Amateur Radio New Hobby For Winter ?

[bobhowe]

Hi as per title I am thinking about a new hobby for winter as one member on here says I have breathed too much soldering fumes working on DAC90As . What set is recommend now ? and what Meter band is currently active ? and as I will be only listening what Licence should I get if I decide to Transmit kind regards Bob

[Mike Watterson]

There is no need now for Morse for HF, and the licence is in stages affecting the power allowed. Nothing needed to listen except a radio and aerial.

The active band(s) depend on time of day, distance required, east/west or trans-equatorial, weather (especially 10m to 2m), solar activity etc.

I had GI8JTR (VHF only) in 1970s and then EI9FEB in Ireland. The Morse requirement for HF (160m to 10m) was dropped (dropped earlier for marine radio), different years depending on country. Various bands have been added over the years.

Really a minimum is two aerials for HF, one about 20m long (but best not a half-wave on any band) and one about 3m to 6m long that can be vertical (and even a CB base aerial with matching coil removed). Manual or automatic aerial "tuner" (really a match box, it doesn't tune).

There are a very wide variety of radio sets depending on budget and interests.
160m to 10m only TX, 100 kHz to 30 MHz receive.
160m to 6m TX, 100 kHz to about 55 MHz receive.
160m to 4m TX, 100 kHz to about 75 MHz receive.

Some may receive down to 60 kHz.

These might have airband, FM Band II or even HF (with AM & SSB) receive only.
FM only handheld or vehicle (2m & 70cm).
FM & Digital only handheld or vehicle (2m & 70cm)

AM, FM, SSB from 160m to 70cm or even 1.2 GHz.

Even the desktop/shack models are using only 13.8V supply.

QRP is 5W or less. The most famous portable QRP was the FT817/FT817ND/FT818 model with 160m to 70cm, FM, AM, SSB, interface for laptop digital modes and wider receive coverage (but no 4m band, partly as 1st IF is 68 MHz). A good starter choice, but only second hand now.

Fewer sets have 60m and 4m.

Sets are dual superhet, triple superhet, DSP only (only maybe two makes do good pure DSP), hybrid DSP, Dual DSP/hybrid DSP (for spectrum graph).

It doesn't seem worth paying extra for built-in digital modes as these will be more limited than free laptop software.

Prices are £200 to £1200 for a decent S/H set and about £400 to £2000 for decent new one.

[PerdioPal]

For dipping ones feet in the water get an SDR (software defined receiver) such as the SDRPlay https://www.sdrplay.com/rsp1b/ other more expensive models are available, the basic RSP1B is a really good radio.
With a length of wire and a good ground (not the mains) you can explore a lot of bands and modes. If in an urban area with lots of RF noise go for a loop, than will cost more than the radio though. Both these options will have very good use once you decide to get transmitting as a lower noise receive radio.

[Mike Watterson]

However the cheap SDR receivers have poor RF (or no) selectivity and thus poorer than most late 1990s domestic portables with dual conversion and SSB. Many are only 8 bit (too poor) and a few are 10 bit (still poor). A decent S/H dual conversion radio is far better. Decent SDR uses 14 bit minimum.

The cheap ones are little more than an ADC and a USB connection to the laptop. The software on the laptop is the actual SDR, unless you are buying a model with an FPGA built in.

A loop is good, but are narrow band and need tuned at the loop, not tat the end of the feed cable. They need to be about 1m to 2m diameter to be effective.

[Mike Watterson]

This gives an idea what's happening on Amateur bands: https://rsgb.org/main/operating/dx-cluster/

Also the RSGB has loads of resources for the beginner to Amateur Radio in the UK. Ofcom issues the licence. There is a basic exam that covers technical aspects and regulation/Operating. It's easier than the City & Guilds cert used to be.
https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-ama...eur-radio/

[Mike Watterson]

A better link for overview of the RSP1B, which may be the best budget SDR front end. It's not an SDR but a 14 bit ADC to USB and the laptop software is the SDR.

No budget SDR is an actual SDR, they are all just ADCs to USB and the SDR is the computer software. There are full SDRs, but they are x4 the price, minimum.

https://www.hamradio.co.uk/rsp1b

Key Benefits & Features:
New, enhanced version of the RSP1A in a rugged black painted steel case
Improved noise performance below 1MHz and in the 3.5-5.5MHz, 50-60 MHz, and 250-320MHz ranges
Improved signal handling at HF frequencies
Covers all frequencies from 1kHz through VLF, LF, MW, HF, VHF, UHF, and L-band to 2GHz, with no gaps
Receive, monitor, and record up to 10MHz of spectrum at a time
14-bit ADC silicon technology for excellent dynamic range
Multiple high-performance preselect filters minimize phantom signal problems
Software selectable AM/FM & DAB broadcast band notch filters minimize intermodulation problems from strong interferers
Multiple individual receivers in any 10MHz slice of spectrum
Free use of Windows-based SDRuno software
Free use of SDRconnect SDR and server software for Windows, MacOS, and Linux
Multiplatform driver and API support including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and Raspberry Pi 4/5
Powers over the USB cable with a simple, robust type B socket
Software selectable 4.7V Bias-T for powering an external remote antenna amplifier
Calibrated S meter/RF power and SNR measurement
Compatible with many 3rd Party software digital decoders
Documented API provided to allow demodulator or application development on multiple platforms
Strong and growing software support network

As mentioned earlier, 14 bits is a minimum, not excellent. The lower bit size "SDRs" are toys, often based on TV sticks with the MPEG2TS decoder bypassed.
14-bit ADC silicon technology for excellent dynamic range (no, 16 bit or 18 bit is excellent)
Multiple high-performance preselect filters minimize phantom signal problems (Needed for any 14bit or less ADC and given the size of the box, can't be that great. Also 14 bits needs an actual two stage tuner, not just preselect and a variable attenuator, to be as good as a 25 year old domestic radio with dual conversion.

It's certainly far better than any of the 10 bit products.

[Mike Watterson]

Here is a complete SDR, with SDR included, rather than needing a good computer to run SDR software, though it does I Q via USB for computer SDR too, which adds more features.
https://en.classicinternational.eu/radio...ad-fdm-s2/
It's a 16 bit ADC that works direct up to 65 MHz. Higher frequencies by aliasing and band-pass filters.
USB to computer is optional.
It's about £500 and you can buy a decent Dual conversion superhet for that, or a superhet based amateur rig.
So I'd NOT recommend it for a beginner to Amateur radio, but as an addition to an old S/H amateur radio rig and the RSP1B may be good enough just for a spectrum monitor. This obviously will work better as a receiver.

By about 2000 better amateur rigs used DDS for tuning and sythesiser just for band steps (c.f 1970s to 1980s radio with crystals for bands and one 5 to 5.5 MHz approx VFO). The DDS + PLL synth is much lower noise than a PLL synth on its own and allows more stable tuning for SSB. The S/H 1980s to 1990s PLL only dual superhets are noisier than earlier or later rigs.

Good SDR is still more expensive than a dual conversions superhet.

[bobhowe]

Hi everyone thanks for advise and links kind regards Bob

[Murphyv310]

Hi Bob
The first step is to study for the Foundation license go to Essex Ham and do their course it's by far the best.
Don't spend out on a new transceiver, if you are serious then look out for a older radio that covers HF from Yaesu or ICOM. 2 meters FM (145.200-145.550Mhz ) may be fairly busy in your area so again a cheap 2 meter radio is what to look out for this will give a far better feel of the hobby, while the SDR Play receivers are good you don't get the feel of amateur radio transceivers. Do Not be tempted to press the PTT button.
For 2 meters you need a suitable antenna, you could make a Slim Jim or a J pole or buy a Diamond X30 as an entry antenna, put up as high as you can and use 50 ohm coax, no old TV coax as it's lossy and 75 ohm.
For HF a long wire will do in the meantime.
If you need help give me a ring.

PS id not recommend the ELAD if you are serious, you'll get a brand new Xiegu G90 for the same price and it's power output is within the Foundation License conditions. Remember you will need a resonant antenna when you pass and start to transmit, power supplies, SWR meter and many other things, it's a rewarding hobby and you'll gain many friends.
Good luck.

[Mike Watterson]

Hi Bob
The first step is to study for the Foundation license go to Essex Ham and do their course it's by far the best.
Don't spend out on a new transceiver, if you are serious then look out for a older radio that covers HF from Yaesu or ICOM.


2 meters FM (145.200-145.550Mhz ) may be fairly busy in your area so again a cheap 2 meter radio is what to look out for this will give a far better feel of the hobby, while the SDR Play receivers are good you don't get the feel of amateur radio transceivers. Do Not be tempted to press the PTT button.
For 2 meters you need a suitable antenna, you could make a Slim Jim or a J pole or buy a Diamond X30 as an entry antenna, put up as high as you can and use 50 ohm coax, no old TV coax as it's lossy and 75 ohm.
For HF a long wire will do in the meantime.
If you need help give me a ring.

PS id not recommend the ELAD if you are serious, you'll get a brand new Xiegu G90 for the same price and it's power output is within the Foundation License conditions. Remember you will need a resonant antenna when you pass and start to transmit, power supplies, SWR meter and many other things

All very good advice.

The local 2m will only need FM. Check if the local repeaters need CTSS for access, as some otherwise good 2m rigs don't have it, though it can be added, even by a box between mic and radio.

I used an FT101ZD from about 2004 to 2021 (actually changed from Mk1 to MkIII at one staqe, but at about 80W maybe not allowed on beginner licence. They vary in exact number of bands, but are very robust. The Irish Licence system is different.

Any HF receiver or rig can do Digital Modes and CW via a laptop. PSK31 can even work holding mic near laptop speaker and laptop mic picking up rig speaker.