Newbies - Station Setup

I have seen several people recently get their ticket (Ham License) and submit applications to the club.  Welcome to the club!   Make sure to let us know what you want to see, so we can make the club a fun place for everyone!   

Some Resources to maybe help you get started.

I think for me the number 1 barrier most people face, is an actual radio.  However an antenna is a very important part of the radio station that we tend to forget about.  For most people I recommend you start out with a mobile station (anything from 20w - 50w) for a vehicle.  You don't actually have to have it in your vehicle, but it makes a decent place to start.   Throw on a mag mount, fish the power wire from your battery through the little "plastic grommet" in your car door, and you have an easy, non-permanent entryway to your vehicle.  Remember to come up from the bottom and leave a little "loop" or curve so any water drips down from the wire into the door jam.  And not down the wires into your car.

Being a metropolitan club a fair number of us live in apartments.  Or Condos/Home Owners Associations.  (Talk about a royal pain.).   And that means antennas are a large challenge.  We have had plenty of operators work VHF/UHF from their house with a mag mount on a filing cabinet or even a baking sheet.   (I do not recommend putting a mag mount on a microwave, I don't have any proof of that, but I think you don't want competing magnets at work there).  

I bought one of these antennas and used it at an apartment, absolutely loved it.  KB9VBR.  https://www.jpole-antenna.com/shop/2-meter-slim-jim-antenna/  

For HF, trees are your friend.  Being in Atlanta, i have been spoiled and can just run down to see Marky Mark and the hammy bunch at Ham Radio Outlet and just buy an antenna.  I tend to go with the radiowaves, but i don't know if they are still made or not.    Here is a good link on how to make a dipole Antenna.  

https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/dipole-antenna/hf-ham-band-dipole-construction-80-40-20-15-10-meters.php

I am trying to upgrade my ham radio craft a little bit.  I found some instructions for making an end fed half wave multi-band antenna.   Basically you just run a BIG wire and you have a really heavily wound toriod to allow it to be resonant on multiple frequencies.   I am attempting to go this route because I am trying to sneak in an HF antenna into my neighborhood without getting caught.    

Instructions for a End Fed Antenna I am attempting to use.
http://gnarc.org/wp-content/uploads/The-End-Fed-Half-Wave-Antenna.pdf

I think the hardest thing to come by is where to buy a toriod.  I am waiting for mine to arrive from torroid king.  https://www.kitsandparts.com/  I don't think you want to go through all the work to buy some random unknown/untested/unverified toroids.  

If you are interested in more details, someone posted a link to this book in a public electronics forum.  http://seklad69associates.com/seklad69associates.com/EEG_808_and_815_files/Antenna%20Engineering%20Handbook.pdf  I am not posting it directly to the radio clubs site, so you can technically find it through your own googlition.

​Also the RSGB has a book on stealth antennas, I highly encourage you to check it out if you are wanting to get on HF (High frequency).  This will be mostly geared to people with general or extra class licenses.
http://www.rsgbshop.org/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Antennas_37.html  (have to scroll down, sorry no direct link.)

After you get the radio and antenna setup.  Then we normally like to standardize power connectors.   ARES like to use the anderson powerpole connectors.  Available online at powerwerx.com or ham radio outlet.  
​https://powerwerx.com/help/powerpole-assembly-instructions