Ham & off road

[DannyLlama]

First and foremost, congrats [MENTION=75328]DannyLlama[/MENTION] passing your test!

I too am studying for the technician license, hope to take & pass it next month.

Thank you!! Good luck, just take a ton of practice exams and like I said before, I highly recommend the Gordon West book.

Congrats on passing the test and welcome to the amateur radio world!

146.460 is a great frequency to use while off-road here in AZ. All of the clubs in AZ and all the Toyota guys are running 146.460 while off-road. If I remember correctly, you are up around Sedona, in which case you need to get the couple of public Mingus Mountain repeaters programmed into your radio. Lots of people monitor those machines and you can get all the down to Phoenix and way north of Flagstaff on them.

Thank you thank you and I live in California.
I have visited Sedona a few times, my buddy lives in Prescott so I go out there once a year .

I have a problem with radios...

Thats funny and one thing I don't understand, why people collect so many radios. Maybe I will as time passes.

Danny,

Congratulations on the license!:thumb: I'm running a Yaesu FTM-350 AR with an FGPS-1 for APRS. Lets the wife know were I am when I head out to the desert. Also, for 35 bucks I picked up a cheapo Baofeng UV-82 from Amazon. It works great and for the price, you can't beat it. It's nice to have with you if you separate from the group on a hike or sitting around by the campfire while a group takes off for a night run.

146.460 here for trail comms also. Seems to be a pretty common frequency for Toyota folks. Last month when I was in Mojave, we came across a group of FJ's on the same frequency. It's nice to know its a well used frequency in case you need help or just trail info.

73

Hi buddy, I haven't seen too many updates on your thread?!
Thanks for the info and I really dig your set up.. .What did it all cost you and who did your install?

Just found this thread and learned that I need to spend more money.

It's terrible, I know :drama:

 

[Orbital Debris]

Google Maps APRS

Remember that to be on APRS.fi , the signal needs to be able to hit an I-gate which outputs the RF signal to the internet.

FlyinHawaiian sort of answered your question to me. Running the V71A gives me two more channels to monitor. I operate with a group that tracks stratospheric research balloons. We use APRS to track the balloons and the recovery team. Sometimes we use a repeater and split the tracking team to two different simplex channels. Having the extra channels keeps me from having to flip the radio settings during driving.

 

[TravelWest01]

Ham Radio Outlet has deal now for Yaseu 8800 for $369, which is made possible by $80 rebate. Full function dual band radio at bargain price....

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Thats funny and one thing I don't understand, why people collect so many radios. Maybe I will as time passes.

Yep, as time passes, you'll want the latest, coolest features in a radio, so you'll buy it and the older radio gets put on a shelf, "to be used as a backup radio"!

Rinse, repeat, year after year, and you'll end up with more radios than you'll ever need! I've been a ham since '90, and was into cb's when I was a kid in the 70's! Hell, I still have 4 radios from when I was about 8 years old and they still work!

In fact, every one of my radios still work today, with the exception of an old Sears Roadtalker 40 cb! Of course, I can't find any battery packs for most of the ht's, so my suggestion to everyone is, if you buy a hand held radio, make sure you get a AA battery case for it! In 5 or 6 years from now, when you can't find a replacement pack and the stock battery no longer holds a charge, you will be happy you got the AA case!

 

[USKTog]

I recently passed my Technician test and am waiting for call sign.
For those who are wanting to do it, I recommend 3 things:

• Buy the Gordon West book
• download ham prep app on your phone and take the tets over and over
• Take online ham exams over and over and over

Back to topic.. Today I purchased an older Wouxun KG-UV6D just get started with transmitting over the air waves. It's a lower end Chinese manufacture.
I did that because I will spend more money when I'm ready to install a radio in my truck.

With that said, what Frequencies are of most importance for Off road use?
I don't enough to know if I will pick up any repeaters out in the desert. In the mountain I can see that more of a possibility due to the waves traveling down.

From the quick search that I have done, the Yaesu FT-857D seems to be a do it all type of radio, it is a tri-band radio so that helps with Frequency options. I believe it has HF/VHF AND UHF.

What bands/frequencies and radios have ya'll found successful.

73

Congrats on passing the Technician exam.

My suggestion would be to program in as many of the 2m & 70cm frequencies for areas you roam using Repeater Book info:

2m for CALI

70cm for CALI

Once you've got the frequencies programmed, start monitoring as you're out and about running errands or out on the trail. Eventually you will find the most commonly used channels.

 

[rochmpr]

Repeater Book also has an App (Apple & Android) which will give you repeaters located within your vicinity and for the various frequencies.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Repeater Book also has an App (Apple & Android) which will give you repeaters located within your vicinity and for the various frequencies.

I have it on my android. It's an excellent app, but chews up battery like a muther if you leave it active.

 

[nitrag]

Good news for Hams who run Android!

I just stumbled across this yesterday:
Mobilinkd | Highly mobile packet radio

Basically it's an Arduino TNC modem (APRS) that connects bluetooth to your phone (android only). Your phone provides the GPS + APRSDroid app and tells the Mobilinkd unit (via Bluetooth) to transmit your GPS coordinates over your Ham.

For me, I'm going to be wheeling in southern CO this summer and want to provide my location "back home" while I'm off the cellular grid. APRSDroid will cover me while I'm on-grid but I wanted off-grid functionality. Because there is a bit distance to the i-Gate's I'll need to make a special cable for my Icom-2100H mobile rig (versus using a Baofeng handheld), but overall cost is less than $100 and you don't have to pay monthly fees (stupid satellite location tracking!).

Thoughts?

