Questions about Onyx and my HT.

I have an Icom W32A HT and  I have a harness it for and can wear it while riding “Onyx”. I have been Ill and recovering from my work related shoulder injury. I am just missing and need 2 items for the rig, an BNC to PL-259 cable for the HT and a 12v battery to power my HT. You might say that is simple, but I lost my job due to my injury, lost the workmen’s comp due to my Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), (Thanks Alabama) and on a very long wait for Social Security Benefits. I have not an income since July of ‘08 or a job since December of ‘07. Makes having a life difficult.  I have a bed and I get to eat. I have access to the internet, I now have “Onyx” to get around in. And most of all I still have my Sharon.

I am wanting to get my HT back up and running. I hate that I can not make use of my Amateur Radio Ticket, Where I am located I need a power amp for the HT.  At current prices a 2 meter rig cost as much as a power amp for the HT. Even if I found a good price on a 2 meter rig, I am still waiting on my benefits. I believe the trees are currently blocking my 2 meter antenna by the house. This make hitting the local repeaters almost impossible.  I need an local “Elmer” to look in on me and help a bit. I have been trying to reach local radio clubs but with no success as of yet.  I have recently found out about echo link, just need a usb headset and mic to get on the air that way… Still boils down to money…  Well I am still alive, and kicking, things will work out.  More later Guys.  73 de KF4SWS and Onyx.

Replace the cell phone.

This is why I am looking at several radio’s: My trip back in May 09 was plagued with either no cell coverage most of the way, no battery life due to searching for cell towers and  / or both problems.  There was hours of no way to contact anyone if there had been an emergency.  For those folks trying to reach me could only wonder if I was alive or dead on the side of the road. So I am trying to isolate and pick the best backpack amateur radio rig I can put together with out to much cost and weight. I have thought about getting a 75watt 2 meter rig, but did not want to limit myself to only 2 meter when I an capable of working the MF/HF/VHF/UHF bands covering 160m to 10m, plus 6m, 2m and 70cm. with my Technicians Class license.  Of course money will always be an issue in choosing the right rig.

Looking at the FT-857

I found this data from YO3HJV site:

TIP for mobile users:
Two male RJ11 and 3m of 6 wire telephone cable for front panel, one male and one female RJ45 and 3m of 8 wire FTP cable for microphone.
The main issue is how to find a proper receptacle for the front panel... Well, this receptacle is right on the radio, and is fixed on 4 screws. It's part number on the service manual is RA0450600 as shown on the picture below:

You can unscrew that receptacle and used it with some PDA support to attach it on the windshield with a suction cup. I use the same solution with my FT 8900...
It is the best solution for who is interested in a permanent mobile solution. Why spend a lot of $$$ on a "mobile separation kit"???
73! de yo3hjv
Adrian

Compact, full featured, modern look

Crammed into the little enclosure is an 100kHz-500MHz transceiver (receiving. Transmitting is subject to ham band limitations) with most of the modern bells and whistles that anyone could want, and which can supply 100 watts on 160-6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters, and 20 watts on the 440 MHz band.
Is operating in the CW, AM, SSB, FM, and digital modes.
The main purpose of this radio is to be installed as a mobile rig, with removable front plate which can be mounted away from the main unit.
The single limitation of this kind of installation is the microphone and the speaker, which are connected directly to the main unit thus a second cable will be necessary.
I purchase this radio in the spring of 2006 from WIMO, a reseller located in Germany. I was, somehow, budget-orientated. My HSU (Ham Speding Units) was around 650 EUR and this radio fits very well (620EUR+shipping 36EUR) so I ordered right away!
I was very happy to have a "all band-all mode HF+VHF+UHF transceiver in one box. Furthermore, I needed a radio which could be the basis for a very portable station for field use. The FT-857 fills both requirements nicely.
The first approach to this radio was to download a pdf user manual (operations manual) to see the features and to imagine what I can do with it. This is a habit to me in order to be already familiar with a new radio because I am a real ham and real hams do not read the manual when a radio is sitting in front!
The first thing I did when the radio arrived was to look inside...
I liked the solid aluminum frame in the central section and how the circuit boards are fitted! A solid frame is the key for a good thermal behavior and also a good backbone for a mobile or portable radio.
The FT-857 is build to last and to survive a lot of mechanical abuse.

The top circuit board contains all of the low level electronics. Although there is no space left over, nothing seems crammed into the space at all.
I saw a lot of radios from inside. Also I was a constructor of radios and other electronic things... It's like a classic painting what the Yaesu engineers manage to do in this box! Nevertheless, their work has made a design which is logical, clean, easy to repair and should be very reliable.
The bottom circuit board contains the separate HF and VHF/UHF power amplifiers, and all of the band switching components. Once again, the board looks full but very logical, with a very clean layout. The heat from the power transistors is coupled directly to the main casting, and the twin fans provide the air movement necessary to extract the heat from the unit. The fans run only when necessary, with variable speed, so the unit is quiet most of the time.
I purchase an optional original Yaesu SSB filter but on receiving it isn't what I expected! But in Tx-ing reports are better than the built-in ceramic filter, so i will keep it. The picture shows the two optional filters.

