Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Who asked you for license? Yeah I would take a pic. There is an app called genius scan too that will use your phone as a PDF scanner too.

 

So I now have a vanity that the fcc did not send me anything for. I screen capped what the fcc page shows and sent it to them but never heard back been week I guess

 

You can generate your own code using websites by searching for APRS code generator. The algorithm is not entirely a secret.

That's what I did when I got my vanity call.

 

Small upgrade to my mobile install. A local offroader and ham friend loaned me a temporary antenna setup for use while going down the road.



made a zero effort contact from Central Texas into Missouri.
The internal antenna tuner did it's job and shows a very good match at the radio.

 

Licensed in Indianapolis, IN. My wife's grandfather was the original W9ZEB, so I'm unlikely to change it even though I've moved.

 

What's the minimum distance I should have between a CB antenna and 2M antenna mounted on the roof? The CB is already centered on the roof.

 

Here's how I have mine. Never had an issue with either radio.



Edit:

HOWEVER, it is my understanding that it could be bad if you were to transmit while both antennas make contact while bouncing around on the trail.

I actually don't run this setup anymore for a couple of reasons. One being that the CB whip was so tall that it put a lot of stress on the NMO mount. I never had an issue with that either but it would make contact with low hanging stuff on the trail and didn't allow me to drive into parking garages. The performance of the CB was FANTASTIC on the roof, but what I found was that you can only communicate as well as the lowest common denominator's setup. Even though my radio is great, most radios are not setup as optimally and as such, it doesn't matter much how good mine is. For these reasons, I put a firestick on my front bumper. It takes abuse on the trail without a spring and is not taller than the roofline.

Also, I found that I never really used the 70cm band so I almost always run a 1/4 wavelength cut-to-length 2m whip in the center of the roof. The performance is excellent and its isotropic pattern is great for mountainous terrain. It is also extremely flexible and does not put any worrying amount of stress on the mount.

My $0.02.

 

Posted today. Woot!
KK6TWX

Now gotta get a radio (shopping for an 857d).

 

sub'd... passed the tech test this morning... now i got to figure out the radio i want to use... i think its come down to the Icom 2300 or the Kenwood tm-281a.. also looking at a Larsen NMO series antenna. Not sure where i want to put my antenna yet, so i am thinking a magnet mount for now.
what do you all think? thanks in advance!!!

 

X2 I'm interested in these options

 

I have the tm281 in my center console with an antenna mount from relentless on the hood hinge. I like the radio but less than 6 months later I wish I had aprs functionality to send messages and emails. Great radio if you want to stay budget minded and get 65 watts. If you want aprs like I do you may want to look into something different. Still glad I bought the 281

 

Running 281 for month a half now and like it. Simple with some power. Also running the Larsen NMO antenna. I'll have it at Rock Therapy if you haven't gotten something by then.

 

Should i just bite the bullet and get one with all the goodies? looking at this too...
http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/id5100a/default.aspx

looking forward to it...

 

Tm d710 by kenwood is what I think I want

 

Congrats on the Tech ticket

Kenwood does makes some nice radios, I have never owned any of their vhf rigs, I have several Yaesu 2800m`s for 2m, they are 65 watt rigs, they work well, you wont go wrong with a Kenwood if you choose to go with one, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu all make some good rigs.

Start studying for the General, you will really enjoy the hobby much more once you can get on the HF bands. Best of luck.

 

And yes congratulations

 

I actually use a mobilinkd with my tablet on a Baofeng & mag mount currently

 

Android tablet. I like the clean all in one of the 710 but these discussions are why I think i know instead of just knowing

 

I have this setup to do just that, dual usb one for the mobilink and the other for the tablet, just run a mag mount out the back window for the baofeng and I'm set but my console is totally full of comm stuff

Getting it down to two compact units would be better for me e if I need to save some pennies in the meantime to get it then no problem this 281 is a great 2m rig that i could bring inside for a shack build

 

I just spent four hours re-wiring the power to 4 radios inside my truck. I'll highlight with photos what I did here for y'all.

Antennas:

• Comet HD-5M mount on the drivers side of the hood. With a Diamond SG-7700 VHF/UHF antenna
• $41 RoadPro RPPS-13KB Platinum Series Black 3' 1000W Single Mirror Mount CB Antenna Kit
  Mirror Mount 3/8 x 24 mount on the drivers side of the Truck bed toolbox. With a
  $37 K40 SF-400 Black 4' 1500W Superflex Tunable Fiberglass CB Whip Antenna
  4' K40 Superflex CB Antenna
• Mirror Mount 3/8 x 24 mount in the center of the Truck bed toolbox. With a Wolf River Silver Bullet 1000 & Whip HF antenna
• Comet CP-5M mount on the passenger side of the Truck bed toolbox. With a
  $71 Comet Original SBB-2 146/446 MHz Dual Band Mobile Antenna 18" PL-259
  Comet SBB-2 VHF/UHF antenna

Radios:

• Kenwood TM-D700
  • Mount: under passengers seat
  • Antenna: Diamond SG-7700
  • Control head: Below stereo head unit
• Kenwood TS-480Sat
  • Mount: under drivers seat
  • Antenna: Silver Bullet 1000
  • Control head: In front of arm rest
• Byonics Micro-Trak-RTG
  • Mount: drivers side box under rear seats
  • Antenna: Comet SBB-2
• Maxon MCB-30
  • Mount: inside arm rest
  • Antenna: 4' K40 Superflex

Photos: (if you look close you'll see the Comet and Diamond have swapped spots here. That was temporary.)