Official Colorado HAM and cheese thread

Yeah, that's it. And a link on that page goes to these little boards to make it easier.
https://github.com/johnboiles/BaofengUV5R-TRRS/blob/master/README.md

3 for $1.70

 

Hmm, guess I'll have to look into that. Maybe by the third board I'll get the hang of soldering

 

Here's a link to what's on my radios right now in .csv format
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0nBiqObudNyNGFnaXBqWDZ0SWs/view?usp=sharing

I can also upload it in .img or .chirp for direct import but if people send me their email I can give them permission to edit the .csv and we can come up with a standard CO Ham file.

 

It looks like the rising sun club has designated 4 frequencies for simplex trail use. We could probably just use those as it seems they've done the legwork to make sure they fit in the existing frequency coordination.
Also, I'll probably reorganize the channels according to repeater network so it's easy to just step up or down a channel as you're traveling to stay on the same network.
Still learning and gathering info. If anyone has anything useful to add, pipe up!

 

Only suggestion is some moab repeaters at the end and frs if they aren't there too (I have not looked). I know they are not supposed to be used with frs but in an emergency, but I find people using them all the time scanning those channels.

 

This set might come in handy!

8 in 1 USB Programming Cable For Motorola Kenwood BAOFENG Radios & Mobile Radios
https://bnc.lt/4Sug/Lu0Nt3Vsdt

 

@chenbro Thanks for the Radio! I got it today! thanks so much. charging it right now... then have to figure out how to use it LOL

 

just sorta stumbled on that website did ya?

 

I'm always checking out banggood.com. everything from quadcopter parts to gift stuff. Who wouldn't want lazer guided scissors?

 

banggood.com
better copy that URL very carefully... might end up somewhere completely different!

 

OK ham and cheesers...

So, for the first half of the trip today, I tried to run the APRS with the baofeng. Just 3.5mm jack between radio and tablet running APRSDroid.

It tracked on the APRSDroid app, and plotted the position every 5 minutes (so I could make sure it was working).

BUT, it did not update my location to see on aprs.fi webpage, and still hasn't. I put it to track back 12 hours. Not only that, but while the radio was plugged into the tablet and doing its aprs stuff, I did not hear anyone else on the radios and my traffic did not come across. As soon as I unplugged the 3.5mm jack from the radio, all was well in the world.

Do I have a setting messed up or can the radio not do the two functions at once?

 

What cable are you using?

 

Just a 3.5mm to 3.5mm one that goes in the one spot... If I make that custom cable that goes in both ports on the side will that fix the receiving and sending issues?

 

Ok I think I have been pushed to take the ham challenge. Can I get book at any book store? Where do I find out about testing?

 

Not sure about the book, but there are a bunch of online practice exams and study material. I posted a bunch of links in the first post of this thread.

The practice/online tests are WORD FOR WORD of the actual tests. Only catch is there are a few hundred questions in the question bank and a couple dozen on the test. So just study, take the practice tests until you feel confident and go knock it out!

And the test dates/locations are also in a link in the first post.

I try and keep the first post updated with good links and info so its easy to find.

 

Ok awesome thanks!

 

Just read this whole thread. Very interesting. I may study up and take the test soon and go the ham route instead of CB.

 

Do eet! no reason you can't have both... I do, and always prefer ham.

Looking back I would rather have spent money on a mounted ham unit and a handheld CB.

 

When wheeling in a group can you hear people on a ham radio who are talking into a CB radio? Please don't laugh at me, I know nothing about ham other than what's contained in this thread.

 

No worries.. I dont know much either, just trying to put the info out there for others to use. I would like to learn a little more, still trying to find useful and decent material out there instead of most of what you find that does not pertain to anything that I would use the radio for... When I find that, Ill link it here! haha

But no, CB and Ham are on different frequencies, so a ham will not pick up CB traffic nor will a CB pick up HAM traffic.