I like
This radio is tiny and modular. The removable faceplate is a good thing for mobile installation and even for a crowded ham shack. If space is principal consideration, then the FT-857D is the best all=mode all-band full-power space-saver currently available.
The price also is good! Do not expect to have performances like a Kenwood TS2000! It is a very good radio in it's price range!
Reasonable front panel – With small size comes along the necessity to cram the front panel functionality into a minimum of controls. Reading the manual is absolutely required in order to get the maximum functionality out of the FT-857. However, the controls are well-thought-out, and benefit from a couple of generations of small equipment with few controls. The function selection and the menus allow everything to be controlled, and they have obviously thought through the usability of these. After a few weeks of trying every feature, I can go directly to what I need without referring to the manuals any more. For anything this complex, that is high praise.
Receive audio is quite good – The primary limitation on receive audio is the tiny speaker in the case. For any real use, it cries out for an external speaker. I have plugged in high-quality external speakers, and the audio is as good. There is also plenty of audio power available. Driving an inefficient old acoustic suspension speaker is no problem at all. Furthermore, there is a headphone jack on the front left side of the FT-857, which makes headphone use an easy thing. They provide a switch to change the power level on the headphone jack so that if you should want to power a larger speaker from that jack, the FT-857 will drive it. This is very well thought-out.
External programming software – After I bought the radio, I also bought the ADMS-4B programming software. The programming cable I made it myself with just two bipolar transistors and some passive components. Also I like how interacts with the Ham Radio Deluxe CAT, but the credits goes to the authors of the software!
DSP - Is OK for a audio only DSP and performs well on a crowd band. Also useful with the QRM and best on static noises.
All band coverage, including the CB which is very useful on the road! Unfortunately, I was not able to make a good installation on my new car...
Adjustable drag on Dial Knob. No more to say about! Not to many hams are aware about this feature!

I don't like
No direct frequency entry - Unless you buy the fancy external microphone, it is not possible to do direct frequency entry. I can solve this with one easy purchase, but I already know how difficult can be as I have a ICOM IC2100 with a remote mic. Not so bad, but sometime I miss this feature.
No built-in tuner – I solved this with an external LDG AT-11MP and later a Z100 also from LDG (in portable operations) which matches the size of the radio, and will load up nearly anything. I read a lot of reviews for Yaesu tuners and I don't want to buy one! I also miss a OTT (One Touch Tuning) switch on the front panel! Could be useful a single switch to put a CW, 5W for external ATU.
Unlabeled back panel – There is a sticker on the bottom of the radio showing which of the many back panel connectors do what, but I miss having the labels where I can see them. I used a permanent ink pen to make my own "labels".
A connector or a hole or whatever to ground the radio direct to the chassis. I really miss this because I like to have a well grounded shack! I drive a hole through the rear aluminum solid block to connect a wire for grounding... Grrrr...
The SELECTOR knob is very poor! Is some optical switch with a high failure rate! Mine is fail to switch in the needed direction. Forward-back-forward when switching only forward or backward...
So that is it. I consider the FT-857 to be a really good deal in a ham radio transceiver, and one which is well-suited to anyone needing one which will fit into a very small space or need a second radio for field day, portable or DX-expeditions. I really like my Kenwood TS-2000X "Big Rig" with all of the controls up-front, but the FT-857 does very well within the small space it requires.
In the spring of 2007 I sold the radio to purchase a Kenwood TS2000X. After the radio "travelled" from ham to ham, I bought it back in order to go in Elba Island, portable. So, Is here to stay... or to go portable again!
73! de YO3HJV

I found similar information from W4TI.

