Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

yeah I’m starting to get into the mobile setup now too. I’ll back this recommendation by saying it supports aprs without any sort of android phone attachment runaround to get there. That’s my ideal setup.



also has anyone installed antennas on a bed cross bar or bed toolbox?

 

Kenwood D710G if you can find used or swing the $

RIght in center of roof....larsen 270b antenna

 

Yeah I have no concept of APRS actually, I read the Wikipedia page, that's all. It sounds kind of interesting and seems to imply weather and location - mapping? Something you would see on an ipad maybe?

 

http://www.aprs.org/

 

online or in person? Im trying to find an online test to take for my tech so then I can go blow copious amounts of money on equipment

 

You can also send messages on it. The nice thing with the d710g is you can do APRS on one side and talk on the other side at the same time.

 

Is online testing a thing? I didn't know it was available anywhere - I thought you had to take a paper test in person, show ID, get it graded by 3 examiners, etc.

 

Things changed in some places when covid started. There’s a few offering online testing. Ours locally is still in person every 2 months.

 

The local group near me is still doing in person testing and I missed the last one they had so now I wait or find an online test. Id rather do the online test anyways.

 

For some I can see issues with what I’ve read. Some required multiple views of the room for the test. Some people don’t have the resources to have multiple views in a room for a test. Others I heard just had you scan the room with the camera and no one was allowed to enter the room during the test.

 

the one I signed up for requires two, which is annoying but doable for me. They don't allow ipads to be utilized for taking the test, it must be a laptop.

https://nescitech.org/exam/

 

Alot of the local VEs are in their 80s+..... Guess i need to test for VE stuff, get the next wave of amateurs ready.

 

it broadcasts your call sign and a message with your position. For me it’s useful I can send out my campsite if I don’t have cell signal for my wife. I’m early stages on it, but I have a feeling I’ll be using it a decent amount so I’ll probably be looking at radios with that capability.

Also check out smsgte you can send a text message with it. And supposedly receive. That’s something I’m going to be working on trying out too. Realistically I’ll have an HT that can do APRS and tune to frs gmrs frequencies. Just to listen. Never to broadcast



my entire ham ambition is for mobile/camping/off road use. Ill volunteer with events but, I personally...the best thing you can do with ham is talk to someone. Yeah there’s some niche stuff with aprs and whatnot but ultimately, it’s just talking to people. We got email and Facebook now. I guess that element of wonder in the 70s and 80s even 90s is lost on my generation.

I’m off on a tangent. If ham is you’re thing that’s cool but for me, it’s HTs and a setup in the truck at most realistically.

Drive through in person. Hosted by the Newport county radio club in Rhode Island.

messages go to aprs.fi and also through smsgte you can send an sms.

That’s how mine went.

almost everyone at the exam session both the hosts and the test takers were in their....uhhhh....the hair was mostly gray I’ll just say.

 

Mine required a webcam(laptop) and an in person proctor. Worked out well and seemed completely doable for most people, you can probably always borrow a laptop.

Seems the whole hobby needs some younger generation to get more involved.. I quickly got tired of the local 2m nets where it is just the old people talking about politics, certainly not being racist/stereotyping, or just making those pervy old man jokes about everything.

 

We’re lucky here that a lot of the club members are younger and a great group of people. No gout or arthritis talk on our repeaters. Lol

 

I don’t know if I’ll join a club or not. I really do like that they do a lot with the scouts around here.

 

Our local SLC repeater has a cast of 4 regulars, the youngest of which I'd guess is mid 60s. But man are they some smart fellas. Clearly have an aerospace/rocketry background on two of them. Half the time is spent talking about the same stuff as in the TW space and science thread.

 

Link to said thread? Sounds up my alley

 

Literally called the space and science thread. Search it up

 

@BenMara I'm thinking the same way. I'm planning Extra then VE. And I'm only 31!