Silly Things I believed When I first Got Licensed

[@W7LDT]

Happy to see you back this week. After your last video, I thought we would never see you again.!

[@KM4ACK]

I barely survived :-)

[@joshuagarrett4879]

He kept his patreon receipts.

[@Deano_K5MPG]

His wife posted this, he’s not here any longer 😂

[@tomdonahoe3539]

"I just didn't know what I didn't know." That is honost humility from an extremely intelligent Ham! And, those are very wise words to live by generally. Thanks for sharing. This segment might just save some of us newbies a bit of grief & angst along the way. Thank you & 73.

[@mattxoverbey]

I felt that with the antenna analyzer. I picked up a rig expert stick when I was still a tech and even then some people I knew thought it was pointless when I could just borrow one from someone else until I got my general. It turned out to be the best investment I could have gotten for my antennas. Not one regret from buying that.

[@jjrobiso]

just used my nano vna to diagnose my 2m ed fong. swr was way off. i'm just a technician for the moment, but that helped me understand the principles and procedure for when i upgrade to general. working on 40m dipole for listening to js8call next.

[@Rusted_Link]

In reply to my other comment. I often times will set my base radio with the 45' x300a on top of it to X-BR. Then while visiting friends on the GC (golf cart) I can be a heap big talker on 52 from many many fars away with just a 5 watt HT. I've used it out to 2.5 miles with great success. X-BR is very beneficial to me. Might be to others once they understand the use possibilities.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

I don't really remember what all I believed back when I got my Novice 61 and a half years ago. But at our club social events (weekly breakfast, Saturday bull sessions, I get to hear questions that imply what others don't know. Spending big bucks on a commercial antenna won't necessarily make things better. A 1:1 SWR is not much better than a 2:1 SWR. Non resonant antennas work. The antenna that you can get up into the air beats the one that you can't. A manual tuner requires that you adjust it often, but the match will be better. And if you've done more than memorize the question pool, and can do asthmatic, then you rig's SWR indicator and a measuring tape will stand in for that antenna analyzer nine times out of ten. (We didn't have antenna analyzers in 19963.)

[@Rusted_Link]

I disagree on the Cross-Band, a must for guys that travel (and don't want to be bound to your vehicle). I use mine all of the time because I talk a lot on 52. It's a feature worth having in my humble-ish opinion.

[@cidcolead1115]

Spot on. It was a big expense to purchase the MFJ-269 back in the day, but I have picked up expensive antennas that people threw out cause they could not make them work. My ground mounted Hustler 4BTV build from trash got me WAS and DXCC on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters without a tower or rotator.

[@dandypoint]

Good info. I have been on the air over 60 years and the only antennas I have ever bought were large multi element Yagis as obtaining aluminum and fittings to build from scratch was too hard. At that I only had them up a short time before I went back to wires. At age 14 I started with no SWR meter at all, and eventually built a Heathkit SWR bridge. I used and am still using a MFJ 259 as it is quick and easy. The nanoVNA is also a tool I use but more as a final check than when I am building and tuning antennas. One myth is SWR. 1:1 is not necessary. Usually anything less than 2:1 satisfies the transmitter. After that it depends on the matched loss in the length of coax being used. There is a loss if the cable is perfectly matched and SWR will increase the losses but usually not much. With 50 foot of good cable, loss is not significant if the transmitter is happy. The ARRL Antenna book and its info and charts is probably the absolute best tool for a beginner and really even for someone who has been a ham 60 years!

[@arnoldgrubbs2005]

Its been a while since I got licensed, packet radio was just getting started by a group down in Arizona who were building some circuit board kits you could assemble to transmit packets with. Also I had an SWR meter I could borrow from my dad, and I built a RX noise bridge to use as an antenna testing tool. One thing I liked when it came out was cross band repeat in mobiles and HT's. I used to ride bicycle with a group of hams from around the country on a ride across Iowa. It was about 500 miles in a week. It was limited to 15,000 riders. We had some years maybe 12 up to 20 riders in our group, and 2 support trucks/vans with bike trailers that would follow the route. Most had 2M HT's and an antenna on the bike, and would need talk in info to our 1/2 way point stop or the over night camp area. Instead of having to stay at the truck, it was nice to put the X-band repeater on and carry a yasue VX-2 around. It allowed the driver to go into the town for lunch, RR breaks, and just to look around, while still being able to use the mobile for talk in. Used that system for maybe 4-5 years until texting and smart phones were easier to send out map address positions..

