CQ-VHF Magazine

[Corey]

Read about this magazine for frequencies above HF in the Gorden West book I am using to study with.
The magazine is mainly aimed at Technician Class folk's, but also offers info for higher class licensees.
http://www.cq-vhf.com/

If I like the layout, I may get the main CQ magazine down the road.
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/

Anyone subscribe to either of these magazines, and do you find them helpful?

As if I do not have enough magazines to read already

 

[762X39]

I buy the magazine from time to time when the cover interests me. I enjoy the vhf magazine more because it's the band I use but the lower bands interest me enough to give CQ a look once in a while.

(VE3JZU)

 

[1911]

VHF/UHF is fun, but HF is really addicting! It's a whole 'nother world of fun. Today, I was trying to contact some 4x4ham.com friends in Nevada and Colorado on 40 meters; in the process of doing that I heard another guy calling CQ on one of the frequencies the 4x4ham.com guys had agreed to meet on. He had an accent so I responded - turns out the guy was in Brazil! We had a good QSO for a while and then I went back to looking for my friends. I thought it was pretty cool to be sitting in my office/shop building, talking to someone on another continent, and with only a portable antenna close to the ground outside my door and a 100-watt radio. Anyway, I'd encourage you all to get your General ticket after your Technician one, it literally opens up the whole world to you.

 

[Corey]

That sounds cool 1911 getting to talk with the guy.

I was turned onto this excitement at an early age, I guess I should have gotten my ham radio license 40 years ago

When I was around 14 or so I was out at my brothers home one weekend, and they had an old Zenith shortwave radio.
My dad saw that I was very interested in it, so for Christmas later that year he picked up a Hallicrafters S129 for me.
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/gallery/anchors/HALLICRAFTERS S129.html

I use to stay up late at night listening to Morse code, ship to shore, CB, hams talking, and overseas news and music broadcasts, and of course setting my watch to WWV's time broadcasts.
Nice that my Yaesu 857D radio picks up WWV too.

Forgot to mention I placed my order for the first magazine in my post above, and there is a free 3 month sub coupon in the back of the technician book I am studying with.

Listened to some 10 meter today in my rig, mostly Morse code, but I picked up a few hams too talking on USB or LSB.
I can push a button on the radio to select either one and then fine tune them in.

Still learning a lot about the radio, and it also lets me select AM or FM to listen in on all of the bands.
I was explaining that to a ham at work, and he seemed to think those buttons took you to the broadcast stations for AM or FM, and I told him no, you use those to choose your mode to talk on.
He is not familiar with my model of radio, and I am not sure if you use can use either one to listen in on or talk with.
The buttons on top also allow it to go to dig, cw, and a few others.
The radio is pretty high tech, and way more advanced than I need for when I do get my first license.

I will be going for the general too, but I will wait awhile before that.
I have that book also to study later.

 

[Jon Nelson]

Just took a Gordon West course this weekend to pass my Technician exam!

FYI... he said, from his mouth, that this is the last year he will be doing live courses. I did not intend to pursue my General ticket anytime soon, but signed up to do it the weekend after next so I can get the "Gordo" experience for the General as well.

Now, three hours after receiving my CSCE I'm on expedition portal to see how to outfit The PAV this week to be ready as soon as my call sign hits the database!

 

[rambrush]

Great Job!
I am using his cd's and book to get through the Extra ticket currently, then I will be set.
I started just thinking I needed communications out in the sticks and then it escalated and now I have multi antennas here at the house radios and such. Then the truck now has 3 antennas to cover the bands

 

[taugust]

Jon, congratulations on the ticket. Good idea to go for your General right away. I passed my Tech test with 100% (5 years ago), and out of curiosity, took some practice tests for the General exam. I was able to pass, just barely several times, without studying anything but the Tech book. There are many similarities. I didn't study for the General until 3 years later and passed, but it would have been much easier right away. I urge you to take the General very soon after your Tech exam,or even on the same day, as everything is fresh in your mind. Even if you don't think you will use it, go for it. You probably will.

 

[Jon Nelson]

Thanks Rambrush & Taugust - there were several attempting their General yesterday afternoon after passing the Technician - I had such a blast in the class, plus he's about to quit teaching, plus in two weeks the General class is 10 min from the house... I decided to wait two weeks and take the weekend General class rather than attempting the General yesterday

 

[rambrush]

Thx I was one of those types that took the tech and general in the same session, they gave me a shot at the extra but I made a mess out of that test.
So I have until July to get my extra ticket before they change the test