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Post by Jackie Bosworth on Oct 14, 2005 16:08:11 GMT
Yesterday me and Steve decided to go and do a bit of DX-ing with his new Yaesu FT 857.
We drove all the way round the lake district and didn't get a single copy. On top of some of the biggest hills in England and nothing. 250 miles later we decieded to nip to Wooley Edge which is a high point less than 10 miles from Steve's house, and of course they were booming in!!
My first copy was with a guy in Colorado and I think he was amazed that he was pumping out 1500W and using a big beam and we were using 10w and a portable whip antenna on the back of the car ;D
But we both managed a few copies including USA, North africa and Russia. So not a totally wasted trip.
I would reccomend the Yaesu 857 to anyone! It's a fab radio and as soon as I can get some money saved up I am going to have one. It's a really good all-rounder.
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Post by Zo - 2E0ZLD on Oct 18, 2005 8:28:25 GMT
Hi Jackie,
Congrat's to Steve on his new Yaesu FT 857. I hope you are able to acquire one soon. We have a Yaesu but not sure which model as my memory is in seive mode..lol, We've only listened with it so not too sure how well it puts out. The other day Den swapped a 2m mobile for a Yaesu handheld that is only a couple of weeks old for when we are out and about in the car and such. I am getting so nervous and excited at the same time because tomorrow is so very close now and once I have my licence I am going to have to go on air for the first time. Hope I don't muck up my first couple of calls and hope I have the nerve to go back to someone putting out a call. Anyway's as I said earlier hope you are able to get that Yaesu soon.
Zo
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Post by Jackie Bosworth on Oct 18, 2005 17:08:07 GMT
Well I'll be the first to admit that I still get nervous even now going on the radio  But my best advise on that front is to make yourself do it and keep doing it. If I go on the air quite a bit it gets easier with each QSO but if I leave it a while the nerves build back up. Try writing things down that you need to include in the qso and it will probably help to have your hubby with you. Try telling people that you talk to that you are newly licensed, I did that and then most people will help you out. |
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Post by Zo - 2E0ZLD on Oct 19, 2005 8:53:10 GMT
Thanks Jackie,
It really is good having a female support'teur...lol being as at our club I am the only female doing the foundation license. The blokes on the course and hubby have been really supportive but it would have been nice if there had been more ladies.
I will most definately bear in mind your advise and try to put it in to practice once I have passed.
Thanks again Jackie
Zo
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Post by Renae/k9do on Oct 19, 2005 11:49:26 GMT
It really is good having a female support'teur...lol being as at our club I am the only female doing the foundation license. The blokes on the course and hubby have been really supportive but it would have been nice if there had been more ladies. Zo I can relate there are very few women, We belong to a Club and there are only three women two of which are on the board(one is moving out of state) they are never on air Also another group we talk with there are two more women but theyare never on air. If I ever speak with a woman on air it is one of the woman I know on 2 meters as of Yet I have not even heard a woman on any of the HF bands. Yesterday was the very first Time I made a DX contact without Dave being in the room he was downstairs  ,Usually I am up there with him and he makes the contacts then I will try to be the next contact after him. I want to try not to be so intimidated and pic up the mic even if i am by myself. |
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Post by Jackie Bosworth on Oct 19, 2005 12:11:57 GMT
There are about 4 or so women at our club (phylis and Sheila are members on here) although I am yet to hear any of them on the air. I know one of them uses mainly morse code so maybe she goes on that. I am just guessing but I think it is probably nerves that put them off.
I was the only woman on our foundation course but I was lucky in that all the guys were really friendly and helpfull.
Renae, Well done on your first solo DX-ing! Sometimes if I am nervous I just go for it and put a call out. If I think about it too much it can put me off. Anyway, hoping for many more solo QSO's for you, I'm sure it will get easier and easier with every QSO.
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Post by Maureen G0VRT on Oct 19, 2005 13:21:47 GMT
OK Ldies, so you want to go DX'ing. Simple - put out a CQ Call and the OM's will be falling over themselves to speak to you - provided conditions and propagation, etc are good. How do I know? I have done it! There used to be a YL Net on 14.280 at 2100z on Wednesday run by Teresa, PT2TF, in Brazil. OM's used to come in from all over the world trying to get YL contacts - it was great fun. Unfortunately conditions on the HF bands have been pretty poor over the last couple of years but they seem to be picking up again so have a go! In a pile-up our voices are usually easier to pick out which helps.
