Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

JK, that's mean. It's a form of communication that has a longer range than a CB Radio, many more capabilities, and is more reliable than a cell phone. It's become more of a hobby these days rather than a commonly used form of day to day communication because of the invention of cell phones and internet.

 

KG7DDR here.

I have my Kenwood V71A set up as a base nit right now, but want to put this or another 2M/440 mhz radio in my Tacoma.

 

So, reading one of the frequency books I purchased for SoCal, it mentions a list of frequs that are dedicated simplex. Have ya'll found this, too, or are you trying any open frequ? Still wondering why I wasn't able to reach another close-by truck, but half the problem seems to have been solved.

Yes, trunked. That Bearcat is awesome! Wish I had $500 lying around. lol Thanks for the advice!

 

NICE! Very interesting. Learning a lot of ham nuance here. Using the output freq makes sense, but I never thought of that. Hm. Well, cool! I have 146.52 programmed, as well as the 15 others and will be using them. Are these freqs usually isolated from repeaters in other states, too?

On a side note, I also received my GMRS callsign. Now I can use the basic Motorola Talkabouts! lol

 

Figured I'd add these simce I just typed them out elsewhere:

SIMPLEX FREQS
146.490 _ 146.565 _ 147.495 _ 147.555 _ 29.600
146.520 _ 146.580 _ 147.510 _ 147.580
146.535 _ 146.595 _ 147.525 _ 446.000
146.550 _ 147.480 _ 147.540 _ 446.500

 

http://uflymike.com/products/amateur_radio/microphones/microphones.html

Alot of our pilots are using the aviation version of these. Expensive, but badass. I think im going to pick one up for use in the truck.

 

Check these out first built by a ham for hams. Lot less money and probibly better for ham use you pay dear for aviation stuff.
http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/headsets.php

 

Hopefully I'll be all set up next month and have completed the test by then

 

Glad to find this thread. Thanks everyone for your insights!
Just began studying for the Tech license. Hopefully I will be taking the test first week in July.

 

KG7DVI

I'll be out in Hells Canyon, OR sometime this month.. Anyone monitor .520 that'll be in the area?

 

A little over a week ago I installed my Kenwood TM-V71A dual band radio paired with a

$104 Larsen NMO2/70B Pulse Larsen 144-148/440-450 MHz Dual Band 37.25" Antenna - Black

Larsen NMO2/70B antenna. The radio is wired directly to my Auxiliary battery with fuses at both ends. I mounted the antenna through a 1/2" bolt hole to a light tab that was welded to my flat expanded steel floor baja rack. I had to use a thick mount NMO to make it work and I soldered on the PL-259 coax connector. The antenna it'self is 33.5". Total height mounted to truck is 8' something. I'll post pics of my install when I get them out of the camera...

I am amazed at crystal clear audio. I can hit repeaters perfectly from 36 miles away on good terrain. So far I'm very happy

 

Took and passed the Technician exam Saturday.

FCC just posted my call sign: KK6FKJ!

 

you

Thanks Chip ~

I don't have any Ham Radio dealers where I live so my purchase is going to be online. Just curious what about the reasons you went with the Yaesu over the Kenwood?

 

Been thinking about this HAM thing, figured it'd be good to have when the zombies attack and aliens invade. What does a decent setup run?
And what kind of trouble can I get into, for instance, could I pull up beside somebody listening to fm radio and talk through theirs like StarScream from Transformers? If I knew the channel they were listening to, or is it totally different frequencies? Can it be done?

 

Where could i get some material to study for the exam? Lateley i have been interested in two way communication and have been listening on some local repeaters over the internet, seems pretty fun.

 

No.

 

If you've done ANY research on it, the first thing to know is that you need an FCC issued LICENSE to operate a radio legally, one of which is obtained by passing a license exam that you need to actually study for. Now with that being said, causing interference with another person's radio is completely illegal and good luck getting on their frequency.

 

What were your reasons for going with the Kenwood? Did you install the optional noise filter? Thanks!