CQ CQ CQ This is KI4IGQ CQ CQ CQ

miss_thenorth said:

Whoa, back the boat up!! I can't even find a decent website to teach me morse code, let alone solving riddles. Help please????

Click to expand...

Welcome to the "CODE CLUB" MTN, We are so glad you decided to join us.

I am sooo bummed out. I just wrote a very long and detailed explanation to help you with this and cremated it with the "deadly X" at the upper right corner of the page.

I wish we had a "save draft" function here so that wouldn't happen!!!

O well, here we go again. I use relationships to remember things. Most of them are numerical progressions which make things easier to remember, for instance E I S H . .. ... ....
You see a numerical progression. T M O - -- --- same thing. Now you know 7 letters and it took no time at all.

Then there are groups such as the N group. There are 3 N groups; the first is N D B (with the mnemonic device nondirectional beacon for all you aviators in the crowd!) -. -.. -... Get it?

Again a numerical progression based on the first letter of the group.
The next N Group is N G. (National Guard) -. --. and of course N C -. -.-. (for the math geeks we say C=2n)

There a two A Groups. A W J. .- .-- .--- and A U V .- ..- ...- (V having the mnemonic device Beethoven dit dit dit dahhhhhhh if you can sing the first measure of the 9th Symphony)

Now you have the organic chemistry class mnemonics called "enantiomers" which are mirror images of each other.
R/K. .-. -.-

P/X. .--. -..-

FQ ..-. --.- ( the mnemonic is not for children)

L/Y (love you) .-.. -.--

The last letter is Z and there are the numbers and punctuation. There are lots of morse code de-coder programs on the Internet and you can use anyone you want, but knowing the code makes it better if you can't get to one of them for whatever reason. Don't forget, the code can be transmitted with sound, light or printed as you see here which makes it much more versatile than some other things which may require what we call a "KEY".
So do you see the patterns? They make it much easier to remember because you only have to know the first letter in each group.

PM me if you want to see more but you may be able to figure them out on your own,with your own mnemonic device which makes them "stick better"!

Hope this helps. I think you'll find this to be fun and only a little challenging.
Trim sends

//bt//

MTN, I just did a search on "Morse Code" & found some sites with what the letters, numbers, & punctuation marks are. I printed out a chart one of them has. Then I keep another hand-written one using the technique Trim describes (E . I .. S... etc) I switch back & forth between the two.

Speaking of Trim, I noticed he STILL hasn't answered the question of which book to get, since there are several with the name he mentioned before....

i_am2bz said:

MTN, I just did a search on "Morse Code" & found some sites with what the letters, numbers, & punctuation marks are. I printed out a chart one of them has. Then I keep another hand-written one using the technique Trim describes (E . I .. S... etc) I switch back & forth between the two.

Speaking of Trim, I noticed he STILL hasn't answered the question of which book to get, since there are several with the name he mentioned before....

Click to expand...

"I'm right here, Huckleberry...and I have two guns, one for each of ya..." (doc Holiday)

Now You're Talking!: All You Need to Get Your First Ham Radio License (Now You're Talking, 4th ed) [Paperback]
Larry D. Wolfgang (Editor), Joel P. Kleinman (Editor), David Pingree (Editor), American Radio Relay League (Corporate Author)

http://www.amazon.com/Now-Youre-Talking-First-License/dp/0872597970
Now Youre Talking | Amazon.com
www.amazon.com/Now+Youre+Talking
amazon.com is rated
6,862 reviews
Low Prices on Now Youre Talking Free 2-Day Shipping w/ Amazon Prime

That is the book I was talking about. Here is some more information on how to get a HAM license.

http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/prices.htm
HamTestOnline Price List


We cost about the same as books and deliver a lot more value, including a 100% money-back guarantee!

Price Course
$20.00 Technician Class study course (2-year subscription)
20-10 special extended into 2011! Entry-level (Technician) license for $20 and 10 study hours*! (Regular price $24.95.)
$29.95 General Class study course (2-year subscription)
$34.95 Extra Class study course (2-year subscription)
$74.95 Limited-time offer: All three U.S. study courses purchased together (for the same student, 2-year subscription)

$34.95 Canadian Basic study course (2-year subscription)
$29.95 Canadian Advanced study course (2-year subscription)

$24.95 Renew all previously-purchased courses (for 2 more years)
Each course covers a single exam and does not include the materials for prior exams.

The Technician course is for the new question pool which went into effect on July 1, 2010.

The General course is for the new question pool which went into effect on July , 2011.

What is important is that it is really easy to get a HAM license but you have to do a little work. You don't just buy it.
As you can see the cost is NOT outrageous, either.

Hope this helps...
Trim sends

//BT//

That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Thank you, kind sir!

Icu4dzs said:

It's fun, isn't it?
AR you are doing great. K0xxx asked what Yaesu rig you have and you said hand held...2 band or 3 band?
Trim sends
//BT//

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's a 2band. It's an entry-level model. So nothin' fancy.

Ha, quoting Doc Holliday! Now I like ya even more

hqueen13 said:

Ha, quoting Doc Holliday! Now I like ya even more

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Well, that was the first (and probably only) movie where Val Kilmer showed some true acting ability (Tombstone)
I guess that was (to me) the funniest line in the movie because he was talking to only one man!
Gotta love that humor...Actually he had two lines in that movie which I found quite funny.
Trim sends

//BT//

So you have to have a license to operate a ham radio? How much does a typical radio cost? Can you give me more details on the subject as a whole? I know nothing about it, but would like to learn. I get that I need Morse code in my bag of tricks, thanks by the way to trim for the memory trick. What is rot 13? Sorry if that's wrong. Can you tell me what all is involved in the courses? If I learn the Morse code on my own can't I take a test without all that extra? Or is that just part of the test? And as people who already know what you are doing what model of radio would you recommend? Also just to add- for the end of the economy senerio- dont we need to decide on a channel to make linking up easier? Otherwise we are going to end up split on different channels. My suggestion is channel 3- my favorite prime number! Is there a website with the all inclusive info regarding the radios, rules of use, and code information? Oh and im Elizabeth in oklahoma- mannford to be exact- 30 min from Tulsa.my lat/long is 38 /95 ish. I would also like to say this is a great idea, as I also thought of it before I found this site and posts. We will diffinetly need to share info, and be able to help those who didn't prepare! But I was quite naive to think I could just get a radio! That must come from trucker dad and the cb- anyone can play on one! But I will say having military trained, prepared people and those self sufficient at my disposal will be well more valuable than any costs when our great government fails us! Glad you have this idea already stirring with people, we will all benefit from it!

AnnaRaven said:

Icu4dzs said:

It's fun, isn't it?
AR you are doing great. K0xxx asked what Yaesu rig you have and you said hand held...2 band or 3 band?
Trim sends
//BT//

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's a 2band. It's an entry-level model. So nothin' fancy.

Click to expand...

Hey, AR!

-.-. .- -. / -.-- --- ..- / .--. --- ... - / .- / .-.. .. -. -.- / - --- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -- --- -.. . .-.. / ..--..

Thank you!

i_am2bz said:

AnnaRaven said:

Icu4dzs said:

It's fun, isn't it?
AR you are doing great. K0xxx asked what Yaesu rig you have and you said hand held...2 band or 3 band?
Trim sends
//BT//

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's a 2band. It's an entry-level model. So nothin' fancy.

Click to expand...

Hey, AR!

-.-. .- -. / -.-- --- ..- / .--. --- ... - / .- / .-.. .. -. -.- / - --- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -- --- -.. . .-.. / ..--..

Thank you!

Click to expand...

Here is one of the rigs I have. It seems that two of the radios I have are discontinued but the basic model has been improved. This one will work at home and in a car, but it is a dual band only.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Communications/Amateur_Radio/Amateur_Radio_Retired/TM-D700A

The other larger rig I have is:http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/706/default.aspx and that one is discontinued as well. I don't think that is all bad but annoying. I bought my radios at HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) and they are pretty good about service, books, inventory, etc.
When I first started to get interested in HAM radio, a knowledgeable HAM directed me to the ICOM 706 MKIIg and he was absolutely correct.
Now don't get discouraged at the cost of these things because for some folks they are mind-boggling. I was astonished when he told me how much it was so "clench your buttocks" when you see the cost. The handheld sets are very nice but remember, they are small and their power is limited meaning their distance is limited and like all radios are limited by "obstacles" especially city buildings, hills, etc.

I do carry a YAESU VX5R which is a tri-band radio. A very capable little set for what I paid at the time ($100). It appears that the cost of these radios has "Skyrocketed" in the past 6 or so years since I bought my rigs. Probably can't even imagine how much they cost now (see below). It has been replaced by:
Yaesu VX-7RS
Silver Case
6m/2m/440 MHz
List Price: $494.00
Your Price: $349.95
It is hard to keep up with all the changes in technology these radio manufacturers employ. The only thing you can do is purchase a good, reputable rig and work with it. If you are "gentle" with things, they should out last all of us!

In either case, HAM radio is really a lot of fun and if you can get a really old set (with tubes) you would be doing well because tubes are not as vulnerable to EMP like the printed/integrated circuit radios will be.

Trim sends

//BT//