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Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Discussion in 'Sports, Hobbies & Interests' started by The Traveler, Jan 29, 2013.

  1. Apr 26, 2016 at 1:45 PM
    #2001
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Copy that. Thanks. I'm in similar boat... waiting for kids to get a little bit older for some extended length trips, baja etc. :thumbsup:
     
    Chipskip likes this.
  2. Apr 26, 2016 at 2:02 PM
    #2002
    wildfyr3

    wildfyr3 KEØGLC

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    I just got back from my first real trip with APRS. I didn't realize my antenna whip had broken off right at the base on my bumper. I still managed to make it 30 miles to a repeater on 50W. I was wondering why a huge chunk of my interstate portion was missing from the log until I got out!
     
  3. Apr 26, 2016 at 2:52 PM
    #2003
    kalieaire

    kalieaire i didn't know they stacked sh*t that high.

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    Gotta take the kids out when they're young. Ask @JLee when kids are ready for the trail :p
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2016
  4. Apr 26, 2016 at 5:40 PM
    #2004
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Make sure to check your rig out with antenna reinstalled. Transmitting without a load can damage the final transistors.


    I'll certainly try. :D
     
  5. Apr 27, 2016 at 12:33 PM
    #2005
    Chipskip

    Chipskip N7MCS

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    Local trailing, my kids have been doing that since 6 months.

    Crossing international boards with kids (especially with a step kid) is a completely different issue.
     
    kalieaire[QUOTED] and Crom like this.
  6. Apr 27, 2016 at 12:38 PM
    #2006
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    I want to own a quality antenna analyzer that doesn't cost as much or more than a freaking dual band radio...

    Searching around I found this little guy looks neat for about $54, would have to adapt from N connector to UHF... But still low cost.

    Edit: It's just a SWR / power meter... not analyzer why it's so cheap.

    This one looks ever better, but not digital. Made in Taiwan.

    http://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Professional-Standing-Wave-Meter-Testing/dp/B00GNVJ8IU
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2016
  7. Apr 27, 2016 at 4:47 PM
    #2007
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

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    Why go so cheap, you will be using it forever. I just look at up grading to a better one. I currently have an MFJ-266. And ive been eyeing a RigExpert one for some time...
     
    Crom and at_olw like this.
  8. Apr 27, 2016 at 8:29 PM
    #2008
    bluewaters182

    bluewaters182 Well-Known Member

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    I passed my general tonight!
     
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  9. Apr 28, 2016 at 6:33 AM
    #2009
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Thanks.

    Antenna analyzer is what I really want. I want to experiment with modifying and making my own antennas. Probably will save my $ and buy once...

    Congrats!!!
     
    BenMara[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. May 1, 2016 at 8:27 PM
    #2010
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Added a scanner antenna to my rig. I'll probably end up with a Bearcat, but for now it goes to an HT that monitors two gov. freqs. It works, but radio is crappy, and I have very little money into it. Antenna, radio plus parts are under $50.

    DSC05454_96c09d6b0f97a082cfd4244725db5cefee23f4d1.jpg

    DSC05456_b8921317162cc4d9e0128d91dff5bdaf2045fc16.jpg

    DSC05459_42db3792daa84b6d12182fbce62df1041c9d5758.jpg

    After testing it out off road, I took it off and painted it all black to make it more stealthy, and reinstalled.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2016
    Jiveydude, MatthewMay1 and Chipskip like this.
  11. May 1, 2016 at 11:02 PM
    #2011
    kalieaire

    kalieaire i didn't know they stacked sh*t that high.

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    I think I'm in trouble. I just started reading about VHF and UHF Amplifiers.

    I could build one and set it up with a mobilinkd tnc and any 2m or 70cm HT. I would just need clean power and could make a roof rack mounted solution in a pelican.
     
    Chipskip likes this.
  12. May 2, 2016 at 9:05 AM
    #2012
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Mirage makes some vhf ones for not much more than $100, I think they top out at 35W though. Still, that's +9 dB and should be great for an APRS station, if that's what your doing.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2016
    kalieaire[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. May 2, 2016 at 9:32 PM
    #2013
    kalieaire

    kalieaire i didn't know they stacked sh*t that high.

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    was looking at this one when I first read about amps:

    http://www.mirageamp.com/Product.php?productid=B-320-G

    then I realized that amplifier design is relatively simple and I could build my own for a lot less. I was thinking it'd be super impressive to build the amplifier without a PC board or breadboard making it into a ball of parts kinda like twister but for amplifiers. :D
     
    Chipskip likes this.
  14. May 4, 2016 at 11:38 AM
    #2014
    johnnyo_SLC

    johnnyo_SLC Active Member

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    Hey making an introduction here. K7JTO John in SLC Utah. Just picked up a '10 Tacoma TRD Off Road. Trying to choose between installing my FT1900 or my old FT-100 right now. I'll peruse the thread for creative ideas on mounting a remote head--I think that's going to be the cleanest install.
     
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  15. May 4, 2016 at 12:08 PM
    #2015
    cheuer

    cheuer Well-Known Member

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    The idea I like most is mounting it on the lower left side of the dash above the switches, over the top of the pocket there. I'm currently trying to decide what radio to get so I don't have to borrow my dad's old Vertex HT for our trip coming up in June, but to get a radio with a remote-mountable head is a lot more than the basic ones... :(
     
  16. May 5, 2016 at 9:31 AM
    #2016
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    I need to acquire two more V/UHF dual band mobile class radios later this year...

    I've been looking at the Yaesu FTM-100DR.

    It's really a pity that Yaesu didn't put a second receiver in that radio. I think it would have made it a killer radio for a lot of people who want to do APRS. The dual watch feature is a work around...

    Still it has a lot of features packed into it.

    I've also been looking at several technical presentations of the C4FM mode. I really like what I've seen so far and there is a youtube video out there, sounds fine from what I can tell.
     
  17. May 6, 2016 at 7:58 AM
    #2017
    ebbs15

    ebbs15 Lord Winchester

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    It's official... passed last night. now the wait begins...

    IMG_20160506_083613 (1).jpg
     
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  18. May 6, 2016 at 8:42 AM
    #2018
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Congrats!!!
     
  19. May 6, 2016 at 8:47 AM
    #2019
    wildfyr3

    wildfyr3 KEØGLC

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    Welcome to the club Kx0xxx!



    If you do end up with the 100DR I'd like to hear about it. I've been pushing more of our local guys to get hams and if someone is looking for a detachable faceplate model I've turned them towards the 100, vs an 8800 with a separation kit. Hopefully over time we'll get everyone on APRS.
     
    Crom[QUOTED] and ebbs15[QUOTED] like this.
  20. May 6, 2016 at 9:20 AM
    #2020
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    :) I will be happy to share what I've learned. I think there is lot's of value at a great price point.

    I've been pouring through the owners and dedicated APRS manual, and exchanged a few emails with Yaesu Tech support on things I didn't understand.

    One nice feature about the FTM-100DR is it can output GPS location data through the serial / data port on the rear of the radio. The data adheres to the NMEA-0183 specification. Therefore it can be fed into a computer, a GPS ready radio scanner like the Uniden 996P2, or any other device that is ready to accept GPS data. Great for real time mapping applications, and it's only one cable that's already in the cab.

    For someone like myself who is considering a Uniden 996P2 radio scanner with GPS, it would save about $72 in additional cost over the Uniden GPS receiver.

    One detail I'm trying to sort through is whether or not the decoded APRS packet data can be sent via data port to a computer for graphical display. That's what I want to accomplish if it's possible.
     

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