Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Also, look for local groups. Around here we have the Arizona Repeater Association. Its a group that owns most of the repeaters up on hills, they also have several linked. Their website tells me all the ins and outs of the repeaters and their links. Link how to link Phoenix to San Diego (or LA). These are the repeaters that have the most traffic. Also, you will find that there are private repeater groups (Northern AZ has such a group). They require you to register with them to be granted access to their repeaters (legal, but not really in the spirit of HAM radio).

Repeater book is a great resource, but can sometimes be really out of date, or not have the complete info (like if it is linked or a private repeater).

Here are some great resources:
http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/
http://www.rfinder.net/blog/
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...n&ll=39.74468313986287,-98.62244800000002&z=4

 

I am in the same boat - programing with all the settings and offsets and tones etc, etc is daunting to me to say the least. I have the RT Systems programing softwear that helped a bunch but deciding what to load up is also a pain.

 

Does anyone know how accurate the questions in the iPad app "Ham Radio Exam - Tech" are? I've been using it to study and have been pretty consistently getting test results in the high 80% range, just want to make sure I'm memorizing the right stuff before taking an actual exam.

 

I have used it and liked it.

Go to QRZ.com and take a couple of practice exams. If you can do that one at 85% or higher than you are set to go.

 

Here's my Yaesu Ft-7900 setup. Main unit is under the seat. W7TRD here...

 

Nice callsign!

 

Thanks. Just registered and knocked out a quick exam, 86%. Most of the questions looked similar to the app I was using so that's reassuring.

 

The FCC publishes the pool of questions, so for most practice tests they just need to copy the question and answer options into their own database and create a UI. Very much not rocket science.

What gets some people is when they try and read a book based on the question pool that tries to explain the science/rules more than just teach you the right answers. For Tech, I think just learning the answers is a good option, it is mostly about the rules anyways. When you go for General and especially Extra, it is more important to understand the science behind the answers than just the answers.

 

I 'borrowed' my friend's password to one of those study sites after he passed his extra test. I didn't know to change the question pool to technician level, and would up spending two weeks working on my extra.

Went into take my technician test and was like WTF, I didn't study any of this crap. Ended up failing by two questions. Decided to give it another go, failed by one.

A couple weeks later I went to another test location without studying again. Old testing dude asked if had studied, and was appalled when I said "nope, I can pay for another 3 fails before it becomes cost effective for me to study anything."

I passed, got a call sign in the mail a couple weeks later. It's got some letters and a number in it. I don't really care much about it beyond the annoying volumes of junk mail I get from retailers and some club that wants me to join, and won't stop asking.

Oh well the license is good for another 7 years or so, it's debatable if I'll renew it. Never use it, and I don't like the inability to sequester my private data from public release.... and the jack-holes on various forums that think it's neato to post my data on their listings so others can send me a useless card if they hear me calling a buddy on the trail to find them in woods.

Knowing what I do about radios and such, I think it would be fun to see if some HAMs and/or the FCC could even find me while broadcasting from my truck in 2m and not having a license.

 

I have never heard of your info being shared. Looks like the testing location was doing something shady. I would report the issue to the state VEC and/or FCC.

Ham radio isn't about "if" they can catch you, it is about people that doing the right thing, because it is the right thing.

Renewing is free and only requires a few minutes of your time online, why let something go that is free to renew. But to each their own.

In AZ, there is a pretty tight nit ham community. I know that they work to track down people and get the info to the FCC. Their was a guy that had his license revoked for something, and he would get on during nets and curse and just breath into the mic. Doing everything he could to disrupt the net. It took a few months, but they tracked him and after a few reports to the FCC, he was fined $10k and ordered to surrender over all his radios. I never fallowed up, but I heard the government went after their money pretty hard. Now, I know there are 100s more that never get caught, or if so, nothing is done. But it is possible. ARRL has several stories about people both sides.

 

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How's the heat been treating you at 7102 N 28th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051? Amy doing well with it too?

The FCC puts your data on a publicly accessible list once you are issued your call sign, or in your case your vanity. The arrl and various HAM forums then take that list, once a week, and publish it in their websites for the world to see. Then the arrl and every retailer of HAM crap sends you junk mail to your mailing address.

