Any HAM radio guys out there?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

A

armytaco

Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Threads
21
Messages
296
Location
Macon, GA
Just wondering if any you guys have HAM radios in your trucks? I am studying to get my Technician license. I will be installing a 2m radio in the FJ for better range and clarity. I think it would be a good mod for people like us that get spread out over hilly and dense terrain. I think CB's are limited to like 4 or 5 watts of power where as these 2m radios usually have 40-50watt of power. Combine that with being able to use repeaters and you have miles and miles of range.

Just figured I would throw it out there and maybe peak some interest. Im gonna need some people to talk to.:hhmm:

You can get decent 2m radios for under $200. Many people say once you get your 2m radio you wont ever want to use a cb again.

The model I am looking at is a Yaseu 7800. It has a detachable face plate so you can mount the actual radio somewhere like under your seat and only have the small face plate to mount.

Come on people get with it!!:bounce2:
 
I think Rallytaco is a HAM guy but he's too scared to come out and play with us on the forum. Maybe, just maybe he will see this meager attempt to call him out from under a rock to talk about it. :flipoff2:
 
Get a radio people... lets play.

Is RallyTaco = Robert? I noticed he had one... I guess me and him will be the only ones talking with clarity, power, and range.:flipoff2:
 
armytaco said:
Get a radio people... lets play.

Is RallyTaco = Robert? I noticed he had one... I guess me and him will be the only ones talking with clarity, power, and range.:flipoff2:
Click to expand...

Yep, he's scared. :flipoff2: Robert, oh Robert, where are you???? echo, echo echo....
 
I have been studying the book they recommended for a few months and am almost ready. I am hoping to have my liscence in the spring time. However, I think I am going to go with a dual hand held radio as a first one even though the power output will be less.

armytaco said:
Just wondering if any you guys have HAM radios in your trucks? I am studying to get my Technician license. I will be installing a 2m radio in the FJ for better range and clarity. I think it would be a good mod for people like us that get spread out over hilly and dense terrain. I think CB's are limited to like 4 or 5 watts of power where as these 2m radios usually have 40-50watt of power. Combine that with being able to use repeaters and you have miles and miles of range.

Just figured I would throw it out there and maybe peak some interest. Im gonna need some people to talk to.:hhmm:

You can get decent 2m radios for under $200. Many people say once you get your 2m radio you wont ever want to use a cb again.

The model I am looking at is a Yaseu 7800. It has a detachable face plate so you can mount the actual radio somewhere like under your seat and only have the small face plate to mount.

Come on people get with it!!:bounce2:
Click to expand...
 
Everything I have researched say do not get a hand held as a first radio! It is said that it really limits the ability of using the power and whatnot you have at hand. So in reality your not gaining all you can over a CB. I might get a handheld after I get my in rig one but it wont be my first. You know you can get just a 2m for fairly decent price. I am just wanting to get something extra so I do not have to do it again. Keep that in mind.
 
Oh where to begin ? Contrary to what Ted said, I'm not afraid to come on the forum and play. I just try to have a life OFF the forum.

I agree with everything Army Taco has said. The increased range of ham radio compared to CB is like night and day. As some of you may remember, on our recent trip to Tellico, I spent a great deal of time on trail #4. During some of the "down time" I had an chance to play with the 2 meter ham radio. While I could not reach the other Georgia Cruiser group on the CB, the 2 meter radio was bouncing signals off a repeater in Blairsville Ga! From Trail #4!!

For those of you that don't know what a repeater is, it is just what the name implies. Certain frequencies (think CB channels) are reserved for repeaters. You set your radio to the repeater's transmit frequency to listen. When you key your mic, your radio automatically switches to the repeater input frequency. If you are in range and the repeater "hears" you, your signal is amplified and rebroadcast on the repeaters transmit frequency. Usually at a much higher power (100w to 200w) from a very tall antenna placed up high (think mountain top). The repeater has a much larger area of coverage than an individual radio.

There is an extensive network of repeaters that are owned and operated by local ham radio clubs. (like us, but without the trucks). Most repeaters are open for any Ham to use. A complete database of repeaters, locations, and frequencies can be found on the internet. Or in hard copy publications Just do your research before you leave home.

