Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Probably because everyone kept hitting him up on the air asking if they could drive his truck. Haha.

 

I passed my technician test today!!! It's not that special, but I am stoked! Looking forward to getting my call sign.

Took the general for fun. Got 21 right without studying for it at all. Not bad.

 

The KG6ZDL FJ is interesting. I don't find it all that impressive due to its lack of practicality. I'd never run a big screwdriver like that on a trail. For fear of ripping it off. I suppose it'd probably be ok in the desert. I'd hate having that console on the dash. It's so huge!

What he built took a considerable effort. It's clear that it has a high level of craftsmanship. If it works for him, I'm happy that he's happy. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, I won't be flattering him any time soon though.

 

For sure. 100% why I take mine off up here in the woods. I'm thinking maybe with his location the trails are so developed its not as big of a risk.

Few more pics of his set up.

 

The vibration and shock off-highway might not be great on the guts of a screwdriver but the mount is totally legit.

 

A big ass studio microphone mounted on the dash..... Dope, bro.

And he's talking on 20m slow scan calling frequency....

 

Apparently he's a big Essb fan. Spends a lot of time on AM as well.

 

The mic says it all

 

Right. I wouldn't be as trusting. Haha. Apparently he's had it on as far back since 2017 and does some pretty solid trails.


Edit: 2014

 

That IS a big deal...congrats!
Now there are two ways to empty the bank account.

 

Congrats! Any plans for going for the general next? You're almost there.

 

What is the reason for feeding the APRS packet back into the tablet and then into Backcounty Navigator? Does the tablet not have its own GPS for the navigation app?

 

The nav doesn't show stations beaconing. The tablet paired with the radio provides a visual that the radio alone cannot.

 

On the air posit packets are heard on the radio, which outputs them as NMEA waypoints. APRSdroid handles accepting these and puts them on the map. Backcountry Navigator just has a hook into APRSdroid to also put heard stations on its map. BCN (and APRSdroid for that matter) is using the tablet's internal GPS and doing navigation normally regardless of the APRS situation. It's just able to display stations, like a tactical display, to show APRS stations the radio hears that happen to be around you.

 

Good for you and I'm sure you have them all logged. The band must be wide open in your area sure isn't in mine haven't seen anything like that since the last solar cycle.

 

That makes sense, thanks guys! Does this work with Gaia also or just Backcountry Navigator?

 

Gaia doesn't have APRS functionality. There's been feature requests but nothing so far. I think the next version of Backcountry Navigator (they call it BCNXE) also lacks APRS at this point.

 

Nice and welcome to the Rabbit Hole.

 

Vibration and shock are legit concerns for any screwdriver. That mount is impressive. I'd be most concerned about low branches and other overhead obstructions.

 

Thank you. If only it were only two ways..

I would like to get my general. I want access to all the bands. Realistically though, I cannot afford a HF radio any time soon. The only radio I have currently is a cheap boafeng. So I will be waiting to go down that road.