I don't know about other ppl but I truly enjoy monitoring especially in shortwave. It's kind of hard to explain. There is nothing more gratifying than to listen late at night catching a lone weak signal from a utility station from some remote pacific island.

Shortwave utilities is truly exiting. It is like going fishing and you don't know what you going to catch.


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This post has been edited by Empathy: Sep 16 2008, 01:54 AM

My RM14 HF dipole antenna can work pretty well but for serious monitoring as you guys called it, I have yet to know of any cheap directional antenna out there. Homebrew or commercially available. HF sets can be cheap but how about antenna?
The cheapest homebrew Tribander Yagi I know and built up cost me no less than 1k and cheapest entry level commercially available is 3.7k. AND you need minimum turning radius of 30ft on roof top. Most terrace houses in Malaysia is about 24ft wide and unless you have a very very nice neighbour or a detached house. I have not include the rotator. Cheapest rotator out there that can turn a 20kg antenna RM550.
People tend to shy away from HF due to this costing but when they got bitten then they will venture there automatically. No need to belittle VHF/UHF people here. I recommended a re-budget and not kicking them in the balls for staying within 2M.

yes, i forgot bout the rotator ... but i did recomend my friend the other day to get a manual rotator with some cheap pulleys and chains or cables ...

hahaha

but yeah cheap method i seen people used is a long wire antenna ... works kinda good according to him ...

but most of the people i know who owns a HF set are only using it to monitor ... antenna not build properly ...

wahh tat sounds huge thn those staying on apartment wan canot hav those kind of antena d

Dear All,

I spend more than 11 years on monitoring…huuu so long …(think about it 11 years as a SWL) than only I took my RAE and got my ticket and until today I still love to do monitoring……Why 11 years…because at that time nobody guide me…no internet…books no sifu no workshop etc…exam only in KL and further more I don’t have enough money….
That is history…got my ticket way back in the 80s. Now let me share with you what I have learn ….

Hams are divided into a few categories to name a few….:

1. Those who likes to listen…even though they have Callsign..
2. Those who likes to Talk and “rag chew”
3. Those who likes homebrew.
4. Those who likes to go on CW 90% of their QSO is on CW
5. Those who likes to go on satellite
6. Those who likes to go on microwave
7. Those who likes to go on ATV
8. Those who likes to go on Digital
9. Those who likes to go on moonbounce….
10. Those who likes to collect old stuff …
11. Those who likes to go on IOTA
12. Those who likes to go on contesting.
13. Those who likes to participate in Emergency Communication./Disaster Coms

Yes two meter is the best entry…a two meter rig will cost u around RM800 to 1,000 plus + + including antenna and power supply. For your info the best entry is HF receiver with power supply will cost you less than RM500…..and if you ask those senior Hams I am very sure they will agree with me. A scanner which cover 2 meter and above will cost you more and is not available in 9M2 land….

Why two meter …..for simple reason two meter set is easily available. I don’t see any reason why we cannot start our hobby …from listening on HF that is why for a biginner to radio ham we called them SWL (Short Wave Listening) I repeat again SWL…SWL….
Why we call them SWL the fomula is, a radio ham should start from SWL.
Listening on Short Wave not on two meters……. Otherwise we might call them FML (Frequency Modulation Listener) Maybe time have change maybe we should change the word from SWL to FML…….
Some people might said if one cannot even cover 2m how to move on to other bands?

This is where we must understand the Definition of SWL……and the Definition of Radio Amateur

The point here is, the difference between the old Hams and the new hams is…..we old timers started our hobby by listening on HF. And most of the old timers learn a lot of things from the HF. The problem here today 99.99% of ham today started their radio Ham from 2 meter FM. They are only interested to talk rather than to dig what is inside the Radio Hams what I mean is Knowledge behind the Radio Amateur they are a lot of things to learn. If some one ask what is 80meter band or 17 meter band?? Who will know this…maybe a few. I don’t blame anybody here…..looks what is going on today lack of quality…..the reason why I like to emphasize you gentlemen to go on HF is to gain more knowledge on Ham, by doing so you will learn a lot of things not only homebrew your antenna but you can also homebrew ATU, Pre amp, learn more about propagation an so on.

I would like to share something here during my good old days as SWL I learn to construct my own G5RV (Multiband HF antenna) through listening on HF. What happen was in the evening one day 2 station was on air on 40 meter one guy is a new comer he ask the old timer how to construct Multiband antenna than the other station said you have pen and paper…..than I quickly get ready my pen and paper he explain it through the air and I manage to copy all of it….after a few days I construct my own G5RV multiband antenna until today I can remember by hard how to construct the antenna without any diagram…what I am trying to say here…through my experienced you will gain some knowledge by listening on HF

I can see some of the hams today have more than 2nos. of VHF sets and some of them even have more than that….they even have dual band triple band and so on. But they don’t have HF receiver…pity them maybe their exposure is more on two meters….cannot blame them also because they are serounded by two meter wave hi hi hi…That is why I am here try to shift your mindset to HF don’t stick to two meters. I don’t say you have to stop your two meters…but try to balance it….I bet you HF is more trill than 2 meters like what our friend said……So far I have trained a few 9Ws…to go on HF and most of them are happy they even have contacts on 10meter SSB and showed me the QSL card they received plus some green stamps and IRCs…and now they know what is a “green stamp” and what is “IRC” and guess what they said to me….brother what you said is true HF is more interesting …….and they learn a lot from it…..Now this 9Ws knows… HS1 , 4S7, BY1, 7A ,VK3, IK5 and so on. Now they know this prefix comes from which country……They even follow me when I organize Dxpedition. Some of the 9Ws are really good they are knowledgeable and very hard working….. I don’t say here most of 9Ms they knows everything some of them might not and some don’t even own HF set…….

