should I skip cb and just go to HAM?

[Dragos80]

I think I already mentioned this on another page. 38-39 miles contact with a repeater using the original rubber antenna behind my window. On 4W of power or whatever the Baofeng puts out. Lets say 5W, whatever.

I hope this works.

About



https://www.google.com/maps/place/S...716638671c4cd!8m2!3d33.7102973!4d-117.5342131

 

[Kofoed]

The Santiago Peak machine has great coverage. I've hit the Frazier Park machine a bit farther than that from my lazy boy, and talked to a guy in Yellow Knife NWT in his car collecting money from parking meters (albeit thru the IRLP node....still over 45 miles to fraziez, then 4000? miles via internet) pretty wild.

The high level (high elevation) repeaters is what the 2m freq is all about. Great coverage. The 440 MHz machines in my area are mostly private.

Don't expect that sort of performance from car to car at the same elevation. It is mostly line of sight plus 15% plus or minus due to refraction and ground wave propagation.

I have hit the Catalina Island machine with a mobile rig from the El Pasos, south of RIdgecrest (about 140 miles) and spoke to somebody near Mexico.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Interesting story. I was at the north end of Saline Valley. Some of the group I started with were on Lipencot mine road, the rest were on Cerro Guordo. I could hear and talk to both groups but they had no reception between them. They were perhaps 10 miles apart, I was about 40 miles from all of them. Topography makes all the difference.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Taking a 2 week trip with my 15 year old son after Christmas. We will be traveling alone and will be meandering off the beaten path. I was thinking a portable ham would be a good idea to have, and to have in general. I didn't realize they are so inexpensive. Can someone just tell me which one to buy so I don't have to research. And where do I take the test?

 

[LC4LIFE]

This is what I have and so far so good. I definitely recommend it for the price.

BaoFeng UV-5R

Nagoya NA-771

 

[WB8LBZ]

@LS1FJ40 sometimes local clubs will host classes and testing sessions. Most of the Hamfests have a testing session. Check QRZ.COM, Eham.com or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area . The local clubs here alternate testing sessions every two weeks. Good luck on the test.

Larry in El Paso

 

[Dragos80]

Baofeng all the way.
This is where you start with your ham test:
Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area



I have a ham radio, but no license. Not planning on getting one ever.

 

[Dragos80]

Practice exam

http://www.eham.net/exams/


The Ham Whisperer: Ham Courses

 

[LS1FJ40]

@LS1FJ40 sometimes local clubs will host classes and testing sessions. Most of the Hamfests have a testing session. Check QRZ.COM, Eham.com or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area . The local clubs here alternate testing sessions every two weeks. Good luck on the test.

Larry in El Paso

Thanks. What is the point of the license and test? Just curious.

Baofeng all the way.
This is where you start with your may test:
Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area



I have a ham radio, but no license. Not planning on getting one ever.

Which Baefong?

 

[Dragos80]

https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-Warr...&qid=1478366111&sr=1-5&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r


UV-5R+

 

[LS1FJ40]

https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-Warr...&qid=1478366111&sr=1-5&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r


UV-5R+

Does it come with the programming cable or do I need to buy one? It doesn't say.

 

[Dragos80]

Also got one of these mag mount antennas

TRAM 1185-FSMA Amateur Dual-Band Magnet Antenna with SMA-Female Connector | eBay


Optional though.
As LC4LIFE said, Nagoya antenna is very good.

 

[Dragos80]

Does it come with the programming cable or do I need to buy one? It doesn't say.

It doesn't.
You can buy it online.

I don't have one. I used manual controls to program mine.

 

[Dragos80]

Put it this way.
You are out of your house, no computer in your car, maybe wheeling with a group of friends and you need to set up your frequency, maybe even a repeater with an offset.
You need to be able to do it using the radio controls.

I am sure your son will teach you how to do it, if he doesn't get frustrated and tell you to forget it and end up doing it for you in 26 seconds.

 

[WB8LBZ]

I have several (greater than 5) simplex frequencies programmed into all of my radios. I have multiple radios and keeping frequencies as a data file makes it easier to move them between radios.
The FCC requires the ham test and issues the callsigns.

Larry in El Paso