Topic: Ham Radios

[Duffil]

What kinda switch are we talkin here?

 

Other than the test, it seems like the HAM is basically the same as a CB (price, install etc).

there are things you are supposed to do while transmitting...ie, say your call sign once every 10 minutes while transmitting, and when you sign off...don't know how many mobile guys actually do, but

[Not A Toy]

Huh like I said then im gonna stick with a cb if I ever do get anyhing besides two ways.

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

I found a few more good sources.

Here is another supplier (other radios also): http://universal-radio.com/catalog/index2.html

and a Pirate thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=641968&highlight=ham+radio

[V-Man]

Here is the one I am looking at (Vertex FT-2800) $118 + about $35 for an antenna. It is rated at 65 watts.: http://www.hamcity.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=10

 Ok shoyrtt, I will work my way through the messages and answer or CORRECT as I go...

  Ya that is a nice radio. It's only a MONO-band radio, many Ham radio can operate on multi-bands. Ham bands that you would be interested in fall in the HF, VHF, and UHF parts of the radio spectum.  The 151MHz you are look for is VHF..but NOT in a ham band.  That is a Mobile land radio Frequency, and you can't use a ham radio to TRANSMIT on it.  You will notice that the RECEIVE range of the radio is 134-174MHz so you can listen to it, just not talk back.

[V-Man]

Drew,
If I know I need a radio in the 137 to 174 MHz range can I buy the radio, then get the license? I hear the test easy.

I am guessing the channel "151.475" is in the 137 to 174 MHz range.

  You can buy the radio you just can't talk on it.. If all you are going to do is listen then just get a good scanner and Antenna for it. Once you get the licence you can talk. But not on 151.475MHz.. The 2Meter ham band is the closest one to that frequency and it runs from 144 to 148MHz.

[V-Man]

Do you have a mobile unit in your rig? The hand helds seem to only be around 5 watts.

  You can use a handheld ("HT" as they are called), or a mobile (higher powered radio). 

 You can even use a HT on low power(so the battery last longer) and have the higher power Mobile in the truck retransmit your signal..Starting to sound like it's more then a high power CB with a licence?

[V-Man]

uhm...similar, but on different frequencies i think.
 

  Yes many of the systems that they use are very similar to ham gear...

In fact to get the decoder for the 800mhz police system, you need to buy a $3000 scanner( which anyone can buy) and then buy the decoder board for about $3000.  You also have to be a cop or a ham to buy the board.

[V-Man]

The only concern I had about repeaters is that the handheld still needs to reach it to communicate. In areas like Johnson Valley it might be asking the impossible for the handheld to find a repeater within five miles with a five watt system.

 How about pickering, On to Rochester, ny with about 1/2 watt. .  vhf is "line of sight". what that means is if the antenna can "see" the repeater then you can transmit to it.  By see it I mean that there is not 100 feet of solid rock between the two, and that the signal that is received by the repeater antenna is strong enough for it to "hear" above the back ground "noise".  It's like talking to a person in a field as you walk away from them you have to do one or both of two things..IE talk louder( increase the power of the radio) or use something that Channels your voice towards the other person like a speakingcone( antenna with more "gain"), or both  IE Megaphone.

[V-Man]

Other than the test, it seems like the HAM is basically the same as a CB (price, install etc).

  I'll let you read up on ham...But I'll just say that I don't know of any CB'er getting calls from NASA to Please turn thier "Earth Moon Earth" bounce gear towards mars to help listen when Nasa lost contact with the lander.
  Yes that's right hams bounce signals off the moon back to earth, we can talk to the Shuttle, and the ISS, and have our own satelite in orbit( payed for by the hams from around the world) that any ham in the world can use.

Sounds like CB to me right..    

[V-Man]

I found a few more good sources.

Here is another supplier (other radios also): http://universal-radio.com/catalog/index2.html

and a Pirate thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=641968&highlight=ham+radio

  Check out "Ham Radio Outlet".

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

Ok shoyrtt, I will work my way through the messages and answer or CORRECT as I go...

  Ya that is a nice radio. It's only a MONO-band radio, many Ham radio can operate on multi-bands. Ham bands that you would be interested in fall in the HF, VHF, and UHF parts of the radio spectum.  The 151MHz you are look for is VHF..but NOT in a ham band.  That is a Mobile land radio Frequency, and you can't use a ham radio to TRANSMIT on it.  You will notice that the RECEIVE range of the radio is 134-174MHz so you can listen to it, just not talk back.

