Heck, they don't even *need* a CB...
Duke City Hamfest - Aug 17-18 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Beowulf
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Heck, they don't even *need* a CB...
very true
alia176
SILVER Star
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
All I can say to Greg, is that he shouldn't be put off because *HE* has not had a good ham experience. There are many that have, including everyone who has had a ham radio more than a few months.
The group I travel with has converted almost completely to ham radio, and you know what? It works 100X better than CB in every circumstance. For me, it isn't about emergency communication, because unless you run HF, that is not that reliable. For me it is about seamless truck to truck communication over real distance. Bottom line, truck to truck communication improves dramatically over CB, even on common everyday trail runs-which I think you Greg, implied was your criteria for usefulness.
Cruise Moab will sort out their Ham radio issues. Base station or not, if every run ran primarily on Ham, communication would improve. The trail leader can be heard by the guy way back there at the back of the line. There is a strong likelyhood that you could call out from anywhere in the Moab area if needed. The repeater access thing is just a bonus, in my opinion. Also in my opinion, I don't see a strong need for a base station. That would mean someone would have to run the radios and not the trail. Just commonly agreed simplex frequencies would likely find someone in a position to assist, though still at a distance.
You can look at it this way, it isn't much more money than CB, yet it is an order of magnitude better (range/clarity) than even amped up CB. Fearless prediction: In ten years, no one will be running trails with CB radios.
The group I travel with has converted almost completely to ham radio, and you know what? It works 100X better than CB in every circumstance. For me, it isn't about emergency communication, because unless you run HF, that is not that reliable. For me it is about seamless truck to truck communication over real distance. Bottom line, truck to truck communication improves dramatically over CB, even on common everyday trail runs-which I think you Greg, implied was your criteria for usefulness.
Cruise Moab will sort out their Ham radio issues. Base station or not, if every run ran primarily on Ham, communication would improve. The trail leader can be heard by the guy way back there at the back of the line. There is a strong likelyhood that you could call out from anywhere in the Moab area if needed. The repeater access thing is just a bonus, in my opinion. Also in my opinion, I don't see a strong need for a base station. That would mean someone would have to run the radios and not the trail. Just commonly agreed simplex frequencies would likely find someone in a position to assist, though still at a distance.
You can look at it this way, it isn't much more money than CB, yet it is an order of magnitude better (range/clarity) than even amped up CB. Fearless prediction: In ten years, no one will be running trails with CB radios.
- Thread starter
- #25
I used the term base station and that term conjures up a meaning that wasn't intended. I'm thinking more of a "CM central" or a "Trail Boss frequency" or something like that.
As I pointed out in another thread, CM07 had weather problems on the last day. There were several runs that were canceled by the trail leader, virtually at the last minute. There were a lot of people that decided to "sleep-in" because it was cold and raining at 8AM so a lot of the runs had open spots.
One HDC member was turned away from running his trail on the last day and turned away a second time when he went to another meeting area because the trail leader thought his run was going to be full. It would have been great if he could check in with "CM central" and they could direct him to the meeting area for an alternate trail; one that had open slots. We had several open slots on Fins-n-Things and I am certain that Romer would have said OK if someone wanted to join that run. Maybe this has never happened before at CM and maybe it isn't a big deal, but I would have been very disappointed to schedule vacation, drive hundreds of miles, and then get turned away from my trail on the last day.
-Mike-
Hijack on...
It was definitely not the first time. We were turned away from a non-full run the day before - and the trail leader *knew* it was not full.
/Hijack
*deep sigh*
OK, for the last time. This is not about me. I didn't have a bad ham experience (?!?). I have no agenda other than to make it clear to people expressing a tentative interest in 4wheeling that a ham radio (or even a CB) is not part of the price of entrance. When new people have asked about radios on this forum the replies tend to lean toward "you need a radio, all the cool people have hams, but you can get by with a CB for now." The necessity for a radio shouldn't be either expressed or implied.
Uh, well... You don't need a radio, but it helps. Just like a winch.
You can get a little come-along or Hi-Lift jack and with a little sweat it will help, or you can move up to a bumper mounted (e.g.) electric winch.
I have a little come-along *and* and a Hi-Lift jack
I also have a Ham radio with which I can reach virtually anywhere in NM from virtually anywhere in NM. And it cost a lot less than a winch. And I can reach anybody on the run anytime if they have a ham radio too, no matter how far back they (or we) are.
So, if it's not about you why are you crying alone in the wilderness here - have you been trying to talk people out of buying winches too?
Oh I forgot. You said "OK, for the last time". Make that a rhetorical question.
P.S. Drew didn't say you had a bad ham experience, he said you haven't had a good one. There's a big difference.
You can get a little come-along or Hi-Lift jack and with a little sweat it will help, or you can move up to a bumper mounted (e.g.) electric winch.
I have a little come-along *and* and a Hi-Lift jack
I also have a Ham radio with which I can reach virtually anywhere in NM from virtually anywhere in NM. And it cost a lot less than a winch. And I can reach anybody on the run anytime if they have a ham radio too, no matter how far back they (or we) are.So, if it's not about you why are you crying alone in the wilderness here - have you been trying to talk people out of buying winches too?
Oh I forgot. You said "OK, for the last time". Make that a rhetorical question.
P.S. Drew didn't say you had a bad ham experience, he said you haven't had a good one. There's a big difference.
- Thread starter
- #29
The winch comparison is right on target.
If slimbuddah's question had been "I've been thinking about recovery gear. What do most of the HDC guys have? A snatch strap or a winch?
I recommend both. You can pick up a garage sale snatch strap for $10 or less and they usually have loops on both ends. It is likely that we will be using snatch straps in the 4-wheeling hobby for a few more years.
