There are not that many ham radio operators in Malaysia, so mostly depa akan jual to friends if they're not using theirs. Best in to ask in that RAFS group if anyone want to let go theirs.

I've been in your situation before .. met this one 9M2 guy who always talk about the golden days, how he run/setup the station for field days during his SWL time and the 9M2 just watching them etc. Nice to hear the oldies for sure but we're in the modern age now. Do mix with the younger ones too and enjoy the hobby. Enough with the dulu-dulu cerita, if you've time, follow any field days, DX, programmes that are related to amateur radio. Most of the otais now are very selective in what they want to involve at. Piju should know who I was talking about. Hehe.

I believe in 20 years time, I'll be in the same shoes as the 9M otai tu .. cerita my 21 centry golden era

This post has been edited by wiraone: Sep 25 2014, 05:00 PM

I believe the timing when people go on air tak kena kot, we had 9M4RES before which was quite active, 9M2AU and some others were frequently on that repeater, talking about some technical stuff. But the timing usually after everyone were in the office already. The repeater is dead now. Some other repeaters were full of people rag-chewing during the peak time when they're driving from-to home/office. For me, the only time I'm active on VHF/UHF will be when I'm driving around and when I'm driving alone. For me, family time comes first, so, if my wife or kids are with me, I don't usually go on air. The same when I'm at home too. I believe that is the same to most of us .. and that is why there is no activities during office hours or after office hours on the repeaters or other simplex frequencies. That is why I do join any field-days, DXs or talks from time to time to enhance my knowledge in amateur radio. This is the time where we mostly share the knowledge as you've experienced it on your first field day that you attended before.

This post has been edited by wiraone: Sep 25 2014, 06:09 PM

Hello ruth .. welcome to the world of amateur radio.

What I did, I cut the antenna cable that comes with the dongle, and replace the other end with an UHF connector so I could easily connect it to my broadband antenna (using RG58 cable).

Can't do much with the stock antenna Especially when you're in Sg Buloh, even the reception inside my car pun macam **** .. haha.. but if you're in a very good reception area, okaylah. I bought a discone antenna with a wide band receiving frequency, from VHF up to 1900MHz.

No need to invest, just make you own discone, all the instructions are available on the net

But becomes a legend for the wrong reason, surely nobody wants it. As said, join activities conducted by others and stop being assobiyah to a single group You'll learn a lot more for sure. Been in your shoes before when I started this hobby 7 years ago.

Most of us have changed the way we discuss and share our knowledge. It is not convenient for most of us to sit beside our radio, listening to some people talking about something that we might not understand/technically challenged. Most of us are now on facebook and whatsapp, both applications are available across platforms and this is where we share/discuss our finding, experiments etc. It is much easier for everyone no matter where you are and see what someone has done when the photos, instructions being shared. No more, if you want to know, come eyeball or come to the air thingy .. This is thing in the past.

Oh btw, do join us here in the following FB groups/SIGs:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/My10mg/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/myaprs/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/205577956166963/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/224139084455762/



This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 9 2014, 11:13 AM

Exactly I couldn't agree more on that! The usual word to new comers when they asked me to sign their AA application is, take your time, do not rush in joining any club. Follow the activities conducted by the club and only join if you think you can contribute more to the club and to the hobby.

Hehe, nobody abandoning the radio to share their knowledge. You can still hear them, the hams, talking, about their home brew antennas to some new satellites operation sometime on the local repeaters. On 40m, you can hear 9Ms on the air regularly in the evening talking, from just rag chewing to some technical stuff. But for 9Ws? You'll be restricted to local repeaters. The 10m is not usually open for local propagation. Why can't we go for the peninsular wide linked repeaters you may asked? None are operating fully right now. So, the best platform for some of us is still FB where someone from Sabah & Sarawak could join in the discussion too.

BTW, some of us misunderstood, amateur radio means talking on the radio. This is wrong.. there are more than that, experimenting is one of them. Okay, some will say, we brew our own antenna but that is not all, there are more that can be learned. There are different modes available for us. Depending on the conditions, those who've VHF only transceiver could do DX across countries using satellites on whatever modes available. Starting I believe mid of this year, SKMM has allowed 9Ws to use digital modes, explore on them. If you joined the correct SIGs, you can be sure to learn more things about ham radio.

