Amateur Radio

[hutchman]

You could talk to me.........of course that would mean I would have to buy a radio.

As far as the General, it is more in depth, but the material was on the same subjects. For me anyway, it only took an extra week of study...

[Jerry]

I listen with my 2-meter radio in my truck all the time, but haven't used it much. Most of the ragchews I listen in on sound pretty inane, truth be told! Perhaps if I just had someone I know with whom I could talk....

Okay, here's my 2 cents worth....I agree, repeater confabs (ragchews to those sporting ARRL pocket protectors) on 2-meters must be kept short and by their nature are rather boring conversations. If like minded people were close enough to carry on an unorganized net via simplex it might be another story. But, with longer distances on HF we could start a nightly Backroads Net on 20 or 40 meters. Folks from all over the Pacific Northwest could join in as well as people from other states. As long as we limit the subject matter to exploring backroads and NOT radio frequency wave propagation and other such interesting subjects!!!

The reason I want my General License is to legally talk and test for emergency communication on HF frequencies from my truck. Anyone can call on an emergency on any frequency, but I want to tune my mobile antennas and make sure the radio works on those freqs. And maybe have some fun with the radio on a home base, too. Sorry, Hutch and others, but I have no desire to get an Extra Class License.

[hutchman]

Hey Jerry, no need to be sorry. It isn't for anyone..........however, I like to challenge myself sometimes and this fits for me. Somewhat academic and it also tickles my technical side.

I have been blessed by an ability (or curse.......) to take exams. They are easy for me, so I spend some time studying the exam questions and I go pass the test. Sadly to say though, that this method does not go very far in actually learning about Ham Radio.........just passing the exam. But since I have a lot of time on my hands..........

I also made my living developing exam materials for the nuclear industry, so I make a game out of being able to answer some of these questions by analysis of the question and answer selections. It's easier than you think and these questions are not very well written in some instances!

[RidgeRunner]

Hutch, you'll probably enjoy this.

A couple months ago I volunteered to help at the Mt. Hood Rally which occurred on Oct. 18, 2008.

Some of the questions in the volunteer application included ham radio so I included that but did not have any idea what I'd be doing there. I figured it would be a fun way to see the rally.

As it turns out, there seems to be a demand for ham operators to assist with the very important communications of the rally. They put me part way down the first stage (a six mile section of forest service road above Hood River) and I got a very good view of the very fast action. There was a total of 199 miles run for each contestant, so there was a lot of action in one day.

This was the first year motorcycles were included in the rally. Rally car and motorcycle racers came from all over the country with some very serious competitors including teams and a lot of $$$ involved.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I'll probably do it again if asked. There are several rallys in the northwest and B.C. Apparently pictures haven't been loaded at their website but here are a few and I'll link some more. A guy that was with me used my camera and shot some of the bikes but I'll link some of the cars.

They have an emergency crew with 4X4s that sweep each stage (there were three) after the cars have run to make sure someone isn't off in the brush, and they run fast. The track is still hot which means no one else is on it so they can really open their trucks up and have some fun. During the third run down the stage I was working two cars rolled after dark. Fortunately no one was hurt but the element of danger is certainly there. Hard to imagine running on single lane forest service roads at 80 to 100 mph. The faster cars average about 60 for the stage. The bikes were a little slower but still fast.

Mick

These were taken the night before the rally at the campground near Parkdale.






Here are a couple bikes running






There are more pix of both bikes and cars starting a ways down on this page at Adventure Rider

[hutchman]

That looks like a bunch of fun....do they need any more help for next year?

[RidgeRunner]

That looks like a bunch of fun....do they need any more help for next year?

Well, you're right, Hutch. It was fun and pretty exciting to be a part of too.

They always seem to need volunteers.

Here is a link for the Idaho Rally, which is just east of Boise in July I believe. Looks like the this one will have motos for the first time as did Mt. Hood.

Here's one for the Northern Nevada Rally which occurs in the Black Rock Desert. That happens to be one of my favorite places to explore. I've made three trips through there following the Applegate Trail.

I'll try to find out if there will be a Washington Rally in the south Olympics in March. Not sure about that right now.

Mick

[Jerry]

It's a new challenge for the winter of '08-'09

Winter is here and our backroad activity has slowed to a crawl allowing us time to study for our ham licenses! I know for a fact that just about anyone can pass the test if they spend only a few hours studying in their spare time. And two guys in particular who frequent this forum, yup, you know who you are, really need to get off their donkeys and get with it!

So over the winter I challenge all you guys and gals to pass the Technician Class ham license exam and I will pass the General Class license exam.

You can go to several web sites where all the questions are printed out including the exact multiple choice answers as shown on the test. I've gotta say I know nothing about electronics or band allocations, nor am I much interested in learning about it, so I will probably have to memorize most of the questions and answers. But I am going to pass the General test this winter one way or the other.

Check out the following links:
QRZ Ham Radio
eHam.net Ham Radio Practice Exams

I started studying the General Exam test book and at this point I am an utter failure. I REALLY need to do some memorizing because about half of that stuff is Greek to me. But, I am going to do it. Today is December 5th and sometime between now and May 1, 2009 I WILL PASS the General exam.

How about you? The Technician Class test is not difficult. Give it a shot!

[Binford]

I even have my radio in my truck all the time, yet I very rarely use it. I'll listen in on conversations, but I really never use it. I'm too shy, I guess.

It will, however, come in VERY handy for those backroads trips I'll be taking. For that alone, I agree with Jerry that everyone here should get their Technician's. It really isn't that hard with a little study.

[alanh]

I started studying the General Exam test book and at this point I am an utter failure. I REALLY need to do some memorizing because about half of that stuff is Greek to me. But, I am going to do it. Today is December 5th and sometime between now and May 1, 2009 I WILL PASS the General exam.

Jerry,

I won't claim to be an expert at all things radio, but if you have a question, just ask and I'll try to provide some background even if it takes a bit of research on my part - at least for the electrical parts of the exam. Regulatory stuff is mostly a matter of remembering the correct answer. I guess one could look up the rules and know why that is the correct answer, but that is a matter of taking the time to do it.

Alan

[Jerry]

Thank you, Alan, your offer is much appreciated. Don't be surprised to hear from me.