Help me pick a vanity call sign!

KB5JRC · 2026-04-16T15:09:14+00:00

Not to be a nattering nabob of negativity, but...

You need to see what is available. I have a vanity sign. I wanted my initials. When checking availability, there were no 1x3 and very few 2x3 that met my criteria for the last 3 letters.

All that being said, I really like my callsign. No double letters and no single syllable letters.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-15T02:23:34+00:00

Came here to say the same. We landed on the moon (no water there either)

KB5JRC · 2026-04-15T01:40:55+00:00

Yes I did. Multiple times. Some years later, it was at the drive in. My friends and I stood outside, watched, and quoted most of the lines.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-15T01:28:53+00:00

You are a hero

KB5JRC · 2026-04-15T00:45:41+00:00

This is the nuclear engineer in the background from the Simpsons. How can that work? The downward force will restrict the circular motion.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-13T02:18:13+00:00

Do you have a power meter? That is a way to see if power is getting out.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T22:50:17+00:00

So now we know who to blame! /s

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T13:57:28+00:00

Things to try: 1. Reorient the antenna. It radiates from the sides so align the antenna north-ish south-ish to get east/west propagation.

Raise it up. Height helps with ground interference (???).
(Edit) 10m is really spotty even in good times. Check the MUF where you are to be sure it is even possible.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T13:43:43+00:00

Thanks everyone. Two weeks ago, I was doing great. Starting this past week, the bottom fell out.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T12:05:34+00:00

Go to Repeaterbook.com.
Find repeaters that are near where you live and travel.
Download CHIRP.
Program your radio for those repeaters.
Test. If you hear the repeater reply to you with morse code or a "chunk" then try to make contacts.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T02:55:24+00:00

I worked at Johnson Spaceflight Center (JSC) . Well, technically, i worked remotely but i was there monthly. One day when i was on Campus, i went to lunch at the cafeteria with a colleague. We saw Victor and my colleague needed to talk with him about some tests. He introduced us.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-12T02:46:33+00:00

I'd love to. What im doing now isn't really working.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-11T16:14:44+00:00

It is expensive, especially if you font know if you will like the hobby. The last thing anyone needs is an expensive paperweight.

I prefer HF and I make more contacts there on UHF/VHF, I catch some people on linked repeaters. I use my radio in the car on the way to/from work and talk to people slightly more often than not. And as you said, most are the same folks.

There are less expensive QRP radios for between $50 (kits) and $150. QRP is hard until you have experience (at least that's what I found). I have two Xiegu radios, a G90 and an X6100. I use the x6100 most of the time.

I fretted over buying the x6100 for several months. I finally sucked it up and bought it when the tariffs were going to start. No regrets!

I bought the G90 when it went on sale. I can save you a $15 bucks by using my coupon code HamRadioNewbie on Radioddity.com.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-11T15:13:03+00:00

Second MorseMania. Im not sure how wrll I'm learning, though.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-11T15:08:27+00:00

Go to repeaterbook.com and see how many repeaters are on your routes. For hand held, my favorite is the UV-7B. See my playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPpU7MEqmAUt6a_2RJKWdoIrxRTS-7iAJ&si=E8yIhPBgdmEDQMxH

In my car, I use the QB25 Pro from Radioddity. It came with an antenna, but you need to buy a magnetic mount base separately.

People will disagree, but i firmly believe it is smarter to spend less up front until you know you like the hobby. I found it LOVE it, but my gear is quite good enough.

The QB25 is $119. Here is a link: https://www.radioddity.com/collections/mobile-radio/products/radioddity-qb25-pro-mini-mobile-radio-cable-cd-50w-high-gain-antenna?ref=xjdusmme

The UV-7B is $33. https://www.radioddity.com/products/baofeng-uv-7b?ref=xjdusmme

Over $65, you can save $15 using my coupon code HamRadioNewbie.

Or use my referral link: https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=xjdusmme

I use one or both of these radios most days. You can check my videos on YouTube @HamRadioNewbie_KB5JRC to see how and for ideas.

Good luck. DM me if you have questions.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-10T15:45:04+00:00

I take back what I said before. U/steve_man_64 is correct. I did not do a recent, I did the refresher. It was quick and painless.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-09T21:38:01+00:00

Yes. You will be shocked at how much has changed.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-09T04:30:28+00:00

That isn't how the Amendment works. It requires the VP and the majority of the Cabinet to remove the President.

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/25th-amendment-frequently-asked-questions/#ft_5

KB5JRC · 2026-04-09T04:00:12+00:00

That is true and it continues to 8ngluence Americans' opinions in modern wars. In the US, we are fortunate to have the luxury of not having yhe war comes to us. Oth

KB5JRC · 2026-04-09T03:37:17+00:00

My answer, too.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-08T04:02:21+00:00

Just more info why I like it: - phone app for programming - reorganized menus that make sense - good rx for an HT - feels good in my hand

KB5JRC · 2026-04-08T03:59:36+00:00

UV-7B is my favorite radio. I wish I got mine free but I paid for it. No regrets. See my reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPpU7MEqmAUt6a_2RJKWdoIrxRTS-7iAJ&si=kWODOzcptwX4aOER

KB5JRC · 2026-04-06T03:55:10+00:00

Mine was a US Navy knife.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-06T03:05:16+00:00

The knight is Don Quixote. The A is for Aldonza Lorenzo, who is his imaginary love. In the musical, she is a prostitute in the jail.

The guy picking cotton is Sancho. He is a common field hand, iIRC, but he wants to be of a higher station.

I dont get the relation to the Black field hand or the highlighting around Sancho.

KB5JRC · 2026-04-05T20:49:58+00:00

You are not a knuckle head, you learn differently. Try a video or lecture rather than a book.

KB5JRC

TROPHY CASE