 

[DannyLlama]

^ Nice find bud! Looking forward to when it comes enclosed and not as an exposed board. And does it work with car HAM radios or just hand held?

 

[nitrag]

^ Nice find bud! Looking forward to when it comes enclosed and not as an exposed board. And does it work with car HAM radios or just hand held?

They have a store where you can purchase assembled

Battery-Powered Bluetooth KISS TNC | Mobilinkd

They supply cables to work with, what seems like, most radios. I'm going to have to make a special cable (not even $5) for my rig though. So if you can wire it, it will work with *most* radios I would think.

 

[JeremyB]

Good news for Hams who run Android!

I just stumbled across this yesterday:
Mobilinkd | Highly mobile packet radio

Nice. I've got an old TinyTrak3 and serial GPS that I never assembled. hwell:
A co-worker just got his license and showed me APRSdroid. I've been using it phone-only. Pretty sweet!
Using it off-grid still involves 3 items, but only 1 cable. TNC + GPS requires 3 items, 2 wires with a splitter to power - which is a lot more crap to deal with IMO. Either way is way cheaper than a radio with built in APRS!

I'm going to try the phone-only method for real time tracking of road cycling rides. Haven't found anything that does a good job of it yet.

 

[mcarey86]

What's the point of getting your call sign, or passing the ham test?

I briefly got interested radios when I read something about picking up satellites, but it got over my head real fast.

 

[el_kab0ng]

I've had my tech license for almost 15 years now and rarely use my gear these days. It's mostly due to the amount of close minded folks found on some of the DFW area repeaters, so I mostly use my vehicle mounted Yaesu 8800r for 1:1 comms when doing convoy or when tracking ARES/RACES nets during storm chasing season. When on foot, I have a pair of VX-5Rs which I use with the cross band repeat functions of the 8800r.

For those of you who REALLY want to geek out, check out IRLP. Licensed operators can install an app which allows you to use the innernets for communicating with any IRLP supported repeater. It's a good way to talk to folks overseas without needing a General license.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

What's the point of getting your call sign, or passing the ham test?

I briefly got interested radios when I read something about picking up satellites, but it got over my head real fast.

The point is for communications! If you like playing on a cb and want to do more with radios, then getting your license is the next step.

For sat work, I've done quite a bit back in the day, its fun and interesting, but really not too different than using a repeater that's located in space and moves out of range pretty quickly. It also requires different types of equipment, at the very least, a hand-held beam-type of antenna to follow the sat across the sky while you're talking/listening.

I'd suggest to find someone in your area that's already a ham radio operator and ask him to show you what ham radio's all about. Its much easier to have someone sit down with you and show you what it does, rather than typing long, boring conversations about bands and data and different modes and stuff!

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I've had my tech license for almost 15 years now and rarely use my gear these days. It's mostly due to the amount of close minded folks found on some of the DFW area repeaters, so I mostly use my vehicle mounted Yaesu 8800r for 1:1 comms when doing convoy or when tracking ARES/RACES nets during storm chasing season. When on foot, I have a pair of VX-5Rs which I use with the cross band repeat functions of the 8800r.

For those of you who REALLY want to geek out, check out IRLP. Licensed operators can install an app which allows you to use the innernets for communicating with any IRLP supported repeater. It's a good way to talk to folks overseas without needing a General license.

It can definitely be a turn-off when dipshits get on the radio and act like they're the kings of the repeater! DFW sounds like how L.A. is, and I've had the same feeling when I lived there!

Try going for your general, HF folks, for the most part, are so much more friendly and they're all interested in talking just to have fun, not to annoy the noobs or play radio-nazi extraordinaire!

I've had my license since '91 and have played a lot with IRLP a while back, its fun but again, you can be dealing with the repeater nazi's if you dial into one that's governed by idiots! I can still remember making contact from my handheld while in Socal to an expedition in the south pole once! Think that was the best contact on IRLP I ever had!!!

Too bad, I too don't get on the radio much any more too. Maybe I'll get of my butt this spring and finally get my HF antenna up...

 

[USKTog]

For what it's worth, utilize the link below, to gather any info on 2m/70cm repeaters (what your Technician class license authorizes) wherever you plan to be. If you go on to get your General HAM license, you can then upgrade radio to support all the bands.

Repeater Book

Hope this helps.

 

[MTN4RNR]

I can't wait to pass my Tech license and join the club. Test is set for 2/20! Woo Hoo!

 

[simonsay]

Past the tech exam as well a couple of weeks ago, still waiting on call sign. Purchased a Baofeng GT-3TP 8watt handheld for $60 new on amazon which seems to be all I need right now. After I pass the general I'll think about getting something with a little more power. Was looking at the YAESU FT-857D which seems like the first and last I'll need to buy for a long time.

 

[el_kab0ng]

Be aware that the FT-857D won't do cross band repeat functions. If going mobile and using your FT as an amplifier for your handheld, you might want to look at something like the FT-8800R instead. This feature comes in handy when you need to boost the signal from your handheld while on trails and away from your vehicle.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Past the tech exam as well a couple of weeks ago, still waiting on call sign. Purchased a Baofeng GT-3TP 8watt handheld for $60 new on amazon which seems to be all I need right now. After I pass the general I'll think about getting something with a little more power. Was looking at the YAESU FT-857D which seems like the first and last I'll need to buy for a long time.

Callsigns should take around 7 days for them to be issued. Whether the test site has sent them in immediately, or waited for other test exam sessions to finish before mailing is the question.

You could check the database for your callsign though, here's just one of a billion links:

Daily FCC Log | QRZ Forums

Congrats on passing the license!