Ham radio features video

Like the video. Need to get more folks to check it out. I try to get people in the group to go HAM when I can. It seems there's a misnomer that it's difficult or something, just because there's a test. I tell them "Don't be intimidated by it at all! It's easy!"

I have Both the Kenwood D710GA and the Yaesu FT400XDR. Ran both of them in the taco, but ended up with the Kenwood there, because It works well with APRSDroid. That's really the only reason. The Yaesu is used as my base. Although I have used the Kenwood as a base, linked to Echolink as a node with the Yaesu running APRS native in the Taco. They're both great radios! Apples to Oranges, but they're both good tasting fruit.

 

On iOS, is one or the other better for APRS?

 

Nice video - KG5SHY

 

Where would you guys recommend putting a radio for those that don’t park in a garage?

 

As I understand it, the original protocols for APRSDrooid were not available on IOS, but since there is a beta for IOS. I'm referring to Mobilinkd. It is how you link your APRS radio to an app via Bluetooth or other means. It may soon be possible to use a Cr"apple" app for APRS. There are others in this thread that know much more about it than me. I'm not an Apple fan, so please refer to them.

 

Where your radio is located doesn't matter compared to your antenna! Search TW. There's many ideas about where to properly mount an antenna. Depends on your setup, and willingness. I drilled a hole in in the roof of my 5 month old Taco for a NMO mount. Your mileage may differ.

 

I am decreasingly an apple fan. Not a windows fan either since the death of XP. Have no experience with Android, nor with APRS, so not sure what the function of a smartphone is this application. Is it purely TNC operations?

 

Thanks for posting this. I am excited that more and more people are looking into ham radio (including myself). I'm trying to get my dad, brother, and cousins to take the test's with me so we can communicate easily when we are camping/hunting/etc.
I'm also part of an emergency preparedness group for my area and think that it's really important for people to understand how all this works, because we never know when disaster will strike. Knowing you can "phone home" is necessary for me.
I always wanted to post and ask what radios, etc people use, so I'm excited to have this info. Your radio setup looks awesome. I just recently bought a dodge ram so I can take my kids places (selling my 97 tacoma) and there's a perfect spot for a radio in it. Just gotta save the money.

 

Subd

 

Yes. Use it to control a TNC connected to your radio.

 

I'd honestly buy some super old Droid phone your buddy has in a draw somewhere for $30 and dedicated to APRS rather than try to dabble with iOS. They're still having issues with the latest set up as a month or so ago.

 

I was considering this.

Will pretty much any model and OS release be sufficient?

 

Should be. Just create a Gmail account and find some wifi to download the program and you'll be good. You can even set your phone as a hot spot and link this wifi if you want live maps

 

Not sure what you mean. Are you saying I can use my cell data to tx/rx text/email etc? Or that I can use a digital mode to access internet via repeaters?

 

That was an awesome informational video - I did not know HAM could do those things above simple radio transmission.

 

You can use your cell phone as a hot spot to give the Droid phone internet. So when you see stations on spray you'll see their location on a map. Need internet for the live map. Everything else doesn't

 

Basically turns your cell phone into a mobile WiFi
Connect your android to it like you would connect it to any other WiFi and good to go

 

So then a tablet would work as well, right? So long as it is WiFi ready?

Would something like this perform well:

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/123190729767

 

Correct. And try to get one with a GPS .You need the GPS too

 

Well I’ve played around with satellites and ham some more. Was able to beacon my position and even a text message up to PSAT 84. A ground station picked up the data and piped it to the internet. Another awesome communication mode with ham that allows you to “call” for help even when you don’t have cell or traditional radio reception. The satellite was over Mexico, I was in Phoenix, and the ground station was SE of Denver. I also have used FalconSat 3 but because it uses a different downlink, there are no ground stations to gate it to the internet.
Still cool as with a handheld radio I was able to communicate with another guy over 313 miles away with 5 watts of power.