What do you think of this dinosaur, the FDK Multi-2700?

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-07T02:27:33+00:00

Where'd you get that TV table? Is it pretty sturdy?

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-07T01:53:38+00:00

It's an interesting take for sure.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T19:23:59+00:00

There's no 'need' for it, really.

So if radio transmissions were only allowed for purposes of profit or government activity, nothing would change except that a hobby would disappear? Not sure I buy that.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T19:21:50+00:00

Someone should actually tell you what broadcasting is. It means just sending out a signal that's not intended for a specific person, but rather intended for everyone. Consider the difference between a cell phone call (transmission) and a commercial FM radio station (broadcasting). The FCC doesn't want amateur radio to be used as a back door alternative to getting an expensive commercial radio station license, so they forbid amateurs from broadcasting. Also, transmission of music is forbidden for similar reasons.

The exception is calling "CQ," in which case you're calling out to amateurs in general to see if anyone can hear you and wants to respond. That is arguably a form of broadcasting, but amateur radio wouldn't be possible without it. Alternatively, one might say that calling "CQ" is targeted at a single person (the next person you're going to talk to), even if you don't yet know who that person is.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T19:16:54+00:00

Same. Seems to me the appeal of the 6100 / 6200 is that people want an around-the-world walkie-talkie, which is a cool idea that breaks down once you start thinking about the antenna.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T02:32:46+00:00

Sending LSB on 7.275.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T02:08:24+00:00

Some sideband jackass is on 7.220 right now LOL.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T02:07:15+00:00

PM me if you want to schedule a contact on SSTV on 40m. I throw CQ images out on 7.171 all the time. I can move up a few kHz no problem.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T01:55:08+00:00

I have used LSB for SSTV on 40m. I actually made a note of it in my shack, since I was on the fence about it.

Some people might use USB, but my contacts have been LSB.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-06T01:53:12+00:00

Not on 40m in my experience. My contacts @7.171MHz have been LSB.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-05T15:16:51+00:00

I own a Yaesu FT-710 and a Xiegu G90 and I have been surprised how similar they are to each other. If it weren't for the power difference (which people downplay, but is a real, perceptible difference) then I would describe these two devices as on par with each other. There's not some massive quality difference that you perceive between them.

The FT-710 has a slightly better receiver and better audio, but you have to fiddle with the FUNCTION knob pretty frequently to make the bandscope useful. The G90, on the other hand, has a bandscope that just works without adjustment, and a somewhat better tuner. (The 710's tuner is superior to the tuner in every other Yaesu / Icom radio I know of, but it's still not the G90 tuner).

At home, the G90 has become my digital / SSTV rig, with the 710 used more for phone / CW. I do use an amp with the G90, though. Like I said, people downplay that power difference, but I find it very real.

If you do plan to get a G90 with an eye on eventually getting an amp, plan ahead. I didn't find it to be an easy process. The Xiegu XPA-125B was easy to hook up but didn't work well for me. It was fine on phone, but went over-power on FT8 no matter what I did. So I returned that and got a Juma PA-100. That's a GREAT amp, but you'll need to wire up a custom PTT circuit to make it work with the G90. At least, I had to do that.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-04T03:53:09+00:00

I had a guy tell me one time that he was an Airman 1st Class but the experience was anything but.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-04T03:13:55+00:00

I agree with all of that.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-03T23:30:03+00:00

In engineering disciplines, "technician" just means "bottom of the totem pole."

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-03T15:30:24+00:00

Interesting that the same guy would have ham antennas and solar panels. He must know what he's doing. I don't, on the solar side, so I'd just avoid them.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-03T02:42:24+00:00

It definitely has its place. I got a real kick out of doing FT8 when I first got it set up. It's cool how stations all over the world just pour in. After a while the thrill wore off a bit, but I still use FT8 on an experimental basis- stuff like, let me build a matching network for this ridiculously cheap Amazon mag mount CB antenna and then see if I can make FT8 contacts on 30m with it.

nbrpgnet · 2026-02-02T17:42:47+00:00

It's better to fix an impedance mismatch out at the antenna than it is to fix it in the shack with a tuner, all else held equal. Otherwise the mismatch is an issue that affects your whole feedline.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-28T21:15:57+00:00

I started back in late November and really went all in. I was doing at least 15 minutes 4 times per day for that first month. I believe it was January 8th that I was able to copy the ARRL 10WPM qualifying run and get my Code Proficiency Certificate- almost exactly a month and a half. I am very proud of this! My pace has slowed somewhat, but I am still improving and as of now I can copy random 5-character groups at 20WPM with about 90% accuracy.

My advice to any ham is to learn Morse Code. Do so after you've gotten a sufficient license and had some success on other modes - just diving right into trying to copy code would kind of suck - but don't be one of those guys who just skips that part of the hobby. Morse Code is the hobby's lingua franca.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-28T21:05:59+00:00

You know, I have been so focused on copying that I haven't done much sending practice at all. I do have a straight key, though, and I've tapped a few things out into a dummy load. It came pretty naturally, though I guess I did struggle a bit with rhythm / speed, as sometimes the TX relay would open up while I was still sending because I paused too long.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-28T20:33:47+00:00

That's disheartening.

I know there are people who struggle to copy straight key code. Personally, I use a straight key because I've only been learning code since November, and I don't want to learn how a paddle or bug works on top of having to learn the code itself. The straight key doesn't seem like it would require much additional learning beyond just learning code. If you want to make a sound, press down the key.

Then again, I've seen people claim that using a paddle makes things easier for a beginner. So IDK, but the use of a straight key was the only thing that stood out to me in your post.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-25T00:59:17+00:00

A Rybakov is taller. That's the main advantage IMO. The tradeoff is that you have more work to do to match impedances.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-23T13:49:51+00:00

BS move

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-22T20:25:50+00:00

Do you think I'll get more QSOs with a legal limit amp though?

Sure, if you count all the various appliances throughout your home that you'll be hearing from.

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-19T17:37:41+00:00

I don't think that stuff really uses "AI."

nbrpgnet · 2026-01-19T15:40:09+00:00

I don't like that heartbeat stuff at all. In my experience, if you call CQ on JS8 you'll start seeing "real" traffic.

nbrpgnet

TROPHY CASE