Paul Huff wrote:
"Dee Flint" writes:

By the way, if you don't have an FRN, you need to get one and have it
associated with your call. See the Universal Licensing System web page
(it's part of the FCC site) on getting one. You should take care of that
now. Then you can get a password and renew online.

Great! Thanks for the tip. I just signed up for my FRN, and archived
the info, so a month from now when I can renew. Done and done!

I would like to encourage people who read this and think, "Oh, that must
be complicated" to actually go to the FCC web site, as Dee suggested and
Paul did, and register. It's a very simple procedure. This is one of
those excruciatingly rare occasions when you really do get something for
nothing. (Oh, wait. Taxes. Right. I *am* paying for that FCC web
site, after all.)

73, Steve KB9X

"Dee Flint" wrote:

I recently renewed via the W5YI website. I paid them a modest fee for the
service ($8.00). It was painless and easy, and they took care of EVERYthing.

http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=87

Howard N7SO

Sorry - Dee didn't write that -- *I* did! ;-)

"Dee Flint" wrote:

I recently renewed via the W5YI website. I paid them a modest fee for the
service ($8.00). It was painless and easy, and they took care of
EVERYthing.

http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=87

Howard N7SO

Paul Huff wrote:
[snip] I'm trying to come back to the hobby
after a long absence. I have a limited (read hardly any) budget, and
an older handie-talkie. I think I'll need more than just local repeater
rag-chewing to get me into it the hobby all the way. Anybody have any
suggestions?

Also appreciated would be suggestions on beefing up my technical
knowledge. I'm afraid I'm probably not even close to having myself up
to the level I was at when I took my Technician test... So, I
probably have to start from close to a clean slate.

Paul,

Welcome back!

All hams are on a budget, although some have a _larger_ budget than
others ;-). Probably the best way to improve your technical skills while
building a station is to trade for or buy some older radio and spend the
time to get it on the air: there are many "boatanchor" rigs available
for reasonable money, provided you're not looking to start with a KWM-2,
and the experience and contacts you'll get in the process will also help
to get you up to speed.

First, join a local club and ask around about used rigs. Many hams have
equipment they used as novices still on a shelf, including receivers
such as Drake 2-A's or such, and although code may not be your mode of
choice, you can often add a modulator to a novice CW rig and join the AM
renaissance on 75 meters for very short money. If you prefer SSB, there
are many older rigs that can be had for reasonable cost, especially from
other club members, such as Swan 350's or Heathkit HW-101's.

Ebay is a good source for ideas, but I'd avoid it for purchases until
you're more familiar with the boatanchor world - parts availability,
rigs to avoid, etc.: for now, buy or trade with people you live next to,
and you'll do a lot better.

HTH.

Bill

--
73,

Bill W1AC

(Remove "73" and change top level domain for direct replies)

"Bill Horne, W1AC" wrote in news:eu3b3q$v2e$1
@victor.killfile.org:

All hams are on a budget, although some have a _larger_ budget than
others ;-).

PRECISELY why the power limit should be ERP, not 1.5KW into a $25,000, 8-
element, 20 meter yagi at 800'.

Rich hams should be using the same ERP as poor hams....easily measured at
monitoring stations in uV/meter.

Larry
--
Message for Comcrap Internet Customers:
http://tinyurl.com/3ayl9c
Unlimited Service my ass.....(d^
..

"Bill Horne, W1AC" writes:

Paul,

Welcome back!

All hams are on a budget, although some have a _larger_ budget than
others ;-). Probably the best way to improve your technical skills
while building a station is to trade for or buy some older radio and
spend the time to get it on the air: there are many "boatanchor" rigs
available for reasonable money, provided you're not looking to start
with a KWM-2, and the experience and contacts you'll get in the
process will also help to get you up to speed.

First, join a local club and ask around about used rigs. Many hams
have equipment they used as novices still on a shelf, including
receivers such as Drake 2-A's or such, and although code may not be
your mode of choice, you can often add a modulator to a novice CW rig
and join the AM renaissance on 75 meters for very short money. If you
prefer SSB, there are many older rigs that can be had for reasonable
cost, especially from other club members, such as Swan 350's or
Heathkit HW-101's.

Code actually _is_ one of the things that interests me, believe it or
not. And, honestly, like most of the other responses I've gotten have
noted, buying an older rig would probably be the best route for me to
go, in terms of learning my way around again. Thanks for the tip on
Drake 2-A, I'll have to look into those.

Ebay is a good source for ideas, but I'd avoid it for purchases until
you're more familiar with the boatanchor world - parts availability,
rigs to avoid, etc.: for now, buy or trade with people you live next
to, and you'll do a lot better.

HTH.

Bill

Thanks again for the tips.