Mike Rodriguez

yeah the baofeng CTCSS setup tripped me up too when i first started. one thing worth checking — some repeaters use DCS codes instead of CTCSS and those are different, if the directory lists something like D023N or whatever thats a digital code not an analog tone and you gotta set it differently in the radio. probably not your issue but worth ruling out. the joining a conversation thing, id just add that if its a net or something structured you usually wait til the net control asks for check-ins or additional traffic. but just casual ragchewing yeah just toss your call in during a pause, most guys are happy to have someone new jump in

Finally got my license and trying to use the local 2m repeater. Even though I'm transmitting on the correct frequency, I can't access the repeater without the proper CTCSS tone. Found the tone in the directory but still not working. My Baofeng shows 'T-CTCS' and 'R-CTCS' options - do I need to set both? The repeater directory just lists 100.0 Hz. Any help appreciated!

so i finally got out to do my first pota activation last weekend at K-2345 but man it was harder than i expected. brought my yaesu 817 and a 20m dipole thinking id work a bunch of stations but only logged 6 contacts in 2 hours. the park was super noisy too, lots of RFI from something. saw other hams mentioning they get 50+ contacts easy so im wondering what im doing wrong here. maybe my antenna setup wasnt right? just threw it up in some trees about 8 feet high

I passed my Extra a year ago but only learned enough CW to scrape by the old 5 WPM requirement. Now I really want to get comfortable at 20+ WPM for contesting and DXing. Debating between signing up for CW Academy (heard great things but there's a waiting list) versus continuing self-study with apps like MorseForge and LCWO. Currently around 8-10 WPM head copy but get lost when stations send faster. For those who've made this jump - what worked best? Worth waiting for CWA or can I effectively get there solo? Also curious about the plateau around 10-12 WPM everyone mentions.

Just got my General license and I'm absolutely fascinated by the idea of QRP operation. I've been reading about the QRP Labs QCX+ and thinking about taking the plunge into kit building. Has anyone here built one as their first kit? My soldering skills are basic at best - mostly just through-hole resistors on breadboards. I'm particularly interested in 40 meters since it seems active most times I listen. Any advice on whether this is too ambitious for a first build, or should I start with something simpler like a QRPGuys kit first? Also wondering about test equipment - do I really need an oscilloscope or can I get by with a basic multimeter for troubleshooting? 73s!

The Yaesu FT-991A... does 100 watts on HF and 50 watts on 2 Meters and 70 Centimeters. That's a great option to build a shack around. If you want one radio to do everything, the 991A gives you more flexibility than the HF-only IC-7300.

ok so ive been reading through part 97 trying to understand what actually has consequences vs whats more like a suggestion and honestly its kind of confusing. like there are all these sections about station identification and operating outside your license class and whatever but i dont really know how strictly any of this is enforced in practice. a guy at my club was saying the FCC basically never goes after individual hams unless its something really serious but another guy said he knows someone who got a notice of apparent liability which sounds pretty scary. im not trying to do anything wrong i just want to know what the realistic risk is if you accidentally mess something up vs like willfully ignoring the rules. is there a difference in how they treat that?

yeah the relay board RF issue is almost certainly your wiring. those cheap sainsmart boards have no suppression on the coil side at all, you need a flyback diode across each relay coil or you get nasty transients every time the coil switches. i know everyone says just slap a 1N4007 across it and call it done but on a radio bench that noise can get everywhere depending on how your grounds are laid out. the CI-V level shifting thing is real, glad you got that figured out. i did something similar with a 7600 a few years back and ended up using an optocoupler instead of a resistor divider, way cleaner isolation especially if your ground loops are sketchy which they usually are in a shack with multiple pieces of gear. as for whether its worth it — i think it depends on how much you want to learn vs how much you just want a working switcher. if you want the latter just get a microHAM or a band decoder from Array Solutions and be done with it. if you enjoy the tinkering then yeah keep going, once you get it dialed in its satisfying as heck and you can customize it in ways the commercial boxes dont let you.

i tried to do the two-software thing and honestly gave up after about six months and just went full N1MM for everything. i know thats probably not the answer you want but the cognitive overhead of keeping two logs in sync just got to me. N1MM's everyday logging isnt as pretty as Log4OM but its fine, the LOTW integration works, and i just got used to it. the WSJT-X UDP thing does work with N1MM, theres a setting in WSJT-X where you point the secondary UDP logging at a different port and N1MM can pick it up. i had it running for a while during FD one year. wasnt totally seamless but it did log the contacts correctly most of the time.

Have you considered the new SkyRoof software? It's open-source and shows real promise, though still in development. For mission-critical operations I'd stick with SatPC32, but worth keeping an eye on for future upgrades.

Consider EchoIRLP if you want both! It's essentially allowing one interface to run two separate linking systems using the same hardware. Best of both worlds, though setup is more complex.

