2M/Ham radio, get yours before the

[pskhaat]

Okay, I'm motivated again to teach some more folks about Ham/Amateur radio (yes this includes your popular 2m) and my youngest is now old enough for me to start getting out a little more. Sorry about the indefinete delay in late 2005.

Radio communication is SO beneficial on the long trails. Ursidae69 and I were talking distant mountain ranges apart thinking we were on the exact same trail whilst in Leadville. And for those of you who think CB/FRS is all you need, there are better solutions. The same way you choose your overland vehicle vs. a horse & covered wagon (though that sounds quite good).

In fact, I'm suprised that many gps/nav competitions don't do much with team vehicles and radio communication. The FCC test is not terribly difficult, relying on memory, and allows you an absolute wealth of frequencies, and ability to use any radio you can make or get your hands on, internet connections & the ability to talk all over the world.

I'm thinking about holding a get-together in the Valley (AZ) somewhere tentatively on 13 July 06. Please let me know if you're interested.

[Brian McVickers]

count me in just let me know

[DaveInDenver]

Just to add a pair of pennies, pskhaat and I made a marginal 2m contact out in Moab. I was traveling westbound on I-70 at the Cisco exit, he was in town. That's about 50 miles, goes through Castle Valley and neither of us have ideal antenna mounts and the orientation was just plain bad. I see ham as not even optional for back country travel anymore. In that vein, I don't mind lending a hand to someone up here interested in getting a license. If you can install a CB radio, you can basically pass the entry level tech test.

[Ursidae69]

Ursidae69 and I were talking distant mountain ranges apart thinking we were on the exact same trail whilst in Leadville.

Scott, I'm glad you had your radio on since Bajataco was supposed to be monitoring the frequency! :p

I love 2 meter, I had been hearing you call out for 30 minutes before I finally keyed up because I didn't recognize the call signs. It was so crystal clear and we were in two different mountain ranges, amazing. :ylsmoke:

[bigreen505]

Dave, I'll take you up on that!

[asteffes]

I always monitor 146.520 (the standard, national 2M calling frequency) when out in the boonies or mountains.

[DaveInDenver]

Dave, I'll take you up on that!

Hey, cool! Yeah, there's probably a couple of people who might be interested, let's set something up.

Just to see when tests are given:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/

Pretty much figure that within any 2 week period, you will be able to find a test being given somewhere around here.

The next few days are hectic for me, but after about 7/10 I could pretty much help out with whatever. Don't mistake me for a super elmer, but I'm licensed and can explain some of the theory. We should start a new thread and maybe get a few Front Rangers together for it.

[pskhaat]

On simplex even, DaveInDenver, here was the distance by road:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=cisco,+ut&daddr=84535&ie=UTF8&om=1

[Steve Curren]

I am very interested in learning the proper use of the ham radio, I have used radios in the past but they did not require a license. I have heard that you can also be on another's license, is that not true?

Thank you,
Steve Curren

[k6uk]

I must agree, that Ham radio is an amazing resource offroad.
I'll also throw my hat in the ring for helping out anyone interested!

The Technician class license really is a pretty simple test (getting simpler as of this month as they have reduced the number of questions) and the General Class will soon be "no code" which will open up the HF frequencies to many more people.

We could probably get a couple of volunteer examiners to come to an event if we have enough people ready to take the test.

73,

Mike K6UK

[pskhaat]

you can also be on another's license, is that not true?


You may be thinking of GMRS which is a pay-for-your-license kind of gig on UHF which shares some FRS freq's.

[Steve Curren]

Scott,
I don't know, I was told by a friend that a number of people can use one license. I would like to have instruction on the use of the radio as well as get my own license.
Thanks,
Steve

[pskhaat]

I don't know, I was told by a friend that a number of people can use one license.

GMRS is an immediate family license meaning siblings, parents, children can share a license. As for different friends and trail folks, no, unless they are immediate family they can not share a license. GMRS is great too, but honestly you might as well become a Ham: GMRS has few people on it due to the cost of license and you almost eventually need to know as much as a Tech (lowest) level Ham to get use out GMRS anyway. Being a Ham gives you a LOT more channels and frequencies than GMRS. I think if the expedition/wheeling community agreed to go to GMRS or even MURS (see below) it'd be a great choice, but alas people resist.

Amateur/Ham definetely needs each person's own license. As a ham, you can allow someone else to use your `station' temporarily, but that doesn't apply to non-licensed parties in the conversation.

MURS is basically VHF CB which is awesome but is having big resistance in the marketplace though it takes no license just like HF CB. MURS limited to to 2 watts (actually not as bad as it sounds).

You can purchase FCC agreements for commercial licensing, but this is usually application specific and not intended for talking with anyone outside of your business domain and thus can't realistically be applied to everyone on a trail.

