[CQ] Hey guys

[Jack]

Hi Adam, et al,
Consider spending a little bit more and having a 100 watts radio:  Yaesu FT-857D.  I have both and frankly, I think the FT-817 is nice for its portability but it falls short in receiver sensitivity, idle current draw, and the fact that it's a QRP (<= 5 watts output) radio. 

I also build my own radios, but I can understand you need something sooner than later.  Pick up a used FT-857D and you can take it anywhere you can take an 817.  Add a Lithium-ion Nano Phosphate battery pack and you have a very light power source from which you can run almost full output for several hours.  I use my 857 for HF as well as VHF/UHF (and you can of course do this with the 817, but with only 5watts).  For instance, on Saturday mornings I bounce WSJT signals off the ionized trails of meteors on 6meters using nothing more than 45watts, a Moxon (two-element Yagi up maybe 15 feet) and a lot of luck and patience. Slowly working towards Moonbounce.

Are you going to be doing mostly portable, fixed, mobile, maritime-mobile???

All this said, the best thing you can do for your station is put up a decent antenna.

72/73 and Good DX!
Jack, K6JEB
http://www.k6jeb.com/

***SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION WARNING***:  While I'm at it, I should mention I'm giving a talk "CONFESSIONS OF A WSJT JUNKIE" on Friday at the East Bay Amateur Radio Club meeting 7:30pm at the El Sobrante Public Library (4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante) 


________________________________
 From: Adam J. O'Donnell <adam.j.odonnell at gmail.com>
To: cq at lists.noisebridge.net 
Sent: Monday, March 5, 2012 2:16 PM
Subject: [CQ] Hey guys
 
Jonathan and Mitch pointed this list out to me.  So, the earthquake
this morning kinda woke me up and made me think that I should do two
things:

- Get a radio station up and running again.  Thinking of an FT-817 or
something similar.  Thoughts?
- Become a VE and help give tests.  I have an extra, so I don't face
any testing restrictions.

Would you guys be up for administering tests at Noisebridge?

Thanks guys

Adam / N3RCS

-- 
adam j. o'donnell, phd
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