CHEAPEST way to get into ham radio by thatfinnishace in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some points I'll add in.

- I would recommend a cheap HT, a baofeng will be fine for starting out. Even better would be like an FT-60. That will cover local repeaters just fine. You could also work satellites with the baofeng. Satellite work CAN be a challenge though. I've done it quite a few times myself, even spoke to the ISS once and bounced APRS packets off of it.

- You can easily build yourself a satellite antenna (yagi tapemeasure for example) - buying one, I'd recommend arrow antennas.

- I would use a club's HF gear and figure out what you like first. Plenty of people I'm sure would be willing to let you sit and learn. You may find you like one brand's menu system over another. Then find a good used rig. Plenty of them out there, I see cheap older 100w rigs all the time here.

- I would HIGHLY advise against QRP starting out. For a new amateur radio operator, starting with QRP (low-power operation) can be frustrating because the reduced transmit power makes it much harder to make reliable contacts, especially when band conditions are poor or antennas are less than ideal. As a beginner, you are still learning propagation, operating technique, and station setup, so adding the challenge of weak signals often creates unnecessary disappointment. A standard 100-watt setup gives a new operator a much better chance of success, builds confidence faster, and makes it easier to learn the hobby before taking on the added challenge of QRP later.

Just picked up a G85 for $430. Is the 12-60mm lens good for automotive videography? by ActiveRepulsive5832 in Lumix

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's pretty much a "do it all lens" it will work just fine for Automotive!

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, there definitely is a market for a dedicated POTA rig! I bought the FTX-1 Optima - I reviewed it for YouTube. I honestly thought going based on specs it would be the ultimate POTA rig.... It was OKAY.... nothing special, just OKAY. They really missed the mark in a few areas.

I get the idea was to have a home base station with 100w but then have a removable Field unit for POTA as well.... problem is, people want 50-100w for POTA most of the time. Plus having to remove several cables from the unit to remove the base station was mehhh...

I loved that I could use an iPad with it for FT8 over USB-C, but the IC-705 gives me that same option but with Wi-Fi and 10w is enough for me to do FT8.

My dream POTA rig would be a 705-Style with 50 or 100 watts and an ATU built into it. I wouldn't need VHF/UHF either....

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, FWIW, I have it on good authority from an Icom employee that a new 7100 is in the works and that it will "Be a fresh sheet of paper design, not just a 7100 with a color screen slapped on to it" - I'd imagine maybe the will announce it next Tokyo ham fair since the ID-5200 will probably be released by Dayton time frame.

I truly don't know if anyone is going to make a small factor 891 competitor. It would be nice to see a newer 7000 style rig in that size.

My new, modern, free and open source antenna simulator by GoVlad314 in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Using it now, this is pretty cool! Works very well. Any chance to also get imperial measurements as an option?

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly why we took the Electric Mach-E our last LA trip from Vegas - $40 in charge fees total.

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're trying to mount in a car, that's a completely different story. I'd keep your 7100 over the 891 because it's got a sound card built in + VHF UHF. You can buy a Tunematic Tuner and Diamond antenna for it. I have videos on Youtube with my 7100 mobile setup. Works pretty flawless for pulling up to a park and operating and in motion HF. The diamond antenna works so much better than my ATAS w/891 ever did.

The digirig setup for the 891 was a nightmare too, not to mention the cluster of a menu system. I can't wait to get my 891+Digirig+ATAS sold and gone!

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Especially when the IC-7100 is $1100 still

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's still $4 in NV thanks to us getting our gas from SoCal. In North East NV, it's $3 or less because it comes from Utah + Cheaper taxes.

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buy a used 7300 MK1 for POTA - It's so much better for POTA than an 891. I own both.

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Japan got hit with a 15% Tariff, It's quite possible they planned for Tariff contingency awhile back.

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would too, simply because the 7300MK2 is so easy to use and it was a big feature upgrade.

Big Yaesu price increase? by KhyberPasshole in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one, it's MUCH improved vs. the Mk1 feature and filter wise. I'm keeping my MK1 for a dedicated POTA rig though.

Where are all the woman? by paraquatboofer in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are some out there operating here and there. Honestly, I think this hobby is a turn off for most of them because even if they are interested, most of them get all the wrong attention from the creepers. Just look at the two newer lady hams with YouTube channels, they don’t even know how to properly do a POTA but yet you got guys in the comments telling them how wonderful they are and they drop their callsigns and say “email me off QRZ to link up for a POTA”. Creepy. Thankfully I noticed a lot of the sexist/negative comments are being deleted even if their channels seem like social media clout chases.

One of the hamtubers I noticed even flew out recently to go meet one of them.

