HAM Tech Thread

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Some interesting stuff for those who want to run APRS on a handheld and are budget minded (pretty much any handheld, including the UV5R!).



You'd need one of these:

Mobilinkd TNC4

The Mobilinkd TNC4 builds upon the success of the TNC3, offering improved battery life, high baud rate performance, and a USB-C connector. The TNC4 boasts Bluetooth 4.2 support (dual-mode EDR/LE) iOS Compatible USB serial port DCD and TX indicator LEDs Powerful DSP and modem High dynamic range...
store.mobilinkd.com store.mobilinkd.com

and the correct connector from the same site, based on whatever radio you want to run + an APRS app on your phone/tablet
 
I have a simple question. So I just want to install a mxt115 just for wheeling purposes. But with out a license I can only listen? Not respond to others in the group?
I miss cb lol
 
06reg4x4 said:
I have a simple question. So I just want to install a mxt115 just for wheeling purposes. But with out a license I can only listen? Not respond to others in the group?
I miss cb lol
Click to expand...
Yup, you need a license for GMRS, but it's just fee based (no test required).

Get A GMRS License – AZGMRS

www.azgmrs.org www.azgmrs.org

Personally, I think a handheld for GMRS/FRS is the way to go. Save the effort and the space in your rig for something else. GMRS works great for car to car comms, but there isn't a user base listening, or a repeater network, to support a higher power mobile rig and bigger antenna..... so, a big antenna and a mounted mobile rig doesn't really get you much more than a hand held imho.

As of today, in the whole state of Arizona:
- 22 GMRS repeaters
- 238 70cm repeaters (UHF HAM)
- 138 2m repeaters (VHF HAM)
 
Somebodyelse5 said:
Yup, you need a license for GMRS, but it's just fee based (no test required).

Get A GMRS License – AZGMRS

www.azgmrs.org www.azgmrs.org

Personally, I think a handheld for GMRS/FRS is the way to go. Save the effort and the space in your rig for something else. GMRS works great for car to car comms, but there isn't a user base listening, or a repeater network, to support a higher power mobile rig and bigger antenna..... so, a big antenna and a mounted mobile rig doesn't really get you much more than a hand held imho.

As of today, in the whole state of Arizona:
- 22 GMRS repeaters
- 238 70cm repeaters (UHF HAM)
- 138 2m repeaters (VHF HAM)
Click to expand...
IMO handheld GMRS/FRS radios are completely inferior performance wise compared to a mobile with a proper external antenna. Battery charging is always an issue as well as a safe way place to keep it when off-roading. Most of the current midland mobiles take up very little room and always work. I’ve used both handheld and mobile and there is no comparison.
 
Between the battery life and fighting the kids taking them. I want something mounted. And I don’t smoke so the ashtray is useless to me anyway. I literally just wanna be able to hear what’s going on in the wheeling group. Long range etc I’m not to interested in.

IMG_2830.jpeg
 
06reg4x4 said:
Between the battery life and fighting the kids taking them. I want something mounted. And I don’t smoke so the ashtray is useless to me anyway. I literally just wanna be able to hear what’s going on in the wheeling group. Long range etc I’m not to interested in.

View attachment 3409197
Click to expand...
Agreed on all that. Also you don’t have to be too far from your buddies before two handheld radios inside the trucks can’t hear each other.
 
Dubbinchris said:
IMO handheld GMRS/FRS radios are completely inferior performance wise compared to a mobile with a proper external antenna. Battery charging is always an issue as well as a safe way place to keep it when off-roading. Most of the current midland mobiles take up very little room and always work. I’ve used both handheld and mobile and there is no comparison.
Click to expand...

Mobile GMRS will absolutely be better than a handheld GMRS, but it won't be better than a HAM radio that would occupy the same space. I'd go as far as to say a 50 watt mobile GMRS rig would perform on par with a 50watt 70cm HAM rig (and it should! they're both UHF) but in that case you are using the space for a radio (GMRS) that very few people are listening on and has practically zero repeater support. Who are you going to talk to that far away?

I've had plenty good luck with car to car comms using both handheld GMRS, CB, and HAM. If that's all you're after, it really doesn't matter what radio you choose. If you care about reaching out and talking to someone far away, for emergency or not, HAM is really hard to beat with the repeater network on both 2m and 70cm bands.

As far as charging and antenna go, there are aux chargers available for most handhelds and you can still mount an antenna and plug it in to your handheld.
 
Wondering if anybody has any experience with repeaters, APRS and SMSGate south of the border?
Rocky Point, El Golfo?
Deeper ?
 
LostAfrican said:
Wondering if anybody has any experience with repeaters, APRS and SMSGate south of the border?
Rocky Point, El Golfo?
Deeper ?
Click to expand...

Hey there, no direct experience, but if you go to APRS.fi you can see what APRS activity is going. I scrolled around, saw a lot of weather stations (WX) but not much else activity. Generally those WX are connected via internet and only send out weather data, I don't think they typically act as an iGate and upload your beacon. (I may be wrong tohugh). If you see a beacon from a vehicle (or anything really), if you mouse over it on the map, it should draw a line to the iGate / repeater it hit. If you click it, the small text at the bottom of the bubble shows you the path.

I found this for MX repeaters, there isn't much:

Mexico. Amateur, Ham and GMRS Business radio repeaters

Amateur radio and GMRS database for Ham Radio in Mexico. showing all open ham repeaters in US, Canada, and Mexico.
www.artscipub.com
 
06reg4x4 said:
Between the battery life and fighting the kids taking them. I want something mounted. And I don’t smoke so the ashtray is useless to me anyway. I literally just wanna be able to hear what’s going on in the wheeling group. Long range etc I’m not to interested in.

View attachment 3409197
Click to expand...
Info on that dingle din switch blank panel?
 
medtro said:
What is the reason?
Click to expand...
They are hot garbage. They receive alright, but they transmit very poorly.

For car to car comms they are fine, but you really shouldn't rely on them for anything serious.

That said, I have at least 3 of them to play with :rofl:
 
medtro said:
What is the reason?
Click to expand...
Absolute junk. Front end is easily overloaded so it’s not very selective. Also they almost ALL have spurious emissions. This information is all readily available as well.
 
Somebodyelse5 said:
They are hot garbage. They receive alright, but they transmit very poorly.

For car to car comms they are fine, but you really shouldn't rely on them for anything serious.

That said, I have at least 3 of them to play with :rofl:
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t even say they receive alright. Lol
 
I just want to know how everyone is getting their antenna line out back? lol.

I've been trying to think of the best way to run my antenna coax from the console out the back. I've got it running under the center console, driver seat, kick panels, driver's rear panels, and now how to get it either out the back or a plug I can silicone out the bottom then up behind the bumper/door to the antenna mount?

Any pictures or suggestions? I'm not trying to pinch the coax through the tailgate, etc. I'm not overly opposed to drilling a hole through the truck somewhere and then filling with butyl tape and/or silicone. Just looking for best options.
 
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