Review: Yaesu FT-857

The Tiny Powerhouse
The Yaesu FT-857 is a little marvel. Crammed into the enclosure is an MF, HF, VHF and UHF transceiver with most of the modern bells and whistles that anyone could want, and which can supply 100 watts on 160-6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters, and 20 watts on the 440 MHz band. It is capable of operating in the CW, AM, SSB, FM, and digital modes. The engineers have built what seems to be intended as a mobile transceiver, suitable for installation in a vehicle, with a removable face plate which can be mounted separately from the electronics package.
I purchased the FT-857 with a dual purpose in mind. First I need a compact transceiver which can fit into a little folding desk in our den, so that there is a radio I can use when I am not able to get out to the the big station in the second building in our facility. (I have stage IV pancreatic cancer, and frequently am very sick.  My cancer blog is here.) So in the near term, the FT-857 would provide a radio I could use conveniently, which would fit into a small space. Furthermore, I needed a radio which could be the basis for a very portable station for field use. The FT-857 fills both requirements nicely, and is quite affordable, so it arrived during July from Gigaparts (great ham radio store in Huntsville, Alabama) and I have been learning all of the features of this compact wonder since it arrived.
How did they fit everything in such a small box?
One of the first things I did after it arrived was to remove the covers to see what Yaesu had done to cram all of this functionality into such a small enclosure, and the pictures below show how it is built. The basic frame is an aluminum casting, which makes a very solid mechanical backbone for the radio. The covers are made from steel, and everything fits well. From what I can see, the FT-857 is built to survive and work through long-term heavy-duty use.
The top circuit board contains all of the low level electronics. Although there is no space left over, nothing seems crammed into the space at all. As an electronic engineer who designs boxes and circuit boards for a living, I can appreciate the wonderful engineering which went into this design. It all looks so straightforward as to be obvious, although I can tell that there is nothing obvious about it. This was the result of very diligent hard work. Nevertheless, their work has made a design which is logical, clean, and should be very reliable.

Top of FT-857, showing low-level electronics
Notice that in the top left hand corner there are two Collins mechanical filters. These are optional, additional cost items. I have had radios before which used the Collins filters, and they have always proven to be excellent performers, so I ordered both filters at the same time I ordered the radio. These particular filters came from W4RT Electronics http://w4rt.com rather than from Yaesu. They cost roughly 2/3 of what the Yaesu filters cost, and use the same Collins filters as the Yaesu filters have. I used to work for W4RT Electronics, and know how excellent their products are, so I did not hesitate to buy the W4RT filters. They work excellently, and provide the improved receive and transmit audio on SSB, and the narrow bandwidth without ringing on CW, just as I have come to expect from the Collins filters.
The bottom circuit board contains the separate HF and VHF/UHF power amplifiers, and all of the band switching components. Once again, the board looks full but very logical, with a very clean layout. The heat from the power transistors is coupled directly to the main casting, and the twin fans provide the air movement necessary to extract the heat from the unit. The fans run only when necessary, so the unit is quiet most of the time.

Bottom of FT-857, showing the RF power amplifiers and band switching
Features I Like
This radio is tiny – If space is a consideration, then the FT-857 is the best full-power space-saver currently available. It is also a good value, as far as the performance-to-cost ratio is concerned.
Good performance – While the FT-857 is not the radio that my Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V Field is, Yaesu has succeeded in designing and building an excellent combination of features into it. The performance is better than all but two of the HF radios I have ever owned, and those two were expensive, high-end systems.
Reasonable front panel – With small size comes along the necessity to cram the front panel functionality into a minimum of controls. Reading the manual is absolutely required in order to get the maximum functionality out of the FT-857. However, the controls are well-thought-out, and benefit from a couple of generations of small equipment with few controls. The function selection and the menus allow everything to be controlled, and they have obviously thought through the usability of these. After a few weeks of trying every feature, I can go directly to what I need without referring to the manuals any more. For anything this complex, that is high praise.
Receive audio is quite good – The primary limitation on receive audio is the tiny speaker in the case. For any real use, it cries out for an external speaker. I have plugged in high-quality external speakers, and the audio is as good as or better than any other ham radio I have used. There is also plenty of audio power available. Driving an inefficient old acoustic suspension speaker is no problem at all. Furthermore, there is a headphone jack on the front left side of the FT-857, which makes headphone use an easy thing. They provide a switch to change the power level on the headphone jack so that if you should want to power a larger speaker from that jack, the FT-857 will drive it. This is very well thought-out.
External programming software – When I bought the radio, I also bought the computer control cable and the ADMS-4B programming software. This is the first time I have ever used programming software on a multi-mode radio, and it is a real blessing. It makes it possible to logically think through how I want to logically organize the memories, so that the 200 memory locations can be used to their best advantage. So for instance I have set up all of the VHF and UHF local repeaters and simplex frequencies with their respective tone/DCS squelch settings, all of the weather service frequencies, all of my usual starting frequencies and modes for HF use, and all of the net frequencies I frequent. I am used to doing this for a channelized VHF or UHF radio, but this is the first time to try this on HF, and I really like it. It makes use so logical.
CW Receive Filtering - The combination of the Collins 500 Hz mechanical filter and the DSP filtering is very good for separating signals in a busy CW band. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the DSP does at both narrowing the bandwidth and reducing the general noise level on receive.
What I miss
No direct frequency entry - Unless you buy the fancy external microphone, it is not possible to do direct frequency entry. I can solve this with one easy purchase, but I had not thought of how much I would miss this feature.
No built-in tuner – I solved this with an external LDG Z-11 Pro which matches the size of the radio, and will load up nearly anything. Having used the Yaesu tuners in the past, I avoided them this time because they do not try hard enough to load into unusual loads, and take a long time to tune.
Unlabeled back panel – There is a sticker on the bottom of the radio showing which of the many back panel connectors do what, but I miss having the labels where I can see them. Having the sticker on the top of the radio might not be as pretty, but it would make actual use of the radio somewhat easier.
So that is it. I consider the FT-857 to be a really good deal in a ham radio transceiver, and one which is well-suited to anyone needing one which will fit into a very small space. I really like my Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V Field "Big Rig" with all of the controls up-front, but the FT-857 does very well within the small space it requires.
To read the operating manual for the FT-857, click here.
To read the technical supplement for the FT-857, click here.
73
Diehl Martin
W4TI
August 2006

