Any other licensed Amateur radio operators around? If so what is your call sign and I will keep an ear out for you on the radio. I have both 2m and 70cm in my rig.
For those that are not, it is really easy to get a license! A little bit of studying and a quick 25 answer multiple guess test and you are in. The easiest part of all is that you see all the questions before you take the test so it is really a breeze.
I became really impressed with HAM while at Cruise Moab this year, we were running Fins and Things while another group was on Steel Bender, the other group had mechanical problems and called our trail leader for advice on a repair. The call was crystal clear and may miles away, cell phones did not work and with a CB you would be lucky to communicate to other people on the same trail. A couple of weeks ago I was on the back side of Kelly flats above Rustic and my cell phone had no signal but on 2 meters I was able to reach the Ft Collins repeater and talk with other operators, it is good to know that in an emergency you have the option to make a call.
I heard someone explaining HAM in this way and it made sense to me… A CB is like a stock J%*p but Ham is like a Land Cruiser with 35’s and lockers.
So if you are not licensed get licensed, it’s easy and it may save you butt on the trail someday!
Book
Barnes*&*Noble.com - Books: Technician Class License Manual, by American Radio Relay League, Paperback, 2nd ed
Practice tests online
http://www.qrz.com/ham/
Then find a local test – it costs $14 and most of them allow walk ins – looks like there is one in Loveland in a few days...
ARRLWeb: Exam Session Search
Will
W0WIL
For those that are not, it is really easy to get a license! A little bit of studying and a quick 25 answer multiple guess test and you are in. The easiest part of all is that you see all the questions before you take the test so it is really a breeze.
I became really impressed with HAM while at Cruise Moab this year, we were running Fins and Things while another group was on Steel Bender, the other group had mechanical problems and called our trail leader for advice on a repair. The call was crystal clear and may miles away, cell phones did not work and with a CB you would be lucky to communicate to other people on the same trail. A couple of weeks ago I was on the back side of Kelly flats above Rustic and my cell phone had no signal but on 2 meters I was able to reach the Ft Collins repeater and talk with other operators, it is good to know that in an emergency you have the option to make a call.
I heard someone explaining HAM in this way and it made sense to me… A CB is like a stock J%*p but Ham is like a Land Cruiser with 35’s and lockers.
So if you are not licensed get licensed, it’s easy and it may save you butt on the trail someday!
Book
Barnes*&*Noble.com - Books: Technician Class License Manual, by American Radio Relay League, Paperback, 2nd ed
Practice tests online
http://www.qrz.com/ham/
Then find a local test – it costs $14 and most of them allow walk ins – looks like there is one in Loveland in a few days...
ARRLWeb: Exam Session Search
Will
W0WIL