{"id":2339,"date":"2017-11-27T22:26:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T03:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gars.org\/gars\/?p=2339"},"modified":"2017-11-27T22:49:54","modified_gmt":"2017-11-28T03:49:54","slug":"beginners-corner-december-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gars.org\/gars\/beginners-corner-december-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner’s Corner December 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your HT as a Go Kit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 OK, so you got that shiny new handy-talkie (HT) after (or even before) you were licensed.\u00a0 Your radio is your ticket to help out in emergencies, or just to take the radio out and have fun in a new location. Before you go anywhere with that new (or old) radio, it would be good to have a \u201cGo Kit\u201d with enough accessories to sustain your operation.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 To start out, you might consider a better antenna for your HT.\u00a0 The stock antenna (better known as a \u201crubber duckie\u201d) is very inefficient.\u00a0 With a radio that puts out 5 watts, usually only three watts leave the antenna.\u00a0 Be sure to get one that fits your radio.\u00a0 You can order one on line or check out the local ham radio stores.\u00a0 Most radios have what is called an \u201cSMA\u201d connector.\u00a0 Chinese radios usually have what is called a \u201creverse SMA\u201d connector.\u00a0 Be sure to get the right one.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Next consider a second battery for your radio.\u00a0 Having an extra battery on hand should ensure that you never run out of power to operate your radio.\u00a0 The store you bought the radio should be able to help you get a spare.\u00a0 Ask any ham and they will probably tell you about the time their HT battery failed.\u00a0 Having a spare means you will be able to stay on the air a lot longer.\u00a0 By the way, be sure to keep it charged!<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 External antennas will boost your transmission and reception.\u00a0 The author\u2019s first external antenna was a magnetic mount antenna (dual band. Costs around $25.00) that was placed on a pizza pan.\u00a0 It gave better reception and allowed me to get my signal out farther.\u00a0 Be sure to get it as high as possible.\u00a0 When working in the VHF\/UHF range. Height is all-important.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 There are other external antennas that are good for portable use.\u00a0 One is one called a J-pole.\u00a0 You can make one (usually one band only) or purchase a commercially made one.\u00a0 Some of these allow for both VHF and UHF.\u00a0 Get a suitable coaxial (coax) cable and a way to get it up into a convenient tree and you are good to go.\u00a0 Of course, a good permanently mounted antenna for your home is not a bad idea either!\u00a0 Be sure and check to see if you will need an adapter cable to connect the coax to your radio.\u00a0 There is a \u201cSMA to SO-239\u201d adaptor cable that will work with most radios.\u00a0 Consult your dealer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 When using your radio out of doors, it is a good to be considerate of others who may not want to hear you talking on the radio.\u00a0 Purchasing a headset for your HT is a good idea.\u00a0 Yes, someone will always hear you taking, but they will not be able to hear the station you are talking to you.\u00a0 You can get a simple headset or a more elaborate (and expensive) one, depending on your budget and needs.\u00a0 There are what are called \u201cspeaker mikes\u201d that allow you to clip your radio to your belt and be able to speak and listen.\u00a0 You can clip the speaker mike near your head.\u00a0 Some of them even have an earphone jack.\u00a0 They are pretty cool.\u00a0 Some newer HTs even have Bluetooth capability.\u00a0 Any one of these options allow you to talk in a crowd or in a situation that demands quiet.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 You will need some kind of container to put everything in.\u00a0 This is the \u201cbag\u201d part of a go-kit or go-bag.\u00a0 This is not a \u201cone size fits all\u201d item.\u00a0 Get a bag or container that works for you.\u00a0 Some hams put everything into a small suitcase.\u00a0 I have small bags for most of my radios and a larger bag for my main radio.\u00a0 Look around the internet or ask fellow hams for advice.\u00a0 My bags hold everything pertaining to the radio assigned to it.<\/p>\n

Happy go-ing!<\/p>\n

De KJ4CMYY<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your HT as a Go Kit \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 OK, so you got that shiny new handy-talkie (HT) after (or even before) you were licensed.\u00a0 Your radio is your ticket to help out in emergencies, or just to take the radio out and have fun in a new location. Before you go anywhere with that new (or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[17,18],"class_list":["post-2339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beginners-corner","tag-beginners-corner","tag-newbie"],"yoast_head":"\nBeginner's Corner December 2017 - Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gars.org\/gars\/beginners-corner-december-2017\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beginner's Corner December 2017 - Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Your HT as a Go Kit \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 OK, so you got that shiny new handy-talkie (HT) after (or even before) you were licensed.\u00a0 Your radio is your ticket to help out in emergencies, or just to take the radio out and have fun in a new location. 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