- Thread starter
- #21
Congrats man!!
That's what I'm saying!! I prepped for less than 10 hours and passed on the first attempt.
Official ONSC HAM Thread
- Thread starter GLTHFJ60
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Congrats man!!
That's what I'm saying!! I prepped for less than 10 hours and passed on the first attempt.
General and Extra are a little tougher than the 10hrs you put in for Technician test, but its not awful. Go about it the same way and you'll get it.
If local ham clubs offer a class, that is the way to go. When I lived in Baltimore the Natl Electronics Museum next to BWI had classes you could take, taught by a PHD in Physics from Grumman next to the museum. It was great. They had technician class in the fall, General in the spring and Extra in the summer with a test scheduled at the end of each. And had a room full of radio equip to practice on during the class. Good times! There's gotta be something similar in the Triangle region?
You'll get hooked quick
. I love having my yaesu dual band on work trips. I've listened in on em comm nets in DE, club nets in NYC, CT, MD, SC. It's fun when you're on the rd a while.
If local ham clubs offer a class, that is the way to go. When I lived in Baltimore the Natl Electronics Museum next to BWI had classes you could take, taught by a PHD in Physics from Grumman next to the museum. It was great. They had technician class in the fall, General in the spring and Extra in the summer with a test scheduled at the end of each. And had a room full of radio equip to practice on during the class. Good times! There's gotta be something similar in the Triangle region?
You'll get hooked quick
. I love having my yaesu dual band on work trips. I've listened in on em comm nets in DE, club nets in NYC, CT, MD, SC. It's fun when you're on the rd a while.
Mike at Triad Electronics here in Winston put on a class for my wife, brother, dad, a few friends and I. It was great to get to see everything outlined in the ARRL Tech guide book.
The big surprise for me was how much my wife enjoyed it. She took it as a favor to me.
The big surprise for me was how much my wife enjoyed it. She took it as a favor to me.
Add another HAM operator to the club. Today I passed my technician class exam. I'll update with my call sign in a few weeks when I get it!
If a father of 2, president of this club, business travelling person can study and pass this exam, anyone can. And, with the prices of certain HAM radios being lower than the price of a CB, there's really no reason anyone can't do it.
All I used was Ham radio study, which is available for Android devices. And flipped though the questions (treated like flash cards) multiple times during some down time.
If a father of 2, president of this club, business travelling person can study and pass this exam, anyone can. And, with the prices of certain HAM radios being lower than the price of a CB, there's really no reason anyone can't do it.
All I used was Ham radio study, which is available for Android devices. And flipped though the questions (treated like flash cards) multiple times during some down time.
- Thread starter
- #25
Congrats Brian!!
Cool!
Nice job Brian. Glad you got it.
Phares
Mostly Useless
I've downloaded Ham Radio Study and plan on taking the test in Dec/Jan depending on availability. I would like to take the General exam shortly after so I can get into the HF stuff. I will definitely need recomendations on equipment after the test. Can someone start a thread with pics and descriptions of their setups?
- Thread starter
- #29
I'm not sure there are enough guys in the club with HAM setups to warrant a whole new thread, so here's my setup. If we decide there are, I'll delete this post and move the info over:
For the first year I had my license, I had this little handheld radio. It was SUPER cheap and works great! I still use it to check the operation of my mobile, and for trail communications.
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R...?ie=UTF8&qid=1384884553&sr=8-1&keywords=uv-5r
For my mobile setup, I got a FTM-350R used off ebay for $350. Mine was in perfect shape and came with the GPS antenna so I could run APRS. I have a big ammo can center console, so I elected to mount everything in / to it. I got the FTM-350R because it is a dual transciever, dual-band radio, meaning that it actually has two radios built into it. I can transmit on 2M, then switch to the other radio and transmit on 70cm. I can also use cross-band repeat, meaning I can take a signal that's coming in on 2M and transmit it to 70cm on the fly. I wanted a radio that could do APRS, so the FTM-350R was a great fit. I initially thought I couldn't afford it, but finding the used one on ebay made it possible.