  You can buy the radio you just can't talk on it.. If all you are going to do is listen then just get a good scanner and Antenna for it. Once you get the licence you can talk. But not on 151.475MHz.. The 2Meter ham band is the closest one to that frequency and it runs from 144 to 148MHz.

Thanks V-Man! I appreciate all of your help. As you can see, I need a true education. It looks like I am going to take the test locally in a few weeks (just got to study some more).

I have a few more questions.
1. How would rate the mobile unit I selected? Is it a good "basic" system?
2. With it being a MONO-band radio, what frequencies can I transmit on? Does it transmit in the 2 Meter range?

  I'll let you read up on ham...But I'll just say that I don't know of any CB'er getting calls from NASA to Please turn thier "Earth Moon Earth" bounce gear towards mars to help listen when Nasa lost contact with the lander.
  Yes that's right hams bounce signals off the moon back to earth, we can talk to the Shuttle, and the ISS, and have our own satelite in orbit( payed for by the hams from around the world) that any ham in the world can use.

Sounds like CB to me right..   

My comment (that I guess wasn't very clear) was that as far as price and the installation the CB and the Ham radio are very similar. I know there is a world of difference in range the Ham can cover (that is why I am ditching my CB).

 How about pickering, On to Rochester, ny with about 1/2 watt. .  vhf is "line of sight". what that means is if the antenna can "see" the repeater then you can transmit to it.  By see it I mean that there is not 100 feet of solid rock between the two, and that the signal that is received by the repeater antenna is strong enough for it to "hear" above the back ground "noise".  It's like talking to a person in a field as you walk away from them you have to do one or both of two things..IE talk louder( increase the power of the radio) or use something that Channels your voice towards the other person like a speakingcone( antenna with more "gain"), or both  IE Megaphone.

Great explanation. I can foresee the problems I might have at Johnson Valley. The nearest "community" is 20 miles away; most of the trails are in rock filled canyons which will prevent any true "line of sight" communications.

Thanks again for your help. 8)

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

  Check out "Ham Radio Outlet".

Here is a link to Ham Radio Outlet: http://www.hamradio.com/

[Jud]

These thigns look cool.

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

These thigns look cool.

Hopefully they sound cool.

FYI: I picked up my Kenwood Ham Radio from Scott at Rock Buggy Supply. Give him a call if you want one. 8)
http://www.rockbuggysupply.com/

[Jud]

Can Ham radios comunicate with CBs?

[Duffil]

Can Ham radios comunicate with CBs?

no, they operate on different frequencies.

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

I finally installed the radio this weekend. The reception is awesome.

[V-Man]

 Which one did you get?

Hows the licence coming?

Remember you need one...    
You can listen with out it thats cool..

 It'll help you understand radio procedures and operating habits.

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

Which one did you get?

Hows the licence coming?

Remember you need one...   
You can listen with out it thats cool..

 It'll help you understand radio procedures and operating habits.

Its a Kenwood like this: http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Communications/Amateur_Radio/Mobiles/TM-271A

I have done a little studying and taken the practice tests so I can probably pass. I listened for a while last night and was surprised how clear the signal is. Definitely superior and well worth the extra $ over a CB. Thanks again for your help.

[smokeater87]

Hey there i am about ready to take my test to get my license.My question for you guys is what would you recomend as a good starter radio for my rig.I will be getting my technician license.thanks for the help...

[Shoyrtt [OP]]

Hey there i am about ready to take my test to get my license.My question for you guys is what would you recomend as a good starter radio for my rig.I will be getting my technician license.thanks for the help...

I sure like my Kenwood

[smokeater87]

Alright thanks,i will look into that radio then in the future when i get ready to buy one.Like i said i am going in a couple weeks to take my test so maybe i can get my radios with my tax return,Getting a ham and a good cb for the truck

[Loosekannon]

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/mobile/v8000/default.aspx
I got this one with an antenna for 240 or so. Just need to take my test.  Theres a little mod you can do to it also to get the freqs Shoyrtt was asking about 

[V-Man]

I finally installed the radio this weekend. The reception is awesome.

