1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Guide to Amateur "Ham" Radio

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by PreRunnerSeth, Oct 5, 2010.

  1. Oct 5, 2010 at 11:10 AM
    #1
    PreRunnerSeth

    PreRunnerSeth [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2009
    Member:
    #21110
    Messages:
    4,456
    Gender:
    Male
    Apex, NC
    Vehicle:
    16 Super White Limited 4x4
    What is Amateur "Ham" radio:

    Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby enjoyed by several hundred thousand people in the United States and by over a million people worldwide. Amateur radio operators call themselves "radio hams" or simply "hams."
    To become a radio ham, you must pass an examination. Wireless amateur communication is done on numerous bands (relatively narrow frequency segments) extending from 1.8 MHz (a wavelength of about 160 meters) upwards through several hundred gigahertz (wavelengths in the millimeter range). There are several license classes. The more privileges a class of license conveys, the more difficult is the examination that one must pass to obtain it.

    Amateur radio operation is fun, and that is one of the main reasons hams do it. But ham radio can provide communication during states of emergency. Ham radio works when all other services fail. After Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in 1992, the utility grid was destroyed over hundreds of square miles. All cellular towers and antennas were blown down. Only amateur radio, the Citizens Radio Service ("Citizens Band"), and a few isolated pay phones with underground lines provided communication between the outside world and the public in the affected area.

    Amateur radio operators are known as technical innovators, and have been responsible for important discoveries. For example, in the early part of the 20th century, government officials believed that all the frequencies having wavelengths shorter than 200 meters (1.5 MHz) were useless for radio communications, so they restricted radio amateurs to these frequencies. It was not long before ham radio operators discovered the truth, and were communicating on a worldwide scale using low-power transmitters. Thus the shortwave radio era began.​

    Why ham radio when CB doesn't require a license?

    First a little tech on frequencies. Radio is a wave. Radio waves travel at a given speed. The difference is the frequency they operate at. Picture a wheel. The RPM of the wheel is similar to the frequency of a radio wave. The number of revolutions per second is the the frequency. Given that radio waves travel at a constant speed the lower the frequency the further those signals will travel in one sinusoid or wave. the distance they travel in one wave is also the wavelength of the signal or what we hear as 2meters. The distance a wave travels at the operating frequency of that band.

    Radio waves at different frequencies are better for different applications. Because of their long wavelength and their ability to bounce off the upper atmosphere, HF frequencies are best suited for long range, but because of this behavior they are not as good for short range communications. HF frequencies generally start for the ham at around the 6 meter band. Shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies are much more suited for short range communication. CB radio operates within the HF band at 11 meters. Those frequencies are better suited for long range communications. They go a very long range but then tend to skip over close by stations. Ham radio operators tend to use 2m and 440mhz bands for mobile communications. These are VHF and UHF bands. Because of their shorter wave lengths they are much better suited for short range line of sight communications.

    CBs by law are also limited to 4 Watts. There are lots of easily attainable illegal amplifiers for CB. Because of what i mentioned before about skip, even with gobs of power and a good antenna you will find you may be able to talk several hundred miles away, but not to your friend 25 miles away. Ham radio, because you are required to obtain a license which is supposed to ensure you have the knowledge to handle more power. Ham radio is operators are allowed to operate significantly more power. With most 2m/440mhz radios operating at 50W right out of the box. You can also operate legally with up to 1500W! :eek:



    Licensing Info:

    Check out http://www.arrl.org/ for lots of information on the hobby and licensing.

    Check here specifically http://www.arrl.org/licensing-preparation-exams for information on where and how to get a license.

    If you don't mind paying a few bucks to make the studying super simple I recommend http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html

    I will add LOTS AND LOTS more information to this thread as I have time to add to it. Mods can we please sticky this?


    PS: I will fix typos and crappy run on sentences as i have more time. :)
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2013
  2. Oct 5, 2010 at 11:18 AM
    #2
    TacoNut

    TacoNut IgnoringChrisWatchingEdLi veVicariouslyThroughMJP2

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2008
    Member:
    #5597
    Messages:
    5,237
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    Denver, Co
    Vehicle:
    16 TRD OR DCSB Quicksand
    Good Thread!

