Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I'm hearing the 147.450 repeater loud and clear. Been monitoring the conversation for 20 min now heading south on the 405.

 

Another Ham here. Nothing mobile but I have quite a bit at home that I used to use before I got a Tacoma! Now all I do is read here instead of being on the air.

 

Ive got to say Matt, Im very impressed! Good for you on getting your license, def got me motivated to get mine! Thanks for the link you sent.

 

Haha thanks man, and of course anytime. After all, the first instance I had ever even heard of ham radio was when I saw the unit in your truck

 

Yes I am aware it is illegal to TX without a license. I am working on that. I have only had the radio a few weeks and only used it a few times to check it out. Simplex only like I said, no repeaters. I get its still technically illegal but its not like I was just broadcasting more than a couple miles around me and no one else was on that freq. But yes I will still get my license.

As for modding, I have not actually done any mods yet and at this time cannot TX outside of HAM freqs. I do plan on doing the mod soon, which is not illegal if I am only monitoring. The mod on this unit will not extend RX service, only TX. I will be doing this to be able to communicate with the handhelds we use at work. They are on a business band and there is nothing illegal about using them. They are basically fancy walki-talkies that anyone can buy. They are used every day all over the place by millions of people without licenses. Construction, Security, Businesses, movie theaters, and much more use these all around the nation with no licenses and its perfectly legal. We are talking about <5w operation power and simplex only. I can turn my TX power to low and not disturb anyone else around our normal operating range. Nothing wrong with this as long as I do not TX on other freqs. We are also using PL Tones to help secure our traffic.

 

You cannot TX outside of the ham bands with a ham radio. The hand helds you are talking about are FCC type accepted for their usage, the ham radio is not. It is an FCC thing having nothing to do with being licensed. I agree it is dumb to some extent but it is illegal. Unfortunately by modding the radio it also makes it usable in the PS bands meaning police and fire and that is not a good thing if you key up on their freq. you are going to be heard because it's the output freq. of the repeater the same thing they hear. If you think you are tuned to a ham freq and give out your call sign they will come and knock on your door. The two repeaters I own are old commercial radios one from a state police car the other I have no idea what it's use was that strangely enough that is perfectly legal to mod them for use in the ham bands but not the other way around. The PL tones (Motorola’s Private line) are to keep the radio quiet until they receive the tone to open the radios squelch this allows others to use the same frequency (with in reason) and helps keep intermod out of repeater’s receivers. People every day are doing this it does not make it right and does nothing to endear the ham operators to the FCC, hams have lost frequencies to other services and the FCC can take then away.

 

Well this is certainly good info to keep in mind. Normally I'd be stubborn and tell you its perfectly legal you don't know what I'm talking about... but I can't really argue with you here

I didn't know the radio had to be "type" approved. Guess I'll just have to consider all this then. Thanks.

 

N7MCS Monitoring

73s

 

Perfect reason for you to study for and to take the exam...I posted a bunch of info for you already in the other thread. The test is too easy for anyone not to pass

 

I got my general license in high school, KF6PFC.

 

KJ6TWA here!
Equipment:

Yaesu Ft-7800 (Truck)

$190 Yaesu Ft-60R DualBand Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver - Dual Band

Yaesu Ft-60R (Mobile)

 

^^^THIS

 

Agreed. I studied for a good 3 hours and took the test. Missed 1

 

The benefits of a license and mobile comms while out off-roading are huge. When the wife and I are out on our prospecting outtings I usually bring a buddy pole and work a bit of CW/SBB DX, not to mention there are no cell sites out there.

Truley very easy to acquire a Tech Lic and find a good used VHF/UHF radio on a budget.

 

I'll study up and take my test on the next available date for my area then. I've always been good with tests so shouldn't be a problem. Thanks

 

Test locations and dates
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

 

The sooner we all get licensed, the easier it'll be to communicate since we can all use repeaters in the area. I know for a fact that you, Hiatt, and I can hear eachother using the 147.450 repeater on Sierra Peak.

 

I can hit all of the big bear lake repeaters from my place in the city of Monrovia..and when we're in the desert in either Johnson valley or lucerne valley we can hit those repeaters with jasmines 5watt HT . These radios have greater range then you think lol

No reason why you and Hiatt can't hit any repeaters in our areas

 

I haven't tested how well I hit repeaters yet, obviously...but I can Rx the signals very well.

BTW: There's some asshole old guy on 147.450 who keeps cutting everybody off, and giving false callsign.

 

That the norm for 450 and 435..you should Google 147.435 and read up on its history