Robin 2W0LAZ wrote this about the FT857D:

After about 6 weeks of using this radio I think I know it well enough to write a small review, so here goes.

I chose this radio mainly because of its specification i.e. all band and all mode. It is capable of working the MF/HF/VHF/UHF bands covering 160m to 10m, plus 6m, 2m and 70cm.

As standard it has AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW plus a range of digital modes I have not even explored yet.

I wanted a radio that would last for a while as I fully intended to go beyond the 10W foundation limitation, and work towards the intermediate and full license.

This radio is capable of 100W from 160m to 6m, 50W on the 2m band and 20W on 70cm. 

The radio is housed in a very compact case measuring approx. 6" wide, 2" high and 9" deep (you can do your own metric conversions) and weighs just over 4.5 lb.

The main controls are all front facing or on the side of the front panel with some button having more than one purpose depending if it is given a short press or a long press.

The 3 multi function buttons beneath the LCD are menu select buttons and refer to the options that appear above the buttons. These options will change depending which menu segment is active. I suppose this feature could be compared to most modern mobile phones where the choices on screen change depending upon the menu that is active at the time, with the buttons referring to the menu choices on screen.

I expect the big questions for everyone are:

• How easy is the radio to use?
• Are the controls laid out methodically?
• Can you discard the user manual after a short time?

Not easy questions to answer, with a lot depending on your ability to remember sequences of button presses to achieve the desired result.

The tuning function is by rotary knobs similar to most radios, but these are configurable for mode, step etc. from the menu system.

The band change function is achieved using two buttons (up and down) on the top of the front panel above the main dial. The mode change is achieved using two similar buttons (up and down) above the top left of the display.

For each button press the selection changes and cycles around from the last choice to the first choice, and vice versa. They are very easy to use as the display updates with every button press.

The entry point into the menus is the "Func" button. If this button is pressed momentarily then the radio enters "Multi Function Mode". The lower part of the LCD will show 3 options that can be selected by the 3 multi-function buttons. If the Select knob is rotated then these sets of options will change, with sets of options from MFa to MFq.

These quick menus hold the most common and frequently used features such as writing to memory, scanning memories, bandscope, repeater shifts and CTCSS tones. Some options are simple toggle on or off and some options have multiple choices that need repeated button presses.

The deeper use of the "Func" button is entered if you press and hold the button for one second. This enters the main (configuration) menu system. Rotating the Select knob will now cycle through 91 different menu choices covering all aspects of the radio such as output power, DSP parameters, tuning steps, mic gain, LCD colour etc.

As an example I will summarize the steps needed to initiate a scan through the stored memories:

1. 
   Press and release the V/M (VFO/Memory) button to enter memory mode.
2. Press and release the Func button.
3. Rotate the Select knob until MFg is displayed.
4. Press Multi-Function button A (SCN) to start scanning memories.

The method and type of scan can be changed using the other two multi-function buttons (B & C) and further configured in the main menu of 91 options.

The big question is about the manual. Is it up to the job? I find the manual a little unusual. It appears to have been written by an expert who knows the radio inside out but with an expectation that the reader also has a certain level of pre-existing knowledge. At times I find myself seeking further knowledge elsewhere because the manual explains exactly how to configure a particular function but fails to explain when I would need to use that function or why? This is my first amateur radio and I have no base for comparison. Perhaps all radio manuals are like this! However I certainly think it could have been done a little better than this.

As to performance, so far so good. I have managed a number of HF contacts across Europe and have worked through numerous local VHF repeaters and links with ease. I have had nothing but good reports from these contacts.

In summary, I think this is a excellent radio, well worth the time and effort getting to know its many features and options.

Check out the manufacturers website at Yaesu UK.

Read hundreds of other reviews of this radio at EHam.net.

Review by Robin 2W0LAZ.

March 2007.

I will be posting more articles as I find them on this and other radios That I find interesting.

Why amateur radio operators are called HAMS

Doing some research on this and this is what I came up with. Interesting reading.

The true reason why amateur radio operators came to be called "HAMS" is no longer known.

