Amateur Radio

[Steve]

Mark Stephens posted a good article on installing a Yaesu FT-1500 Mobile Amateur Radio in his Jeep TJ.

Are any of you in the Northwest using amateur radio for your outdoor activities?

From what have read, I would like to eventually install one into my land Cruiser.

[Photog]

This info was started in a trip report, and I thought it would be more appropriate here.

There have been questions about radios that include HAM, 10m, CB and sidebands, all in one unit. I have such a radio; but I do not have an ameature license, so I do not venture off the CB channels. It also does not put out the power of a good HAM radio; so I have been told it would not work well for that anyway. The advertising says it is designed for foreign markets. More reasons to watch my P&Q's & stay on only CB channels.

A piece of info gathered from another forum says:
"While I'm on topic of frequency coverage, some misguided amateurs can't resist using their "opened up" radios on the CB frequencies. If you do this, you're jeopardizing you amateur license. If you have a need to use the CB frequencies, then buy a dedicated CB radio."

I guess that is why all the rigs I have seen with HAM radios, have separate CB radios, antennas, etc.

[moxta]

Are any of you in the Northwest using amateur radio for your outdoor activities?

Good News, I just recieved my Technician grade Amateur Radio License from the FCC. My new call sign is KE7PGE. I have not gotten a mobile radio for my jeep yet but I'm thinking of getting a dual bander, 2m/70cm.

I decided to get my ham radio license the last time I went to Gifford Pinoch National Forest. Driving near the mountain, I was surprised that I was nearly 60 miles from the nearest gas station or service back in Randle. I figured I would need beter comms than a CB so I got my license. Now I don't have to worry about not being able to contact anyone if I'm deep in the bush broken down.

[Jerry]

Congratulations!!!

[Steve]

I need to do the same thing.

Steve

[moxta]

I recomend the ARRL ham radio license manual. http://www.arrl.org/catalog/lm/ It makes
taking the test easy. There is a pool of questions in the back of the book. If you can answer them all, you will ace the test.

--cheers

[Jerry]

Like others on this forum, I too, have been thinking about getting my ham license. I have been putting it off for years. Don't know why, just have.

So let me challenge some of you guys and gals to studying for and passing the amateur radio operators license test over these winter months. Any takers?
Jerry

PS Congrats once again to Moxta for getting his license

[moxta]

My Uncle had wanted to get a license for years but did not want to learn morse code. I don't blame him, I wouldn't either. But good news, as of January 2007 you are no longer required to learn morse code for the technician or the general class licenses.

Good Luck to whoever takes on the challenge!

[RidgeRunner]

Congratulations, moxta, on passing your exam. Looks like we got our license about the same time as our Call Signs are very similar.

I recently went on my first trip with some of the good folks from 4wdtrips.net. A couple from Long Beach, CA organized the trip to follow the Applegate Trail across the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada to the California border. Since history is one of my biggest interests, and since I had been across parts of this trip before, I was looking forward to this trip.

We had three trucks and four people involved and they normally use 2 Meter radios on all of their trips so that prompted me to do some studying, pass the test and get a new radio so that’s what I did before the trip.

Using the new radio car to car on that trip was an amazing experience. First of all, these radios are much quieter than CB because they are FM. And the range is really impressive. At one time two of us were waiting a few miles south of Gerlach on Hwy 447 for the couple to return from Lovelock coming east across County Rd 7. I gave them a call, gave them our location and got a return call. Turns out they were 30 miles east of us with a 7,000’ mountain range between us! FM is line of sight but we could still hear each other. We weren’t using repeaters, just simplex (car to car). That and the clarity of the signal during the trip really sold me.

So, if everyone out there that has just been “thinking” about getting their license gets busy and does it, I’d venture to say you’ll be happy you did…I know I am.

Mick

[Jerry]

My challenge still holds. It might be a little early for New Year's resolutions, but I hope to study for and obtain my ham license this winter. So I challenge anyone who has been thinking about it to do the same.
Jerry