For antennas, I have a K400CNMO upper hatch mount, with the cable run through the factory grommet for the washer tube and wiper wire. The C110 cable extends the mount cable up to my center console. This upper hatch mount uses the NMO standard for antennas, so I got a NR770HNMO for road use and a NR72BNMO for trail use.
Take a look!
I mounted the head unit to the side of the ammo can on a Lido mount, so it sits up right here. This is also adjustable, so I can change the angle without any trouble.
This is where the antenna mounts:
Final install and wiring inside the console:
Finally, the unit on. I ended up mounting the microphone using one of the lido sticky mounts to the face of the dash, immediately to the right of the factory radio slot.
I get great reception in the RDU area and the head unit doesn't get in the way of anything.
Long story short, decide on the features you want, then decide on a budget. Do not be afraid of a used radio.
For the first year I had my license, I had this little handheld radio. It was SUPER cheap and works great! I still use it to check the operation of my mobile, and for trail communications.
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R...?ie=UTF8&qid=1384884553&sr=8-1&keywords=uv-5r
For my mobile setup, I got a FTM-350R used off ebay for $350. Mine was in perfect shape and came with the GPS antenna so I could run APRS. I have a big ammo can center console, so I elected to mount everything in / to it. I got the FTM-350R because it is a dual transciever, dual-band radio, meaning that it actually has two radios built into it. I can transmit on 2M, then switch to the other radio and transmit on 70cm. I can also use cross-band repeat, meaning I can take a signal that's coming in on 2M and transmit it to 70cm on the fly. I wanted a radio that could do APRS, so the FTM-350R was a great fit. I initially thought I couldn't afford it, but finding the used one on ebay made it possible.
For antennas, I have a K400CNMO upper hatch mount, with the cable run through the factory grommet for the washer tube and wiper wire. The C110 cable extends the mount cable up to my center console. This upper hatch mount uses the NMO standard for antennas, so I got a NR770HNMO for road use and a NR72BNMO for trail use.
Take a look!
I mounted the head unit to the side of the ammo can on a Lido mount, so it sits up right here. This is also adjustable, so I can change the angle without any trouble.
This is where the antenna mounts:
Final install and wiring inside the console:
Finally, the unit on. I ended up mounting the microphone using one of the lido sticky mounts to the face of the dash, immediately to the right of the factory radio slot.
I get great reception in the RDU area and the head unit doesn't get in the way of anything.
Long story short, decide on the features you want, then decide on a budget. Do not be afraid of a used radio.
I'm not sure there are enough guys in the club with HAM setups to warrant a whole new thread, so here's my setup. If we decide there are, I'll delete this post and move the info over:
For the first year I had my license, I had this little handheld radio. It was SUPER cheap and works great! I still use it to check the operation of my mobile, and for trail communications.
http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R...?ie=UTF8&qid=1384884553&sr=8-1&keywords=uv-5r
For my mobile setup, I got a FTM-350R used off ebay for $350. Mine was in perfect shape and came with the GPS antenna so I could run APRS. I have a big ammo can center console, so I elected to mount everything in / to it. I got the FTM-350R because it is a dual transciever, dual-band radio, meaning that it actually has two radios built into it. I can transmit on 2M, then switch to the other radio and transmit on 70cm. I can also use cross-band repeat, meaning I can take a signal that's coming in on 2M and transmit it to 70cm on the fly. I wanted a radio that could do APRS, so the FTM-350R was a great fit. I initially thought I couldn't afford it, but finding the used one on ebay made it possible.
For antennas, I have a K400CNMO upper hatch mount, with the cable run through the factory grommet for the washer tube and wiper wire. The C110 cable extends the mount cable up to my center console. This upper hatch mount uses the NMO standard for antennas, so I got a NR770HNMO for road use and a NR72BNMO for trail use.
Take a look!
I mounted the head unit to the side of the ammo can on a Lido mount, so it sits up right here. This is also adjustable, so I can change the angle without any trouble.
This is where the antenna mounts:
Final install and wiring inside the console:
Finally, the unit on. I ended up mounting the microphone using one of the lido sticky mounts to the face of the dash, immediately to the right of the factory radio slot.
I get great reception in the RDU area and the head unit doesn't get in the way of anything.
Long story short, decide on the features you want, then decide on a budget. Do not be afraid of a used radio.