More specifically, the truth has been lost to time over the many years. Various speculations do exist, however, each with their own degree of believability. Presented below are some of the more common theories, presented in no particular order of importance or preference. The theories presented have been gleaned from internet searches, printed works, and word of mouth from some of our more experienced... (Older) hams !

Theory One: The three letters (H.A.M.) are initials, which pay homage to the last names of three of the great radio experimenters of bygone years. George HERTZ, who demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves in 1888, Edwin ARMSTRONG, who developed a resonant oscillator circuit for radio frequency work, and finally, Guglielmo MARCONI, the 1909 Nobel laureate in Physics, who in the year 1901 established the first transatlantic radio contact.

Similar to this name / initials honorarium of the past great minds of radio,
comes one based on slightly lesser minds, but nonetheless
most heroic in their own right. Let's look at:

Theory Two: This theory suggests that "HAM" is the combination of initials of the last names of three college students at Harvard, who supposedly had their own amateur radio station in the early nineteen hundred teen something. This was at a time when experimenters had free reign of the radio spectrum, and any legal administration, red tape or federally assigned callsigns were in their infancy or altogether non-existent. Their last names were (supposedly) HYMAN, ALMAY, and MURRAY, and they operated their little amateur radio station with a (self-assigned) call sign of "H.A.M." The three young men were merely identifying their station as "theirs" by using their names. ("H.A.M.")

Shortly after this fledgling station emerged, the government DID start proceedings to license, administrate, and "control" all radio operators, amateurs included. Amateur radio stations, Commercial broadcast stations, and rogue radio operators were springing up all across the nation. Some of these transmissions were causing interference, and thus the government was attempting to gain control and administration of the entire radio spectrum. Early amateur radio operators had quite a fight to maintain any radio spectrum what so ever for their use in their experiments. This fight for government control threatened to eliminate all amateur radio stations entirely by placing all radio transmissions under the control of the Department of the Navy. The Navy’s official position on this issue was, "the ONLY radio transmissions that should be authorized should be those of a military nature."

Now, with that brief history concerning the control of radio spectrum in mind, let’s get back to our college students and their "H.A.M." station. "Supposedly", an impassioned speech was made on the floor of the US Congress in behalf and support of amateur radio operators and their commercial broadcast counterpart stations as well. The Harvard boys, which operated "H.A.M", became the poster child, so to speak, of ALL of amateur and commercial radio's experimental advancements and endeavors nationwide. They became known as "the little HAM station that could". This congressional speech, citing the station "H.A.M.", supposedly turned the tide and defeated the bill that would eliminate commercial and amateur radio entirely, and turn the airwaves completely over to the navy.

The problem with this theory is that an exhaustive search of the Congressional Record turns up no such speech, and the Harvard School histories have no record of the Amateur Radio station called "HAM". However, that having been said, it is also a very well known fact there were inaccuracies in the Congressional Record in the early part of this century, yielding it a dubious tool for proof or disproof of any topic. Before Congressional reforms were enacted later on in the 1900’s, the rules of Congress were very lax indeed. Enough so, that just about any member of congress could have just about anything posted as having been read into the congressional record, whether it was actually SPOKEN on the floor of Congress or not. Likewise, members of Congress who knew the "right people" and had enough "pull", could have certain "non-essential" items REMOVED from the Congressional record, under the guise of shortening an already impossibly large document. The potential here for misuse and abuse is obvious. Back then, many members of Congress could appease their constituents and special interests by claiming to have made an impassioned plea for their cause on the floor, and pointed to the "Congressional Record" as proof. This led to many obviously ridiculous paradoxes on "matters of record," such as speeches made by members days or weeks AFTER they boarded a plane or boat which crashed or sank, killing them. These paradoxes and inaccuracies have been documented, so the fact that no (congressional) record exists of the HAM debate remains suspect and subject to conjecture.

Theory Three: Drawing from the congressional "control" theory above, and in an attempt to explain "technical, radio, and electronic matters" to a non-technical congress and general public, here is yet another theory of why Amateur Radio operators are called HAMS: During the earlier days of radio communication, the commercial and Amateur Radio broadcasters had won their fight against the NAVY, (see above). The government (not the military) stepped in to organize and control frequency allocation of these new "short-wave" frequencies. When all was said and done, the government allowed radio amateurs to operate only on certain frequencies which were scattered in an amongst the other licensed (authorized) frequencies. This holds true to this day. The Amateur Radio frequencies were said to be sandwiched "like the HAM in a sandwich" between the other frequencies, and so Amateur Radio frequencies came to be known as the "HAM" segments of a particular band.