    Adam Kd7mrj
     
  3. Oct 5, 2010 at 11:29 AM
    #3
    blackhawke88

    blackhawke88 wo ai ni bao bei ^_^

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2009
    Member:
    #12478
    Messages:
    16,639
    Gender:
    Male
    SGV, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Offroad
  4. Oct 5, 2010 at 11:56 AM
    #4
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2007
    Member:
    #1138
    Messages:
    14,339
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Jandy
    Lancaster, PA
    Vehicle:
    2016 GMC Canyon SLT w/ LineX and....
    Hey, if you ever run into K1DB - tell him I said Hi!! (that's my dad)
     
  5. Oct 5, 2010 at 12:04 PM
    #5
    ToucanV13

    ToucanV13 You think I was rollin out here naked?

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    Member:
    #4866
    Messages:
    2,268
    Gender:
    Male
    San Diego and Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Infideled out TRD Sport 4X4
    285/70 Hankook AT-M, Window vents, TRD CAI, TRD Cat-back exhaust with WickedFlow can, AFE Throttle Body Spacer, Billy 5100 @ 2.5 and 1" block rear, RBP nerf bars, Halo HIDs, 20% tint up front
    Same as Larry!
     
  6. Oct 5, 2010 at 12:09 PM
    #6
    Tbird

    Tbird Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2009
    Member:
    #21525
    Messages:
    382
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    Santa Teresa, NM
    Vehicle:
    05 4X4 TRD Sport Access cab (white)
    ICON Ext.trav coilovers, rear ICON w/res. TC UCAs. All-pro 3" leafpac & U-bolt flip kit. Konig Countersteer offroad wheels. Goodyear Durtracs 260/75/16. Blacked-out badging, BHLM, Extra D-rings, Satoshi grill, SockMonkey "All Terrain" decals, Avid Off-road light bar and rock rails, Wet Okey seat covers. Weathertech digital fit floor mats. GROM ipod interface.
    I'm in the midst of reading the ARRL basic and general manuals so I can test and get licensed. I'm doing it for work...but I can see it being helpful for all the VERY remote trekking I do in the truck.
     
  7. Oct 5, 2010 at 12:41 PM
    #7
    barlowrs

    barlowrs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2010
    Member:
    #31230
    Messages:
    612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Robert
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    06 Toyota Tacoma Sport 4x4
    Build Thread: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/builds/74926-barlowrs-06-taco-expo-build-thread.html OME Lift, FJ SE Wheels, 255/85 KM2, Allpro Plate Bumper, 8K Winch, Synthetic Line, Yaesu FT-8800R, Custom Sliders Sockmonkey bedside decals, BHLM, base model grille, TRD offroad (black) trim
    Great Thread!

    -Robert KG6BRB
     
  8. Oct 28, 2010 at 5:51 AM
    #8
    coppert

    coppert Mall Krawler

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    Member:
    #1300
    Messages:
    922
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Travis
    916
    Good informative thread.

    - K6TJM
     
  9. Oct 28, 2010 at 12:38 PM
    #9
    Jimmyjohn

    Jimmyjohn Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2010
    Member:
    #32643
    Messages:
    882
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Big Sky Country Montana
    Vehicle:
    06 SR5 4x4 DLB CAB
    Smitty Blt Bull Bar& Skid Plate, PIAA 525SMR lights
    Hey good job. I'm glad you showed the difference between We Hams and CBers.
    KE7BIN
     
  10. Oct 29, 2010 at 10:31 AM
    #10
    Tidrow

    Tidrow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Member:
    #37300
    Messages:
    632
    Gender:
    Male
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    PreRunnin' 08
    BHLM, All Black grill, Fog light Mod, AFE pro dry, 20% tint, Weathertechs, Kenwood deck, Bridgestone AT Revo 2
    In Texas you can get a Radio Operator license plate too.:cool:

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Oct 29, 2010 at 10:39 AM
    #11
    badguybuster

    badguybuster Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2009
    Member:
    #14475
    Messages:
    2,441
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Michael
    West (by GOD) Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport
    New truck....so nothing yet
  12. Oct 29, 2010 at 12:44 PM
    #12
    PreRunnerSeth

    PreRunnerSeth [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2009
    Member:
    #21110
    Messages:
    4,456
    Gender:
    Male
    Apex, NC
    Vehicle:
    16 Super White Limited 4x4
    Same in cali. Its a one time fee, but no annual fee like standard custom plates.
     