I was wondering what the hell that thing was last time I saw your truck.... at first I just thought it was a diesel tuner.... but then remembered a mechanical 4bt can't have that.
- Thread starter
- #31
I was wondering what the hell that thing was last time I saw your truck.... at first I just thought it was a diesel tuner.... but then remembered a mechanical 4bt can't have that.
Yup, that's what it is
Here is another good thread showing various radios mounted in Toyotas. Take a look!
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/783655-share-me-your-ham-radio-setup.html
KK4VOT it is boys...
- Thread starter
- #33
Whohoo! Congrats Brian!
Can anyone confirm this data, copied from another clubs' forum, but it was from 2005:
Local Repeaters
146.985- PL 100.0 Albemarle
Fair to poor coverage in the OHV area, worse in all other areas.
147.090+ PL 100.0 Star/Biscoe
Poor coverage in OHV area, better east of OHV area.
Wide Coverage Repeaters
145.250- PL 88.5 Level Cross
Good coverage all areas.
Triad SKYWARN alternate
PCRN repeater
145.350- no PL Charlotte
Poor coverage all areas.
Charlotte SKYWARN repeater
PCRN repeater
145.410- PL 136.5 China Grove
Good coverage in OHV area.
147.255+ no PL Randolph
Good coverage in all areas.
Triad SKYWARN primary repeater (All of UNF is in Triad SKYWARN area)
PCRN repeater
442.825+ PL 82.5 Randolph
Good coverage all areas.
PCRN repeater
Simplex Frequencies
146.580 Uwharrie simplex.
146.415 Uwharrie workday simplex for work groups.
147.555 Emergency simplex channel. Used during local emergencies for logistics traffic.
Thinking we also need a club simplex channel, like our CB and FRS club channel. Not sure if this is the Zuk's Uwharrie simplex, or a "standardized" Uwharrie simplex...
Oh, and I changed the title of the thread from License Test, to a more general discussion to be used in the future as the "Official" thread...
Local Repeaters
146.985- PL 100.0 Albemarle
Fair to poor coverage in the OHV area, worse in all other areas.
147.090+ PL 100.0 Star/Biscoe
Poor coverage in OHV area, better east of OHV area.
Wide Coverage Repeaters
145.250- PL 88.5 Level Cross
Good coverage all areas.
Triad SKYWARN alternate
PCRN repeater
145.350- no PL Charlotte
Poor coverage all areas.
Charlotte SKYWARN repeater
PCRN repeater
145.410- PL 136.5 China Grove
Good coverage in OHV area.
147.255+ no PL Randolph
Good coverage in all areas.
Triad SKYWARN primary repeater (All of UNF is in Triad SKYWARN area)
PCRN repeater
442.825+ PL 82.5 Randolph
Good coverage all areas.
PCRN repeater
Simplex Frequencies
146.580 Uwharrie simplex.
146.415 Uwharrie workday simplex for work groups.
147.555 Emergency simplex channel. Used during local emergencies for logistics traffic.
Thinking we also need a club simplex channel, like our CB and FRS club channel. Not sure if this is the Zuk's Uwharrie simplex, or a "standardized" Uwharrie simplex...
Oh, and I changed the title of the thread from License Test, to a more general discussion to be used in the future as the "Official" thread...
- Thread starter
- #35
I use this website for local repeaters, straight from the RARS site.
http://rars.org/repeater/trirpt.htm
http://rars.org/repeater/trirpt.htm
Yeah, I've got that one for our area, but this is specifically for the Uwharrie area...
- Thread starter
- #37
Oh...Well here you go...Sorry...I mistakenly assumed that you were referring to the RDU area...My bad...
Here's a list for the whole state, updated daily.
http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/search/index.asp?state=North-Carolina
Phares
Mostly Useless
Got my tech test this Saturday... Already decided the wife will refer to me by my call sign when I get it. General in another month.
- Thread starter
- #39
Congrats!! Let us know when you get your call sign.
Phares
Mostly Useless
Got it last night.
KK4WJJ.
Heck yeah I'm for whiskey! General exam on March 8th.
KK4WJJ.
Heck yeah I'm for whiskey! General exam on March 8th.