Here is my story, the first few years when I was in the hobby, I sat beside my radio all night, my wife wasn't happy with it for sure. I had my HT on my belt whenever I go, and monitor all the repeaters around KL. Met many ham friends, mingled around, joined club, got involved with their activities, was in the clubhouse almost every weekends and then I got bored. Why? After a while, talking on the radio is not fun anymore, people started fighting on the air, repeaters regularly went down. Then I met a group of hams who were interested in going more than talking on the repeaters. Two groups actually, APRS and 10m DX. One that teach me that you can do more on VHF/UHF by using different mode, one that teach me that you can get contact with others from different countries by using satellite. Experimenting with PIC, GPS, routers and stuff to get an operational APRS network in Malaysia. The other one teach me that I could do more with my 9W license than talking nonsense on the repeaters, joining the DX activities, either alone from my shack or in a group expedition.

The only thing that deter new comers to the hobby I believe their resistance to upgrade/move up and believe talking on the repeaters will be the only thing that they wanted. And being in this century, I believe we can gain more knowledge by not restricting ourself, embrace the technologies and be more open. Oh, I know some 9M2 otais do belittle us new breeds that embraced new technologies as just a 'Google experts'.. but heck, we've shown what we're capable of by being expert in google

Psst, some of the discussion found in some of the FB group.


This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 9 2014, 12:49 PM

Hehe, piju kena dok dibumi nyata ka? Why I think all the words written macam echoing the same thing yg aku pernah dengar sebelum ni?

Bang, let me tell you something. We've list of activities in line, full till the end of the year. No such thing as berkurangan. I believe you've been brainwashed.

Tell us what is the best to 'broadcast' the event which covers the 11k?

Couldn't agree more Ruth. Don't forget, the next APRS workshop on the 29/11 at PD.

Oh, before I forgotten, JOTA/JOTI will be held on 16-19 Oct, 2014 at Lake Tasoh, Beseri and 18-19 from most locations in Malaysia. Further information can be found in Pengakap Malaysia's website. If you're in Selangor, the JOTA/JOTI will be held at:

PPM Sungai Besar (SMK Sungai Besar)
PPM Gombak (SK Bandar Tasik Puteri)
PPM Hulu Langat (SMK BAndar Tun Hussein Onn 2)

Ruth, have you submitted the form?

This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 9 2014, 04:02 PM

Have you got your SDR dongle? I've just ordered HackRF and wondering what kind of packaging they'll use. I don't want to go an answer Custom's questions..

That is great, hopefully mine will come in the normal bubble wrap envelope too I've went few custom clearance before but if they see it as a radio, they'll ask us to go to SIRIM to get an AP and clearance will be then based on the it.

I bought the HackRF with the antenna and Up Converter, US$377.95 (inclusive shipping)

I didn't bought the casing, so I need to go to Jalan Pasar afterward. Need to put them into a single enclosure. I've another project which need an enclosure too, a WSPR transmitter. Probably will visit Jln Pasar once I got both of them in my hands.

BTW, ordered all the cable patches and converters from ebay this morning, hope they'll arrive at the same time.

This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 14 2014, 01:48 PM

Yup, it can transmit with the max of 15dBm on certain frequencies (translated to around 32mW - power of WIFI). Surely need an external amplifier if we wanted to really use it as transmitter.

Anyway, the one you were talking about at 9M2NZ house should be the cedum cedum ciss ciss thingy, ESSB (extended SSSB - HIFI quality) on HF. The audio from the mic will be processed and will take unusual wide bandwidth to cover the ESSB (3kHz and above), the usual audio bandwidth for SSB will be around 2.4kHz. There are quite a number of hams in Malaysia with this kind of setup and you can hear them usually on 40m band. The casing for the audio processor I believe will be as those found for PA setup, equipment/audio rack as I believe what it is called. Illuminated in blue, it is just nice like in a real studio.

BTW, just got an update from Nooelec saying my hackrf has been shipped, but in a package, so I believe it will be in a box. Hope it will pass the custom w/o any problem.

This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 15 2014, 03:38 PM