[@davidsradioroom9678]

An excellent video! Every new tech/general should see this video.

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks!!

[@aqdrobert]

New ham bought antenna that "violates laws of physics". When it didn't work, he gave it to another ham, who passed it along to me, then I gave it to another ham. Analyzer proved it was a barely radiating dummy load with a 100:1 SWR.

[@jackK5FIT]

I have to thank you for your last video first. My wife watched it and decided Santa would NOT be bringing me another radio this year 😒 (I don't need anything anyway). I got my Tech ticket in 2020 and built a VHF/UHF open stub J-pole on the Arrow model. I did actually invest in an inexpensive Surecom VHF/UHF tester and I got lucky with the antenna with an swr at 146.000 of almost 1:1. I got my General a month later and built a couple of inverted V's. A 40M with loading coils I built to add 80M and it worked great. Since then I have built lots of dipoles and EFHW (I like EFHW for portable) and continue to play around with all sorts of building projects. I got my Extra in April of 2022 because I had set that as a goal from the beginning. I started with a Baofeng as well and still have it but seldom use it. Thanks for a great video again.

[@stuarthall3874]

A myth I believed: That portable operating is about getting on the air. For me know, portable operating is about learning and practicing and relearning how to set up efficient and effective and adaptable portable stations. If I only have time to make one or two contacts, that is still a successful operation.

[@kevin_wb0poh]

Oh - and Myth 5 is also correct. My go kit always changes, The only thing in common with all of them is a foldable wagon to carry the gear.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

I have a modular approach to my go bag. Every radio has its own. I can just grab what I need and go.

[@dougbas3980]

Very good. I agree no cross band needed yet (after 11 years LOL). Just getting into APRS and it looks very useful. I use backpack for field deployments with a protective frame on the radio. I have one for FT857d and one for ICOM IC-705. I am 77yo, so the packs can still be heavy. A go box would just add some more weight. Glad to be one of your subscribers (and Tech Prepper too). Best wishes, Doug N8VY

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks Doug

[@KS0JD]

I think a Ham operator has a toolbox. He equips himself with tools from the toolbox he needs to complete the tasks for that operation. The tools he needs are based on his past experience on previous like operations. Maybe even create checklists for each operation type. Thanks for the video! 73

[@markn4bcd227]

Spot on Jason, especially about the weight of a Go-box. I bought someone else's DC to daylight box and regretted it immediately. Finally sold and built my own. N4BCD

[@brianjones7257]

Here are things I believed. 1. I believed that all ham radio operators built their own equipment. No one around here did. 2. I also believed that ham radio was a very technical hobby with smart and knowledgeable people. I learned that was the exception rather than the rule very quickly. 3. I believed that my local club would be a fun place and that they would have many exciting and interesting activities. I learned quickly that they mostly talked about doing things that never happened. 4. The other thing I believed is all the hype that ham radio was useful and needed in an emergency and would save the day. After seeing how unprepared the ham radio community was I learned quickly that they weren't needed and certainly weren't saving anything. I don't mean to be pessimistic but after 20 years of being a ham these are my observations.

[@paularon9423]

Lost the Elmer's. I agree with most of your comments . 73

[@holotape]

Great video! Buying an antenna analyzer is an excellent investment. It will save you so much money and headaches.

[@JBryant1981]

I haven't used crossbanding other than testing it out. I can see the use for it though.

[@bwillan]

Do you have a video on your modular approach for your 'go box' setups? I am working towards my amateur radio license in Canada and I would prefer to spend my radio equipment budget wisely.

