Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Hey thanks for the info I really appreciate it. I don't want a roof mounted antenna do you have any suggestions on what antenna would work nice with TM-D710G. I have a bed cage to get the antenna up higher and I can ground strap everything. Or I can run a hood hinge mount.

 

Diamond 770 - Had really good luck with it on a BAMF tailgate mount and my Yaesu 100dr.

 

I drilled an NMO and run a simple VHF 1/4 wave whip. It works fine on 70cm as well, since thats a 3rd harmonic. They're cheap and simple. They also are plenty flexible to smack branches or garages with zero damage. When you're ready to get rid of the vehicle, rubber plugs insert into the hole. most people never question it. I've literally never been asked on any used car I've sold about the plug in the roof.

Mag mounts don't couple well enough for a good ground plane. Plus they scratch up your paint. I don't like the clip on either, as I don't think they get a sufficient ground plane and also penetrate the paint.

I'm not sure those hood mounts (ditch light mounts) follow FCC exposure guidelines. You're putting yourself right into the maximum gain of the antenna. I admit I haven't done the math on the exposure limits, but it scares me enough to stay away.

A well bonded mount at the rear of the bed rail would probably be a good location. I have a camper top, so that wasn't an option for me.

 

This Tram antenna has been working well with my D710

$32 TRAM 140MHz-170MHz + 430MHz-470MHz Dual Band NMO Antenna (1181)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDTJ2KE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

comet 790A

 

I am currently using an antenna mounted on ditch light brackets, so this is more of do what I say rather what I do.

The FCC OET Bulletin 65 only suggests that we amateurs need to do RF exposure evaluation on VHF if you're using above 50 watts and 70cm above 70 watts and all mobile stations are exempt from doing routine evaluations (I bet most people don't realize you're supposed to do these).

My estimation is having a 50W radio feeding my NMO2/70 Larsen antenna (2.1 dBi gain on 2m) on the left side ditch light (driver's side) is an exposure of about 2.7 mW/cm^2 on yourself (as the driver). This is pretty high, almost 3x the worst case allowable limit. So I tend to use low power as much as possible, which brings exposure down to acceptable levels.

 

I'm wanting to mount it to the cage. Its attached to the bed bolts and to the frame. I'll make sure I get the powder coat off the areas that need to be grounded. Do you think it would be an ok location. I'm wanting to mount it on the drivers side of the cage.

 

I'd bet that works fine for VHF / UHF.

 

Going for my tech ticket on June 16th. Feeling pretty good about it. How long did most people take to study for the general?

 

I did all 3 test in 6 months time.

 

Took me 2 weeks taking practice tests about 5-10x a day. Will seem a bit overwhelming the first week but then you'll start scoring in the 80s and better after a while

 

I studied on and off for couple weeks... then just crammed a couple hours before it

 

I need to get my general

 

I need to get the new Extra book. Anyone have one they want to loan or sell me?

 

I'll look tonight. I had the General and Extra ARRL study guides at some point. If I didn't already send them to someone they're yours (which I'm about 50/50 sure I did, so please don't wait if someone has something confirmed).

 

Thank you, I had the old Extra book. Not sure what all they changed, but figured I am starting to study from square one again, so I should track down a newer book.

 

If you have an Extra book from the previous test you'll be OK. They don't change the question pool that much and the concepts are the same. I wouldn't assume the questions are exactly the same so practice with the right ones, though.

 

https://hamstudy.org/
is the best ive used even after my brain was saturated from the Gordon West Books and CDs. even had the hamtest online stuff....
but its
MHO

 

Wish i could find a free one to pass the FAA UAV test

 

This weekend is the Dayton Hamvention. Really big ham fest in Ohio yearly with lots of manufacturers and distributors on site with booths.

Hamstudy has a discount on some things this weekend as does HRO and other retailers.

I'm finally going to jump on the d710ga I believe and pull the tm281 inside for a shack at my workdesk