Theory Four: Another theory attributes the term "HAM" to: Hugo Gernsback, publisher of a magazine called "Home Amateur Mechanic" which was very, very popular back in the early days of radio. It was so well know, it was a household word, just as the magazines "People", or "Reader’s Digest" are today. Although it was primarily more mechanical in content, it did contain fairly regularly, Amateur Radio construction projects. Thus, when asked what sort of radio a person had, the reply, more often than not, was he: "had one of those "H.A.M." (using just the initials of the well known magazine name.) This theory becomes a bit more believable when you consider the Amateur Radio practice of using just initials or letters for many commonly understood words in order to shorten transmissions and ease sending of messages, especially when using Morse Code. "Home Amateur Mechanic" was simply shortened to H.A.M.

Theory Five: Some speculate the term "HAM" stands for "Help All Mankind" as reflected in the radio amateur’s long history of service towards people in distress during natural calamities, disasters and civil emergencies. In fine S.O.S. tradition, this gives us H.A.M.

Theory Six: Others believe the term "HAM" derives it’s origin from the British. From late in the nineteenth century forward, British sports writers used the "AM" to describe rank AMateurs in sports. It first came into the "electronics arena" from the "wire telegraphers" used by these sports writers. The telegraph operators originally applied it to the younger and inexperienced "cub" reporters. These young sports writers often provided illegibly written or poorly worded copy for the telegrapher to transmit. The professional news telegraphers had beginners in their own line of work, and they picked up the 'AM terminology from the sportswriters, and applied it to their own field. Often the inexperienced new telegraph operators were called "AMs", for the amateurish way they sent messages.

That theory is further explained in the following account...

Theory Seven: (or maybe theory: 6.5): This theory holds that the term "HAM" actually derives from what the seasoned commercial (professional) telegraph operators called the (hobby) amateur radio operators. When the inexperienced hobby radio enthusiasts began to venture on air with crude spark-gap transmitters, based on vehicle ignition coils, their code transmissions must have been pretty poor compared to the commercial telegraphs of the day. The commercial operators referred to the amateurs by using a modification of the old telegrapher's insult (from above) by saying the operator was "ham fisted", meaning that they weren't of professional skill. "Ham Fisted" referred to their style and proficiency of sending telegraph code which could have been done just as well by using a ham (the cut of pork) on the telegraph key to pound out their rudimentary code.

Theory Eight: Along those same lines of thought, came this theory linked to the stage and theater, where the term "HAM" is used to denote an actor of indifferent ability, or one who shows off his skill (or lack thereof), by performing in spite of and mostly oblivious to his own ineptitude.

Theory Nine: This following theory seems to combine the "ham fisted" and the "un-professional operator" theories from above, but also adds a bit more insight as to why amateur radio operators might be called "HAMS": Definition of HAM: "A poor performer. [in this case:] "An operator of poor performance and courtesy". Even before wireless radio, that's the gist of a definition of the word "Ham" given in the G. M. Dodge book: "The Telegraph Instructor." The definition never changed throughout wire telegraphy history. The first WIRELESS operators were, of course, originally land based (wire) telegraphers, who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them to their now jobs their old habits, both good and bad. Along with them came also slang terms, operating practices, and much of the tradition of their older profession.

In those early days, spark-gap radio transmissions were king, in fact it was the only type of transmission readily available, and every station occupied the same wavelength - or, more accurately perhaps, every station occupied a very large portion of the bandwidth with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous Amateur Radio operators all competed for signal supremacy, causing quite a cacophony noise and interference in each other's radio receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful indeed. Two amateurs, who were just talking to each other across town or in neighboring cities, could effectively "jam" all the other operators in a very large area with their strong signals. When this happened, the frustrated commercial operators would telegraph the ship whose weaker signals had been blotted out by the amateurs and send: "SRI OM THOSE HAMS ARE JAMMING YOU." ("Sorry old man, those "HAMS, (meaning poor and discourteous performers), are jamming you’).

Amateur radio operators, who may have been unaware of the real meaning of that derogatory term "HAM", picked it up and applied it to themselves and wore it with pride. Much as the term "Yankee Doodle" started out as a derogatory term from the British, and then came full circle to be worn with pride to those it was once intended to ridicule. As the years advanced, the telegrapher's original meaning of inept and poor performing completely disappeared.

These past few derogatory theories may well be close to the true origin of the term, but it seems unlikely that amateurs would willingly adopt a term meant to be insulting to them as their name. However, consider this: There was an English professor at University of MD who pointed out that "bad" or "insulting" words sometimes fall into a period of disuse, which causes the meaning to become obscure, setting the stage for them to be (ironically) resurrected with more polite, or merely self-deprecating, meanings. Consider, for example, the word "naughty." In Shakespeare's time, it directly translated as "evil" or "demonic," and therefore fell out of polite usage in most social circles of the time. In current usage, however, it's much more benign, and often used to good-naturedly scold friends or even children. It would not be implausible then, for what started out as an insult, to later become adopted by the very group it was intended to ridicule. Today, to be "branded" a "good Ham", is one of the highest compliments an Amateur Radio operator can receive.