Yaesu are good radios. I have two. The mobile in the Taco is an Ft3000M. It's an older model that is no longer made, but it works great. I have actually been able to reach repeaters that hams parked right next to me could not reach. Of course it does have a max output of 75 w. And the antenna is important. Don't go cheap. You can get a good quality antenna for $25 to $35. And you can NOT use you CB antenna. It has to do with matching the antenna length to a multiple of the transmission wave length.

My other Yaesu is a VX-5 hand held. And I agree with everything Army Taco said about hand helds. You have much less power and therefore much less range. You will be able to hear a repeater long before you can transmit to it. A hand held will work fine in a group of trucks going up the highway or down the trail because you will be in simplex mode (talking directly on one frequency like CB -- not through a repeater). But a hand held will put you at a disadvantage when trying to reach the group on the other side of the mountain. Another concern for a hand held is battery life. The more you talk, the shorter your battery life. It will be good for a few hours, but with heavy use you will be lucky if it lasts 4 to 6 hours. A mobile radio hard wired to your truck's 12v system does not have this problem.

Well, that's about all for now.

Robert
 
Rally Taco said:
Oh where to begin ? Contrary to what Ted said, I'm not afraid to come on the forum and play. I just try to have a life OFF the forum.
Robert
Click to expand...

Ted, you learn from him!...lol :flipoff2:
 
FYI -
If anyone is interested, I will be at the trail ride/cleanup this weekend. If anyone wants a demo of a 2 meter ham radio I'll have it in the truck.

Robert
 
You going to be on the April NC ride? I am hoping to have mine by then. Could use a crash course/ demo!!!
 
The plan now is to be at the March....uh....early April event in NC. I'll have to check the calendar and make sure nothing else is scheduled that weekend.

After you get your license and get your radio installed, here is a web page you may find helpful.

Amateur Radio Repeater database - Updated daily

It's a database of repeater frequencies, by location. When we get to NC, we'll have to find one nearby that we can reach.

Robert
 
So what ll do I need? I am about to place an order for:

Yaesu 7800 with detachable face kit
Diamond NR770HB antenna
Duplexer?
Coax cable?

What am I missing?
 
Well I order my radio, antenna, and cable. I am drilling through the front bumper shelf and mounting the antenna there. Now just got to take the test and pass it before the NC ride!!
 
armytaco said:
Well I order my radio, antenna, and cable. I am drilling through the front bumper shelf and mounting the antenna there. Now just got to take the test and pass it before the NC ride!!
Click to expand...


Just be sure the antenna mounting bracket is well grounded. I talked about this in another thread about CB radios.

Good luck with the test.
 
THey are having a test in ATL (alpharetta) on 3/14 at 10am. they accept walk-ins till 11am. My plan is to take the test then.

armytaco said:
Well I order my radio, antenna, and cable. I am drilling through the front bumper shelf and mounting the antenna there. Now just got to take the test and pass it before the NC ride!!
Click to expand...
 
They have test all over the place. It is very common for any decent size town to have a HAM Club that gives test. I got 2 lined up in case I bomb the first one.
 
armytaco said:
They have test all over the place. It is very common for any decent size town to have a HAM Club that gives test. I got 2 lined up in case I bomb the first one.
Click to expand...

HAM this! As much as I hate to admit it you're now officially part of our madness. welcome aboard despite me not voting for you tonight. :flipoff2:
 
armytaco said:
Well I order my radio, antenna, and cable. I am drilling through the front bumper shelf and mounting the antenna there. Now just got to take the test and pass it before the NC ride!!
Click to expand...

Well, how did the antenna mounting work? Sorry I couldn't talk longer last night. I was at some insane 4WD club meeting, and my food was getting cold. If you have any more questions, feel free to call.

I expect that neither one of you will have any trouble with the test. It's 35 questions, randomly selected to represent all the different groups of questions. So, no more than 3 or 4 from any one group. Just study the book. The questions will appear EXACTLY as they do in the book. They may re-arrange the order of the multiple choice answers, but they won't change.

I don't remember exactly what a passing grade is, but I think it's 75% or 80%. That means you can miss 7 or 8 questions out of 35 and still pass. Here is a link to on-line practice tests that you may find helpful.

QRZ.COM QRZ Ham Radio Practice Tests
 
Well now I havent even got the radio in yet. I was just preplanning for when it gets heres.:D I will call if I need anymore questions answered.


Ted...:flipoff2:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom