EEVblog #583 - Wyong HAM Radio Field Day 2014

[EEVblog]

[nitro2k01]

That thing with the EPROMs at 3:40, is an audio what? Whatever it is, I don't think the EPROMs are very happy about sitting in the sun's UV light, even when filtered through the clouds.

4:26 Hertz rental truck. Gave me a chuckle.

7:00 Was that buzzing you can hear audible, or just RF crap picked up by the camera?

12:11 So that big coil is the filter for the range select? Is there a reason to design it that way, with a big rigid coil hanging in free air?

[EEVblog]

That thing with the EPROMs at 3:40, is an audio what?

Some sort of stored replay system it seemed like.

[mikepa]

So Dave, you use a UPS to power up your gear to show it works etc.   Is that a true sine wave UPS (Smart UPS)?  Just wondering how electronics with linear power supplies handles as typical (non-sine wave) UPS output.  Not very well I would imagine.

[dr.diesel]

Woohoo, gets me excited for Dayton Ohio every May, an absolutely HUGE event with acres of gear to sift through.

[EEVblog]

So Dave, you use a UPS to power up your gear to show it works etc.   Is that a true sine wave UPS (Smart UPS)?

Yes, pure sine model.

[electronics man]

were the police there due to your name being on that secret us database.

[Rasz]

were the police there due to your name being on that secret us database.

You win 

[(In)Sanity]

I'm thinking Dave should take the tests to get his ham license even if he never says a single word on the air or owns a single piece of gear.   As a general class ham I really don't do much at all over the airwaves however I still really like the fact that I'm licensed to do things like transmit 1500 watts on certain WiFi bands.   OK granted nobody ever really does that even though the license allows it.   One of the down sides of being a ham is you get obsessed with RFI,  always trying to track down the sources even if it's a plasma TV a block away.   

Food for thought.

Jeff

[Rubi]

I got obsessed by test gear and homebrewn sdr radios.

vy73 from Austria not Australia
OE1MIS

[robrenz]

I am not complaining but I could not watch the whole thing. I started to get motion sickness.

[AG6QR]

I'm thinking Dave should take the tests to get his ham license even if he never says a single word on the air or owns a single piece of gear.

If he were in the US, I'd agree wholeheartedly.  We get our licenses for an exam fee of around $15.00, good for ten years, renewable free of charge every ten years.  If you know enough electronics to pass the test (and Dave surely does), there's really no good reason NOT to have a license.  I'd guess most EEs could pass the extra class exam with only a few days' study.  There are a few things on the test that wouldn't be covered in a typical EE course of study, such as band plans, regulations, and such, but those aren't hard to learn quickly.

But Dave is in Australia.  From my search on the web, it looks like they've got a $73.00 annual fee to maintain a license.  That's still a bargain if you use it, and you'll probably spend much more than that on radio related expenses anyway if you're an active ham, but it's a bit of a discouragement for keeping the license if one "never says a single word on the air or owns a single piece of gear".


But I have a feeling that, if Dave got his license, he would own a piece of gear or two, and would make some good use of it, so yeah, he should go for it.

[SeanB]

Robrenz, I watched it, it was a lot better than my day yesterday. Things better left unsaid on this platform for sure.

On the plus side I did have my fleeting moment of fame on radio. As a sad commentary on life.   

[(In)Sanity]

But Dave is in Australia.  From my search on the web, it looks like they've got a $73.00 annual fee to maintain a license.  That's still a bargain if you use it, and you'll probably spend much more than that on radio related expenses anyway if you're an active ham, but it's a bit of a discouragement for keeping the license if one "never says a single word on the air or owns a single piece of gear".


But I have a feeling that, if Dave got his license, he would own a piece of gear or two, and would make some good use of it, so yeah, he should go for it.

Wow,  I had no idea it was so expensive in Australia.   As for the test if it's anything like the US tests a trained chimp could manage to pass.   I did the Tech and General test in one run and should have just gone for the extra.   It's funny to because I actually studied for the tech exam and not for the general and I found the tech exam to be more difficult.   Perhaps because of more on the policies.    In any event they are far too easy to pass.   I do have 3 radio's  UHF/VHF,  HT and HF.   I do plan on making more contacts in the near future.   It's amazing what you can do with a very poor antenna if you have some creativity.    The nice part about the hobby is it allows you to participate as much or as little as you want.   You can pick up the mic once a year and still be welcome amongst your peers. 

Jeff

[SeanB]

Just paid my renewal, and did so for the max 5 year period as well. Discount for upfront payment and you do not have to worry about increases for a while. Should get the new paper before the end of March hopefully.

[Nuno_pt]

Hi all,

Here it's 50€ for the exam, and 20€ each year, license it's valid for 10 years.

Maybe some day I'll get to Dayton, it's one of the things on my to do list.

[electrolux]

I was Wondering if that vid was coming