The Amateur Radio Q-Codes

* indicate most common used today.

Signal	Question	Answer, Advice or Order
QRG	Will you indicate my exact frequency in kilocycles?	Your frequency is ... kc.
QRH	Does my frequency vary?	Your frequency varies.
QRI	How is the tone of my transmission?	The tone of your transmission is ... 1. Good.  2.    Variable.    3. Bad.
QRJ	Are you receiving me badly? Are my signals weak?	I cannot receive you. Your signals are too weak.
QRK	What is the legibility of my signals (1 to 5)?	The legibility of your signals is ... (1 to 5).
QRL *	Are you busy?	I am busy (or busy with....). Please do not interfere.
QRM *	Are you being interfered with?	I am being interfered with.
QRN *	Are you troubled by static?	I am troubled by static.
QRO *	Must I increase power?	Increase power.
QRP *	Must I decrease power?	Decrease power.
QRQ *	Must I send faster?	Send faster ... (words per min.).
QRS *	Must I send more slowly?	Transmit more slowly ... (w.p.m.).
QRT *	Must I stop transmission?	Stop transmission.
QRU *	Have you anything for me?	I have nothing for you.
QRV *	Are you ready?	I am ready.
QRW	Must I advise ... that you are calling him on ... kc?	Please advise ... that I am calling him on ... kc.
QRX *	When will you call again?	I will call you again at ... hours (on ... kc.).
QRZ *	By whom am I being called?	You are being called by ...
QSA	What is the strength of my signals (1 to 5)?	The strength of your signals is ... (1 to 5).
QSB*	Does the strength of my signals vary?	The strength of your signals varies.
QSD	Is my keying correct? Are my signals distinct?	Your keying is incorrect; your signals are bad.
QSG	Must I transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time?	Transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time.
QSK *	Shall I continue the transmission of all my traffic?	I can hear you between my signals. Continue: I shall interrupt you if necessary.
QSL *	Can you acknowledge receipt?	I am acknowledging receipt.
QSM	Shall I repeat the last telegram I sent you?	Repeat the last telegram you sent me.
QSO *	Can you communicate with ... directly (or through...)?	I can communicate with ... direct (or through...).
QSP	Will you relay to ...?	I will relay to ... free of charge.
QSV	Shall I send a series of VVV....?	Send a series of VVV.
QSX	Will you listen for ... (call sign) on ... kcs?	I am listening for ... on ... kcs.
QSY *	Shall I change to ... kilocycles without changing the type of wave?	Change to ... kc. without changing type of wave.
QSZ	Shall I send each word or group twice?	Send each word or group twice.
QTA	Shall I cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent?	Cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent.
QTB	Do you agree with my word count?	I do not agree with your word count; I shall repeat the first letter of each word and the first figure of each number.
QTC	How many telegrams have you to send?	I have ... telegrams for you or for ....
QTH*	What is your position (location)?	My position (location) is ....
QTR	What is the exact time?	The exact time is ....
QST *		General call preceding a message address to all amateurs and A.R.R.L. Members.
QRRR		Official A.R.R.L. "land SOS." A distress call for emergency use only.

Choosing an Ham Radio…

I am going to look at this in a few stages… The least expensive route and the narrowest involvement in the hobby, to a high level of enjoyment.

First I will say that I have decided to steer away from HT’s (Handheld Transceivers). I own a couple they have their place but prefer radios with more weight. 

After looking at most of the radio on the market today I came up with an Yaesu FT-2900R, it is a 2-meter rig capable of 75 watts output. Currently priced around $165.00.  

Next on my list that stands out in my mind is the Yaesu FTM-10R, this is a dual band rig capable of 50 watts output.

It is available for around $350.00.

The next 3 radios are neck to neck in pricing from $600 to $750 to $900. They are the Yaesu FT-817D, FT=857D and the FT-897D. They are HF rigs, (High Frequency Radios) also covering 6-meters, 2-meters and 440 centimeters.

               FT-817ND                                               FT-857D                                       FT-897D

The most important choice to make in buying and setting up you rig is the Antenna !  I am basically looking at two of them. the Yaesu ATAS-25 which is a very good match for the FT-817D. Also The Mini-Buddipole looks nice at the same price of $230.

  

A more portable Antenna is the ATX Walkabout it is a mini all-band antenna from PowerPort,

                               

As you can see it is quite portable fitting into a nice little pouch. With a pricing that is a bargain at $130.

Next thing you need is power!  PowerPort again has quite a few answers here, I am looking at the PowerPort-312 as a source of power. For extended stays away from a AC/DC charging source I am looking at the Solar Cell SC-12F.