  Hey Shoyrtt...I am sorry I did not say this last year after seeing the pic....That radio is going to get hot like that and I mean  blisters on the fingers hot.  You will want to put the radio in the truck so that the fan at the back of the radio can move alot of air over and thry the heatsink..If not you will damage the radio..

[83yotachad]

I tried and got a 65% my wife did it her 1st time and got an 98% my father in-law is bugging me and my wife to get ours.
BTW here is another site  http://www.arrl.org/

[gragg2001]

 Here's my Yaesu 857D installed in my 82 Toyota 4x4, with a dual band 2m-70cm roof mount antenna and 20m ham stick mounted on the tool box, this radio has contacted stations in Japan and back to the East coast, with a simple home made Dipole antenna hung in a tree about 20 feet up, a lot of fun when camping.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuYv5Dn_NeA 

[Oddmar]

Thought i'd chime in, bring this thread BTTT.

Studied overnight, about 5 hours, took the practice Tech tests at www.qrz.com, passed 5 in a row with 95% score. Went to a hamfest on Sunday, June 7th in Princeton, Illinois with Trunkz and passed my Tech exam, but failed my General exam. Oh well, more studying. The next test date in this area is next weekend, June 20-21 in Morton, Illinois, and i figure i can pass my General class exam then. Heck, i only studied it a little bit before taking it the first time, just trying to memorize the answers from a book i bought at the hamfest.

For anyone who wants to study for their Tech or General license, i found the pdf study guides at http://hamelmer.com/ to be extremely simple yet easy to memorize. The General test looks complicated but I find having the question and only the right answer presented in the general class study guide available at http://hamelmer.com/ to be easier to memorize than the test-style (question with all the answers, then the right one and a description of why it is correct). Better than the book i paid $20 for at the hamfest and the pdf is FREE!

The second format is too much to memorize, i can learn the theory and stuff later, right now all i need is the transmit privileges that come with the FCC license. Tech covers 2-meters (mostly), providing line-of-sight comms and usually up to 25-30 miles with repeater access. A general-class license will allow me much greater comms range. I should buy a 2-meter rig but money's tight right now, and being the techno-geek that i am, i can't see buying just a 2-meter rig for $130.ish when $290.ish will get me a Yaesu VX7R handheld, awesome portability and the ability to work 2-meter, plus 220mhz, 440mhz and 6-meter. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0777.html

The only radio i have right now is an Icom IC-720 HF all-band rig which won't work 2-meters. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/549

I could maybe transmit phone (voice) on a tiny part of 10 meters with a Tech license but no antenna right now anyway. Would homebrew one but without an antenna tuner i'm a bit leery to try. Cant transmit until my callsign is posted on the FCC database anyways.

Hope this post helps out any new hams out there, or anyone interested in ham radio. Being a newbie myself i would appreciate any help i can get.

[V-Man]

Thought i'd chime in, bring this thread BTTT.

Studied overnight, about 5 hours, took the practice Tech tests at www.qrz.com, passed 5 in a row with 95% score. Went to a hamfest on Sunday, June 7th in Princeton, Illinois with Trunkz and passed my Tech exam, but failed my General exam. Oh well, more studying. The next test date in this area is next weekend, June 20-21 in Morton, Illinois, and i figure i can pass my General class exam then. Heck, i only studied it a little bit before taking it the first time, just trying to memorize the answers from a book i bought at the hamfest.

   Oddmar if you don't get the theory down you pay for it later....As in "hey this is not fun when I don't know what's going on with my radio/antenna/signal...

[PhantomD aka Zach]

Glad to see I wont be the only one with a ham license on the trails... my two good wheelin buddies both got their licenses too.

I am currently running a Yaesu FT-7900 and  a venerable Larsen 2/70 antenna... currently on a mag mount but will eventually get a NMO mounted to something (not drilled into the cab)

-Zach
KD0IQB

[TACOMA382]

hey great thread i got my license in may of 2010 and found that it was alot of fun wheeling the trails and talking all over the valley. I've now gotten into talking to satellites and have receved over 25 qsl cards from all over the states including canada. having a ham rig in your truck can be a great life line when your phone don't work. alot of repeaters can be switched to and autopatch so you can dial a phone if your truck breaks down and no one is around. i wheeled for seven years before i got one and wish i would have done it along time ago. I am local an live here in fresno where i have been able to talk to fresno from swamp lake,coyote lake mirror and so on they work.