hanson (01/21/83)
I am a new ham, mainly interested in digital communications, though
I suppose I wouldn't mind ragchewing, if it were about rigs or
computers. Despite Novice standing, I plan to upgrade quickly, and
I have a severely limited budget. With this in mind, I have several
questions...
1. Digital communications take place mainly on VHF, so I'm told.
What frequencies ? What modems/format/protocol ? (At least
here in Chicagoland...)
2. Why are there no multiband VHF/UHF rigs - in the same way
that MF/HF rigs are multiband (reminder, 160m = MF)? If I can
afford only one rig, I'd like it to cover all frequencies of
interest to me, so I'm not left out when a new (scarce)
digital source goes on the air. One rig for 160m-10m and
another for 6m, 2m, 220, 440 - pretty neat idea I think.
Sure it'd be twice as expensive as a monoband rig - but it
would cover four bands ! Or even three bands would be an
alternative...
3. Why are there so few 220 rigs advertised in QST and '73 ? It
seems that every 2m rig has a 440 counterpart, but no 220 !
Just the ICOM 3A(T). I'm confused, especially since I'm told
that 220 is a popular choice for digital (2m is too crowded,
440 is too costly and lagging in power/propagation). Where
are you 220 guys ? Stand up, please !
4. I have 2 Hy-Gain CB boards, and have read that 10 meter AM is
alive. I listen on the club rig and don't hear much. Why ?
(time-of-day = noon, maybe that's why). It seems to me that a
$ 7.00 rig and a homebrew linear (oh, 40 watts or so...)
would be a very popular, LOW COST way to get on the air.
Articles, anyone (I have only a few)? What bandplan for 10m
AM ? Any personal experiences on the net about converting the
Hy-Gain board: what am I getting into ?
5. Also, why 10 FM ? Is it really worth the extra hassle to
convert to FM? If so, why don't I hear ANY activity at all
here ? Even so, there are only a few channels reserved by
agreement, doesn't seem like much of a choice...
6. Commercial FM broadcasters use stacked circularly-polarized
bays to increase low-angle radiation (hence their ERP), and
maintain omnidirectional coverage. Why are there only
vertical omni's and horizontal beams in the ham world ? Is no
one interested in gain AND omni coverage ?
7. Where can I see HF antenna types rated together for
performance, directionality, gain, cost, etc ?
How about some Elmers to the rescue... R. J. Hanson KA9OQD
ihuxp!hanson
BTL IW 1A-407