KC9EUX - check out the YLRL Website and find out when thir YL nets are on - you will be made most welcome. There is also a YL Net on 14.222 on Mondays at 0700 BST and the Canadian Ladies have a net 14.120 at 1700Z on Tuesdays.
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Post by Jackie Bosworth on Oct 19, 2005 16:04:43 GMT
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for the info, you seem to know your stuff! How long have you been licensed?
I do agree that all the OM do try and get a YL copy in their books, but been fairly new to radio it is sometimes a bit much for me. I'm sure I will love it in the future though once I build my confidence.
Feel free to post any links you want to on the links section of the board. Also, you are posting as a guest here. I've just validated some accounts and I'm not sure if you were one of them, but if not please feel free to join.
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Post by Renae/k9do on Oct 19, 2005 16:15:45 GMT
KC9EUX - check out the YLRL Website and find out when thir YL nets are on - you will be made most welcome. There is also a YL Net on 14.222 on Mondays at 0700 BST and the Canadian Ladies have a net 14.120 at 1700Z on Tuesdays. I will check that out. My husband always tell me to just get on air and put out a CQ. But I am still a bit intimidated to do so. |
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Post by Zo - 2E0ZLD on Oct 20, 2005 9:44:04 GMT
[/quote] I will check that out. My husband always tell me to just get on air and put out a CQ. But I am still a bit intimidated to do so. [/quote] I am not saying I am not nervous, no far from it but I will be giving it ago and I will hopefully persist because I don't want to go through all the nerves to get nervous again after being off the air for sometime. I have been reading the various threads and it would seem that us girls get nervous again if we haven't done something for quite a while so am guessing I will be just the same. I think for some of us it is the camaradarie and it worries us but we are all legally entitled to get on those frequencies and transmit to our hearts content. Lets not allow the worries of what these male Amatuers may see as female ifiltration stop us from transmitting. Hope that all made sense... P.s. I don't think all men are the same because I know some Amatuers who are quite pleased that I have passed my license and have heard some broadcasting that more women should partake in the hobby. Thumbs up to those guy's ;D |
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Post by Renae/k9do on Oct 20, 2005 13:41:49 GMT
I am trying to be less intimidated I did make a DX contact when my husband was in the other room the contact came back instant he was very nice .
I am going to have to try to send a CQ(with Dave in the room first) and see how it works.
I am comfortable talking here in the States with the group Tom(kc8qgj ) was my first HF contact.
Anyone is welcome.. they are still starting out on 40m and when conditions get bad switch to 160m
"Just a big Ham Radio Family"
FEEL AT HOME
OPEN TO ALL LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS!
NOT A NET!
Working all States, Canada
and THE WORLD!
HEARD MOST NIGHTS ON 40 METERS
Time + - 8:00 CST
7.260-61Mhz LSB PRIMARY FREQ + -
Temp Freq 7.271 to 7.272
7.281.5Mhz secondary
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Post by Zo - 2E0ZLD on Oct 20, 2005 19:16:07 GMT
Hi Renae, Me and Den will be listening out for you all as we can get 40m and 160m on our Yaesu FT - 840 but it will have to be when the children have holidays because I think that time is 6 hours behind us which would make it 2am here in the UK. Having said that the kids have a holiday which starts at the weekend for 1 week and then the next one is Christmas which isn't that far away in reality. Won't be able to join in until our callsigns arrive which will hopefully will be in the next week. Thanks for the info Renae |
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Post by Renae/k9do on Oct 20, 2005 21:19:10 GMT
Hi Renae, Me and Den will be listening out for you all as we can get 40m and 160m on our Yaesu FT - 840 but it will have to be when the children have holidays because I think that time is 6 hours behind us which would make it 2am here in the UK. Having said that the kids have a holiday which starts at the weekend for 1 week and then the next one is Christmas which isn't that far away in reality. Won't be able to join in until our callsigns arrive which will hopefully will be in the next week. Thanks for the info Renae Cool! Yes we are 6 hours behind you |
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. 2E0ZLD + M3LHI, Zo.
