Your license allows you to use all HAM bands. HAM is not limited to single band VHF 144-148. There are HF, UHF, etc.. bands for HAM.
CB or HAM in your Rig?
- Thread starter back in the ussr
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Your license allows you to use all HAM bands. HAM is not limited to single band VHF 144-148. There are HF, UHF, etc.. bands for HAM.
willbgood
New member
JEMP1003
New member
That is a nice setup! I think I'll be borrowing :naughty: your idea when I install mine.
tornado_chase_hike
New member
There are three levels of ham radio license which give you increasing numbers of band privileges as you move up. However, the lowest, Technician class, gives you everything above 50 MHz (all of the VHF and UHF). It also now gives a small part of just one HF band for single side band voice on 10 meters.
This is a great chart for just the Technician class: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Tech Band Chart/Tech Band Chart.pdf
I'd encourage anybody wanting to learn more to look through arrl.org for information about licensing, rules, where to get testing, etc.
This is a great chart for just the Technician class: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Tech Band Chart/Tech Band Chart.pdf
I'd encourage anybody wanting to learn more to look through arrl.org for information about licensing, rules, where to get testing, etc.
ExploreMore4Runner
New member
Also have to jump on the Baofeng wagon. Great for use with your group of friends (b/c everyone can afford $30). I also have the good ole basic CB, but really I only hook up the antenna on a few occasions a year.
Dawg4Runner
New member
Only an Amateur Extra License will allow you to use ALL Ham bands.
LOL.... actually... true.... had my lic too long....
I stand corrected....
But in his case.... his lic does allow him to use VHF and UHF.... which is in the discussion....
Orbital Debris
New member
I have Ham only in my rig. UHF/VHF - a Kenwood D710 and V71A for APRS (position reporting and tracking) and voice.
Ham will get you much further than CB.
I am going to be the obligatory ham and point out that while you CAN transmit on FRS, GMRS, MURS, etc with a ham radio, it is not LEGAL. Part of the ham test teaches you what is legal.
What you do in an emergency is a broader judgment of course.
Ham will get you much further than CB.
I am going to be the obligatory ham and point out that while you CAN transmit on FRS, GMRS, MURS, etc with a ham radio, it is not LEGAL. Part of the ham test teaches you what is legal.
What you do in an emergency is a broader judgment of course.
Fyi- Be advised that a FCC tech license does not allow access to "all" HAM radio bands. Thats why there are degrees of licenses and as you move up you are then allowed more frequency usage. VHF/UHF repeater usage is the easiest license to acquire. Way back when I did this all the way to "Extra" Class we had to also pass a 20 WPM morse code test as well as the math side. And on the Advanced class test (the one before Extra Class) the math for me was just as tuff as a Radio Telephone General Class ticket (which I have as well). All that said, I just didn't want someone to get the wrong impression that you can go pass a simple test and run any HAM frequency (or any other) you feel like. You do not want to meet an FCC cop for that reason... Learn the rules, pass the test, do it right and theres no issues. ; ) de AA5ZX.
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I picked up a cheap little HT off Amazon (Baofeng GT-3TP, $45 when I picked it up) I was interested to see how well it would connect to some repeaters in one of the areas I frequent where I'm off on dirt roads that no else might come by on all day. I'm thinking it would be a better solution for a chance at possible emergency contact than a CB. Definitely peaked my interested enough to start studying and take the test. Anyone else wanna share their setup, external antenna recommendations?
KidVermicious
New member
CB, but I'm studying for my tech class license.
Saxainpdx
New member
Just ordered a Baofeng UV-5X3 tri-band: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J2W4JUI
And the Nagoya NA-320A Triband antenna for it: https://www.amazon.com/Nagoya-NA-320A-2M-1-25M-70CM-144-220-440Mhz-BaoFeng
Will be looking into a mobile mount also, and in the next year prob spending 500+ on a nice Yaesu mobile.
The Baofeng is cheap(I've heard they get excess interferrence/noise) but it should be good enough for emergencies and to play around with..
I've been licensed for over 3 years but haven't made my first contact yet.. My old iCom radio isn't really working(prob antenna) so haven't been able to talk.
It is nice seeing other people's setups. Not much room in my 2016 4runner to put anything, so prob will have to get creative for mounting...
And the Nagoya NA-320A Triband antenna for it: https://www.amazon.com/Nagoya-NA-320A-2M-1-25M-70CM-144-220-440Mhz-BaoFeng
Will be looking into a mobile mount also, and in the next year prob spending 500+ on a nice Yaesu mobile.
The Baofeng is cheap(I've heard they get excess interferrence/noise) but it should be good enough for emergencies and to play around with..
I've been licensed for over 3 years but haven't made my first contact yet.. My old iCom radio isn't really working(prob antenna) so haven't been able to talk.
It is nice seeing other people's setups. Not much room in my 2016 4runner to put anything, so prob will have to get creative for mounting...
MeefZah
New member
There's definitely not much room.
I initially had ordered a full size 2M mobile, but there was no decent place to mount it. The best I could come up with was a dash top mount, but I really didn't want to do that.
I'm not sure there is a 2M mobile with a remote head, so as near as I could come up with, a lower end dual band was the next best option.
I ended up returning the full size 2M and getting a remote head dual band. The radio can mount under the seat and the head can mount to the console, windshield, dash pockets, etc. Mine is on a RAM mount that adjusts nicely for viewing angle and / or to clear the passenger's knees and the transfer case shifter as needed.
I never use the 440 mhz portion of it, only the 2m. It actually works out really well because you can set both bands to VHF and scan different user groups that way. In my area, public safety is still on VHF, so I have one side of the radio set to public safety and the other to Ham.
That'd be my suggestion if you are looking for something in the 2M range... mine is an Icom IC-2730a, but there are several good options in the sub-$300 range.
I've been a ham operator for going on 20 years now but really only have a solid 3-4 years as an active member (mostly in the beginning). Now I just use it for convoy work and occasionally IRLP or playing around on http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ to locate numbers stations. I avoid most repeaters like the plague here in the DFW area due to the prevailing bad attitudes I've encountered.
One thing to remember is that the ham bands are full of the same dip shits as you'd find on the internet, so don't be discouraged by the 'holier than thou' attitude you'll find on a lot of the repeaters in your area.
Sure, there are solid folks who operate within the community and are willing to help (guys who are in ARES and RACES are top notch), but far more often than not, you'll get some old fart who doesn't like all this 'new fangled change in the world' and doesn't want someone like you stomping on his hobby.
One thing to remember is that the ham bands are full of the same dip shits as you'd find on the internet, so don't be discouraged by the 'holier than thou' attitude you'll find on a lot of the repeaters in your area.
Sure, there are solid folks who operate within the community and are willing to help (guys who are in ARES and RACES are top notch), but far more often than not, you'll get some old fart who doesn't like all this 'new fangled change in the world' and doesn't want someone like you stomping on his hobby.
I've found the biggest d-bags are ther ARES and RACES guys, from your description of dip shits. This is in my area at least.
Yeah.. everything is regional I guess. I know several guys who put themselves at risk every year to report on the severe weather here (I usually have one radio tuned to NOAA and another tuned to the active ARES repeater during the event in case I lose power and can't get the local weather on the TV).
They seem to genuinely care about their community and bringing 'ground truth' as it were to what you hear on the weather reports. They can get a little uppity about their role in all that sometimes (15 minutes of fame), but I tend to look past that based on what they do for us. I have no desire to go chase a tornado at night, or be out in the cantaloupe sized hail we had here back in April, but I'm glad there are people out there who do.