[@KM4ACK]

Not a video yet. The main thing is to create a checklist of ALL of your gear down to the smallest detail. With that said, I do have certain modules that contain related items that stay together. For example, a tool module. No need to list every tool in there on the checklist. One entry for Tool Module covers it. Everyone is going to do things a bit differently. Go with what works for you.

[@hammathguy3995]

Back toward the end of the last millennia, MFJ was blowing out the MFJ-259 to make room for the 259b. After 25 year of using a SWR bridge I had to have one. Even with the discount it cost a pretty penny. And worth every one of them. One of the best investments I ever made. By today's standards it is big, bulky, and heavy. 25 years on and I still use it. It simply does the job it was designed to do.

[@ChrisKD9YSW]

Great video!!!

[@MrTrentCurtis]

You've hit it out of the park!

[@kevin_wb0poh]

I wish having an antenna analyzer when I was first a Novice. (That's right - I held a Novice 😁). Antenna analyzers were $50,000 back when I was first a ham. (Yes I am dating myself). That being said, Myth 2 was spot on! I had a LOT of DX contacts with a simple dipole and even with a pair of RF whips fed as a dipole. It isn't perfect, but any wire outside is better than not being on the air.

[@Tailfeatherz]

Cross band repeat is great if you rag chew with some friends and you want to be outside rather than be stuck at your radio location. I've used enough that I won't buy a radio without it.

[@KM4ACK]

That's a perfect use case 👍

[@N2EWSRadio]

I have a radio that can do it, but I have never used cross-band repeat.

[@GaryN4TRF]

What's your preference for an APRS HT ?

[@KM4ACK]

Currently the Kenwood D75 *_IF_* you will use all of it's features. If you only beacon your position, save some $ and get the Yaesu FT5

[@anthonymarino4260]

ALWAYS LEARNING

[@TheMicroTrak]

I did it because they told me that chicks found Hams hot...I was mislead.

[@KM4ACK]

😂😜

[@Mahoney5150]

Biggest problem most people have Ham Radio License. FCC data base doesn't redact peoples full name and address. You talk about politics and someone doesn't like who you support or your stance. They can use FCC data base to find out where you live. PO Box doesn't help, they still have your full name and city/state. Don't forget you getting Ham License, you gave federal government permission to enter your home to inspect your equipment.

[@d.j.roberts187]

I really want to like aprs.. but when people say, “there’s so much more”, they only include messaging as an example. Can you recommend any videos showing something besides gps and messaging? I’ve seen the weather stations.

[@KM4ACK]

I can do better than that. Here's an entire playlist of different things you can do with APRS kzbin.info/aero/PL1QTYT4Qo9cav3oWl3BBZ8kopezkfNKYm

[@MeOnTech]

Nice

[@WD0OMHamRadio]

8:10 now I'm picturing an entire separate sub-hobby for raising, training, and keeping radio-mules.

[@KM4ACK]

😂😂😂

[@genebodenberger]

Mike (Ham Radio Tube) needs to watch the very end of this video.

[@oldgeekster1]

Multiple go kits beat the britches off of go boxes. OBTW, get any biscuits in the morning yet? 👍

[@KM4ACK]

@@oldgeekster1 😂yep. Finally got out of the dog house

[@mcgrath16511]

Excellent video! I have one cross and radio that to be honest, the only reason is I got a really great deal on it.. I set it up, saw that yup it works,, that was it! But I guess it is there “just in case”.. great job,,’73.

[@akiddoo8113]

Battery power- often over stated and rated.

[@markdeweese9288]

Mp1 supper antenna

[@ChrisRomp]

#2 1000%

[@ivandubinsky1857]

In 40 years of hamming, I never owned an antenna analyzer. An SWR bridge always did it for me.

[@HamRadioN0CKL]

One i believed- "if you get your technician you can have fun on 10m!" (Nobody on 10m) -get General and then fun really begins

[@James-hy8gu]

These aren't myths. It's just you carelessly spending money. If you use common sense and research before what you do. You can understand what you're going to need to get.

[@steveblanchard7293]

Sorry no idea what the hell you are going on about