Is ANYONE Still Interested In Traveling In Baja???
- Thread starter Boston Mangler
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The surf was actually big but it was February and a west was moving through and those shots were late afternoon with some wind chop. That small bay has a left that works better on a south as you probably know. Hope you get it good!
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- #44
I agree 100%!
Damn Scotty, those pics bring back some great memories man, i wish i was there!
Yeah, if nothing else, its a safety thing.
At the speeds we travel down there (quite fast as most of you have seen), we do get spread out quite a bit, CBs will not work in these situations, plain and simple. On our awesome febuary trip, there was just WAYYYY too much relaying going on from one person to another that got out of range, etc.... It got just plain annoying and way to distracting from the amazing stuff we were doing!
CBs are basically only good for small group tight nit trips where everyone is close together, rocking and rolling in Baja is not that at all!
Yeah, i think that might be the new (enforced) rule to any trips i lead down south.
Kinda surpises me how many folks look at comms as one of their last mods, when in reality, it should be one of the first!
I want to go to Baja. I've been wanting to plan a route that follows one cost down and the other cost back up. But I think it would be best to start small. I still need to get set up with a 2m.
I love surfing Baja in the fall when the kids are back in school and the south swell is still running. I've surfed this place when it is good and it is a blast. The water can be freezing though with the upwelling currents even in summer.
I may have some slots opening as I get closer to the trip if anyone is interested. As of right now it is filled up but I always seem to have a few drop. I am also trying to keep this to only 4-5 rigs.
I agree 100%!
CBs are basically only good for small group tight nit trips where everyone is close together, rocking and rolling in Baja is not that at all!
This thread has inspired me to get my technician license and a 2M pronto. I ordered a study guide this week and will be looking for a test site in SD.
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- #47
I got a great loop for that, but its only 1/2 way down and then back up, easily doable on a 4 day weekend
Yes, as mentioned above, its damn near mandatory if you are traveling in a group
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- #48
Thats all fine and dandy, but
A) the license isnt valid in Mex
B) we all modify our radios (super easy 2 second mod) to work on race freqs so the license isnt even needed anyway, that way you get all the 2m quality without any legal shenanigans in the US or in Mex!
Thats my .02
Thats all fine and dandy, but
A) the license isnt valid in Mex
B) we all modify our radios (super easy 2 second mod) to work on race freqs so the license isnt even needed anyway, that way you get all the 2m quality without any legal shenanigans in the US or in Mex!
Thats my .02
you sure about that not being valid? cuz I remember reading about reciprocity and all that...
- Thread starter
- #50
Nope, not 100% sure, but remember reading that in a few different places and figured that since i mainly only travel to Baja i thought getting the license was a moot point.
Also, i havent found anyone in the history of traveling Baja (i read A LOT of stories and blogs about Mex)that has been asked for their 2m Mex license!
I am still interested in traveling to Baja. In fact I have been jonesing to get back there lately. It has been a year since we went down last.
That being said, our solo trips are over and we will definitely be traveling in a group from now on. I am trying to possibly work out a trip in mid/late september.
That being said, our solo trips are over and we will definitely be traveling in a group from now on. I am trying to possibly work out a trip in mid/late september.
Also, i havent found anyone in the history of traveling Baja (i read A LOT of stories and blogs about Mex)that has been asked for their 2m Mex license!
I got pulled over one time in Mexicali by a Federale who told me the tags on my trailer were expired. I thought he was joking and asked him if he was serious. He said Mexico enforces US DMV laws. I knew that was BS and after I stopped laughing, I explained that I had paid and was waiting for the tags to show up. One of my buddies then told the cop to call in and check it out- since they were enforcing US laws- they should be able to verify it. The cop got pissed because we did not cave in and pay him off and told us he was going to just give us a warning.
Had many other run ins, but nothing as bad as what has been going on in the last few years. The advice given about traveling in groups and avoiding night travel is well worth listening to. I always have also found that if I got pulled over and I was not doing anything wrong- agreeing to follow the cop back to the station to pay the fine resulted in warnings 90% of the time. Just don't be an ass- If the cop has to go down to the station- he does not make a profit and the fines are ususally way smaller if you are speeding or run a red light.
It's sad that things down south are not as they used to be.
Tim
Mexico DOES have an agreement with the US regarding amatuer radio use. Here's the link to the ARRL site showing all the contries that do have a reciprocal agreeement.
ARRLWeb: Reciprocal Operating Countries List
Doing my studying now and looked it up because it had been discussed in this thread!
ARRLWeb: Reciprocal Operating Countries List
Doing my studying now and looked it up because it had been discussed in this thread!
Yes, but. . . . . .
As it usually is dealing with Mexican Officials, there is a small fee involved.
I seem to recall an annual operators permit is something in the neighborhood of $40.
Nobody I've talked to has ever paid, but there is supposed to be an official looking form you fill out and paperclip your $ to before transmitting down there.
Yes, but. . . . . .
As it usually is dealing with Mexican Officials, there is a small fee involved.
I seem to recall an annual operators permit is something in the neighborhood of $40.
Nobody I've talked to has ever paid, but there is supposed to be an official looking form you fill out and paperclip your $ to before transmitting down there.
LOL! Corruption at it's finest! Perhaps suggesting going down to the station to pay the transmitting fee in person might be in order?
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- #56