Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Sans amp, thats basically how I made my dedicated APRS setup for the truck.

 

Been playing around with an aubree folding antenna for my baofeng. I run one when we help with offroad race support and the reception is woeful on the oem ducky and even N771 antennas due to the remote nature of the job qnd terrain in relation to central dispatch, but my 40" diamond on the truck Tx/Rx just fine. This 42" should remedy that. Benefit is it packs down to 18ish inches like the bendy 771 before it, but being rigid doesnt poke me in the eye when its on my chest panel. Gain is fantastic as well on vhf.

 

Most of the time, 5w is plenty. If you install a mobile antenna, you'll be shocked how much better performance you'll get.

That being said: I tried using a handheld as a mobile when I was new and I hated it. Too many wires, very unclean install. I installed a TM-V71A and laughed at my previous attempt. Having a real mobile is so much nicer! It's almost exclusively on low power.

 

I remember using MARS to call home from Japan back in the late 70's when trans-Pacific phone calls were prohibitively expensive.
With sat. phones, cell phones etc. now-a-days I don't think it is probably utilized very much.

 

Bigger isn't always better when it comes to antennas, just a matter of type. 1/4 , 1/2 and 5/8 wave etc etc. For example, there are a few areas inside Death Valley NP on the California side that my APRS packets will reach Las Vegas with just a 5watt handheld and a Moblink TNC. That's with just a cheap $18 Amazon special 1/4 wave 2m/70cm antenna mounted on my roof . I ditched that setup though because it was too many cables, and it was messy

 

Its used now and then for, what IF exercises. Most of the time ive hear people getting MARS cert just to operate radios where they want to.

 

I don't hear it being used for deployed military to call home. But it's definitely still an active service. I have a buddy that got his MARS license recently and they have nets every day. They train to support the government for communications. I'm not sure exactly who they support, but they're frequencies overlap with SHARES. Lots of different HF channels are used. Possibly to support the national guard and/or FEMA. They use ALE and some digital modes that include encryption.

 

MARS is certainly not permission to operate a radio wherever they want. They have specific channels they are permitted to use. They must stay within those channels. They are not licensed under the FCC, therefore they are not required to use FCC certificated equipment. This allows them to use any type of radio. That's why amateur equipment can be "MARS modded" to open up transmit on the MARS channels.

 

My aero manufacturing/repair station QA Manager inside me is very happy you used the correct word here.

 

Yes. And it should be stated that MARS members are REQUIRED to do things. Manage nets, relay, run patches. It's a time consuming endeavor.

MARS also requires applicants to have a functioning HF station. A weekend overlander with an opened up bowfang HT isn't going to be able get a MARS license anyway.

Hopefully that wasn't too mean.....

 

You may not like the radio, the maker, or country of origin, but writing and I assume speaking the name incorrectly doesn't help you look any better.

 

Keep trolling snowflake. I have no idea what you're even talking about.

 

There are some shady (Local) Amateur Operators that use the MARS cert to TX where they please, a reason to have said radio opened up, have 5,000watts at their disposal... I've never cared for folks like that.

 

If i was an OO id watch him like a FCC hawk

 

I got a new toy in the mail today! Still waiting on an antenna and other parts for the mobile install. I’ve got it hooked up in the house currently to figure it out.

 

Lol when someone has heard people talk about baofeng and spells it Bowfeng and then everyone gets angry.

 

Best video I've seen about Chinese radios...

 

I've got to much southwestern redneck in me to remember those.

 

59 into South Africa 7.156