Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

Yesterday we were talking of HAM 2m antennas 1/4 wave roof mount.

This is my antenna which is basically a 1/4 wave with a spring mount and a small coil. It's still 0 gain at 2m and 70 cm.

The main thing is - it's on a spring mount with makes it less likely to be damaged or to transmit damage through to the roof of the truck while off-roading.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000567

 

What's up everybody? I Just wanted to say happy Veterans Day to all my fellow NorCal Tacoma driving veterans. It was a pleasure to serve with so many good men. I hope you take time to Honor the ones we have lost and celebrate the ones still around. Hope everyone's day is a good one.

 

Who here has taken the class/test for HAM? I've been looking into it a little bit. Would be useful as on any given weekend in the summer I'm out of cell reception...

Also, there's a 150lb box from poly performance headed my way for the 1st gen

 

It's not too hard. Much easier if you've already been exposed to the basics of electrical circuits. If I say "E=IR" will you already know what I mean? In that case you're probably already half way there.

But even still it's not to hard for any determined individual to knock out with a little of study and rote memorization.

There's a lot of 2m repeaters in norther california. But keep in mind that like cell service, VHF tends to be line-of-sight. So a lot of places that don't have cell service won't have great VHF reception either.

Depends on your goals. If you want to be able to contact "someone" HAM is a great choice and a lot of fun. It's also great for trail communications between a convoy of trucks when off roading, and much better than CB in terms of range and signal quality for that purpose.

But if you need to be able to contact "someone in particular" from an arbitrary remote location a better choice may be to get a sat phone.

 

Anyone looking for a set of 3rd Gen 4runner 16" wheels and tires? I have a set of 4 sitting in my shop 25 bucks a wheel. I also have a set of 1st Gen 15's for 25 each. Let me know if your interested I'm cleaning house!

 

I'll definitely have to do some studying. But trail communications is one interest, the other is that I have a place at lake pillsbury, only chance to get a call out is on hull. Couple people up there have landlines and sat phones but the main purpose would be to get ahold of the fire department or any available if something went south while I was up there by myself.

 

You have a LOT more choices once you're installing a rig in a house vs. mobile operation. For one thing, you can set up a monster antenna, you can set up a small private repeater up on a nearby ridge if you're down at the bottom of a canyon, etc...

 

Didn't even think about that, my dad's been talking about getting one too. We have a trailer and a kitchen setup and it wouldn't be hard at all to put up an antenna but it is pretty close to the lake with a ridge behind it. Ridge ends in a fire road but it's not frequented very often and usually by us. Definitely something to think about.

 

I went over to Ham Radio Outlet today. They have a great collection of different 2M antennas and radios. Pretty amazing what you can get just in the mobile realm. I saw stuff from $142 all the way through $600. And I learned that a lot of the antennas you see for $20 need a base to mount them to Oh. That place is stuffed with all sorts of cool stuff...

Speaking of antennas, they also have a bunch of radios on display hooked up to almost any antenna you want using a cool switching setup.

If you're looking for a class, forget it. But www.baears.com does provide some Bay Area "Ham Cram" sessions about once a quarter. I did get a couple pointers on books. AARL offers a more in depth

$25 ARRL Ham Radio License Manual: All You Need to Become an Amateur Radio Operator

study guide than Gordon West's

$16 Technician Class 2014-18 FCC Element 2 Radio License Preparation

Technician Class Study Guide.

 

Anyone around modesto california trying to sell coilovers or rear shocks

 

It's cool just to get a little 2m HT. I used that and a mag mount 1/4 wave antenna to keep myself entertained while riding with the family on a long minivan trip to socal. I could hit a Bakersfield antenna almost all the way to Los Banos.

 

Don't need the wheels but I have a friend who wants your shell.

 

Yeah. It definitely seems worth exploring.

 

I broke my antenna for my 2M, haven't gone on any trails up here anyhoo haven't needed it. For my new truck I'll be hooking it back up, as well as picking up either a handheld CB or I think it's the cobra 91 or something that has it all integrated in the mic

 

Figured I'd throw this on here before the BST thread

Anyone want to buy my AP rear bumper? $600. Comes with side pieces and hidden hitch. Retails for $900 from AP +tax/shipping. It's a little modified, I added CB antenna mount, but it's removable. PM me and I can help you install it







license plate bracket not included

 

^you know you want a new tent, just sell me that one!

 

MJ, I'll take your front fenders.

 

Subbing

 

LOL wth. No and no