Technician HF

[binrat]

I have managed to get myself in a lot of heated aarguments on this subject. As I said way too many these days can memorize the answers and test out without learning a damn thing. I have seen it on the Facebook groups, they say "Hey I just passed my extra! What antenna should I buy?" My answer to them is always you're an extra figure it out. Then I ask how long have you been a ham and inveriently the answer is two weeks. I am all for helping out but come on....

Have to agree for the most part.
I had some elmers that pushed me to donate time helping on repeater work. At the time I had an IC-703 and wanted more power. Guess what I studied amplifier design, researched repeaters along with some other stuff. One day the club VE asked me for help, the buggers set me up for a writing of the Advanced test. I passed by the skin on my arse.
I look at the clubs running courses and wonder after the test, do they keep that knowledge or is it brain flush.

 

[543_Dallas]

maybe give em a pee test too. Im tech but i know coax, radios n other things but some are uhh well never sdudyed what questions are on tedt just answers. Years back i passed when it was code required then let license expire.tested last year missed 1 on purpose. I kinda want to know HOW to keep my stuff working not just remember answers with no meaning

There's an idea. Maybe even install a breathalyzer unit like they do on cars. If they've been drinking the radio won't power up.

 

[Rwb]

There's an idea. Maybe even install a breathalyzer unit like they do on cars. If they've been drinking the radio won't power up.

good idea

 

[OldTech03]

Well, I walked in took the test for Tech. Walked out with my license and never once studied for it. So on a dare, I'm going to take the General the same way and see what happens. The difference is I have been repairing ham gear and other radios for 50 years I don't remember ever asking anyone a question about anything concerning radio or antennas but it's all pretty simple if you just study and then do it and yea don't act like it's science fiction it's electronics and if you like it as I did you do what is needed to learn.

 

[kopcicle]

Short version is at the end. *
Background,
I'm an extra in a day or 50 years. Depends on your or my point of view.

There is nothing in the current technician question pool that is related to HF operation.

All the time I've spent mentoring technicians to upgrade is ?

Winlink. unattended, store and forward, all but encrypted, proprietary hardware for email/ No, just no.

35 questions, just take the test you ignorant ingrates.

And a few of you have wondered why I'm a never leaguer.
Still wondering?

*short version. NO

 

[big_sho9]

I think its time for the 1500 watt limit to be looked at. It would be nice to slam about 3-4000 watts on ham. In modern times, it doesn't bother anybody's tv. Why not raise the legal limit? This new generation is a little different than the old timers.

 

[kopcicle]

I think its time for the 1500 watt limit to be looked at. It would be nice to slam about 3-4000 watts on ham. In modern times, it doesn't bother anybody's tv. Why not raise the legal limit? This new generation is a little different than the old timers.

Once again , raising the power limit would make half my neighbors half legal ...

 

[w9cll]

I think its time for the 1500 watt limit to be looked at. It would be nice to slam about 3-4000 watts on ham. In modern times, it doesn't bother anybody's tv. Why not raise the legal limit? This new generation is a little different than the old timers.

nope the power levels are just fine where they are. Many find out that it's not about power.

 

[Rwb]

M

nope the power levels are just fine where they are. Many find out that it's not about power.

any want to "SHOOT LOTTSA FIRE UP THE WIRE" Suprized they dont have house fires

 

[543_Dallas]

nope the power levels are just fine where they are. Many find out that it's not about power.

Yeah, but....you're one of those people who doesn't use an amp and tells everyone else they should be like you.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I think its time for the 1500 watt limit to be looked at. It would be nice to slam about 3-4000 watts on ham. In modern times, it doesn't bother anybody's tv. Why not raise the legal limit? This new generation is a little different than the old timers.

Yeah this new generation is a little different than the old timers They have no clue how to run 1.5 Kw properly like the old timers so forget about raising the limit under the current licensing scheme. TV's are far from the only thing high power RF affects. Maybe if there was an actual tech requirement on the test that included RF safety but not until then. My limit here in Canada is 2250 watts pep and on AM it is a 750 watt carrier modulated to 3Kw and pretty much nobody runs that much. It is simply NOT needed. Running 3 Kw is only half an S-unit over current USA legal limits aka negligible when it comes to signal level differences. Listen to the damn Italians on the air with their loose power regulations and see what that has done to the bands. High power and sheer ignorance has no place on the air.

 

[543_Dallas]

The 1500 watts pep rule screwed the AM operator. It used to be 1kw input to the final. With plate modulation that could equate to more than 1500 pep. 500 to 600 watts carrier depending on efficiency and the rest is modulator power. With the efficiency of a class E rig it would be even more.

They could have maintained the 1kw input rule but a pep watt meter is easier for everyone to use. They started dumbing down ham radio when SSB came along.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

They started dumbing down ham radio when FT8 came along.

There I fixed that for you.

 

[binrat]

My limit here in Canada is 2250 watts pep and on AM it is a 750 watt carrier modulated to 3Kw and pretty much nobody runs that much.

Really?? OOPS.
Sorry, couldn't rest.
When I was a VE3 call I had a SB200 but rarely used it. I spent a lot of time on feedline and antennas. Still remember some fine gentlemen on 75 meres from Maine complaining about me running power at 75 watt. flipped the switch to hear them complain more.

 

[ExitThirteen]

All this makes me glad I went back to CB.



~Cheers~