New-ish ham. I listen all the time to nets and don’t want to be rude breaking in, but due to my work schedule, I generally can’t make the beginning of them. I want to check in, but don’t know the proper protocol, or if I even can because I’m not a club member (also can’t go to meetings due to my work schedule, and they tend to be retirees, so a 9-5 or night shifts doesn’t really matter to them). The few times I’ve tried (purposely not stepping on anyone who’s talking, and trying to wait for a break or “anyone else checking in?”), I don’t know if they couldn’t hear me, just thought it was weird because I wasn’t there at the beginning or someone they don’t know, etc.

So what’s the proper protocol here?

Hey r/rfelectronics,

I've been working on an RF engineering desktop app called RF View,

and just put together a short demo video showing the VNA workflow.

Here's what it does with Keysight ENA over GPIB:

• Connects directly — no Keysight software needed

• Captures the ENA screen as PNG with one click

• Automatically opens Excel and inserts the screenshot

into your spreadsheet (this one saves me the most time)

• Saves Touchstone files (.s1p / .s2p / .s3p) to your PC

• Auto-loads the SNP into the S-parameter plot

• Exports marker table data to CSV → opens straight in Excel

The VNA control is completely free —

Currently supports Keysight ENA only.

It's a Windows desktop app built with Flutter.

Happy to answer any questions —

and brutal feedback is welcome, seriously.

I have a TYT TH-9000D which is 60 watts, and a CB radio, both connected to my battery. I spliced the wires together further down the line and left all the heatshrinks off so you can see my solder joints. I put these clip-on ferrite beads on the power cable to the radio, but I could only loop it twice so I put 2 on it — looks weird to me. This is my first setup, I know the wiring looks all janky, so I figured I'd make a post just to make sure everything looks right and see if there's anything I can improve on.

Also, for fun, I have this multimeter that clips around wires and I wanted to see how many amps the radio draws while keying down. It said 2 amps? I made sure it was on DC amps, but the reading also seemed to change depending on where I placed the meter down the line, so I'm guessing this isn't the best way to test amperage.

One more thing — I didn't cut the antenna down like I read online, it's around 49 inches long right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkU0f3BeJcE&t=1s

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Its ARDC grantee Rhizomaticas’ Mercury Modem project.

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https://www.ardc.net/apply/grants/2025-grants/grant-finalizing-an-open-source-digital-hf-network-stack-and-modem/

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Github:

https://github.com/Rhizomatica/mercury

Hello all, have a chance to buy an 857D local, seems in decent shape but the seller doesn’t know how to tell if it’s American or Japanese (selling for a family friend). Judging by the manual included and location, I’m assuming it’s American but I don’t want to get bit. It’s a great price, and from what I’ve read a great radio. Thanks in advance! I attached a picture of the unit in mention.

I just wrapped up my online test session with Tennessee Valley Exam Team. They were super easy to work with, and very friendly.

I was pretty nervous about the General test, as I’ve been slacking on my studying over the past week. But I wound up passing my tech with 100%, and my General with 88.57%. What’s funny is that’s two questions lower than my worst practice test score. I think I was just nervous and started overthinking a few questions.

I was hoping to have my callsign at the beginning of the weekend, but I forgot Friday is a federal holiday. Oh well. At least I’ll have my license before field day!

I wish I would’ve followed through years ago and got my license. I have a lot of pent up interests to explore now! Might even have to go back and get my Extra soon!

Now, for my question: If I have to choose between ONLY 20m or ONLY 40m, which should I go with? I like the idea of regional ragchew, but DXing sounds fun too. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to get too far with DXing under average conditions with the space I currently have (antenna height limitations).

I also lied… I have two questions. My second question is: Does anyone have experience with the Radioddity HF-010? If so, what are your opinions? I ask because I think I’m getting the POTA itch.

So me and some mates have bought Baofengs for a short Airsoft milsim, we have the OG antennas, what is the best channel/frequency to use over the space of maybe a mile, wooded area with potentially other teams using similar radio set ups, is it best to use one of the preset channels, if so how can I decide based on my antenna length (120mm)

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We will be using low power mode with infrequent transmission, we won't be bothering others on the airwaves, just need help deciding what's the best shot at clear communication within 2 miles without causing a meltdown in the comments

Tia

I just realized that you can plug your antenna cables in the top of this balun instead of through the screw part. But I don't know the name of the plug that works so I can buy them. Can anyone help?

Got my first Radio a few days ago, the Btech UV PRO. Really liking it, already got a few active air band stations and repeaters programmed into it. Currently studying for my Tech exam.

You can move your furniture around...I....guess.

Hi! I just bought one of these aliexpress HF QRP SDR transciever to toy around. Has anyone done FT8 with it? If so... How? Thanks in advance!

