HAM
- Thread starter mkfour
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- #3
Thanks, I found that site yesterday with a little searching and also ham radio outlet. I'm going to stop there today and take a look.
Test wise, I'm pretty good to go. I browsed the material and have taken a few example tests averaging in the mid-80's. Looks like I will take the Jan. 31 test.
I read some old posts and it looks like you have the 8800. That's the unit I've been looking into. Have you got APRS to work with it?
Test wise, I'm pretty good to go. I browsed the material and have taken a few example tests averaging in the mid-80's. Looks like I will take the Jan. 31 test.
I read some old posts and it looks like you have the 8800. That's the unit I've been looking into. Have you got APRS to work with it?
The 8800 does not have a TNC built in, so you will need a TNC at the very least if you want to do APRS.
Here's a thread that may interest you.
Outdoor Adventure USA, LLC; View topic - APRS Operating
Here's a thread that may interest you.
Outdoor Adventure USA, LLC; View topic - APRS Operating
- Thread starter
- #5
I don't think any radio has a TNC built in except for some Kenwoods. The TNC seems to work as a encoder/decoder and most I've seen are pretty pricey.
From what I can gather, the TNC decodes NMEA 0183 data packets into AX.25 packet format. I've already written some code for NMEA data and will look into what the TNC outputs. But this may not be worth my time, since cheaper TNC's can be had for $50.
I'm trying to figure out the functionality of APRS for a stand alone mobile user. I don't think you recieve other APRS data, you just TX, unless you have internet access and a mapping program. APRS seems more suited for a base station, but I'm new to this and coulb be way off.
From what I can gather, the TNC decodes NMEA 0183 data packets into AX.25 packet format. I've already written some code for NMEA data and will look into what the TNC outputs. But this may not be worth my time, since cheaper TNC's can be had for $50.
I'm trying to figure out the functionality of APRS for a stand alone mobile user. I don't think you recieve other APRS data, you just TX, unless you have internet access and a mapping program. APRS seems more suited for a base station, but I'm new to this and coulb be way off.
- Thread starter
- #6
I stopped by Ham Radio Outlet and too a look. I messed with the Yaesu 7800, 8800, and the Icom 208. The 208 was by far the easiest to operate and second to that was the 7800.
I now pretty much have my mind set on the Icom 208 and would have bought it but they were out. It was also on sale ($279)
I figure I'm new to this HAM stuff and I won't need the features of the 8800 of which I can only name a few such as cross band repeat. If I need those features one day, I'll upgrade my radio.
Looking at the mounts, I was wondering if I could just mount the ant. to my rack? Using one of the coax cables with UHF connector, it looks as though I can mount the ant. right on my roof rack cross bars. Will this work?
I now pretty much have my mind set on the Icom 208 and would have bought it but they were out. It was also on sale ($279)
I figure I'm new to this HAM stuff and I won't need the features of the 8800 of which I can only name a few such as cross band repeat. If I need those features one day, I'll upgrade my radio.
Looking at the mounts, I was wondering if I could just mount the ant. to my rack? Using one of the coax cables with UHF connector, it looks as though I can mount the ant. right on my roof rack cross bars. Will this work?
From what I have, you need a good ground plane. Basically a good ground onto the cars body panel.
My buddy used the K400 mount from diamond: Diamond® Antenna ~ K400 Trunk/Hatchback Mount
It has 4 set screws on the back, so we sanded the paint down to bare metal so that those screws make contact with the paint. That way his whole car kinda acts like an antenna.
We put this on rear hatch area, just below the roof. That way if he goes into a lower parking garage, he can fold the antenna, and it sits just below the roof line.
bpenn1980
SILVER Star
I didnt go quite as far as harry did, but I let two of the screws penetrate the paint and make metal-to-metal contact with the rear hatch.
I dont have anything to compare it to, but I've been extremely happy with the sbb1 comet, k400, Y-7800R combo.
Only thing I'd have to say about the features of the 8800 are the dual band. You can be monitoring two frequencies at the same time.
I'll also say that the K-400 hatch mount is a good one. I did nothing but put the little metal piece that comes with it between the screws and the painted metal. No issues on range with either the SBB-1 or the taller SBB-7 antenna. I have both.
I'll also say that the K-400 hatch mount is a good one. I did nothing but put the little metal piece that comes with it between the screws and the painted metal. No issues on range with either the SBB-1 or the taller SBB-7 antenna. I have both.
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Where do you live? There's tons of places to take the test.
FWIW your transmissions always came in with a little higher signal strength than Dana's while you were many miles away from us on the Mojave run.
Prolly cause I got a totally mickey mouse power setup. I'm running a line of really flimsy lamp cord, alligator-clamped to the battery terminals, into the cab to a 3-way power outlet. The 2M radio is plugged into that via a crappy cigarette lighter plug. so when I'm TX'ing on high power (50W rating), I've got such a power drop at the 12V supply that the radio is probably only putting out 20 or so watts. I think the power drops to around 9 V or so.
I need to get a better setup.
Or perhaps it's cause I was running it on low power (5W) all the time out there.
Dana
bpenn1980
SILVER Star
Prolly cause I got a totally mickey mouse power setup. I'm running a line of really flimsy lamp cord, alligator-clamped to the battery terminals, into the cab to a 3-way power outlet. The 2M radio is plugged into that via a crappy cigarette lighter plug. so when I'm TX'ing on high power (50W rating), I've got such a power drop at the 12V supply that the radio is probably only putting out 20 or so watts. I think the power drops to around 9 V or so.
I need to get a better setup.
Or perhaps it's cause I was running it on low power (5W) all the time out there.
Dana
haha, I was gonna comment that I thought you were broadcasting on 5w. I was on 50w the whole time since I was tx'ing for such short duration.
Interestingly though, you were rx'ing much more clearly than I was if I recall correctly.
bpenn1980
SILVER Star
Let me know if you want to mess around. We should be able to hit each other on simplex.
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- #16
I'm still getting a feel for the 8800 and HAM in general. I might try to rig up the 8800 indoors so that I can get more experience with everything.
I figure it'll take a few weeks.