Moving from CB to HAM

I've been putting this off for too long. While I like having my CB for road trips to know travel conditions ahead etc...I've come to agree - as Molon Labe said it in another thread post: "CB is a "Zoo" now" and is nearly to the point of being intolerable to listen to.

So, I've picked up several ARRL books on HAM, study guides, test prep, general knowledge etc. I've found a local club that is active and meets monthly and provides testing. So, I think I am set on what I need to do to get my license but from a practical standpoint, I learn best hands on. I'd like to get a radio or just receiver that I can listen too to become familiar with practical use. I think joining my local HAM Club will help, but I don't mind buying a radio now to do this also. If you have any suggestions or recommendations on where to begin equipment wise, I ask for your advice and council.

I'm 44, tech savvy. I am a fiber optic field technician. I think I only want a mobile setup and not a base station. My desire to become HAM proficient is of curiosity and securing another means of communication available if other modes are unavailable.

I welcome your input on which bands are most used / beneficial. Pros / Cons of multi band transceivers. Any other HAM advice from your experience.

Thanks!

 

@Molon Labe - would like you input here if possible. Your previous post have been great to read on HAM

 

You could cheaply pick up a

$40 Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio Long Range Handheld UV5R Dual Band 3800mAh Rechargeable Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies for Adults with Earpiece,Speaker Mic and Programming Cable Full Kit (Black-1Pack)

Baofeng UV-5R and a programming cable to use with the CHIRP software. Look into FRS, MURS, GMRS & the NOAA WX channels. And the associated rules.
That led to other things for me, including my GMRS license. And more hardware!
My motivation was more in the way of making sure we have decent short-range comms on trail runs.

 

I don't have a trail comms need via HAM, everyone here has invested in CB gear. I'm interested in long distance communication and the ability to monitor world events.

 

Icom v8000

 

I have been told by several people that cb is a "zoo". I am looking into HAM radio as well for trail comms. I am interested in purchasing but am was wondering what would be a good entry level radio. I did see the model u referred to but was reluctant to pull the trigger because of the difficulty to program.

 

I have a Kenwood TMV-71A that most of the folks on the repeater I talk on use as their mobile rig (as do I).

I did not want to drill my truck roof so I purchased a heavy duty mag mount and a nice antenna. The radio does 2m/70cm and costs about $475. The radio puts out close to 50 watts on high power. I went with an NMO mount for my Comet 2X4 mobile antenna.

When I first got into Amatuer Radio, I started with a $30 Chinese radio (the

$40 Baofeng UV5R Dual Band 3800mAh Rechargeable Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies for Adults with Earpiece,Speaker Mic and Programming Cable Full Kit (Black-1Pack)

Baofeng UV5R) and a cheesy mag mounted antenna but quickly learned that it was severely lacking in the power department as well as overall quality. I still use the handheld occasionally, but the Kenwood radio is my do-all at the moment. Some people use the V-71 as a base radio along with a power supply. I live in an area that restricts my ability to put up an antenna so I made it my mobile rig.

I live about 50 miles from the hilltop that the repeater is on and I can usually hit it without an issue using the Kenwood.

Others will have an opinion of different radios. These are the only two I can speak to.

 

I would stick to one of the big three, Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood and maybe Alinco.

 

Read through the Ham BS thread, tons of info and pics of people's setups. Click Here!

Check with the club about loaners. Several clubs will gladly loan UHF/VHF HTs and sometimes even HF rigs. Great way to get hands on without spending money. Also most club members will gladly have you over to look at their shacks. Even though they are a base station, they may have a mobile rig in their shack, as most good mobile rigs can pull double duty.

The Yaesu FT-857D is one of the best HF rigs and has UHF/VHF built in. I also like Elecraft. So if you do hit a trail with another ham, you guys can chat. Also when traveling 146.520 is the universal "hailing" freq. Just like CB, there are a lot of truckers that will be on that freq.

 

I'm running a Yeasu 8900 quad band. 10 meters, 6 meters, UHF & VHF.

 

Can you PM me some more info? (Model, bands, price, condition)

 

Location?

 

Ahh... too far for me then! I am in Ottawa Canada. Good luck with sale!

 

how much?

 

Which model?

 

I kept the CB in the truck and carry a pair of FRS handhelds and a pair of UHF/VHF handhelds as well. I wheel with all ranges of others from the "I just drove it off the dealer lot" to the extremely experienced and well prepared. Having all of those methods of communication allow me to be able to talk to all of them.