  13. Nov 16, 2010 at 12:51 PM
    #13
    gfiber

    gfiber Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2009
    Member:
    #20680
    Messages:
    149
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Black TRD Sport Access Cab
    TRD sport pkg, Towing Pkg, Ham radio installation, bed lights, front 32 inch LED Bar behind the grill.
    The practice tests on QRZ.com also seem to be pretty good. When you take your test, take along the license manual and a highlighter. Leave it in the car as they VE's will not likely let you have it near by. But once the test is over and if you are or are not sucessful take a few minutes and flip through the questions marking the ones that gave you troubles. It will help when you study to test again or even upgrade.
     
  14. Nov 30, 2010 at 2:40 PM
    #14
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
    OK, you ham guys. I've installed my new VHF/UHF in my truck. I've raised a couple people on it, and keyed up a couple local repeaters.

    Now I'm going through the painstaking process of programming memory locations.

    I've got the scan band limits set up so that I can scan JUST the ham 2m and 70cm bands, without going through all the nearby frequencies and all the digital noise on them. Yay!

    I've programmed in the simplex calling frequencies.

    I've programmed a handful (like 3 or 4) local repeaters into memory.

    I've gone to the norcal repeater coordinator site http://www.narcc.org/ and made a list of norcal repeaters, sorted by frequency, printed those out, stuck 'em in a binder, and have that (along with the ARRL repeater listing) under the passenger seat.

    So here's my question: If I hopped into your truck right now and started flipping through your memory channels:

    1. How many programmed memory locations would I find?

    2. How many of those do you use regularly?

    3. Do you use the alphanumeric label feature? My radio allows a 6 character label - that's not many characters. If you use the labeling, what scheme do you use to help identify the frequencies you've memorized?
     
  15. Nov 30, 2010 at 2:43 PM
    #15
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
  16. Dec 1, 2010 at 12:25 PM
    #16
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
    Bump.
     
  17. Dec 1, 2010 at 1:15 PM
    #17
    DocTaco

    DocTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2010
    Member:
    #46764
    Messages:
    70
    Gender:
    Male
    Central, KY.
    Vehicle:
    17 TRD DC Off Road V6 Tow Pkg
    Just bought 2011 Taco, went from a Dodge Quad Cab 2500 Deisel. Radio and antenna mounting locations where no problem. Now on Taco... I have got the remote head for my 857D mounted at the pocket below lighter panel. Main unit still deciding between under passenger's seat or behind back seat of Double Cab, I think either is not a problem. The problem is mounting the Tarheel screwdriver antenna. I have added a Trifecta folding cover so bed mount is out. I have been thinking of how to add to the top of trailer hitch, easy to do with a piece of channel and a 2" square u-bolt, but in order to access the tailgate I would need to come up with some sort of foldover mount to let antenna lay sideways so tailgate can open. Anybody have any ideas??
    Thanks
    DocTaco aka WN4E
     
  18. Dec 1, 2010 at 1:32 PM
    #18
    PreRunnerSeth

    PreRunnerSeth [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2009
    Member:
    #21110
    Messages:
    4,456
    Gender:
    Male
    Apex, NC
    Vehicle:
    16 Super White Limited 4x4
    I think a custom fold over mount for the hitch is your only option.
     
  19. Mar 6, 2013 at 11:14 AM
    #19
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2010
    Member:
    #48149
    Messages:
    4,755
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 6spd
    Great write up! Some good info, it explained a little to me to get me started for sure!
     
  20. Apr 11, 2018 at 7:57 PM
    #20
    Skittles93

    Skittles93 'Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2015
    Member:
    #151411
    Messages:
    152
    Gender:
    Male
    Novato CA
    Vehicle:
    TRD OR SB 4x4 (sold) 19 4runner TRD Pro
    Frankenstein Mid-Travel Kit, sPod, Relentless Custom Baja Bumper, Relentless: Sliders, T-case skid, rear bumper, tailgate reinforcement, Rago Fab: Bed Channel Stiffeners, SCS 16" wheels, BFG KO2 275,75,R16, Diff breather mod, A/C hose extension mod, Custom exhaust routing. (Sold)
    Hey, getting my license in a few weeks. Just wondering what radios and antennas people are running, thanks!
     

Products Discussed in

To Top