Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

If you updated the software, sometimes configuration changes are introduced that reset beaconing intervals.

 

Thanks ?

 

I had already searched for info, which was my reason for asking. Every link in the search threads you posted had about 2 or 3 people saying they were considering getting a mobilinkd and one was saying on the bug brother 710 to make sure the tnc on...

Anyways. How's the connectivity between the radio and mobilinkd device? Error rate and if an Android device is able to work fluently with the device. Looking for first hand experience. Specifically with the v71, secondly with mobilinkd and Android device. Would I be better running a solid line in the truck?

 

It worked great on my 710, for about a week. Sending it back for warranty. I used the APRSdroid app on a Samsung tablet, tracked great for the first 400 plus mile trip. Then when I went to use it today, it would not turn on.

 

Awesome. That's the info I'm looking for. Thank you for the feedback. Sorry to hear it stopped working for you though.

 

I hope it's something simple, here is a shot of my mobile rig. The TNC2.2 is hiding up there...

 

Very nice. Love that roof console. I would prefer running mine from the headliner, but dude to limited space and me being 6'5" I think I'll just end up installing a keystone jack to the left of the steering wheel. I'm thinking my end game is to keep mine mounted where it is, run a couple of clips with 3m tape to above the glove box, drill through and come down to where the wires enter through the passenger firewall, to under the seat.

 

working fine for the past 2 years.

 

I have a Kenwood V71, mobilinkd and I use a cheap android walmart phone with it. No plan, just side loaded the APRSDroid app. Been using it with an offline map for over a year. No issues. Connects easy. I have mobilinkd configured to turn on and off with my radio.

 

Great. Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it. Got the Mobilinkd enroute.

Next step, DMR.

 

I haven't done DMR yet. I've screwed around with a SDR kit to listen on the computer. But I have no plans on what I would do if I wanted DMR in the truck. I'd probably just get a HT to get started.

You have a setup in mind?

 

I ran a mag antenna and got an extension unit. Mounted the radio beneath one of the useless back seats and have the head unit on velcro. Keeps it out of the sun and removable from prying fingers. Bought the bar from Matt https://MattGeckoLEDs.com to keep the rear window slider shut. Got the Weather Tech liner today to protect the cord and we're transmitting on .52.

 

Very nice. I have been concerned about theft as well. I attempt to rember when I get out today the truck to place the head unit below where the qi charging area is to keep it somewhat out of site .

 

I'm also thinking of getting an HT. I need to invest in a good, high quality HT. My thoughts are that the dmr repeaters seem to out populate all other modes around here, though not by a landslide. That's a large driving factor. I hear that a lot of the guys on the 2m repeater in my area reffer to the sharkrf that most have up at their camps, so I know it's fairly active.

The hard part for me is I work 3rd shift and a large amount of OT. So going to local ham meetings and feild days just really isn't an option for me, and those places seem like the best way to really have all of the modes and different VoIP explained.

So for now, Google.

 

OpenSpot is a good product. It takes about 5 minutes to setup. They are discontinued and Shark RF is about to release a new and improved product.
If you dive into the world of DMR, get a dual band handheld. Most DMR activity is on UHF but if you have a radio such as the MD-UV380, you will have a radio that's good for both DMR and analog modes on UHF and VHF.

 

That'd be great. I was surfing the site that makes the ruggedspot as well and looking at their models. I have a lot of research to do . I'm hoping a club around me might do a 101 on DMR or maybe I'll just go down to HRO. I bought my whole truck rig from them and I'll probably get my HT from them too, so I'm guessing they won't mind a few questions. Ive gotten as far as understanding the time slots, groups, color codes, and started to get into writing the code plugs, but that's where I feel it'll be best to talk to someone because it gets a bit gray there for me. My problem is I have a hard time taking things for granted and like a complete understanding of things. In due time .

 

DMR hot spots seem to be proliferating. The problem for me is it requires WiFi or a cell phone and your HT, so I guess, what's the point? Is it even really ham radio? I mean, yeah, I like having the Motorola Connect and Brandmeister connections for wide area talk groups but I also like being able to use a repeater locally and I've also used DMR simplex vehicle to vehicle. These applications are just as major improvements, no static and improved HT battery life. What I'm arguing is hot spots solve a problem but IMO should be looked at to augment DMR radios.

To that end, I have several. A couple of Vertex portables, the VXD-720 VHF and a VXD-720 UHF and a VXD-7200 UHF mobile (base station). In the truck I run a Connect Systems CS800D, which is a V/UHF dual band, single VFO radio. I really like the CS800D, been a solid performer for me so far.

 

BTW, one thing I'll mention about digital modes is don't confuse installed base with actual use. Yaesu has gotten a lot of repeaters out there but they are dual mode, reverting back to analog when it detects an analog input. System Fusion falls back to the common mode, which means even if you talk into it on Fusion if the other station is FM the repeater will use FM.

It seems to me DMR is the one growing and actually used and D-STAR has an existing base of users but isn't growing as fast. The few hams I know with Yaesu digital radios haven't used the digital modes much yet. P25 might have some users, I can't say. It seems DMR and P25 are more regional, so one is popular and the other isn't and around me DMR was the one most used.

 

@DaveInDenver those are good points and kind of goes with me trying to understand the real world application of dmr. I apologize, still very new at this and there's not too many ham club meets at 3am (again, third shift. So Google is my Elmer)

One of the things I was looking to accomplish is that we camp in an area with no cell service and the local repeater is just dead. There is Hardline internet though. If I'm trying to reach folks back home, I can just enter the same talk group as them, right?

Thanks for the patience I appreciate it