Setting Up Your Home Ham Station: Ask Dave Episode 3

Ask Dave Episode 3, on setting up a ham radio station in your home. You can submit questions at www.ke0og.net/ask-dave. There's a tip jar there too.

[@tophattommy2]

I've gone through a ton of videos to find something this basic. THANK YOU for a great video!!

[@PelDaddy]

These are incredibly helpful, as a new ham who is still waiting for his callsign to appear in the database! Thank you!

[@billashby2156]

Dave, I’ve been a HAM for just under 25 years. I just found your UTube posts, and I’m enjoying them Immensely! I Wish I would have been able to have Tutorials like yours when I was a “Budding HAM” (Hamlet?) Keep up the Excellent Work, Helping HAMS, Old and New, get things done Right the 1st Time! -73- Bill N6FFC

[@kk4dbi]

Thanks again Dave for another fine production! I hadn't thought about the transient voltage spikes coming from our power supplies at power off/on and the correct method of dealing with them. Learned something new!

[@bluewatermike9249]

Thanks, Mr. Casler, for all you do. Passed my extra exam today and am ready to set up my first shack, get my first hf radio etc. Looking forward to learning the next challenge and am able to do so knowing your resources are close by. I'm grateful. Mike KE8RDW.

[@mikerey02]

Great ideas. Will have to adopt this method for my house and negotiate where I can put my ham station. Great explanation. Thanks, Dave.

[@ianmeasures7355]

Having a hard time sorting through all of the advice offered online and your videos are always reliable, and very clear for this new HAM.

[@lowspeed2300]

I am returning to the amateur radio hobby since retirement and your videos are very helpful for me. Thanks.

[@DavidMitchell79]

The metal peacock on the wall though... LoL. My mom & dad had those in our living room! Everyone must have had those.

[@nkans]

Thanks, Dave. Thanks for the clear explanations and clarity in voice in the videos.

[@thecrobar6450]

Thanks Dave for all of your videos. They have helped me immensely! I have my Technician clasd license and I'm studying for the general class.

[@JohnCrawfordSchoolOfMusic]

Are used your entire video series on the tech preparation course and now here I am setting up my first shack! Thanks again and 73

[@davecasler]

+John Crawford You're very welcome! I'm glad you found the videos useful.

[@atx4dt]

Well spoken, intelligible, and considered. I like this guy :)

[@roberthildebrand9937]

Great review of rig setup. I plan to review it often as I set up my station. Thanks for your video's.

[@johnwmacdonald994]

Thank you, Dave. I"m finding these videos very helpful. I hope you keep doing them.

[@jriver64]

My goodness, this video is awesome. You really know how to convey a subject with ease, when all this time I thought it was a hard subject to really comprehend and put it to work. Thank you so much. By the way, keep using your hands, it bring much emphasis as to how much you really mean what you say and the experience that you share to your viewers. Thank you.

[@davecasler]

Thank you.

[@99somerville]

Excellent presentation. Step by step and easy to understand.

[@nickc8819]

Dave, I'm new to HAM and this is my first watching your videos, and I just subscribed. Very organized and informative. 73

[@captainkirk7881]

You are an AWESOME teacher!

[@GSGExtreme44]

You answered all of my questions - Thanks for posting this!

[@PaulaHighYoung]

Thanks, Dave. This was great. I'll be offering this link to a batch of new (& returning) hams at the Duke City Hamfest in Albuquerque. Thanks for all you do. Looking forward to meeting you soon. ~Paula, KZ5YL

[@dennismarble3591]

Wow, what a great job on this video! I'm hooked Dave and I am now subscribed and ready for more.

[@rebg3458]

This would have been super helpful when I was trying to get my home station set up. The manuals all just said “Connect the radio to the power supply but didn’t say HOW”. I finally found an article about ring terminals and crimped the wiring to make the connection. Fantastic information!! Thank you!

[@douglaswilliams6834]

Great video! I find that RG-58 is my favorite cable for HF patch cables inside the shack at 100 watts or less. It's very flexible and easy to work with. These days, I'm partial to LMR-240 for outside runs at HF. Should be good for at least 500 watts with a decent SWR. It's easier to work with than RG-213 or LMR-400.

[@vpv68vpv]

Excellent video, thanks for your work!

