As part of my Search and Rescue training they encourage you to get a HAM amateur radio license. Last weekend at SAR (Search and Rescue) City – explained here, I took the Technician class test and am now officially licensed by the FCC as KI6MDR. The idea is, that other than regular communications, if there is a large scale disaster (I live in SoCal so read that as “earthquake”) we can all still all communicate. I picked up a nice little handheld unit, the Yaesu VX-7R to start. See where it goes from there.
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[…] I posted a few weeks back that I had picked up my amateur radio (HAM) license. The basic license is Technician Class and I was issued the call sign KI6MDR. I felt like I needed a good personal challenge and had a some free time so I decided to see if I could get all the amateur class licenses. About two weeks after my first license I found two testing dates for the next two classes taking place within a week of each other. I figured I’d try to cram all this into a confined period of time and give it a shot. If I succeeded great! If not, at least I’d tried. […]
And did you know that there is a handy little book about your new VX-7? Check it out at: http://www3.sympatico.ca/januscs/vx7/index.html
And yes, I have a conflict of interest here -I wrote the book!
The book is also available from Universal Radio: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/books/3214.html
Cheers
…Hugh, VE3AYR
Thanks Hugh! I had seen that and your comment put me over the top. Just ordered it. Do you know if anyone makes a nice “cheat sheet” for the unit when you don’t want to carry the manual or your book? Something I stuff in my SAR pack.
Thanks!
Hi Michael
N6FN has a cheat sheet type product. You can see them at: http://www.niftyaccessories.com/Yaesu_cards.htm.
My Reference is pocket size, although it is abou 1/2 inch thick!
Happy hamming!
…Hugh, VE3AYR
Thanks Hugh! Grabbed the Nifty product(s) as well.
Looking forward to lots of helpful reading.
Here are a couple of tips for new hams with VX-7R radios.
VX-7R and all Yeasu Users. Careful with the Yeasu Feature called WIRES. Read the book about this subject and know how to turn it off. Sympton, your signal is preceeded by a short beep. Turn it off by pressing the atomic bomb key at the bottom left of the keyboard.
Learn about the advantages of using Cross Band Repeat when working a shelter incident. With this setup, your hand held will work fine with very low power extending battery life past 9 hours otherwise keep an EXTRA battery fully charged each month. Rotate the batteries through the radio every month and they will last much longer.
Carry the extra cost ‘LONG’ antenna for extended range. The stock ‘short’ antenna should be used inside shelters for safety while the ‘long’ antenna is used for extended range.
Good luck …… Bill acj
Hello
The Diamond SRH77CA SMA antenna that was highly recommended to us by a local amateur radio store and wow did it make a world of difference. I do not yet have my HAM licence but would hope to start working on it soon. Any idea or tips on any help with the Tech test? Thanks, Milan