Too much Proc In level creates harsh sound and Darth Vader effect. Set minimal Proc In for sharpness, then adjust Proc Out for proper ALC indication. Try backing off compression and see if meter stabilizes.

I've been running JS8Call for about six months now, mainly for casual QSOs, but I'm trying to get into the group messaging and relay features for emergency communications training. I've got version 2.3.1 running on Ubuntu 22.04 with a SignaLink USB interface to my IC-7300. The problem: My station isn't properly responding to @ALLCALL queries or group messages directed to @EMCOMM. I've added @EMCOMM to my groups list in Settings, enabled Auto Reply, and have both Heartbeat Network and HB acknowledgments turned on. Direct messages work fine, and I can send group messages that others receive. When I watch the activity window, I see other stations successfully responding to group queries with message counts (like "MSG 3"), but my station stays silent. Has anyone encountered similar issues with group messaging setup? I'm wondering if it's a timing issue with the decode cycles or something in my audio configuration.

honestly the ARES question and the go-kit question are kind of the same thing, joining the group first will save you a lot of money because you'll find out what freqs and modes they actually use in your area before you go buying gear. nothing worse than showing up with an IC-7300 all proud of yourself and finding out the local EmComm group needs Winlink capability or something specific you didnt plan for. that said the basics are pretty universal. a good dual band mobile rig you can run from a battery, i use a 40ah lithium iron phosphate battery and it'll run my 50w radio for a full day easy with normal usage. some kind of solar panel if you're thinking longer term outages. and honestly just a simple antenna situation — a jpole for vhf or even just a mag mount on a cookie sheet works fine for most situations. the pelican case guys arent wrong but you dont need to start there. i started with a plastic storage bin from walmart and gradually upgraded. main thing is just having it all in one place so you can actually grab it and go without running around the house looking for your power cable at 2am.

Great routine! Little practice often, preferably each day, is far better than large amounts once a week - persistence is needed as it takes time and determination. I also listen to slow CW transmissions on 80m and 40m bands for real-world practice.

I've been studying with the current 2022-2026 question pool materials, but just heard there's a new pool coming in July 2026. Should I rush to take my exam before July 1st, or wait and study the new material? I'm about halfway through my studies and feeling pretty confident with the current pool. But if the new one is significantly different, maybe I should start over with fresh materials. Anyone know what's actually changing?

Working on optimizing my IC-7300 SSB settings and noticed some unusual ALC behavior. Manual suggests keeping ALC between 30-50% swing in SSB mode, but I'm seeing different patterns with compression enabled versus disabled. With COMP off, steady 40% peaks. With COMP-1, erratic swings from 20-70%. Anyone else notice this with the 7300's DSP chain? Using SM-30 at gain level 6, no external processing. Signal reports are good but curious about the meter behavior.

Currently running an older version of Nova for Windows but looking to upgrade my satellite tracking setup. I operate primarily linear transponders (AO-73, AO-7, RS-44) with an IC-9700 and Yaesu G-5500 rotator system. Requirements: Reliable Doppler correction for both uplink and downlinkCAT control integration for frequency trackingAutomatic rotator control with elevation compensationSupport for current TLE updatesI've looked at Ham Radio Deluxe Satellite module and SatPC32 ISS - any real-world experience with these for serious linear transponder work? Budget isn't a major concern if the software performs reliably.

100w and a dipole is definitely workable for dx but you gotta pick your spots. The big gun stations with towers and kw are gonna have the advantage in a big pileup but try working the station when theyre just starting up or near the end of their operation when the crowds thin out. also some dx stations work by call areas so if you hear them say "west coast only" or whatever dont waste your time. timing is everything really

You learn best in the "learning zone" where you're missing about 30-50% of characters - don't worry about perfection, that's where effective learning happens. I add sending practice with a keyer once I have the receiving down solid.

so ive been sitting on 40m most evenings this week and its just dead. like i'll hear a few guys ragchewing around 7.250 but compared to last year it feels like half the activity is gone. not sure if its the solar conditions or people just drifting off to other bands or what. had a decent qso with a guy in ohio last thursday but before and after that nothing for like 45 minutes. maybe im just on at the wrong time idk

I wish amateurs would always use the accepted ITU approved phonetic alphabet - hams in all countries generally understand the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet. Yet some hams like to come up with something cute and easy to remember for their own callsign, like 'Whiskey Zero Long Playing Radio', but this will probably just confuse the operator on the other end under marginal conditions. When is it acceptable to deviate from standard phonetics?Emergency communications - always standard?Casual ragchews vs nets vs contests?Working DX stations?

Planning to take my Technician exam in about 6 weeks and feeling overwhelmed by all the study options out there. I've heard most people need 20-30 hours of study time and pass in 2-4 weeks with consistent daily study. What resources did you folks use for your first exam? Looking for something that explains the why behind the answers, not just memorization. I've been looking at HamStudy.org and the free KB6NU No-Nonsense guides, but curious about your experiences. Any tips for staying motivated during the study grind?