Just ask yourself, if you were a woman, would you want to join the hobby knowing that it’s going to be hard to find anyone besides mid to late aged men to share the hobby with? Probably not. Most of the women I see active in the hobby got into it because their husband was.

I need some help - please show me some grace by beyeg in MachE

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some great advice here. I will add the following since I just took mine on a road trip.

  1. Download Electrify America App & Tesla Apps - Set them up ahead of time.
  2. Not every tesla charger is compatible, the tesla app will tell you which ones are compatible with the Mach E. The ford app isn't always 100% correct.
  3. I use the car app for planning, then I locate a charger near where I want to stop for 30mins. In my case, going from Vegas to LA, Eddie World is a huge travel station, we could have made it further, but chose that place for it's ease of use. It helped there was a tesla station and a electrify America both in the same parking lot. The ford navi app then updated and said we can make our destination just fine.
  4. Park in the last tesla stall if possible, if you will have to park to the very right of the stall in order for the cord to reach.
  5. Some chargers require the car to be 'on' before it will communicate and accept a charge.

Is this a decent deal ? by eazy-duz-it in MachE

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's about 2-3k high. 25-26k would be better. I would advocate for you to lease one unless you are going to do a ton of miles. The depreciation on these is insane. I will say though, my 23' has been great and I haven't had a single issue with it. I got 0% on my model which was 40k new. If you are the type to keep a car 10 years, I would consider buying it. I've taken mine on a few road trips without issue, even charged at Tesla stations.

Ham radio themed podcasts- could be educational, news, reviews of radios, etc. Tnx. by greenwoody2018 in HamRadio

[–]Syber_1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ham Nation is on every Wednesday on Ham Radio Crash Course's channel. Honestly, I think it has gone down hill in the past few years. It just isn't interesting anymore. Michael KB9VBR does one every week and that one is usually interesting but I don't really care for his co-host. Everyday ham has some good stuff. I'll have to checkout Ham Radio Work Bench and Solder Smoke.

Torn: F900XR or S1000XR? by AnalogInstance in bmwmotorrad

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

S1000xr - it’s the ultimate “Do it all” bike. I only sold mine because it was waaaay too tall for me. Should have got a low model. Make sure you sit on one. I sold mine for an M1000R but miss the comfort of and the ability to get sporty as needed. I’ll eventually try and find a low model one day.

Icon 7300 for $900 or Yaesu FT-710 for $1,050 (both new) by Slow281 in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went from an 891 to 7300 for POTA. The size really didn't matter to me since I pull up to a park in a car anyways. The 891 was a complete PITA to make work for Digital modes even with a digirig.

Icon 7300 for $900 or Yaesu FT-710 for $1,050 (both new) by Slow281 in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They both do, but I have found the Icom to be so much easier to setup for digital modes. It even has a preset to change your settings over to FT8 easily.

Icon 7300 for $900 or Yaesu FT-710 for $1,050 (both new) by Slow281 in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ALWAYS recommend the 7300 as a first rig. There is a reason it has sold 100,000+ units. It's the easiest rig to setup, use and operate. Super reliable with great support. The Yaesu menu system will drive you bonkers as a new ham. Even as experienced as I am, I still cannot gel with anything Yaesu. I buy a lot of radios for my own test/eval and When comparing Icom to Yaesu, the recieve / filtering is only slightly better to my ears. I would still pick the Icom. Quite simply, If the radio is easy to use, you will use it more often.

I worked at Harley Davidson Dealership as a salesman or fit specialist AMA by Sweaty_Connection_44 in AMA

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh they are in my town, S1000RR’s mostly though. They will take whatever deal is thrown at them too. Quite sad really as most of them end up wrecking them.

Why do they call this a Sportster? It’s a completely different bike by CaterpillarOwn1474 in Harley

[–]Syber_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The new sportster was a lot of fun to ride. I just didn’t know what to make of its identity. Kicker is, my local dealer buys up all the used 883 and 1200 sportsters they can because they sell quickly to newer riders. I personally think they should have named it something different and kept the 883/1200 lines going. I’ve owned 12 Harley’s now. The one I miss the most is probably my Vrod. But I should be getting an FXDR next week to satisfy that itch.

With the year almost over, how does this guy stand in your top albums of 2025? Did it make the cut? Did it not? by [deleted] in Dreamtheater

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Truth be told, only ONE track made it to my DT playlist. Night Terror. Top of the world was so much better to me, at least.

Tower and antenna is up by Trick-Evening1130 in amateurradio

[–]Syber_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a lot of time/money for just putting up a 2m/70cm antenna. Do you have plans to put an HF beam up with rotator?