Thinking HAM

[jonheld]

If the factory grounding path to the battery is inoperative, a direct ground wire from radio would become the backup ground wire. Since it's not capable of carrying all of that current, a fuse is necessary.

Following that logic, every single circuit in the truck should have a fused ground.

I realize this is a safety precaution written in some book and I am not making light of this at all. I am an engineer and have been dealing with electronics for the last 30 years. However, there are some realities. Vehicles don't have 1 single ground point, especially my truck. I have an engine block ground, exhaust ground, several body grounds, a frame ground, all of which are run back to the battery.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Following that logic, every single circuit in the truck should have a fused ground.

I realize this is a safety precaution written in some book and I am not making light of this at all. I am an engineer and have been dealing with electronics for the last 30 years. However, there are some realities. Vehicles don't have 1 single ground point, especially my truck. I have an engine block ground, exhaust ground, several body grounds, a frame ground, all of which are run back to the battery.

1) Every single circuit in the truck is not connected to an RF source.

2) The fact that vehicles have multiple grounds is why you need a direct connection from the radio to the battery. This prevents a resistive ground connection which could raise ground potential above 0V in effect lowering the supply voltage. For most DC applications this is no big deal, for radio and digital electronics it a very different story.

If you want to omit a $3 part from your install by all means proceed, whats the worst that could happen?

 

[jonheld]

Please understand, I'm not being argumentative for the sake of hearing myself talk. I haven't been able to get a good explanation of the reasoning for a fused ground from searching on the internet, nor my discussions here.

What you are describing is called ground float. It is very real and would be a problem if the ground wasn't connected to the battery. However, both +12 and ground for the radio are direct connections to the battery, not through aux panels or any other path.

In any case, I passed my technician test last night and should be on the air in a few weeks.

I would like to discuss basic emergency procedures in the event of a severe injury. How to make contact to the local police/EMS via 2M.

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

I passed my technician test last night and should be on the air in a few weeks.

Congrats!

I would like to discuss basic emergency procedures in the event of a severe injury. How to make contact to the local police/EMS via 2M.

I'm interested too
Butt

 

[1911]

I passed my technician test last night and should be on the air in a few weeks.

Congratulations on your ticket!

I would like to discuss basic emergency procedures in the event of a severe injury. How to make contact to the local police/EMS via 2M.

No police/emergency departments (in my experience) regularly monitor any ham bands. There are exceptions; my county sherrifs dept./Emergency Operations Center is heavily tied in to our ARES/RACES group of amateur operators, but we only interface with them during emergencies or practice drills. The short answer to your question is, you would make contact with another ham operator on a nearby repeater and ask him to call authorities on the phone. If there are no repeaters that you can reach or find, then you would put out a "Mayday" on the national simplex frequency 146.520 MHz. By protocol, wilderness radio operators should monitor 146.520 MHz on the hour and half-hour just to listen for emergency traffic, so if you don't get a response right away then try again on the hour and half-hour. Again, you need to make a contact who can make a contact who can call emergency services on the phone. If you are going to be far in the back country out of 2M range, then you might consider upgrading your ticket to General Class and getting a mobile HF radio.

 

[jonheld]

There seems to be 2M repeaters everywhere. Even in the little backwoods PA towns have one. I programmed them in advance knowing we'd be in the area. I guess I was just hoping that SOMEONE would be listening.

I posted this question on the eham.net forum and basically we're on our own. Apparently no one really monitors this stuff with any regularity. It's hit or miss depending on who's on the air.

 

[BenMara]

Just passed my Tech, just waiting on my Call Sign, and book/CDs to continue to Gen class....

 

[1911]

Just passed my Tech, just waiting on my Call Sign, and book/CDs to continue to Gen class....

Congratulations on your ticket! The best time to study for General and take the test is right after your Technician, while all the theory and regulations are still in your head. I found that Gordon West's study book made it quite easy too.

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Just passed my Tech, just waiting on my Call Sign, and book/CDs to continue to Gen class....

Way to go!
Butt

 

[sl33p3]

I would like to discuss basic emergency procedures in the event of a severe injury. How to make contact to the local police/EMS via 2M.

i have heard from several EMS/fire fighters that if you had modified your radio to transmit on their frequencies (google it, mods are easy and frequencies are known)... they encourage using it if you are in real trouble (ie bodily or people danger)... HUGE disclaimer of this is 3 guys in a specific local area with a dose of reality (they don't want you to die in a bad situation just so you don't violate "normal protocol" anymore than you do.) beauty of HAM, (or my conscience) is that if there is a real threat to people, i am going to try everything i can to make contact, and beg forgiveness later... FWIW, i am a bad person and don't condone or endorse anyone else living up to my standards... still ASSumes you can reach anyone and HF will have a longer range of course.

