Your Thoughts on a Unique First Base Station setup

[My3kidsfather]

I have a new mobile setup that seems to work fine, sitting in my driveway I can hear ch6's bane, and on 34 I often hear a fellow named Triple Nickel down in the US talking to others clearly- I even got him for a few minutes last week. I still have not had a conversation locally here in Edmonton, Alberta. Everyone is on the net or cell instead.

So my thinking has been study and get my ham ticket and I have begun doing that. It may be that I will find what guys are talking on and buy that. CB ssb might be used in the Edmonton area, I do not know for sure. It's probably gonna be 2meter or whatever. There is a couple of local clubs I will be talking to, NARC and a Sherwood Park club too.

So it's in my head to begin figuring out a first base station, should be cb ssb at least to start with. I am interested in base antennas, something fairly simple (It's likely going on the front of the house) so as to not frighten the neighbours, I am legally allowed 20 feet above the highest peak nearby for an antenna.

For antennas and radios some of you have mentioned you have extra equipment and may have just the right stuff to get started setting up sometime in the summer.

I do have a "cart" idea going for the inside equipment radios etc. of building a cart to carry what is needed so I can push it around or out of the way until the room intended is "designated" to radio lol (already a vintage butt-kicker stereo and bigger screen setup there).

So that is it, I am thinking of putting up a base and looking for your advice on antennas, radios, tables, storage, shelving that would be helpful, etc.

 

[hotrod]

for a dx antenna= sirio d-27 . rotable dipole that can be mounted flatside i think would be a great lil dx antenna
locally =id try a sirio m400 or sirio tornado

 

[binrat]

Its about time you come shopping in my garage.... Coax, push up mast, an antenna the works on 11 metres as well as 10 / 20. Cost... a coffee or maybe a beer.

 

[My3kidsfather]

for a dx antenna= sirio d-27 . rotable dipole that can be mounted flatside i think would be a great lil dx antenna
locally =id try a sirio m400 or sirio tornado

That looks like a good one Hotrod. YOu have experience with it? Thanks.

 

[My3kidsfather]

Its about time you come shopping in my garage.... Coax, push up mast, an antenna the works on 11 metres as well as 10 / 20. Cost... a coffee or maybe a beer.

Sounds interesting Binrat. will pm you.

 

[mb91w126]

for an antenna, you can build you own moxon and put it on a tripod with a TV antenna rotor for a dedicated mono band ( 11 meter ). For multiband, you can check out a hex beam here->http://www.hexbeam.com/home.html ( example not endorsement). They are light weight, somewhat translucent, and wont scare your neighbors with a 6 element gizmotchy.

 

[My3kidsfather]

for an antenna, you can build you own moxon and put it on a tripod with a TV antenna rotor for a dedicated mono band ( 11 meter ). For multiband, you can check out a hex beam here->http://www.hexbeam.com/home.html ( example not endorsement). They are light weight, somewhat translucent, and wont scare your neighbors with a 6 element gizmotchy.

Sounds like a well liked antenna. Got to figure out what bands to build for first I think. the variety of antennae is amazing, even overwhelming to a greenhorn like me lol.

 

[M0GVZ]

That's the biggest problem, so many options.

Don't rule out dipoles to start off with. They perform amazingly well despite their very simple construction. Moxon and Hexbeam are both good antennas although if you get quite harsh winter conditions you may want to consider other options.

If you are definitely going to get your ham ticket do yourself a favour and don't waste your money buying a CB. Instead buy something like a Kenwood TS480, a proper HF set. You'll be blown away by the difference in performance over a CB and you could always, albeit not legally, use it on CB. Do not buy one of those CBs sold as 10m amateur radios as they're crap performance wise compared to amateur HF gear. They are basically CBs sold in a specific way to get around FCC regulations.

 

[hotrod]

That looks like a good one Hotrod. YOu have experience with it? Thanks.

no experience with it first hand. but i know many that have a one and like it. plus dipoles been around forever.cause there simple and work well for thier size

 

[My3kidsfather]

That's the biggest problem, so many options.

Don't rule out dipoles to start off with. They perform amazingly well despite their very simple construction. Moxon and Hexbeam are both good antennas although if you get quite harsh winter conditions you may want to consider other options.

If you are definitely going to get your ham ticket do yourself a favour and don't waste your money buying a CB. Instead buy something like a Kenwood TS480, a proper HF set. You'll be blown away by the difference in performance over a CB and you could always, albeit not legally, use it on CB. Do not buy one of those CBs sold as 10m amateur radios as they're crap performance wise compared to amateur HF gear. They are basically CBs sold in a specific way to get around FCC regulations.

Mogvz, I checked out the radio and it looks good. I am partial to tubes, in stereo it can be a preferred sound, and as i am a bit older I often prefer the older, sometimes better built equipment. I like your advice regarding cb vs. ham sets. Good advice.

 

[binrat]

Can't go wrong with a 480. I had 1 mobile for a year or so. Also that antenna I have for you that's free is basically a vertical dipole.

 

[My3kidsfather]

Can't go wrong with a 480. I had 1 mobile for a year or so. Also that antenna I have for you that's free is basically a vertical dipole.

Okay i was reading before that the horizontal dipole reaches skip better, and the vertical is better for local. Sounds great for me. When you say dipole is there an understood meter range for that kind of antenna?

 

[hotrod]

Okay i was reading before that the horizontal dipole reaches skip better, and the vertical is better for local. Sounds great for me. When you say dipole is there an understood meter range for that kind of antenna?

yes your correct. the sirio will cover 10 and 11 meters [cb].

 

[918Oklahoma]

A simple dipole can be built and tuned for any radio band. I ran horizontal dipole for cb and had terrific results working DX worldwide, but could not talk locally. I now run a sirio 2016 vertical and it outperforms the dipole on DX, and allows me to talk locally as well. I would recommend starting out with a vertical antenna or horizontal dipole While you study for your ham license.... then you can get a 2m radio.

As for the radio to get, look into the Optima MK3 Or an Icom 718. And yes, a ssb radio is what you want. the broader the frequency range the better if you plan on getting your license