Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Right. Its still on the operator end and is still non-compliant, but at least you could lock it out so you could hand it to someone else, and they couldn't screw with it.

 

This also looks like a solid choice!
I'm not sure what would be a disadvantage of a single receiver, except for lack of repeater function that was mentioned before

 

For me it was a toss up between the 100dr and the 7900. Went with the 7900 because I wasn't sold on system fusion, but the TNC is good if you want to get into APRS, which is why I am looking to upgrade.

 

The biggest downfall of the single receive on the 100dr is that you cant do aprs and talk at the same time. It's only one or the other. Yaesu likely could have programmed the radio to allow the aprs to function with the dual watch function.. but they didnt.

And no crossband repeat.

The only other big downfall of the yaesu is the tnc does not allow for inputs from a external source such as a tablet or phone like you can with the kenwood 710... but the 100dr is half the price so.

 

That's part of why I skipped the 100DR. It's like half the radio it COULD be, but then again, its 50% of what it could compete against with those features.

 

Yeah, that 710 looks like an awesome rig

Before learning about digital modes, I was under impression that amateur radio is supposed to bring people together (kinda like an old Nokia commercial), but it seems that it divides hams into 3 groups... Now, another maybe silly question, APRS and GPS sharing (or whatever it's called) are universal, not locked to one or other system right?

 

Correct. APRS all runs on common 144.390 Mhz (in NA). Lots of stuff you can do with it, and many ways to access it, but it is relatively "universal" for the stuff we'd probably do.

I'm currently getting into it with a baofeng HT, a cable, and my tablet I use in the truck for mapping anyways. Not super capable for range, but I've tested it and it works.

 

Thanks for that explanation.

 

Here DMR, analog and system fusion are all tied together on the repeater so we can use any form to get in and talk to each other. But as far as the digital channels a repeater owner and add one in static on timeslot 1 and everyone can participate in it on DMR. So it's not really divided up per say. We don't really have a lot of D-star use around here so those repeaters are kinda sparse in this area. I've found that my area is has a very active ham community but have traveled and not heard a peep on other repeaters in days when I was there.

There are systems that are able to transmit APRS on both but here we are only able to do it on analog so I run the analog repeaters on one band and APRS on the other band on my D710 in the truck. My HT has GPS built in but it's not for APRS use. HT is a dual band DMR radio.You'll also find that some areas can be divided depending on the digital systems they use though. Not all talk groups are on DMR-MARC and Brandmeister. I'm not even sure what are on the Wires-X and D-star sides because I've never used one of them.

When available I usually talk on the DMR side just because of the clearer audio but the digital kinda cuts off in my front yard so I have a choice of stand in the ditch to use DMR or use the analog in the truck so that usually wins. Digital is a funny animal. If I have a signal standing out front I can take one step back and lose it but the analog just gets more static the further you get from the repeater. At home not I use a jumbo spot (Basically a mini repeater that hooks to wifi) to get in to the local repeater and not have to go outside. Really I think digital has opened up more for the ham community as far as making contacts that before you would of had to have a HF freq setup to make those contacts. It's just another tool to use and it works really well. Plus I can be on the other side of the country and talk to my local group at home just like I was there.

 

I always recommend a mobile first, and a portable second. I spend way more time on my mobile.

Cross band repeat is a nice feature. It's like 4x4, you hardly use it, but when you do, you're really glad you have it. The more useful feature of a dual receive radio is the ability to monitor one channel, while scanning with the other side of the radio.

 

That's what I realized. I have 146.520 on the side of my truck, but my friends and I usually run 146.460 for truck to truck.

 

Thanks a lot you guys.

When I came in here, all I wanted was a replacement for my budget HT. Now you've made me realize that I really need dual receive digital transceiver. .. aaand a HT to go with it. .

Good job, and thank you
LOL.

 

In all seriousness, now I have even more to consider. And figure out what's going on around me, and what do I want to do.

 

Well, you've already got your Baofeng, so that can hold you over on that for a while HT-wise. I'd spend your money on a mobile rig first. Adds much more capability than the best HT.

 

That's how Part 90 works and that is written into the rules. A Part 90 radio can be frequency nimble just as long it lacks any external ability to change the frequency or VFO. Only the person programming the radios (GROL for example) can program frequencies into it based on the license holder's authority.

It's also why Part 90 radios are popular with hams. They usually aren't difficult to make work on ham bands and probably 95% of the repeater infrastructure is repurposed Part 90 radios. These radios have never been illegal to use for ham.

I think if there's a key part it's that those radios do have a Part 90 certification and meet the statements in the FCC directive for being Type approved. So perhaps that's what they want, for all these "ham" radios to undergo Part 90 testing. If that's all they said there would be no confusion and no reason for we hams to be worried.

That's the thing, there is nothing about any of this in Part 97. The ham rules do say if you hand your radio (station control) to someone else they either have to be a ham and use their call sign or if they are not a ham that you remain in control of the station while they talk.

 

I've got the Kenwood TM-V71A that's been brought up. Posted a few times in here. I've used almost all the features and have a ton of seat time and travel time with it. If you have any questions or want a ramble on it, just let me know. It's a great radio and a wonderful little brother to the d710 if that price range is too tall for someone

 

The TM-V71A auto IDs on the uplink and downlink.

 

Yeah, I've heard good thing about that rig. This Kenwood and Icom 2730 are on top my list for Analog radios.

 

Just a little guy

 

Yes, they do, which is why I said (poorly I suppose)...

Was trying to explain how to use the Yaesu cross band since it doesn't correctly announce itself.