 

[opg4759a]

i have heard from several EMS/fire fighters that if you had modified your radio to transmit on their frequencies (google it, mods are easy and frequencies are known)... they encourage using it if you are in real trouble (ie bodily or people danger)... HUGE disclaimer of this is 3 guys in a specific local area with a dose of reality (they don't want you to die in a bad situation just so you don't violate "normal protocol" anymore than you do.) beauty of HAM, (or my conscience) is that if there is a real threat to people, i am going to try everything i can to make contact, and beg forgiveness later... FWIW, i am a bad person and don't condone or endorse anyone else living up to my standards... still ASSumes you can reach anyone and HF will have a longer range of course.

In a situation that is life or death for you or anybody you are around you are permitted to use any frequency at your disposal.

Part 97.403 Subpart E
No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.


With that being said if you MARS/CAP your radio will you get in trouble probably not if you don't transmit on public safety frequencies. Think of a modified radio as a loaded gun and use to accordingly.

 

[e9999]

not only can one use any frequency in case of life emergency, but it also seems like it is legal to own just about any kind of radio. IIUC, you just can't transmit on it if you don't have the proper license (if there is no emergency). Listening should be fine though. After all folks without licenses buy scanners all the time. And you can buy your 2m radio online before you even have a license. So, heck, if you're rich you could buy an HF radio and have it sit there just for emergencies. Then again for breakdowns in the boonies, a Spot or similar may be more reliable.

 

[sl33p3]

Think of a modified radio as a loaded gun and use to accordingly.

VERY well said.

not only can one use any frequency in case of life emergency, but it also seems like it is legal to own just about any kind of radio. IIUC, you just can't transmit on it if you don't have the proper license (if there is no emergency). Listening should be fine though. After all folks without licenses buy scanners all the time. And you can buy your 2m radio online before you even have a license. So, heck, if you're rich you could buy an HF radio and have it sit there just for emergencies. Then again for breakdowns in the boonies, a Spot or similar may be more reliable.

yeah, listening on any HAM band is free. it's just talking that will cost you ~20$ and study time

 

[ca62cruzr]

Welcome to AESHAM.COM They have used and close out in their site regularly. A good Dual band mobile is a life saver. They also make compact HF rigs like the Icom 706mk2G and the Yaesu FT100 you can get used a good prices. This usually has 6m, 2m, 440 for us Techs and for the Oh S*** factor you can grab an HF band if your really in it.
Im preparing to do an install on my 62 and using my trusty Kenwood TM742 with 2m, 220, 440 and preparing extra space for when I want to get the Icom 706 I have on my shelf installed.
Personally, When buying equipment- Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom are the way to fly. Best features, (usually) simple to program. Yaesu has got to a lot of their stuff being MilSpec, really good for wheeling.
Alinco--- well friends dont let friends buy Alinco.

Congrats to all you new ticket holders! KE6BZY

 

[Eshu Elegua]

MY Yaesu fam radios......KP4CHE

YouTube - ‪P1100149.MOV‬‏ check the FT-90R display at the end...

 

[fj4068]

Following that logic, every single circuit in the truck should have a fused ground.

I realize this is a safety precaution written in some book and I am not making light of this at all. I am an engineer and have been dealing with electronics for the last 30 years. However, there are some realities. Vehicles don't have 1 single ground point, especially my truck. I have an engine block ground, exhaust ground, several body grounds, a frame ground, all of which are run back to the battery.

I haven't logged in for a while, but here's my understanding of it if you haven't found something that makes sense to you elsewhere in the meantime.

If the ham radio's negative lead comes directly from the battery and therefore is not protected by something else such as the cigarette lighter circuit's fuse, this negative lead could potentially become the only path to the battery's ground electrode if the heavy gauge battery-to-frame negative cable becomes disconnected at either end while the ham radio's negative lead is still connected to the battery negative electrode. In this situation, however unlikely it may be, all of the vehicle's 12 VDC power needs would seek ground through the ham radio's circuits and negative lead until it melted and/or shorted, unless there is a fuse or circuit breaker present to interrupt the circuit before the current exceeds that negative lead's capability.

Dunno if that addresses your concern but it's the best explanation I could come up with and more importantly, I have convinced myself that I need to fuse my own negative lead.

 

[jonheld]

Moved my radio

I recently moved my Kenwood TM-271A from the rear of my center console to the dash (where I should have put it in the first place). It fits easily in the single DIN space below my single DIN stereo. It hangs on the double DIN bracket and almost looks factory, sort of .
I needed to add a 10ft length of RG316 coax, so I had a custom cable made by citruscables.com for a few sheckles.

Much easier to operate without looking behind me, and the forward facing speaker is crisp and clear.

Oh, I also found a great resource for the radio. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TM271A
Everything you wanted to know about this unit.