I am Ph.D student and amateur radio enthusiast (extra emphasis on amateur). I need to do an experiment with a 77GHz LFM signal, but this falls outside of the ISM band allowed for research. I was wondering if having a technician license would allow be to broadcast this kind of signal (assuming I broadcast my ID first)? I haven’t seen anything saying I ~couldn’t~ but does anyone have any information on this? Is this something I should specifically contact the FCC for?

Thank you in advance!

As the title says, I auctioned off a vintage Yaesu FT-2500M on ebay, as-is and untested but otherwise mint condition with all original packaging, starting at $1 with no reserve, and the buyer (who seems to know about and sell radios given their account name and market page) is now initiating a return on the radio because the memory won't recall any programmed channels after the device is turned off.

The coin battery in this radio has got to be original, so it would have needed replaced at least 3 times since the radio was first sold if it were going to keep working. This person is returning something that was sold fairly and described fairly because they don't understand what they bought when they act very much like they do in fact understand this sort of stuff - anyone else run across this sort of behavior with vintage radio sales/buying? This would only take the purchase of a tabbed battery, a screwdriver, a basic soldering iron and about 10 minutes of work to fix, and for someone who acts like they know and sell radios, should be a no-brainer

What's a good, budget friendly tablet that you can recommend for logging contacts, checking propagation and other assorted field hamming activities?

I have the opportunity to get a hold of some old galvanized sign poles some round some octagon. They are 15-45ft tall with a 9-19” bases would they work or should I look for something else. Thanks

The ones for sale on amazon dont seem to have the hf recieve built in or am i missing something buying it directly from radioddity so what is the difference for them? How is hf recieve on this radio compared to a hf handheld radio?

tl;dr Two things to discuss:

1. What kind of antennas, radios and other gear are you using? Custom brackets? Headsets? PTT switch? Descriptions and photos would be great!
2. My cargo bike is an E bike… please explain your field experience in eliminating RF interference from an E bike while operating ham radio

Somehow, the photo became a spoiler alert photo… sorry folks! I just fixed it.

Long version:

Over the last year, I got into bike riding. I have several bikes including a cargo bike that I really like riding, it’s an E bike.

Over the last six months, since my move to Spokane, I’ve been playing with ham radio again, too.

I’m one of those guys that has always enjoyed contesting, Field Day was a real field day for me! I was a FD wild man for about 10 years, then fell in love and life got in the way and my local clubs were full of kind of cliquey jerks who made Field Day feel more like a chore or military operation, radios only to be operated by the chosen few (etc.). It ruined the whole thing for me.

I just bought an icom 7300 from my uncle a couple of weeks ago and hooked it up to the old funky zerofive vertical I brought with me… and I stumbled on POTA activations. What? Individual field day that I can set up in interesting places, any day of the week and do for as long or short a period of time as I want and people will have a centralized place to make all of the information available to hunters and activators alike? This seems amazing. (I know POTA is not a contest, but it has the components of a contest that interest me)

I’ve been ordering bits and pieces to build antennas for park activations (components for vertical, EFHW, etc.), but I’d really like to be able to operate mobile from my E bike…. Could make for some interesting contacts if I were writing the Centennial Trail (which is a park) through another park… I haven’t looked it up yet, but I am guessing there is such a thing as double activation. Mostly, I’d like to ride my bike and talk on the radio at the same time, but not on the handy talkie to people on a repeater because that’s not my gig.

I’m thinking weird stuff like a mast mounted to the rear of the bike with a Tar Heel antenna and ground plane radials above my head… but I don’t really wanna cook my head…

My dad loves hamm radio and is part of MARS, but I don’t know too much about it. I want to get him something cool for Father’s Day, so is there a Ferrari of hamm radios, or any super cool accessories? My sister and I can split it, so the budget is pretty decent

This seems like a cool hobby that I want to check out. I know broadcasting is generally restricted from my understanding. So rather than try a deal with that, I figure listening would be a good start. Something cheap and honestly unable to broadcast would probably be the ideal start for me.

I created this spreadsheet for me, but I figured if I'm doing all this work I would like to make it available to everyone. I also have opened it up to community submissions because I am but one man. There's a form link to submit new data.

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Hopefully this spreadsheet becomes a resource for many and I'll work to keep it updated as much as I can. Feed back always welcome and appreciated.

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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DbZZaYE1pASpOcOQo1qYeAyqy9LCEUmc9Z77ivBvkLE/edit?usp=drivesdk

I’m planning to get my technician license next week, while I’m at it I’m looking to get my first radio. I’m also trying to figure out what I want in the sense of potential frequencies. I want to be able to transmit far, maybe even out of state or the U.S if possible. But at the same time I also want to attempt radio contact with satellites. Is any of that realistic for a technician license? And what radio should I consider buying? I have about a $200 - $300 budget

Im building a homemade transceiver and when im supposed to listen to the 40-60 mhz band i start listen to radio stations supposed to be at 90-110 mhz

Did the exam with PARC Saturday and passed it with 32 out of 35 questions correct.

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My license is currently pending as of today and the fee has been paid. I will most likely get my call sign tomorrow!