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