[@ewingsharp8916]

Well done video Thanks for building into the hobby🇺🇸👊

[@19.RYAN.82]

Loud and clear thanks very much sir.God bless

[@antonyharding5360]

Love itt, dave, very comprehensive.. You are the Man....

[@saifal-badri]

I love your videos Dave, All the HAM operators in your club are lucky to have you :D

[@globalclimate4744]

A Newby and enjoy your enthusiasm for the technology. Located in the outback mtn valley mid BC Canada. Have to encourage a friend to get into the waves and community, so appreciate the variety of radio types and uses, lots to learn and enjoy,

[@charliegoodson8247]

Your voice reminds me of David the Gnome. I enjoy your videos and your speaking. Thank you for all your videos.

[@geraldshultz4271]

Thank you Dave. I learn from you videos. Keep up the good work.

[@JaniceFBaca_Translator]

Some of the best explanations I’ve seen to date!

[@davecasler]

Thank you

[@Chriskelly19067]

Hi David, just wanted to say thank you for your videos. As a new ham who has no ham friends (just wanted to start into the hobby myself) these videos are extremely helpful and do not glaze over the basics that other more experienced folk may take for granted. I knew literally very little to nothing when originally finding your videos, but through a lot of research and watching I feel confident in setting up my home station. thanks and keep on doing it!

[@davecasler]

You're most welcome! I'm happy the videos are of assistance. 73, Dave

[@SPimentaTV]

Another awesome video! Very well explained! Can't wait to see the next video!

[@JohnS-zv7hf]

Well articulated. Thanks from someone just getting started.

[@prepperpov5852]

This is exactly the video that I’m looking for, sir. Perfect & thank you

[@mixxndj]

Wow! Great video. Thank you!

[@dangoodwin2948]

Thanks Dave for the great videos!

[@BlackDogBlues4961]

Thanks Dave, setting up my first HF station in a few weeks. This video and the one on grounding gave me some food for thought. Still planning and learning, but getting a better picture of how to set this up.

[@davecasler]

Good luck with your first HF station! Perhaps we'll meet on the air. I'm mostly on 20 meters though my last QSO was on 40. 73

[@rvnmedic1968]

Another great video. Thanks, Dave. 73 From Upstate NY KD2MCH

[@starlight1308]

Just passed the test and don't have my call sign yet but I'm looking into equipment and these videos are just what I was hoping to find. Thank you for sharing!

[@jasonwatson2808]

Thank you Mr. Casler! 73

[@gatesmw50]

Dave: At 4:42 the powers that be relegated me to the basement, and 34 years of Ham Radio later I'm still there LOL!

[@BobWestWA8YCD]

Good job, Dave. Glad you're doing this. We encourage all hams to share their experience with newer hams, and even new hams might learn something they can share with older hams. For example, a brand new Tech can learn how to do Satellites; older hams might have never tried it. The NEW HAMS can teach the older guys! Sharing knowledge and skills is where it's at! THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO, DAVE!

[@davecasler]

***** You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@adj168]

very helpful concise and well explained. i am new to ham and needed to know more esp. getting license. much thanks :)

[@wb5rue]

The steel wool also keeps the critters from coming in through the holes. It's amazing how a mouse can make it through a very small hole. My "Shack" is in the "extra" cloak closet in our bedroom. It's insulated with polyurethane panels on all walls and the ceiling for sound absorption so I can chase that wee-hour DX station. It has a vent into the ceiling for cooling, it can get quite warm with rigs, computers and amps going. It's not large, it's about 5'X7' and can be locked to keep the kids out.

[@ellenj9969]

Really great vids, and thank you so much!!

[@mikec8378]

Hi Dave and thanks for the insights. They are helpful to a new ham with no Elmer to lean on. I am with Anthony re: setting up a rig in a vehicle, but probably with a different slant. I live in a Winabego 35 ft. diesel pusher. Most of the time I am in a permanent location and hooked up to shore power. But, from time to time, I disconnect and take a trip. So, I not only have to consider a "base station" but the mobile concept as well. While en route, I am on rubber tires going down the road, when parked, on steel levelers in contact with the ground. Plus, electrically, I live in a metal shell. I am not so much concerned with how to route cables, or power supply, but more with grounding, lightning protection, portable external antennas vs. a permanent arrangement at home base, etc. and how these relate to my particular living conditions. I obtained my Tech. class -self study only- 4 years ago, but have not been on the air much for several reasons. Time has come to use that which has been granted me. Hope you can help. 73

[@AnthonyDeBattista]

Wow! this was very useful! I learnt a lot from you.