Since I am a Cyclist owning a recumbent tadpole trike from Catrike named Onyx. I would like to be able to put this rig in a nice pack. Again PowerPort comes to the rescue with their product called WorldPack II priced at $72, that is not bad at all.  The pack also comes with a power pack add-on as well. 

 

An Intro to Amateur Radio…

An intro - Most of the info I pulled, came from Ham Universe.  Ham radio/Amateur radio is a high-tech hobby sanctioned by the U.S. Federal Government that's got something fun for everyone. Ham Radio is well known as the most important communications backup for our Federal Government, that is why they are behind us!

Amateur Radio operators are people from all walks of life--no matter what age, gender or physical ability. Did you know that most of the astronauts are Amateur Radio Operators? You’re never too young or old. And, getting started in Amateur Radio has never been easier! Now, you no longer have to learn Morse Code to get your first Ham Radio License, the Technician Class, as in years past! Just pass a 35 question multiple choice exam given by volunteer Ham Radio Operators who want you to pass your exam and become one of them
and you’re on your way!

The Ham Radio Operator License Classes: In the US, there are 3 license levels, or "license classes."
These licenses are granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). You don’t buy them, you earn them.

Technician Class - The First level of Ham radio license
The Technician class license is designed for beginning level hams. This is where you will open the door and go inside to the exciting world of Ham Radio and learn more about Amateur Radio as you progress. Technician class operators now have 10 meter voice privileges plus CW on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters! It authorizes you ALL ham radio privileges above 30 Megahertz (MHz). 1500 watts of power and these privileges include the very popular 2-meter band. Many Technician licensees enjoy using small 2-meter hand-held radios to stay in touch with other hams in their area or operating from just about any vehicle, boat, etc. Imagine sending live TV in real-time or just still pictures over the air! Technician class Hams may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes. As a Technician class Ham Radio Operator, you can even make international radio contacts via Ham Radio satellites, and actually communicate directly to hams aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using relatively simple and inexpensive equipment they operate.  Imagine the thrill of talking to the astronauts, many of whom are licensed "ham radio operators", aboard the Space Station, talking directly to ham satellites in space that relay your signals to earth, or just around the block or around the world using your own licensed equipment! Using the computer and Ham radio, you can talk using your voice or the keyboard to ham friends or make new ones literally around the world!  Hams know how to do this! It's certainly not CB radio! It’s way beyond and out of this world excitement over radio! To do all of this, you must be licensed by the Federal Communications commission, (the FCC) and in order to get a license, you must pass an exam for one or more of the license's. To earn a Technician Ham license, which is the entry level license, and will get you started and open the many "doors" awaiting you, you'll need to pass the Technician written exam. It is written with the beginner in mind. With a little study on your part and a passing grade behind you, you get your first ham radio license! The license is FREE and issued by the Federal Government!  There are three classes of ham radio operators along with three multiple-choice exams.  You don’t need a background in Electronics although it does help for the higher classes of licenses. You'll study topics such as radio operating practices, FCC rules and regulations and very basic electrical and electronic theory.
Children do it all the time and so can you!

General Class Ham license - The second level and the most popular class of Ham license is the General Class. You get privileges on ALL Ham bands.

Extra Class - The highest level of Ham license is called Extra Class. You get all the Ham bands and all the authorized Ham radio frequencies.

In order to advance up the ladder to General Class and then Extra if you want the highest class, you first take the Technician exam, then the General and last the Extra class. You do not have to advance if you are happy with staying with the Technician class but most Ham radio operators go for the more popular General class after passing the Technician and getting a bit of experience. The General class authorizes ALL ham radio bands and modes. Some people even take all three exams in one sitting! The tests have to be taken in order. You can’t skip a test.

So I have a Technicians Amateur Radio License.  THERE ARE NEW TECHNICIAN CLASS LICENSE PRIVILEGES! Effective at 12:01 AM Eastern Time Friday February 23, 2007.  As soon as the new privileges granted to Technician class licenses come into effect, Technician license holders will get 4 more bands on HF that they did not have before the new rule changes and the ability to transmit voice (SSB) on a portion of 10 meters and CW only on other bands. At all times, transmitter power must be the minimum necessary to carry out the desired communications. Unless otherwise noted, the maximum power output is 1500 watts PEP. All classes are limited to 200 watts PEP in the 80, 40, and 15 meter Novice/Technician Plus sub bands. Geographical power restrictions apply to the 70 cm, 33 cm and 23 cm bands.  The power limit is 200 watts PEP output for Technician/Technician Plus operators.
(Use only enough power to establish and maintain communications.) Band details are:

• 80 METERS 3525 - 3600 kHz CW only 
• 40 METERS 7025 - 7125 kHz CW only
• 15 METERS 21,025 - 21,200 kHz CW only
• 10 METERS: 28,000 - 28,300 kHz CW, RTTY and Data
• 28,300 - 28,500 kHz CW, SSB (VOICE)