Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio | HAM - GMRS - And More!

I'm deeply grateful for the incredible gift Mark Volstad (AI4BJ) gave me today. Mark reached out midweek, offering to assist with my first official POTA Park Activation using his own gear. This episode captures the excitement of this milestone in my amateur radio journey.

This episode is lengthy and includes all 102 QSOs made during my first POTA Park activation.

For a deeper understanding of Parks On The Air, I recommend watching this informative video.

In this episode, I share my first solo adventures with HF radio, with the help of many different people who have made that possible for me.

In the previous episode, I mentioned that I had a strategy for coming up with a budget for my amateur radio hobby. I knew I would want to make some purchases, so I decided to put my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle up for sale. I’ll update you on how that plan has gone so far.

I was blown away when Greg Lamb (W0QI) offered to let me borrow his Kenwood TS-590S radio. His partner, Judy (W1ORO), made arrangements for me to pick up the radio. Greg also had an antenna he could lend me, a stealth-designed end-fed half-wave antenna from MyAntennas.com.

I had the opportunity to participate in a POTA (Park on the Air) event for high school students. I witnessed the setup process, including the use of a unique variation of a pneumatic potato launcher to set up antennas. It was an incredibly educational experience for me.

Thanks to Rod Milligan (KY4ROD), we managed to create a temporary setup for the HF antenna in my backyard.

After discovering that neither the internal speaker nor the external speaker jack of the Kenwood TS-590S were functioning, I found I could use the radio with headphones plugged into the 1/4" headphone jack on the front panel.

I was thrilled to make my first HF contacts with Ed Brown (KA8YOR) in Ravenna, Ohio, and Mo Jeanson (N2PEP) in Saratoga, New York. I continued to find more contacts on 20 meters, communicating with people as far as 763 miles away.

I obtained additional items necessary for indoor radio operation from R&L Electronics. While discussing the possibility of acquiring an antenna tuner, Fred Neal (W0NKY) overheard me and generously offered to lend me one.

Rod Milligan (KY4ROD) helped me evaluate the SWR on the antenna setup using an antenna analyzer.

Over the next three nights, I spent time in my studio from 9 pm to 1 am, making more HF contacts. I discovered the "wing nuts" community (https://wingnuts7230.com) and was excited to connect with them. I also made my first international contacts, which was a thrill.

Despite my less-than-ideal antenna setup, these international contacts were able to hear me clearly, and I was amazed to be communicating with people so far away.

For the past two months, I had been heavily focused on studying for my amateur radio licenses and immersing myself in the hobby. However, I needed to shift my attention back to my business, which led to a nine-day absence from radio communication.

I reflect on the valuable experiences and lessons learned during my radio journey so far, acknowledging the support and help from the amateur radio community. I express my continued interest in amateur radio and the long road ahead in this hobby.

If you are interested in building your own online business, I invite you to email me at [email protected] with the subject line "Building an Online Business Course." Share your dream for building an online business and any actions you've already taken. I may just grant you free access to my "Building an Online Business" course.

In this episode, I share the story of my recent journey toward earning my General HAM Radio License and how my experience in the Parks on the Air (POTA) program motivated me to fully commit to passing the exam. You'll hear about my study techniques, my unexpected weekend adventure with a seasoned HAM operator, and how it all culminated in acing the exam.

Introduction:

Parks on the Air (POTA) Experience:

My First Hands-On POTA Experience:

Study Techniques for the General Exam:

Passing the General Exam:

What’s Next:

The Search for HF Gear:

Creating A Budget For This Hobby

Gratitude for the HAM Community:

Affiliate Mention:

Want to connect on HF?

In this episode, I share how this podcast has had the unexpected benefit of reconnecting others who had previously been active in amateur radio but had lost their passion for it over time.

In fact, this episode was inspired by a heartfelt Voxer message I received from my friend Marc Jeffrey (2E0MCJ), who had been inactive in amateur radio for several years, but was inspired to dust off his equipment and get back on the air after listening to the first few episodes of this podcast.

I then dive into my own journey, discussing my first international contacts made using digital voice modes like DMR and the Kansas Citywide network. I share the fascinating conversations I had with amateur radio operators from India, the island of Malta, China, and Ireland marveling at the ability to connect with people around the world through this technology.

I also recount my experience attending my first hamfest in the Greater Louisville area. I compare the atmosphere to a "niche flea market" for amateur radio enthusiasts, and share my observations about the demographic of attendees, as well as the valuable relationships I built by connecting with members of my local amateur radio club. This led me to discuss my plans to join multiple amateur radio clubs in my area.

Another focus of this episode is my preparation for upgrading to the General class license. I share my study process, confidence level, and motivations for getting the General ticket, even though I don't yet have the equipment to fully utilize the HF privileges. I also mention what I learned about the possibility of taking the exam remotely through the WM7X test team.

Throughout the episode, I express my excitement about the potential of digital voice modes, my desire to learn more about D-Star, and my plans to potentially host my own international net.

I also encourage listeners to consider obtaining their amateur radio licenses or upgrading to the next level. As a reminder, you can use the HamRadioPrep.com course with my coupon code KQ4UUR for a special discount.