[@jmursa959]

Thank you. So helpful. I took notes my idea is to fix a radio with a beginner kit.

[@rumbai08]

Thanks Dave!

[@BazHodgin]

Well done ....many thanks!

[@DJChrisArgueta]

Awesome station. 73

[@larryirons8746]

These are very well-made videos. Thanks for helping!

[@davecasler]

+Larry Irons You're welcome!

[@justinb.5822]

Thank you so much for this informative video with excellent visual aids! -- W5NRP

[@ohaya1]

Excellent video!

[@davemarriott9332]

Excellent video Dave. Liked & Subscribed

[@OysterPir8]

This video is a work of art.

[@tom_olofsson]

This is great stuff. I wish the guys at my local ham club could give such concise answers.

[@daveworkman2013]

Awesome Thanks for the videos...and my wife is telling me "not another hobby"

[@juliemiller5181]

You are awesome! Thank you!

[@tomw5vlt119]

I know you’re doing a Reference station series currently... but relative to this video, noticeably and critically absent from this and every other station video are: 1 ) bus bar 2 ) lightning arresters especially if in an area prone to lightning 3 ) grounding, bonding, chokes ... for RF and electrical mitigation 4 ) mast solution - this one alone has kept my own first shack from being completed and off the air for months on end while EVERYTHING else is ready to go. For first timers, we need to see all the above, what they look like, how they are sourced, assembled, connections ...in detail to connect the dots and close huge gaps for first timers.

[@bobjangro3602]

Very Informative video, thank you!

[@stewartperry7797]

As a new ham (KN6MCT) browsing various tubers.. you’re very informative and much less a salesman which causes me to subscribe

[@thenar]

Thanks Dave, that was helpful.

[@johnkidd1694]

Thanks, Dave.

[@frankiii4587]

Great Show, Sir!

[@w.rustylane5650]

I got my start in single sideband CB radio. I used to modify single sideband CB radios to go above 1-40 channels and unlock the clarifier. I'd supply the clarifier with 8 volts and reprogram the PLL chip with either a high (+5 volts) or a low (0 volts). Now the only Ham radio I have is a Yaesu FT-4VR I got from the local Ham club for passing the test. It's only a mono band, 2 meter HT and I built a 1/4 wave ground plane out of some old romex 12 AWG wire I cut apart. Using my old RG-58U CB coax cable from the antenna (20 feet in the air) to the HT. So far my wife tolerates the coax coming in from outside through a crack in the door, but when it gets too cold I have to shut the door. I'm hoping maybe my dad will buy me a Baofeng dual band radio so I can get onto the 70 cm band as well. I have plans to make a 2 meter folded dipole 4 element yagi when I can save up enough to buy the PVC pipe. I have all the other supplies to make it with. Trying to hook up an Astatic D-104 to my HT but I'm having difficulty doing that 'cause I cannot find a proper schematic on the Yaesu FT-4VR 'cause they ain't made anymore.

[@georgegarcia9396]

thank you for sharing this

[@hopefuldad]

Hi Dave. I recently ran my Icom 7300 to (2) 6V golf cart batteries with a Harbor Freight 100 watt solar panel kit, with included charge controller. The first stop off of the batteries is an mfj fused power strip with power pole connection slots.

[@jikemenkins7098]

This is an excellent video! I'm sub'd and im going to go start at Video 1 right now.

[@peternilsson7582]

Thanks, from Sweden!

[@mewrongway]

I seen that HW-16 in the basement. I started in a basement with a Hot Water 16 in 1979! 👍

[@FTORRES.JR.]

Thanks Dave your video's are very helpful I just subscribe to your channel I like the fact that you talk very clearly and you don't rush through your words. I'm a newbie trying to get my technician license wish me luck please I live in New York City area,Take care.

[@davecasler]

+F TORRES,JR. Thank you. I'm glad you're finding the videos helpful. Good luck with your studying and becoming a ham! 73, Dave, KEØOG

[@gort400]

Very Helpful! Tks

[@Amyr61]

Videos very helpful!

[@dallen052066]

Finally a,video that I understand.

[@lpark8]

Thank you!

