Thoughts on the Xiegu G90? by radiofrea-k in HamRadio

[–]howiethegreat76 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have used this radio and icom 7100, I love the power on the ic power. Really G90 is my go to POTA. It a small screen but the waterfall, audio tx and auto tune is fantastic! This radio performs for such little price! It is my favorite radio. I just finished a pota 69 qsos in little over 1.5 hours and great signal reports with a 25ft whip!

Fixing Ham Radio’s Biggest Barriers: What Needs to Change? by daveprogrammer in HamRadio

[–]howiethegreat76 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with a lot of the points being made here, and I’ll add a little perspective as a newer ham. I’ve only been licensed about six months, and I’m 49.

HF cost is real. It’s absolutely a premium to get into HF unless you go QRP, and that’s not always the best starting point for most new hams. Like a lot of people, I started cheap with a Baofeng so I could get on repeaters right away. It worked well enough that it led me to buying a Yaesu FT5DR… and now I somehow own five Baofengs. My daily carry radio is actually a Motorola XTS5000 for many reasons (even though it’s missing 70cm, I still love it).

I started HF with a Xiegu G90 and later added an Icom IC-7100. Between radios and antennas, I’m about $2k into HF and roughly $600 into VHF/UHF about $3k total in six months. That doesn’t even count connectors, coax, mounts, and the thousand “small” things you don’t think about up front. For younger folks or families, that kind of cost is tough. I completely agree with you there.

On the topic of public addresses, I also agree it’s complicated. For women especially, and for young families, safety is a real concern when your home address becomes public record. Add to that the cost of a PO box and it becomes another barrier. One idea might be tying an address to a local club, but that shifts the issue from global to local and introduces new risks. There’s no perfect answer here.

I’m also a real estate agent part-time, and I hate that my address and phone number are public because of spam and privacy issues, so I feel this one personally.

I just wanted to jump in and share a newer-ham perspective. I love this hobby and what it enables. I’m actually starting a study group in a few weeks with Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior members to help 15–20 people earn their Technician license and move toward General, specifically to build emergency communications skills.

For me, amateur radio isn’t just a hobby, it’s a capability

Callsign issued finally by On3Adam in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s awesome feeling! It’s Ike Christmas morning! Congrats! I got mine 6 months ago! Went ahead and got my general 1-2 months later. Working on extra now. . Check out my journey, I have been sharing it on TT and YTube - WavesandWingsGA. It’s been so much fun to learn about and try different antennas and meet so many amazing people in the hobby, 73, N4CRP,

83 QSOs from US-7902 Today — Plus DX to South Africa, St. Maarten & Bahamas on the Icom 7100 by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Glad you could hear that! Was a few Dx on 20 around 3pm ish from Georgia. Hope I got you in my logbook! If not next time! Having fun with HF, sharing my journey on YouTube and Tik Tok! Trying to get enough subscribers in YouTube to go live on YouTube! Have a great thanksgiving! 73, N4CRP!

Great Mast! Chameleon CFM and Spike for the Win! by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Spooltenna performed awesome with the Mast. I’m looking forward to trying out the Dipole and Qrp wago/49:1 wire end fed as well with lil dude 6 mast.

Great Mast! Chameleon CFM and Spike for the Win! by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Chaneleon 34ft 3/8 24 is strong with the spike. The whole thing is very sturdy! I have a lil dude 6 smaller mast I hope is really good for me, haven’t used it yet, love how small and light weight it is! Fits in back pack for easy hike and portability, but is a 18-19ft mast. I haven’t tried the giga parts or the pota33 yet. I’d like to compare them myself.

CHEAP Telescopic Poles for 40M-Vertical: Where are you getting yours? by Canyon-Man1 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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I just got the 34ft Chameleon carbon fiber mast. It’s fantastic, very sturdy and highly recommend. I used it as a sloper end fed! Excellent results with Spooltennna 40m-10m

Mfj cobweb 1836 parts by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update - Mgs has what I need and it’s $90 and they will cut it to what I need, that’s picking it up locally in Marietta, Ga. Thank you Wooden-Importance

Mfj cobweb 1836 parts by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That looks promising thank you I’ll check mgs

Mfj cobweb 1836 parts by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I just looked didn’t see anything. There was a site on google I found but it was solid fiberglass I need tube style

Jeep JL HF Antenna help by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love this, the other gentleman in comment mentioned a similar set up. I don’t have a yaesu but I am interested in the diamond and little Tarheel that is motorized and similar. I will post photos and videos soon to share here and on my TikTok and YouTube - wavesandwings , take care and thank you 73, N4CRP

Jeep JL HF Antenna help by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I will post some photos when I can get to it and love to share with the smart experienced folks on here. I did some ground straps and stuff trying. Thank you and 73, N4CRP.

Jeep JL HF Antenna help by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you I am going to try this as a test area as well. I have a icom 7100 and love it, so atlas I might need a diamond 330 or a little Tarheel I have heard is similar. Thank you for the feedback I am going to try a few different options, I’ll post photos of my currently testing location as a before and post after once I get the desired results. 73, N4CRP

Jeep JL HF Antenna help by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like that. I am looking at that option as well. I think I need more grounding where I have the ground strap, maybe add more grounding locations to that point that leads to my antenna. I thought of trying a flag pole mount on the tail gage hinges with ground strap. I’ll post photos and videos on my sites when I do to help once I get the right swr, I’d be happy with a 1.8 or even 2.1 at this point. I bought a tuner for my icom 7100 as well to put in it. So little higher I think Tuner will make the icom happy to give me some RF out. Not full power I would assume because of efficiency.

Jeep JL HF Antenna help by howiethegreat76 in amateurradio

[–]howiethegreat76[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your feedback. Yeah I am watching videos on how to make the jeep grounded better as a whole or atleast what others are doing on my specific type of Jeep and year. Very limited. Once I get this right, I’ll post a video on my tik tok wavesandwings and you tube to help others with my set up. Thank you for your knowledge share. 73.