If you enjoy this podcast, you'll likely find great value in my main podcast, The Cliff Ravenscraft Show. Give it a listen at http://TheCliffRavenscraftShow.com.

 In this episode of Cliff's Notes on amateur radio, I share the story of my immediate buyer's remorse after receiving my assigned call sign.

It all began on August 21, 2024, the day I received my amateur radio license. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep, waking up at 4 AM to check my email. To my surprise, the FCC had already issued my license at 3:24 AM that morning!

When I saw my assigned call sign, KQ4UUR, my heart sank.

It just didn't resonate with me. Determined to find something more meaningful, I dove into researching how to apply for a vanity call sign. I hoped to secure something that reflected my initials, CJR, or referenced my business brand.

After identifying available options, I submitted an application and paid the $35 fee.

However, as I began using my call sign on the air, I discovered it wasn't as bad as I'd initially thought. People easily understood and remembered it. One person even remarked that it sounded like "thank you for who you are."

I also realized that many amateur radio operators are content with their assigned call signs, and I started to appreciate the unique identity that KQ4UUR had given me.

Ultimately, I withdrew my vanity call sign application. I realized that the benefits of changing my call sign didn't outweigh the hassle of updating all my amateur radio service accounts and apps, not to mention the relationships I'd already built using KQ4UUR.

This experience taught me that sometimes an assigned call sign can grow on us, and that the most important thing is getting on the air and building connections with others.

I'm now happy to continue using KQ4UUR and plan to keep it—at least until I potentially earn my Amateur Extra class license. I must admit, the idea of a coveted 4-digit call sign is quite appealing to me.

I'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Please feel free to leave a written review in your preferred podcast directory or send me an email at [email protected]. 

Are you ready to get your Technician Amateur Radio License?

In the United States, the Technician license exam consists of 35 questions drawn from a pool of 423. To pass, you need to score 74% or higher—that's 26 correct answers.

In this podcast episode, I'll share the exact method and study course I used to score 100% on my Technician Amateur Radio Exam with less than 10 hours of total study time.

Please use coupon code KQ4UUR at checkout to get a 10% discount on your Ham Radio Prep Course. This also supports my amateur radio content creation, as I earn a commission when you use my code.

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Deacon Bradley (N5JOV), a friend who has had his amateur radio license since 2020. Deacon shares his journey into amateur radio and why he chose the Yaesu FT-60 as his first radio.

The conversation then shifts to the world of digital radio options such as Yaesu's Fusion, Icom's D-STAR, and the open DMR protocol. 

Deacon also shares his personal experiences in Summits on the Air (SOTA).

Additionally, we discussed the importance of amateur radio in emergency communications, with Deacon recounting his experiences during a severe ice storm in Texas. He highlights the role of local radio clubs and their connections to emergency management departments, showcasing the vital role hams can play in times of crisis.

Deacon shared his preference for the ED-Fong J-pole antenna. (See link below) 

In this episode, I share my unique journey of how I finally got serious about getting my amateur radio technician license. I've always been interested in radio, from my childhood experiences with Mr. Microphone and CB radio, to having a two-meter radio as a teenager. But I never took the step to get licensed seriously.

That all changed during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020. With my normal routines disrupted, I started to feel a sense of fear and anxiety about the situation. I heard about how cheap "Baofeng" handheld radios and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios could be used for emergency communications.

I purchased a couple of Baofeng radios and got a GMRS license, only to be let down by the experience. The radios ended up tucked away in my tech closet, not seeing the light of day until just over a month ago.

I initially believed GMRS had serious limitations for long-distance communication. However, about two months ago, I learned about GMRS repeaters and how to program them. Suddenly, I was bitten by the radio bug.

I longed for access to all the amateur radio repeaters within range of my radios. This desire sparked my serious consideration of obtaining an amateur radio technician license. It wasn't until I began connecting with other GMRS users on local repeaters that I felt truly inspired to take the plunge and commit to studying for the exam.

In the end, it was the GMRS experience - the ability to talk to people 40+ miles away, but also the limitations I encountered - that motivated me to get my ham license. With my technician ticket, I now have access to a whole new world of radio communication.

I'm excited to share more about my radio journey in this and future episodes.

I’d love to hear from you. Email me your comments and questions at [email protected]

Learn more about me at CliffRavenscraft.com

Hi! My name is Cliff Ravenscraft and in this introductory episode, I share my background and journey that has led me to amateur radio.

Some key points:

- I've had a lifelong fascination with radio and communication technology, starting from a young age with toys like Mr. Microphone and CB radios.

- As a teenager, I briefly explored getting an amateur radio license but didn't follow through at the time. My interests shifted to other forms of communication like BBSs, the early internet, blogging, and eventually podcasting.

- At age 51, I finally decided to pursue my amateur radio license and get back into that world of radio communication.

- My call sign is KQ4UUR and chances are that you might find me popping up on repeaters all over the world.

- In the next episode, I'll share more about what sparked my renewed interest in amateur radio and how I'm approaching getting involved in this hobby.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I look forward to sharing more of my amateur radio journey with you!