ham radio ??

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decavo

10 Year 15 Year
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Jul 18, 2006
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hillbilly desert rat
I am thinking of putting a ham radio in my truck .. could some one piont me to a good forum .. Also what do i need to be able to reach out for help if i get stranded on one of my rides into the new mexico outback . I have a cb but that will not reach out far enough when I am out there .

There is no cell service so that is useless

.. Is a 2 meter radio a solution for piece of mind ?Throw a dollar amount in there if you would ..

thanks for the insight and help

decavo
 
Ham radio is used for more than amusement in our world today..

Decavo Before you go spending your hard earned $$ on ham gear.
Check the local Ham radio clubs out and find out if they have repaeters setup to cover the areas you are likely to explore.
These systems work on 2m, 70cm, and 6m. some being linked to geather to gain more distance etc.
Once you find this info out you will be in a better position to make the up your mind.....
VE3UOD
 
Repeaters are awesome. Using a 2m repeater in Placerville, CA, I've been able to talk to people from Berkeley, CA to Rubicon Springs. In fact that repeater covers almost the whole trail. From Loon to almost the staging area in Tahoma.


Like 1990 LJ78 said, check to see if there's converage in your area.
2m is far superior to CB and the cost of a low end unit, plus antenna is not much more than a nice CB radio with it's antenna.

Regards

Alvaro
 
1990 LJ78 said:
... find out if they have repaeters setup to cover the areas you are likely to explore.
Click to expand...

Decavo,
The state of New Mexico has virtually 100% repeater coverage on the 2m & 70cm bands. Read up on the New Mexico Mega-Link project. No guarantee that you will never be out of range or in a canyon but the coverage was designed to make repeater access from most of the state.

-B-
 
B-Do you have your call sign yet? I know you were studying last time we talked.
 
Hi Andrew!

I took the test about 3 weeks ago and got my call sign last week. Funny thing is that Ron was checking the ULS database for another reason and saw my name about 5 minutes after I searched and found they had entered it. He sent me a PM saying "Congrats" ... it was spooky... like he had ESP or something!

He and I talked about an hour on Sunday, discussing radios, antennas, mounts, etc. I took copius notes and am still processing the information. I have made no decisions on anything at this time. (Suggestions are welcome!!!)

-B-
KE5KOE :cheers:
 
Well, major congrats are in order. That's great news. Please post up what you decide to do. I'll be upgrading before Cruise Moab next year, and I hope to be able to chat with you and others from the Maze, assuming we can still hit the Moab valley repeater system.

I would really like to check out the NM repeater system in person. I have heard it's excellent.

PS-when is Cruiserdan taking his test?
 
Cruiserdrew said:
PS-when is Cruiserdan taking his test?
Click to expand...

Dunno. I'll start working on him if I ever see him again. He hasn't shown his face at a local club meeting since he's gotten the 'Mud big head. :grinpimp:

-B-
 
I would get a nice 50 or 60 watt mobile unit. Install a nice 5/8 wave antenna while your at it. Then purchase the PC software for your radio and you will be able to enter tons of frequencies with intuitive descriptors with all the offsets and Pl's.

2 meters has saved my life and the lives of others.

Good luck

JB
 
Andy,

Are you thinking about a 2m/70cm radio?
I've been looking at a couple of Kenwood and Icoms that look really nice.

Regards

Alvaro
 
I run a Kenwood D700. It is a dual band radio. 2 m and 70 Cm. It will also do crossband repeat, has a bult in TNC and will do APRS. That is I connect my GPS to the radio and the radio will transmit my speed, altitude, a short message and my GPS position. My wife or anyone with an Internet connection is able to locate me from the Internet. She sees my vehicle, speed, message and elevation and a map of where I am.

Check out findu.com

Have fun.

Get lost

JB
 
FJ40_owner said:
I run a Kenwood D700. It is a dual band radio. 2 m and 70 Cm. It will also do crossband repeat, has a bult in TNC and will do APRS. That is I connect my GPS to the radio and the radio will transmit my speed, altitude, a short message and my GPS position. My wife or anyone with an Internet connection is able to locate me from the Internet. She sees my vehicle, speed, message and elevation and a map of where I am.

Check out findu.com

Have fun.

Get lost

JB
Click to expand...
wow that is technology at work... way cool .. just dont have it on if u are up to un approved fun :)

$n
 
thanks for all the info and links ..

How diffucult is the test what does it entail????? .

. I found a few sites that do the test but have not looked at them yet that is for tonight ...I have also found a list of repeaters it seems that N.M> is covered pretty well ...

Just what i need is another thing to spend my $$$ on Man i love a good hobby
 
Beowulf said:
Hi Andrew!

I took the test about 3 weeks ago and got my call sign last week. Funny thing is that Ron was checking the ULS database for another reason and saw my name about 5 minutes after I searched and found they had entered it. He sent me a PM saying "Congrats" ... it was spooky... like he had ESP or something!

He and I talked about an hour on Sunday, discussing radios, antennas, mounts, etc. I took copius notes and am still processing the information. I have made no decisions on anything at this time. (Suggestions are welcome!!!)

-B-
KE5KOE :cheers:
Click to expand...

B:

Well done! Congratulations!

73 Hugh
 
And also, DO get your license. It's simply not worth operrating on Ham bands and utilizing repeaters without your license. You won't fret about it, and the world shall open up.

Some repeaters are also linked to the Internet so you can tunnel your RF communication across the net and re-broadcast in the Virgin Islands (or most any other place). The hobby is worth the investment of time and ehtics into getting the license.
 
Yep I have had my callsign now for the past 15years.
I have always had a radio in my vehicles.. It has been a life saver more than once..
With your area being just about completely covered by repeaters decavo it would probably be your best bet...ONCE licenced of course.

Good luck
VE3UOD
 
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