[PPRAANet] Newby as of 4-12-08

Tue Apr 15 01:17:17 EDT 2008

Hello PPRAA list,

I am overwhelmed with the heart-felt response of this list to congratulate
me and welcome me into the fold of ham radio! Your sheer kindness has spoken
volumes to me. Thank you!

I really do not know why ham radio eluded me in the 46 years I have been
alive. I have missed much.

As a means of allowing you all to understand who I am, I submit this very
brief bio:

Born: Denver, Colorado on June 4, 1961
Places I have lived:
Denver, CO
San Jose, CA
Houston, TX
Pasadena, TX (10-23-1989: 3/4 miles from Phillips Petro Plant Explosion,
claimed 23 lives, some never identified - vaporized. And also Tropical Storm
Allison in summer 1990) Crosby, TX (severe freeze - broke all records for
Texas in Feb. 1996 - power outages galore) Woodland Park, CO Divide, CO
(Lived there during Hayman fire on Lower Twin Rocks Road) Colorado Springs,
CO (present)

At least three (3) crisis points, but no ham radio. Guess I know better now!

Chris W. Stark
(waiting for call sign)
Office: (719) 391-5021   Cell: (719) 649-3835 
Fax: (719) 391-0370   e-mail: ATU19 at mho.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Dick-w0raa [mailto:w0raa at comcast.net] 
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 6:56 PM
To: ATU19 at mho.com
Subject: Re: [PPRAANet] Newby as of 4-12-08

Hi Chris,

Congratulations on getting your license.  It's a great accomplishment.  I've
been licensed since 1963.  Ok, so I'm old, but that's OK.  :)  Again
congratulations.

There is a wide variety of radios to choose from on the market these days. 
If you want a radio that is capable of mobile as well as a base station, the
FT-897D is an excellent choice.  It covers all the bands you can use and
when you upgrade to General and Extra, it will have what you need.  The
FT-897 is also a great rig, but a tad too big for mobile operation.  It is
basically an enlarged FT-857D.  I would suggest that you look closely at the
857D.  Icom has the 706 which is similar in size and an excellent radio.  In
my opinion, the 857D has a better receiver, but that would be challenged by
706 users.  Hi Hi.  If you want an all mode/all band, the 857D would do what
you want and it will operate from 5 watts to 100 watts.  I used to have one
and I know it will work a lot of DX.

I hope you will continue on and upgrade and also take the time to learn CW. 
CW is a great mode and will get through in some of the worst conditions.

Have fun and be sure you let us all know your new call when you get it.  You
can see my shack and read my bio on www.qrz.com and then type in w0raa.  I
hang out on 146.52 Simplex, 2 meters.

73,

Dick
W0RAA

PS:  You might talk to Jess Miley, K0TAA in Florence, CO.  Jess's phone
number is 719-784-3040, Miley's Radio.  Jess is an old horse trader and many
of us have done business with him over the years.  He'll beat just about
anybody's price.  He operate his business out of his home in Florence.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris W. Stark" <ATU19 at mho.com>
To: "PPRAA net discussion list" <ppraanet at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 4:06 PM
Subject: [PPRAANet] Newby as of 4-12-08

> Greetings all,
>
> I just passed my technicians test on 4-12-2008, so this is quite new to 
> me.
> I have much to learn. I just sent my PPRAA member application today in the
> mail.
>
> I am looking at radios and what would be the most practical. Though I 
> cannot
> talk on all channels now with a technician license, that will likely 
> change
> soon, for I plan on passing the general and extra tests soon. With this in
> mind, it would be great to find a mobile radio that I was able to access 
> all
> Ham radio frequencies. This radio would be used in my truck, and then used
> in my office at home, as well. I realize this may be somewhat pricey, but 
> I
> want to do this right the first time around. Does anyone have any used
> equipment for sale that would be similar to the Yaesu FT897D, or FT857D?
> Just putting my feelers out right now. Frankly, the models I just 
> mentioned
> may not be the best fit for all I know. But, I do want to get something 
> that
> does it all and can be mobile in my truck and also be used as a base 
> station
> in my office at home.
>
> Respectfully yours,
>
> Chris W. Stark
> Colorado Springs, CO
> (waiting on call sign)
>
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