[@thecrobar6450]

Thanks again, Jim from West Virginia (KD8GKP)

[@bethlukin463]

Thank you thank you from this newbie!

[@PLB4082]

Thanks Dave, I'm a new ham...this video was extremely helpful. I'm looking forward to Episode 4.

[@davecasler]

Paul, I'm delighted you found the video helpful. There are 35 Ask Dave videos so far. Check out the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL0R9jy9LZw_2Je-1Td9Xb2S8-Vl_bFTGG

[@PLB4082]

Thanks for the link...your videos are keeping me up late at night...that is just fine. I passed my technician exam in September and am going for the General in December...your videos are helping me set up a station and get ready for the General. Much appreciated.

[@DonzLockz]

Great info for the new hams Dave. The US mains power cable colors seem so wrong for us Aussies.😮⚡️😄

[@richarddotter9681]

great advice

[@adelarsen9776]

The term RG as a prefix for RF coaxial cable designation comes from the US Navy. They first used it and called it Radio Guide. They needed flexibility and parallel line just wasn't cutting the mustard. Nowadays we have, as an example, Radio Guide 58 (RG58) feeder transmission line.

[@davecasler]

+Ade Larsen Indeed that is true. And the U that is sometimes appended stands for Utility, e.g., RG-8U. There's an article in the August 2001 issue of QST on the history of coax cable.

[@adelarsen9776]

David Casler I'll look it up, thanks Dave.

[@claudioxw]

Great video!!

[@jesstineo]

Thank you Dave I'll go ahead and put it back in line with my 225 amp I'm running .. by the way I love your videos I just started to watch them yesterday.. Km4wng J.Tineo I'm in the middle of trying to get my rig up and running in my HOA , house here in Florida

[@davecasler]

I may have misunderstood. Do you have an external power amplifier? Make sure that the LDG is rated to handle that amount of power.

[@barndweller4573]

I wish these were around when I got into it, but then again there was no internet. We had dirt and we were happy!

[@mcpocketsgarage2832]

Good job

[@OjiOtaku]

2021 - Still helpful!

[@brucelitteaur7623]

Just got my Technician License 2 days ago. Great Info. Thanks.

[@davecasler]

Congratulations and welcome to ham radio!

[@indridcold8433]

I set up a vertical dipole for a 12, 11, and 10 meter antenna. It is fed in the middle, of course. It is set on the crest of the roof with a pole coming out horizontally from the apex with the vertical dipole on the end. It looks strange but it seems the person I set it up for is happy with it. He also uses it on 6 meters with a tuner.

[@rokroll]

Good stuff man!

[@annstrange988]

nice and informative thans for the ifo

[@ChunkyPhattz]

love the video's. Thank you.

[@mikemazz8838]

very helpful to a future Ham

[@spotremovers]

TNX for the videos, Dave. Nicely done and very informative. 73 KG7TCW

[@brentjohnson6654]

Another great video. Informative as always. As a newly “minted” Technician & General I am looking for feed line and shack setup. Your L-shaped desk will fit my needs perfectly. I already have a external box with a pair of LMR400 that feeds lightning arrestors in the external panel and using a low voltage box inside with a metal plate with a couple of N-type bulkhead connectors. So I am trying to decide between LMR400 & RG213 for VHF/UHF feed line. Bonding the ROHN 25G tower in a better fashion is also on my list (they only put one ground on a single leg). I am looking forward to a coming up with a good grounding/bonding plan as well. So if you have any advice on feed line let me know. 73!

[@mattw3504]

Just got my tech license on june 28, 2019 about two weeks ago already set up my home station but i liked this live very much only 2nd video of yours that i saw so far getting ready to put a radio in my car but don't know a thing about how to do it i will now go to see if you have any mobile install videos thanke for the videos will definitely check out your website thanks again 73 MATTHEW kn4vlt

[@gwhizz34]

Hi Dave, let me first start by thanking you for your priceless work (really service) that you do on the subject, It has been an absolute god sent and I have listened to most all of them please do keep up this great service. I have a question that I am hoping that you can assist me in making up my mind. I recently acquired my Tech license about a year ago and now my General class and in considering my powering options i was able to obtain for free an APC 3000 V/A UPS can you tell me if you think that I should use it as a UPS only or just as an Inverter? I certainly hope that you have the time to consider it but in the meantime best wishes to you and yours.