For your information I and a few old timers have met MCMC last month. We discuss about reducing the speed of CW….We also request that the RM60 to be abolish..and we also request that those 9Ws who hold more than two years AA to allow them to works on 160Meter, 80 meter and 40 meter…provided they attend some workshop. This is to give them exposure on HF…..and a lot of things also have been discuss with the higher level staff in MCMC.I also proposed to MCMC to form up “Radio Amateur Development And Advisory Council” So be patient we are trying our best to help all of you. We are doing this not for name and glamour….but we love all of you and we love the hobby. My dear brothers and sisters Amateur Radio is in our blood. We are doing this not for the societies. clubs or individuals but we are doing this for the nations…..My humble apologize if I hurt anyone here………….73.

Here is a link to download sample of Monitoring Times ie a popular monitoring magazine in the United States. The file is quite big so it gonna take about 10 minutes or so to download.


http://www.monitoringtimes.com/MT/html/free_issue.html


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Don’t worry about the antenna…If you are so serious about it no need for you to spend
3.7K for the yagi. I spend less than that…..I am very lucky even though my terrace house is about 24 feet wide I can still put up my 4 element Yagi the longest element is 26 feet.
If you are interested with the tri band yagi it cost you less than RM700 I have tested this tri band Yagi two month ago……at one of the Dxpedition. Talking about rotator u can modified some motors or use servo motor some of the old timers does’t used rotator they use “Armstrong Method”……..there are so many things u can do don’t limit ourself.
During 1991…92…93 when propagation is good I used to work Europe and US using my
Simple dipole because that time I cannot afford to have a Yagi and Rotator…….You can build your own Delta Loop Antenna by using electrical wires and for info this antenna performs better than the Yagi ……and its very cheap less than RM150.

I don’t belittle VHF/UHF people here but what I am trying to say here do explore some other frequency which is more interesting and learn more things there………I am trying to share some of my experienced and knowledge, even some of the 9Ws which I met said they are getting board listening and talking on VHF…..….we cannot stop people from doing what they like……If you are happy and satisfied what you are today than we cannot stop you….just enjoy yourself….and be happy with it.

Its be pretty interesting to see what design you using with 26ft reflector. I have brought down my A3S in favor of a homebrewed 11ele Optibeam. Much to the neighbour's dismay.

now it seems propagation for 20M is bad, and 10M is worse...not like march where it is the peak season for HF.

Can someone recommend me a place to fix me mobile rig within the klang valley? Thanks!!

anoko>>u are really an experienced HAMster here.thanks a lot for sharing. By the way, issit possible if u can state ur callsign so dat we can know u better?

Bing Yao>>wat is wrong with ur mobile rig?u want to repair it or install it in ur car?

Sorry, i mean installation in my car haha.

Very simple ...Try to join some organization.....or you can visit the flea market in PJ every 1st Sunday of the month, they are many helpful friends there... i am sure they can help you....

u can DIY it urself.its simple. I have a fren who did his installation in Pandan Indah, Cheras. The worker in the acc shop is also a HAMster.

Most probably gonna DIY already know the method. Anyways when will the registration be open for the November RAE..?

just a simple method.. btw, find other hamsters lor... many ham DIY, cos its a experimenter to yourself...

RAE? just wait for announcement... here also have... many HAMs here will announce..

Hi, i'm new to this forum. and so surprisingly there is a ham radio thread in LYF. Btw HF is fun as you can have chit chat with difference people around the world. For HF communication, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get ur first contact, just a basic transceiver and a simple wire dipole will get u on the air, and if the propagation is good, then ur CQ call might be answered. Then after a while if budget allow, then u may start to buy a better rig, buy a beam antenna, a rotators, and a tower if u have the space. and after awhile, then add some audio processing tool like EQ and amplifier, heil microphone to ur shack. It cannot denies that a big yagi with tall tower will have better performance, but remember, if ur budget and spaces allow, then go ahead. If not, then simple setup is ok. Bellow is some of my QSL card received and it sometime it also come along with personal letters and greeting cards. BTW, if u stay at apartment, do check out the magnetic loop antenna!!!, it is very well perform and easy to build.but the problem is, it is very hard to find the variable air core tuning capacitor. So you have to homebrew one. hihi. Good luck and hope you have a nice contact and enjoy this beautiful hobby. ohh..before i forget, the late His Highness Tunku A. Rahman is also a ham too with the callsign of 9M2TR

procomm are you able to get the Heil Goldline in Malaysia with the necessary wiring?

he is Firdaus ... 9W2RUD

Just wanna share with you guys..
http://www.justlearnmorsecode.com/

Been learning morse code with this software. Very effective i would say and its free!! Im still finding a way to practice input / transmitting. Know any software that can practice through keyboard? Dont have the equipments like paddle key or what not yet.