Official Colorado HAM and cheese thread

It will be a long process to make it happen for me. At least in regards to the license.
I don't see many taking the CB install very serious, so i have doubts about ham being done correctly as well. There is already friction with the clubs from the links I saw last night, whether they are on point or not, doesn't matter, the arguing has already started.
I'll prolly get the radio, it's cheap enough. I can at least listen to the fuckery.

 

Haha, well at the minimum, its a great tool for emergency communication... and with it sitting there, it'll be inspiration for the testing.

 

Is it a good idea to get the Nagoya 771 whip and the programming cable at the same time?
I'm going off the link provided on the last page.
https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-Warr...mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=ya_aw_od_pi

Or is there another one I should consider?
I only want to buy this once.

 

Unless it is a hand held, if you can't set up a CB antenna and get a good signal, HAM will not be your magic solution. The difference between an operator and a technician.

 

The antenna is a good deal, it will help it transmit further.

The cable.. i still haven't used it, you can program frequencies and offsets and stuff into it... But someone more versed in the technicalities will have to take over from there.

 

He's talking about the hand held.

 

That's what I'm talking about, so much current failure among CB users, I'm not sure that HAM will be much of an improvement except for those who actually take it seriously.

 

Handheld ham is like talking on a cell phone... No setup needed.

Handheld cb... Well you saw how crappy it was the other day.

 

so, programming cable or no?
I see the same radio with the 3800 mah battery.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KFL1L7A?psc=1&smid=AM1AKWRN957PC

vs the 1800mah battery unit linked above, for $13.00 more.
Has anybody felt the need for a bigger battery?
Is there a 12vdc adapter that could be used for in the truck?
Sorry for all the questions...

Only because your CB radio wasn't tuned or set up properly. That's what I'm bitching about, CB users aren't taking steps to do it right.
@teamhypoxia and I could hear each other with cell phone clarity, as well as the other unknown group that was transmitting on that channel.

Anyway, I'm going to buy one today if i get some good intel here. Then I will surpass you young fuckers in that area, and my bitching about today's youth will know no bounds

 

The Nagoya whip is supposed to be a decent upgrade over the stock Baofeng rubber ducky antenna, but I followed @teamhypoxia and got the Tram mag mount antenna so I can put it on the roof: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045EQUBK/

You will need this adapter in order to plug the Tram cable into the HT:

$6 DHT Electronics 2pcs RF coaxial Coax Adapter SMA Female to UHF Female SO-239 SO239

https://www.amazon.com/DHT-Electronics-coaxial-adapter-female/dp/B00CVQP7CW
I still have an extra adapter from the 2-pack that I bought, so I can provide it for you.

The programming cable, I used it once and haven't touched it since. I had to jump through some hoops to get it installed correctly on Windows, and even after that the Chirp software isn't the most user-friendly thing in the world. I think what I'm going to do is get it installed on my laptop, then if people want to get the CO preset file loaded onto their HT I can just do it there at the meeting place for a run.

 

And the rabbit hole just got deeper

 

I have this 12v adapter... works great.
In addition to the two antennas I have for the baofeng, I also have this magnet mount.

I'm looking to get an actual mounted one for the rack that'll be able to fold down for when its not being used.

 

I got the bigger battery and will last all weekend+ on a charge. Or you Could just get the cigarette plug in for all time power.

I als got the upgraded antenna in my package but can't compare it to standard. I did by a magnetic antenna but hardly use it given performance of whip antenna on radio

 

excellent info.
did you get the 15.6" whip as the upgrade?
in the standard whip,

$21 NA-771 15.6" Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios

NA-771, or the retractable one ,NA-771R?

With a smaller, already crowded cab and a somewhat jumpy dog....
I'm leaning towards the radio with the 3800 mah battery and the collapsible antenna,
to help keep the cable clutter down and all that and get some decent range/battery life.
I also have 110ac in the truck so the standard charger could be used that way if needed to charge up the bigger battery.
Some of the reviews say the upgraded antenna really wakes that unit up, to where it compares as well or better to the higher power units. If they are accurate reviews anyway.
But the 15.6 whip might double as a nice pointer/prod for when it's needed, as well as being maybe more durable than the retractable one?.

That whip with the longer battery, I'm at about 25" in length. Somebody gonna lose an eye.

 

When I had the small antenna it came with, I was trying to communicate with my friend who was maybe a mile away over the hill. I could hear him, he couldnt hear me. Both using portables. But he had the extended antenna. So I bought the one he had... Antenna

 

I can actually save a penny and get two batteries.
Radio with 3800mah battery, antenna, and cable is $65.71
Radio with 1800mah battery, antenna, cable and added 3800mah battery is $65.70

 

If it's on sale, do eet

 

I have the 771 for out of truck use but the tram mag mount is the way to go for best results in cab.

 

I figured this would be the case.
I also figured if this actually goes anywhere for me, I'll go back for the mag mount, battery eliminator, and whatever else I think I need.

 

Any input on either making the tram into a mounted one, or one that'll fold down?

The magnet works but if i could mount something to the rack it'd be nice.