Trail communication and base camp

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Erik and I are both getting our ham license. There is a Hamfest put on by the Shriners April 20th. There will be testing administered at 0900 that morning, that is when we plan on taking our tests. Then we can wander around and check out all the gear. http://www.hambash.com/

If enough people get their license this option will be open for us to have better communications on the trails. If there is enough interest in it, we can probably get a study session put together before the 20th.

Bob, as for setting up a repeater at base camp, I'm having a hard time finding info on this and have a few questions I hoped you could address. Everything I read about cross band repeat is to set up a mobile to retrans with a hand talkie so you can use a UHF hand talkie to hit a 2m repeater, thus increasing your range even farther. What I had envisioned was setting up a mobile as a base station at camp set to RX on UHF and TX on VHF, both on unused frequencies. Then the mobile dual band rigs can set up to TX on the UHF freq and RX on the VHF freq so that a rig on one side of the park can hit someone on the other side of the park by using the camp repeater. The other issue brought up is the legality, since if I set the repeater up, my call sign won't be broadcast when the repeater retrans someone else's transmissions unless i get a mobile unit that will broadcast my call sign in CW. Also if no one is at camp, the repeater would not have a control operator, so again, another legal road block.

The prospect of all the extended range and possibilities is exciting, but there is a lot to learn.
 
Colin, the radio yoda here at the hospital has invited us to a demonstration of the facility's ham radio repeater and other stuff whenever we want. he's to radio what we are to cruisers. Since Bob went and moved he'll have to wait till we can bounce off a meteor tail.
surprisingly i understood most of what you typed up above! and with 7 hours of studying thus far and i haven't even purchased the book yet!
 
CrowleyFJ40 said:
Bob, glad to see you join the discussion.

Would technician license suffice for what we would do, or would we need a general license? EDIT: 5 minutes of research got me the answer that a tech license will cover those bands, but for the same exam fee why not study for general as well.

If there is enough interest, I'd be game to get my license.
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I got my Technician license about two years ago. The only reason you would need a General is if you wish to delve into the world of HF. Which isn't super ideal, or necessary, for mobile rigs only needing to communicate with each other/base camp. Those antennas will be rather large and more difficult to operate on the move.

I have a Yaesu Ft-2900 2M mobile rig in my 96' LC with a 5/8 wave stainless steel whip, tuned of course. The good thing about the 5/8 wave is that it does not require a ground plane and can be mounted on say, the bumper or a lip mount on the rear hatch instead of top center of the roof. This will aid in clearance issues on the trail. This transceiver is only $140, mounted easily in my center console out of sight, and is capable of outputting 5, 10, 30, and 100watts. If you can't talk to base camp with 100watts something is wrong. You also have access to 2m repeaters and can really reach out for emergency purposes. This is the main reason I have my HAM license. So that no matter where I am I can call for assitance in a emergency.

For vehicle to vehicle comms I will be installing a CB rig in a few weeks. Cobra, Uniden, and Midland all have comparable radios with similar functions.

Hope this helps.

DevilPig
KJ6QQT
 
Rob the best thing im doing is reading the hamtestonline site. I pd the $25 and it will hopefully whip me in shape. I have 2 other books to supplement. Ill email u boys and see if we can get a tour at my work of the hamb station as well.

Sent from my phone using IH8MUD
 
If you sign up for a free account at qrz.com, they have online practice tests that will tell you what areas you need to study up on more. I've just been using free online study guides and the free online practice tests. There is a little bit of learning to do, but nothing too difficult.
 
kc_chevota said:
Colin FYI the Technician Class Element 2 practice test on qrz is out dated. I got the new practice test but need to get some disks and will burn copies for you and Erik
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Thanks for the heads up. How big is the file, just throw it up on the Google drive?
 
possible correction the test changed mid 2010, qrz doesn't state which one it has. The file I have has to be burned to a disk it will not run in its current form, I have made one for you and Erik and can drop them to Erik on monday if he is working by me. What online study guide are you using?
 
Rob,
I used these two study guides together, plus Google to find out anything that wasn't crystal clear in the guides:
Slideshow saved as .pdf and other info - http://www.hamclass.org/
Better at explaining, no fancy pictures - http://www.kb6nu.com/tech-manual/

Online quizes at QRZ and eham.com. According to QRZ website it's got the 2010 test questions, and they are the same questions eham.com is using, and also the ones in both study guides. I really hope I haven't learned the wrong stuff, not that ohms law is going to change in 4 years...
 
Ham's been a big step forward...

Got my Technician license in late 2007. Hamtestonline made it painless.

Bought a Yaesu R-8900 dual band for the truck and a VX-170 2 meter handheld, based on recommendations on Mud. Did the standard split install with the head unit on the console under the ashtray and the radio in the rear passenger cubbie. For over two years, didn't really spend any time learning to operate or program the radio, so it hardly got used.

Finally, I got interested and bought G4HFQ's programming software for both radios. Turns out, it's a snap to find (Radio Reference & local club lists) and program these radios with any frequencies you'll want to use (within the frequency ranges of the particular radios).

Since then, I've also:

Added a Wouxun KG-UV6 dual band hand held, which came with its own programming software (Commander).

Opened up all three radios to increase their transmitting frequency ranges.

Started using MURS and GMRS (got that license too) frequencies, in addition to the Amateur bands. The MURS channels can be used by my kids who don't have a ham license and the GMRS channels overlap with the cheap Motorola FRS radios you see in Wal-Mart (**be sure you're playing by the FCC's licensing and equipment rules before you key up**).

If you're considering making the move away from CB, in addition to the comments already posted here, the main MUD board has great Land Cruiser / off-roading specific info. I'd also suggest you stop in and chat with the folks at Associated Radio in old downtown Overland Park. A 'small' shop that carries everything you'll ever need, offers advice on how to use it and generally costs about the same as the large interweb sellers.

The increased versatility of the ham equipment and repeater networks far outweighs the time invested for me. One of these days, I'll get around to taking the General test and trying out HF.
 
reviving this thread, as I just remembered that I have not got cb's yet.

Thinking of adding the split unit on foo. Thoughts?
 
What's a split unit. I wanted u techies to just figure it out! Does that do both?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using IH8MUD
 
kc_chevota said:
ok I see, Erik a split unit is where the unit is split in to 2 parts the face plate and the guts.
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I don't know if they are as powerful, but the guts can hide up behind dash, with only the handheld part out that has all controls on it. Seems like an easy install, plus when not in use, I would think you can disconnect the handheld, or tuck it out of the way.
 
Jamie-

That is the 75wx I was talking about above. I call it a split unit as you connect all of the power and antenna to a box that you hide under the dash, then connect the handheld unit to this box. It still needs antenna, and I do not know if it has same range.

If I recall last year, most units (normal units) would not communicate throughtout the large ranch, so I don't think that is an option.

If we find out this is the same strength of the standard unit, I think I will pick one up.
 
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