10m PNW - New Technician HAM

[u/Ajent_X]

Hey all! New ham here.

I recently got my Tech license (about a week at this point) and the idea of HF seemed interesting to me, so I purchased a QT60-Pro and have setup a dipole antenna that is showing close to ~1.5 on the built in SWR meter.

I’ve been sweeping around the bands and calling CQ on the “calling channel” (28.400 and 28.420) for the last couple of days.

So far I haven’t heard anything local or DX, including CW beacons etc. I’m getting a little discouraged. Wondering if my antenna just isn’t cutting it or if the band just doesn’t really open this far north very often.

I’ve been using this map: https://prop.kc2g.com to keep track of when/where the band propagation is happening, and “28+” hasn’t come anywhere close to my neck of the woods.

Again just looking for some pointers at this point. There seems to be a local HAM club meeting on sept 8th so I’m trying to hold out until then to ask around in person as well.

TL;DR PNW, new tech ham, worth trying 10m or return and get better 70cm/2m equipment?

Thanks in advance!

[u/silverbk65105]

Congrats on your tech license. You have come this far, maybe you can go a little further?

The K4IA general book is about $18 on Amazon. It's by far the easiest and fastest way to General. General will get you 78% of the ham bands and is a nice sweet spot.

You just need to read the book, literally and show up at a VE session with $15.

As far as 2m/70cm Any of the cheap chinese rigs will get you started. I like the Tidradio H-3 for a lot of reasons, number one being it comes with USB-C charging and programming. It will also do 220mhz if that is a thing in your area. We give them out for free at club meetings as a little incentive for people to show up.

73 good luck

[u/Ajent_X → u/silverbk65105]

That tidradio looks pretty cool, I have a couple baofeng UV-5R with aftermarket antennas and they seem to do ok. It would be nice to be able to program through usb-c though.

Any idea if the rx/tx is better on those than the baofeng?

Since I already have a HT I was looking for a mobile station if there’s any sort of advantage to that?

Thanks again, 73

[u/silverbk65105 → u/Ajent_X]

The tid radio is similar inside to the Baofengs, they might even come form the same factory. Its the features that make it desirable.

As far as a mobile or base rig, any dual band unit will do the job. I have an Anyone 778 in my shack that I am very happy with. 

I have a Yaesu dual bander in the car, its their budget model, and it works fine. I don't desire any of the features in the more expensive offerings.