Radioddity QT80 radio

DavidBT

DavidBT

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South East Arizona
I maybe cazy, or just bored. I have posted about my upcoming replacement hip surgery, which is finally tomorrow. I decided to buy a Radioddity qt80 cb/lsb/usb/10 meter radio to install in my truck. It can be easily opened up to 11,12 and 15 meters also. During my recovery I'm going to study for the technician license. Maybe eventually putting something similar in the jeep. Any suggestions on a study plan? Should I buy a book, or just find a online option?
 
I used this, it was fantastic!

https://hamstudy.org/

After an initial study, I just kept taking the practice tests, reviewing what I got wrong, until I could consistently ace the tests. When I took the test for real, I also aced it. (Technician)

I also took just one or two practice tests for General, looked at what I got wrong, but did nothing further. After I passed the Technician license, I also sat the General. Much to my surprise, I actually passed the thing - but I certainly didn't ace it. I'm sure it was because of the two practice tests I took as at least one of those questions that I got wrong practicing and studied the correct answer was on the real test. The rest was applying my electronics knowledge, applying common sense, and several SWAGs or even WAGs, and I somehow managed to pass the thing.
 
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I'll second hamstudy - I used it to get my Tech a few years ago and just started back on the General.

I had a decent understanding about radio ops in general from the Army a few hundred years ago , but I would have probably failed the test if I had just taken a stab at it. With it it was easy.
 
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It's been so long ago I don't remember clearly , but I believe I used hamstudy.org as well . I remember taking the practice tests until I felt comfortable taking the Tech test and easily passed it . It was about ten years later before I decided to get into HF radio , so I studied and got my General . Now I'm on HF just about every morning , 75 meters . When we travel , I use 40 meters in the motorhome while mobile . I also use 75 and 40 meters mobile in my pickup . I recently installed HF capabilities in the Jeep , mostly for campsite use .

For trail riding we use GMRS .

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Harold&Cat said:
It's been so long ago I don't remember clearly , but I believe I used hamstudy.org as well . I remember taking the practice tests until I felt comfortable taking the Tech test and easily passed it . It was about ten years later before I decided to get into HF radio , so I studied and got my General . Now I'm on HF just about every morning , 75 meters . When we travel , I use 40 meters in the motorhome while mobile . I also use 75 and 40 meters mobile in my pickup . I recently installed HF capabilities in the Jeep , mostly for campsite use .

For trail riding we use GMRS .

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What year is the Ford and it is gas or diesel?
 
Harold&Cat said:
1986 F-150 , 300 six with a 4 speed overdrive.
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I had a 1983 F-250, first year for the diesel, a 6.9 with no turbo and a big T-19 4 speed. the body style looks the same as yours though, I didn't notice it was a 150......Wait, it says F-250 on the fender?? It looks identical to mine right down to Super Cab the wheel covers.
 
The F-250 badges were on it when I bought it seven years ago . My last truck was a 1986 F-350 4x4 Crew Cab with the 6.9 diesel 4speed . I drove it for 16 years , but decided to downsize to something smaller and smoother riding . I don't haul much anymore , therefore didn't really need a one ton truck .

When I bought this F-150 , I planned on converting it to 4x4 . I still might , it's not too difficult because it's pretty much all bolt on . From 1980 to 1986 all the Ford Supercab 4x4 trucks were longbed except for a few custom ordered short beds , very hard to find .

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Sorry for the thread drift while you were under the knife David and I hope the surgery went well today.
 
B1Toad said:
Sorry for the thread drift while you were under the knife David and I hope the surgery went well today.
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You thread stealer. I was just planning to do a update this morning. They had up and do a little walk last night at 11PM. Not much pain this, just the feeling of stiffness.
 
DavidBT said:
I maybe cazy, or just bored. I have posted about my upcoming replacement hip surgery, which is finally tomorrow. I decided to buy a Radioddity qt80 cb/lsb/usb/10 meter radio to install in my truck. It can be easily opened up to 11,12 and 15 meters also. During my recovery I'm going to study for the technician license. Maybe eventually putting something similar in the jeep. Any suggestions on a study plan? Should I buy a book, or just find a online option?
Click to expand...

For the technician license, I used the "Ham Radio Prep" app and enjoyed it. Maybe just try a few apps and see which one currently has the best guides / explanations when you answer a question incorrectly.

I can't remember right now, but I don't think the technician license will get you much access to the frequencies you're mentioning (10, 11, 12, 15, etc). So maybe double-check that. You might have more fun at first if you got a dual-band VHF/UHF (2m/70cm) radio instead? Those can often be opened up to include GMRS channels. And you can get that license without a test–just a fee.
 
SSTJ said:
For the technician license, I used the "Ham Radio Prep" app and enjoyed it. Maybe just try a few apps and see which one currently has the best guides / explanations when you answer a question incorrectly.

I can't remember right now, but I don't think the technician license will get you much access to the frequencies you're mentioning (10, 11, 12, 15, etc). So maybe double-check that. You might have more fun at first if you got a dual-band VHF/UHF (2m/70cm) radio instead? Those can often be opened up to include GMRS channels. And you can get that license without a test–just a fee.
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I have gmrs in my truck and jeep. The Radioddity qt80 has 10,11 and 12 and can be opened to 15 with a jumper inside of it. It also has AM/FM/SSB. I will be doing more research as I recover from hip revision surgery.
 
SSTJ said:
Sounds good. Just wanted to be sure you weren't expecting to get a lot of action on those HF bands (10 meters and up) with only the technician license.

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Tech Band Chart/US Amateur Radio Technician Privileges.pdf
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The problem with HF is that is rather expensive to buy into; plus around here at least, there's almost zero action on UHF/VHF. Other than a couple of nets that are conveniently scheduled when I'm in a dance class, 2M, .70M, and even 1.25M are pretty quiet.
 
Zorba said:
The problem with HF is that is rather expensive to buy into; plus around here at least, there's almost zero action on UHF/VHF. Other than a couple of nets that are conveniently scheduled when I'm in a dance class, 2M, .70M, and even 1.25M are pretty quiet.
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That's what I was thinking @Zorba. I'm going to start with the Tram 3500 for now and see how works for me. I read some posts of guys getting upwards of 20 miles on AM.
 
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Just
Harold&Cat said:
It's been so long ago I don't remember clearly , but I believe I used hamstudy.org as well . I remember taking the practice tests until I felt comfortable taking the Tech test and easily passed it . It was about ten years later before I decided to get into HF radio , so I studied and got my General . Now I'm on HF just about every morning , 75 meters . When we travel , I use 40 meters in the motorhome while mobile . I also use 75 and 40 meters mobile in my pickup . I recently installed HF capabilities in the Jeep , mostly for campsite use .

For trail riding we use GMRS .

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Just starting out, I didn't want to get to crazy.
 
Zorba said:
I used this, it was fantastic!

https://hamstudy.org/

After an initial study, I just kept taking the practice tests, reviewing what I got wrong, until I could consistently ace the tests. When I took the test for real, I also aced it. (Technician)

I also took just one or two practice tests for General, looked at what I got wrong, but did nothing further. After I passed the Technician license, I also sat the General. Much to my surprise, I actually passed the thing - but I certainly didn't ace it. I'm sure it was because of the two practice tests I took as at least one of those questions that I got wrong practicing and studied the correct answer was on the real test. The rest was applying my electronics knowledge, applying common sense, and several SWAGs or even WAGs, and I somehow managed to pass the thing.
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Don't confuse hamstudy.ORG with hamstudy.COM. I don't know anything about the latter...

I decided to have a poke at studying for an Extra ticket - I have a *LONG* way to go!
 
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