The Canadians at least allow the user to opt out of the public publishing of the licensee's info... it's optioned on the test/application.

Free or not, it's a matter of weither I want to waste my time or not on it. HAMs here I am sure are tight knit and all that as well. That doesn't stop me from not caring about it, and using my 2m radios as fancy CB radios.

As for tracking.. sounds like he was being an asshole. If he was caught then he was dumb about what he was doing. The tracking takes serious equipment and enough folks on ground to move in a line to the location pinpointed by two or more direction finders. Short burst transmissions from randomized areas of high populations is hard track down where/who you are. Change your tx power while you are doing it, and well, even harder to get your fix. More so in and area that your signal is being reflected off multiple surfaces.

And who knows. Having listening in on some of the local repeater traffic, I get why he was being disruptive... those HAMs just don't STFU.

I use my 2m in short low powered transmissions, and always moving. , again as a glorified CB radio. Always pushing 3-5w unless I would need to push out an emergency call, then I bump to 45-100w... in that case the law covers me for transmitting without the call sign anyway. So it really doesn't matter, the radio works just fine without a license.

Honestly from what I have noticed, HAMs don't like users like me, because we don't take it serious and don't particularly care much about it all. If the radio works, I can call my trail buddies, and if things go south I can get out a call for help then I am happy.

 

You can track my home address from my plate or another dozen ways. Whats one more? I have never received any unwanted mail associated with my ham license. I get how frustrating it is that you are one of the luckily chosen.

You sounds like you just want to justify using Ham radio illegally (fancy CB). That's fine, do what you want, however that isn't something we support (actually against the CoC on TW). So, while you are licensed and want to talk about legal ways to use the license and equipment, welcome, lets chat about those things. However, if you are looking to talk about ways to use it against the law, then I would ask you to move along to another area.

73s

 

How am I trying to justify using the radio illegally?

I use my radio as a fancy CB, so what? Is there something illegal about using the radio to talk between two trucks on a trail?

I am not understanding your assumptions.

And I guess I am unique and it's only a coincidence that no sooner did I get my call sign than I started getting HAM related junk mail from retailers and aarl. Strange.

 

When I got my ham license in the 90's I received several catalogs in the mail before i received my paper ticket in the mail. I upgraded last year and started getting mailers from a few retailers. Not many now though. ARRL sends me mail wanting me to join the first week of every month.

As far as tracking down interfering stations, it's really quite easy. It's not rocket science and doesn't take special equipment. But specialized equipment does make it easier. Fluctuating TX power does not disguise the location either.
If you are out in the wilderness with your buddies and forget to ID your station, you're right nothing will probably come of it. The FCC doesn't necessarily patrol frequencies looking for violations. They rely on data submitted from ARRL official observers and victims of interference. Once you are their radar though, you stay on their radar and your operations will be nitpicked. The FCC publishes enforcement actions, and people get in trouble for everything from simple failure to ID, playing music, or faulty aquarium heaters making noise on HF.

 

Maybe I am misremembering how radio location finding goes, but i remember it being based on intersection of at least two direction finding stations, or an intersection based on transmission power levels received at various stations in a given area.

 

Completely unrelated to the discussion going but...

I hereby demand more pics of radios/installs, just cuz... that's why.

Aaaand go!

 

This is not my install or even my truck. But I'm getting ready to contact the firm that made it and see about ordering my own. The only difference I plan to as about is raising the foreward most section as I use a mirror riser and they would possibly interfere with each other.

Anyone interested in a group buy?

 

Does anyone run a handheld in their truck attached to an external antenna?

 

Yes, I run a Kenwood d72s for APRS with an external antenna.

Also, I know @llibrm runs a FT-60r as his primary radio with an external.


It is a great way to get into things without breaking the bank in one shot. A good external antenna will boost the abilities of your HT.

 

I've been considering a Kenwood D72A to use while hiking/hunting and double up as a mobile in the truck. Expensive but it seems to offer a lot of features in a small package, especially when away from a vehicle.