However, if you like to get out in the boonies alone or with others that don't have a winch then you should consider getting the knowledge to use a winch (it's easy to find how-to articles on the internet). The winch equipment is a little more expensive than a snatch strap and you won't find winches at garage sales, but it is high quality gear.
There will be a tail-gate at the WinchFest so you might get lucky and find some used gear. The problem you will have at this stage is that you won't know what is usable and what is just "old junk." There will also be vendors selling new equipment, but you will have the same issue since this is new to you.
I listened in on a "rescue" last Saturday. The guy was camping deep in the Gila next to a creek when they had a flash flood. (Willow Creek CG) He lost his tent and all of the camping gear. The guy had an electric winch on his truck. He didn't contact the Megalink repeater system and he didn't get someone that was monitoring to call the NM State Police. He pulled out his stuck vehicle using his electric winch. I think he was about 200-300 miles from me and I have no idea what he was saying because he didn't need to call for help. Since the creek was rising and they had severe flooding in that area, it could have been a bad situation without the ability to do a self-extraction. He was out of CB and cell phone range which doesn't take much here in NM.
*** and ***
We have 4 active HDC members that have recently installed electric winches in their rigs. I am aware of 3 others that are very interested... maybe more.
Some of the less active members won't make the move to a winch because of cost, because they don't venture out alone, and because they only go out 3 or 4 times a year and it would be hard to justify having both a snatch strap and an electric winch for that limited use.
If you come to the August meeting, be sure to check out my winch install. I have a dual battery system and in-cabin winch controls. The Warn M12000 has a remote control so it allows for a very stealth install.
That was fun.
So, exactly how does this translate into "you have to have an electric winch to start 4-wheeling with HDC?"
-Mike-
If slimbuddah's question had been "I've been thinking about recovery gear. What do most of the HDC guys have? A snatch strap or a winch?
I recommend both. You can pick up a garage sale snatch strap for $10 or less and they usually have loops on both ends. It is likely that we will be using snatch straps in the 4-wheeling hobby for a few more years.
However, if you like to get out in the boonies alone or with others that don't have a winch then you should consider getting the knowledge to use a winch (it's easy to find how-to articles on the internet). The winch equipment is a little more expensive than a snatch strap and you won't find winches at garage sales, but it is high quality gear.
There will be a tail-gate at the WinchFest so you might get lucky and find some used gear. The problem you will have at this stage is that you won't know what is usable and what is just "old junk." There will also be vendors selling new equipment, but you will have the same issue since this is new to you.
I listened in on a "rescue" last Saturday. The guy was camping deep in the Gila next to a creek when they had a flash flood. (Willow Creek CG) He lost his tent and all of the camping gear. The guy had an electric winch on his truck. He didn't contact the Megalink repeater system and he didn't get someone that was monitoring to call the NM State Police. He pulled out his stuck vehicle using his electric winch. I think he was about 200-300 miles from me and I have no idea what he was saying because he didn't need to call for help. Since the creek was rising and they had severe flooding in that area, it could have been a bad situation without the ability to do a self-extraction. He was out of CB and cell phone range which doesn't take much here in NM.
*** and ***
We have 4 active HDC members that have recently installed electric winches in their rigs. I am aware of 3 others that are very interested... maybe more.
Some of the less active members won't make the move to a winch because of cost, because they don't venture out alone, and because they only go out 3 or 4 times a year and it would be hard to justify having both a snatch strap and an electric winch for that limited use.
If you come to the August meeting, be sure to check out my winch install. I have a dual battery system and in-cabin winch controls. The Warn M12000 has a remote control so it allows for a very stealth install.
That was fun. So, exactly how does this translate into "you have to have an electric winch to start 4-wheeling with HDC?"
-Mike-
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*bigger sigh*
uncle.
uncle.
So, now I have to go out and get a new bumper, and winch, along with a new dual ham, and take the test. Geez partaking in the HDC is going to put a strain on my wallet.
PS, if my wife comes to the next meeting with me, make sure to let her know all this, so that its not just me wanting these things, but rather a requirement.
PS, if my wife comes to the next meeting with me, make sure to let her know all this, so that its not just me wanting these things, but rather a requirement.
- Thread starter
- #32
I'll introduce her to my wife, Connie. Trust me, your wife will get an ear full.
-Mike-
- Thread starter
- #33
You want to ride with me to the Hamfest errr I mean Winchfest? I would like to get there early if you don't mind.
-Mike-
I'll introduce her to my wife, Connie. Trust me, your wife will get an ear full.
You want to ride with me to the Hamfest errr I mean Wenchfest? I would like to get there early if you don't mind.
Gotta love this banter. Oh, Mike, fixed it for ya.
Da'Sheriff
alia176
SILVER Star
Have your wife meet my wife, she's more *vehicular crap requirement* friendly....
Hey, I tried looking at barnes & Noble, and at borders, but coudln't find a Technician study guide. Does anyone here have one they can lend me until next Saturday, or know where I can find one to buy in town? If I order online, I won't get it until next week, and won't have but a few days to study it.
- Thread starter
- #38
I have a book you can borrow. It is several years old but it should cover the material on the Technician Test. FYI, there are some good sites on the 'Net with study guides and practice tests. I found one site that worked very well with my phone. I could take a practice test about anywhere and any time.
Let me know if want to me to post the sites (I'll have to search here on 'Mud) and give me a call on my cell if you want the book.
-Mike-
Let me know if want to me to post the sites (I'll have to search here on 'Mud) and give me a call on my cell if you want the book.
-Mike-
I'll be calling you this am. I downloaded the test questions, and if the online tests are somewhere on mudd, i'll search for them. Thanks
- Thread starter
- #40
There are a lot of good threads over in the Electronic Toys forum here on 'Mud.
-Mike-
-Mike-
