Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Awesome! My dad was able to work them the other day. I tried for the longest time on 10 but I think they moved off it right before I started listening.

 

2m/ 70cm activity isn't nearly as high as it was in the 80s, but people are out there. Look up the repeaters you can hear from your house and see if they have a weekly net (a certain day/time where they discuss the latest goings on and have people check in...... you often don't have to be a member to check in, but obviously have to have a license.

APRS works very well for me. We like to explore all around the Salton Sea in California and I can be out in the middle of nowhere and still get picked up via APRS. I only run APRS at 5W, but you can run higher power if you like. I use a Yaesu FTM400 for 2m FM/70cm FM/APRS/Yaesu C4FM digtal, but there are many radios out there that have APRS built in.

I have my 2m/70cm antenna at the same place you have your CB antenna (rear corner of the bed). Roof is best, but I would have to tilt it over every time I entered/left the garage. It is a little bit of a compromise, but the rear corner is good as that keeps it as far away from the cab as possible. Are those support arms of your soft-topper metal? If so, putting the 2m/70cm antenna between the arms along the bed side might be your best bet. For VHF/UHF, you normally don't have to do any tuning. Your SWR should be fine out of the box as long as your antenna is made for the bands you are using.
Matt

 

W1VVK here.. trying to figure out how to get a 2 meter (FT 2600M) in my 2012 DC SR5.

 

KG7DDR still here, trying to decide if I want to put a 2M/70cm rig in the truck. I do not daily drive it so it would sit idle for weeks at a time. I hold a Technician License at this time and have a Kenwood V71 set up in the house with a 12 volt supply and a Diamond vertical ant. up about 24' from the ground. Listen in on the chatter now and then, have had a few rag chews on simplex.

 

I just put a kenwood tm281 in my truck. 2 meter only though. If I had it to do over again I'd do the same. My uv5r will cover most 440 and i need to study more to operate elsewhere

 

I am taking it that you are in Phoenix, check out www.w7ara.org for a list of great repeaters. The Metro Link has 5 repeaters linked around the valley. You can chat from all over the valley. Usually busy during the early morning drive time and even time. Tons of new hams, especially some high school kids, have been on recently.

Since my wife started driving my truck more, I haven't been on the radio, but still love rag chewing when I get the chance. Also, check out www.mcecg.net if you are ever up for volunteering to help with some of the marathons, bike races, ultra races, etc, etc, around the valley. Great group of hams that I enjoy working with to give back to our community.

It's a roll of the dice, just like any other item you buy on eBay. Check your seller's ratings and pay through paypal for added protection. There is no real wear item on most radios, maybe a google research for known issue with a specific model, but nothing in general. If you get a smoking deal on something, then run into issues with it, send it in and get it fixed. Total, that will most likely still be cheaper than buying new.

 

Your wallet is liberated from four crisp Jackson's.

IME-mounting to the roof is a risk on the trail, having "liberated" a Comet mount and antenna twice. Although TX/RX is obviously best achieved here.

FWIW-mount towards the rear of the vehicle, preferably on a tire carrier tab mount, OR on the front aftermarket bumper. This has worked well with a 50W mobile unit on both simplex/repeater comms for our trail endeavors.

Several of the new antenna options from both Comet and Diamond now offer a lift and fold option...you just need to remember to stop and complete the task before any low hanging fruit "liberates" your set up.

 

Check out the CLASSIFIED section of the QRZ.com website. At least it's usually ham/ham used sales there, which usually means well cared for used equipment.

Picked up a nice Kenwood TH79a with a spare batt. and charger for $150.

 

K0WDE now that my vanity was approved. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do aprs on budget and the mobilinkd looks like the ticket with a baofeng

 

You can just use your phone with an internet connection if you want...

The mobilinkd is the one to go with for mobile use, but I still like the TNC-X with the bluetooth module in it. It seems to be able to decode a little better.

 

Pm me when you decide

 

Was looking at a few HF multi band mobile transceivers. Icom IC-7100 caught my eye. So did the

$552 ID-5100A DELUXE 144/440 Amateur Radio Mobile Transciver with Touch Screen, D-Star and Internal GPS

ID-5100A but no HF on it. Anyone have some options to look at ? or feedback on these
/?

 

multi HF? 160-6m? or would you like an all in one unit? (HF+V/Uhf)

 

Started studying for technician test during my study breaks (That sounds weird right???). Planning to take test next month and purchase radio setup about a month after that... Pretty jazzed.

 

I was hoping for an all in one unit. Not multiple. Wanted to keep the Cobra 75 as a backup unit but have an all in one HF, VHF, CB, UHF, AM, FM etc. unit with the data capability.

any feedback is welcome.

 

John, that is awesome. I am a complete noob and am hoping to have the radio purchase done before I do the testing. Want to be able to listen and learn. I am more of a hands on learner than a book guy when it comes to certain things.

Hadn't really considered HAM or CB for that matter until a unit was gotten in trade for the CB . Then last week, met a gentleman at an Overland meet that was basically a 'COMMS" man. He had his laptop hooked up to the radio checking emails and browsing. Talking on a couple other channels. Then, showed me how he was monitoring a few of the other frequencies.

Needless to say, I was intrigued. In an emergency situation, having access to all forms of communication is critical. When there was an earthquake locally a few years ago, ALL voice systems were gone. Cell, home, etc. Not even GETS/WPS was working. If you know what those are. Same thing overtime there is anything major.

I have a SAT phone, but does no good in a situation like that.

Goal is to learn and participate.

 

yaesu ft-857d. There aren't too many choices if you want shack-in-the box.

 

^^ Seriously. There exists an app you can download for your phone which has all the questions on it. I managed to pass tech and general in one go by doing this.

 

Not available for android. Any others?