HAM Radio Acticle

[SamSter0077]

I ran across this in another forum, and I think it is worth repeating here:
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/1391612-post1.html

I am going to get a 2 meter as well, been wanting an excuse for a while.

 

[TacoXpo]

I'm helping JDKeller get a HAM this week. And no, we're not going to get a glazed ham!

 

[SamSter0077]

Guess I didn't realize how easy it was..

 

[TacoXpo]

Once you go ham, you'll never do Spam! Something like that!

 

[Silverback]

I was picking Pauls mind about the 2M setups last week and what was involved. Its definitely the way to go. My only reservation is that I'll be talking to myself on the trails. LOL BUT, now if Sam gets one as well... now we are talking. Albeit only to each other... but hey, Sam has a real sexy voice! "Hey candycane".

[video=youtube;_GqrNeTfb5w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GqrNeTfb5w[/video]

 

[xodeuce]

Sorry for a bit of a necropost, but figured I'd throw this in.

I used the website:
http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html

to study for all three of the license classes. Technician is easily passable with only a few hours of study. General requires a good bit more, and extra is fairly tough. I took the Technician and General in a single sitting, and passed both. I had used the website and studied a little every week night for a month, never more than an hour a day. I basically just flipped questions while watching TV with my wife. That was plenty to do Tech and General. If you were only doing tech, it could probably be done in a week - 10 days. Of course, it all depends on how quickly you can memorize stuff.

Extra was a good bit tougher, and took about a month - 6 weeks on its own.

I also echo the sentiments of the FJ forum post regarding courtesy and helpfulness. Because the frequency space is licensed, the people that use it are usually very good stewards of the spectrum, so to speak. You really don't run into guys who just crank the power and squelch everyone out, destroying a particular frequency for others who would use it. I'm not saying it doesn't go on, but it's definitely the exception rather than the rule.

 

[TacoXpo]

Nice!


BTW JDKeller passed 100% and spent only a couple of hours before he took the test.

 

[xodeuce]

Nice!


BTW JDKeller passed 100% and spent only a couple of hours before he took the test.

Very cool. I've thought for a long time that 2M or even 70cm would be perfect for offroad comms. If you have a mobile unit that does cross band repeat, you can actually use a handheld unit away from the truck, and use the rig in the truck to repeat out at much higher power. I think it gets a bad rap because people hear "Pass a test" and get turned off.

 

[TacoXpo]

Free Amateur Radio Test Preparation - The Fastest Way To Become A Ham Radio Operator - HamTesting.com - Free Amateur Radio Practice Tests - HamTesting.com

All Questions (they pull from this list) with answers.

 

[tx_shooter]

I ran across this in another forum, and I think it is worth repeating here:
Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum - View Single Post - Ham Radio for Trail Use Primer & Radio Buyers Guide

I am going to get a 2 meter as well, been wanting an excuse for a while.

I had to look this guy up. Looks like a smart guy.

 

[Silverback]

Zombie thread!!!

 

[TacoXpo]

Zombie thread!!!

I was looking to be exonerated from my crime of trying to extinguish CB radios.

 

[Silverback]

Its all good... I think I may have converted many this last trip. CB's sounded like shit. Now granted the little handhelds with the stubby antennas didn't have much range in the woods... you could clearly hear what people were saying and not ask 10 times to repeat it. Also, I ordered that combo @tx_shooter posted up along with a longer antenna as a backup. Seems I still need to figure out what is up with the Kenwood unit in the truck. That sucked to not have it work as advertised. It worked last time and I didn't mess with it other than to redo its power source... but it powered up but would not transmit. Might be the mic. Another weekends project.

 

[Silverback]

Longer antenna I ordered..seems its unavailable now. But keep an eye out. Appears to be identical to the one that comes in the combo kit just longer.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KBWGMW2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Side note. When I was using a handheld with the stubby antenna I did notice I had to put my antenna towards the drivers side window to get good signal. YMMV but I think a longer antenna would help. When we did a test run on the second night we had coverage until we went around a valley, about 1 mile away or so. Again, tons of trees and rocks with some elevation change of maybe 500-750 feet. Both sides with handhelds.

 

[Silverback]

Also, to give a bit of a boost to CB's.. on the way up @Taco Loco and I got behind a semi hauling wood chip while on the CB. I mentioned he was in a F' hurry.. he replied he had to be about 75 mph to keep them cool and to tuck in behind him and he would be our point dog... or something to that effect. Either way, the CB had its place on the highway. Just not on the trail.

 

[TacoXpo]

Its all good... I think I may have converted many this last trip. CB's sounded like shit. Now granted the little handhelds with the stubby antennas didn't have much range in the woods... you could clearly hear what people were saying and not ask 10 times to repeat it. Also, I ordered that combo @tx_shooter posted up along with a longer antenna as a backup. Seems I still need to figure out what is up with the Kenwood unit in the truck. That sucked to not have it work as advertised. It worked last time and I didn't mess with it other than to redo its power source... but it powered up but would not transmit. Might be the mic. Another weekends project.

Did you have 'extra' coax for the mobile unit? Did you coil it up? I know you probably wouldn't do that but I know many who suffered from that.

 

[balakay]

I'm looking for which radio I'm going to mount in the GX. It has to be something with a detachable faceplate. Other than that, I don't know what I need/don't need. More research to do and more things to learn.

 

[TacoXpo]

I'm looking for which radio I'm going to mount in the GX. It has to be something with a detachable faceplate. Other than that, I don't know what I need/don't need. More research to do and more things to learn.

I have a Yaesu 7900. It has a detachable face.

 

[Silverback]

Did you have 'extra' coax for the mobile unit? Did you coil it up? I know you probably wouldn't do that but I know many who suffered from that.

The mobile was just a handheld unit, no coax to coil up. The truck based Kenwood was the same one we used out in Big Bend.. hand't really touched it since (sad I know). It also may be my antenna.. its been hitting the garage door for years now might have effected it. I'll dig into it after Halloween.. got a party the wife wants me to get ready for and its a lot of stuff. Hope I can get this fixed easy though.

 

[balakay]

I have a Yaesu 7900. It has a detachable face.

Thanks, a quick Google tells me it's in my price range. I'll give it a closer look tomorrow.