[GCARC] Equipment Question

Sun Aug 22 22:33:26 EDT 2021

Hi Chris AD2CS,
	Jim N2GXJ will provide a great introduction to GCARC.
	Let me weigh in on the 2 band question.  This advice is free (and may be worth just as much as it costs!)  Anyway, I would advise 40 meters as the best QRP band, but be aware that it tends to be a night time band, which is fine if you plan to be on in the evenings.  After that, I would select 20 meters as the second band, good for those daytime QSOs during the weekend.  I assume you will be working phone, rather than CW, which is a bit tough, but doable.  80 meters and 160 meters tend to have higher noise levels, not so good for QRP.
	Future choice of equipment will be dictated by your interests, so why not wait a while to see what tickles your fancy?  If you focus on VHF contests, there will be no point in purchasing a very expensive HF rig.  On the other hand, you might want to chase DX, in which case you will want a better HF rig.  But here is a truism:  put your money first into good, efficient antennas rather than expensive radios.  Full size, resonant dipoles at least 1/2 wavelength above ground would be a good start.  Good antennas on a basic radio will outperform crappy antennas on an excellent radio.
	Also, a fun part of the hobby is getting out in the world and going portable at, for example, Field Day, Public Service events and Fox Hunts (i.e. hidden transmitter hunts).  Jim is sure to tell you about the Fox Hunts that he organizes.
	73 Karl W2KBF

-----Original Message-----
From: gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Jim n2gxj
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2021 9:15 PM
To: Christopher Prioli <cpprioli at gmail.com>
Cc: GCARC <gcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [GCARC] Equipment Question

Hi Chris, welcome to the club and to the magic of wireless!
I'm "just down the road", near the Washington Township high school.
I'll send a direct 1:1 email after this group one, and we can continue the dialog there!
Jim n2gxj

On Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 7:05 PM Christopher Prioli <cpprioli at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hello Folks...
>
> First off, please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Chris 
> Prioli and I am a brand new ham located in Pitman.  You may have seen 
> my name listed as the newest member of GCARC and listed as an Amateur Extra.
> Please don't let that fool you.  I am completely new to this -- I just 
> took all three exams in one night, passing all three.  Needless to 
> say, I have a lot to learn, which brings me to the point of this e-mail.
>
> I am looking for equipment suggestions, specifically as related (right 
> now) to transceivers.  Let me tell you what I've got going on.  I have 
> a pair of kits on order -- one is a 75 meter rig and the other is a 
> dual-band set. As packaged, it is a 160 meter & 80 meter set. However, 
> it can easily be re-configured to operate on any two bands, choosing 
> from 160 meters, 80 meters, 40 meters, 30 meters, 20 meters, and 17 
> meters. My question right now involves this set -- specifically, which two bands would be my best
> option in this area?   I also have a (started) µBitx HF all-band kit
> coming, sent to me gratis by a ham friend in Missouri.  All of these 
> sets are QRP -- 10W or so max, but with a linear, that won't bother me much.
>
> As to antennas, I was given a new 2 meter Yagi from Arrow Antennas, 
> which I plan to put up on a mast of about 30 feet.  That should work 
> well with my current HT, a Baofeng BF-F8HP 8W unit.  Sitting outdoors, 
> I can hit the Pitman repeater with no problem.  I have not yet tried 
> it from indoors. I might do that Tuesday for the noontime net.
>
> I welcome any and all advice or suggestions.  Thanks much for your time...
>
> 73
>
> -- Chris   AD2CS
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Christopher P Prioli
> 648 W Holly Ave
> Pitman, NJ  08071
> 1-856-689-6783
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