I have a hacked together CB rig but wish and prefer eveyone else to be a Ham, it makes the radio experience so much better.

[BajaTaco]

Scott, I'm glad you had your radio on since Bajataco was supposed to be monitoring the frequency! :p


:o

[Steve Curren]

Scott,
Thanks for the education, I have a ham HT and I want to obtain a license. I have written the 13th on my calendar for a possible ham class and I am eager to get on with the license. Presently I am using a cb and family radio when I go out with a group, the range is lacking in both but I know I would get resistance from them in going to a ham radio.
Thanks again,
Steve Curren

[Gonzzo]

Im interested in learning more about all of the modes of communication mentioned on this post, can annyone suggest a web site for begginers.

When i say i need information i mean i know NOTHING about these types of communications so a layman's explanation site would be best for me.

Thanks.

Gonzzo.

:victory:

[DaveInDenver]

Im interested in learning more about all of the modes of communication mentioned on this post, can annyone suggest a web site for begginers.

When i say i need information i mean i know NOTHING about these types of communications so a layman's explanation site would be best for me.

Thanks.

Gonzzo.

:victory:

GMRS, MURS, FRS:
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/

Ham:
http://www.ac6v.com/

Or just ask here, there's several hams and some (unlike me) know what they're talking about.

[k6uk]

Here is a good place to start, but there are tons of resources online:

http://www.hello-radio.org/whatis.html

Feel free to PM me or email me if you have any specific questions.


-Mike K6UK

[vanguard]

This seemed like a good place for my story from last weekend. We got to the campsite before everybody else so I decided to hit the trails with my family. It was raining so I thought we'd kill some time and set up the tent after the rain stopped.

Well, things got ugly and flash flooding turned small creeks into white water rapids. I crossed a few of them before turning around. Things were getting worse by the minute and at one point water was coming over the hood (no snorkle). It was time to pull over and let the flood waters calm down. My cb wasn't reaching anybody. I suppose the sane people stayed out of the forest. My cell phone didn't have service. However, the ham was real active. I asked somebody on the ham to call my buddy and tell him where I was and what I was up to because my friends were waiting for me and knew I was out there somewhere. He called my friend and relayed the message. In about an hour the flood waters had eased enough to let me cross.

It was the first time I used my ham as anything other than a better cb. I actually needed to get my message out and everything else was down.

[Scott Brady]

Getting my license is a top priority for me this summer...

[pskhaat]

Scott, why don't you join us on the 13th.

[Scott Brady]

Unfortunately, I will be in CA :mad:

[pskhaat]

I don't think anyone's tied to particular dates if that 13th doesn't work for folks; if everyone wants to throw out additional dates, I'll see what I can do, and maybe we can make a night run or a mini-adventure out of it instead of sitting in a city?

[Steve Curren]

I would love to join you if there is room for me, I live north of Tucson and am ready to go just about anywhere to learn ham radio procedures.

[awalter]

Getting my license is a top priority for me this summer...


I've heard that somewhere before.::luxhello:

[BajaXplorer]

What Al said.:jump:
K7LHL

[Scott Brady]

yeah, I am a self titled "radio challenged" individual...

[pskhaat]

I havn't heard anyone's yay or nay on the 13th (this Thursday)? Do we want to wait until we can get together on the trail?

[Brian McVickers]

Scott,
I am very interested in this but also have company coming in on Thursday.
It would be lame of me to bug out on them thier first night in town!
If you still do it on the 13th then I'll miss it but would welcome the excuse for a trail ride and in-the-field lesson!

Either that or dinner, I've wanted to chat with you about sailing as well!;)

[datrupr]

I have no sitter, but a trail lesson sounds really cool. And, I still want to get my license.

[pskhaat]

Why don't we plan a weekend trip then and do it then? Anyone for the Jul29/30 timeframe? We can post in planned adventures elssewhere.

[datrupr]

Can't do it then Scott, I will be in Mexico.

[datrupr]

What about late August to Mid September range?

[vanguard]

I wasn't sure if I should post this but there is an easy way to pass the test. The right way to do it, the way I did it, is to study, understand the materials, and learn the theory. (Well, I learned a lot but I don't want to pretend that I'm an expert.)

The easy way to do it is to get the test questions and answers (easily found online or in a book) and remove the wrong answers. Now you're reading the questions and answers and matching them in your head. When you take the test the correct answer, the one you've read dozens of times, will jump out at you.

You're not going to impress anybody that likes to keep the ham radio as an elite club but if I was "radio challenged" and over a year went by without getting my license I'd be pretty tempted to just pass the test. :p

[pskhaat]

Sounds very good to me. I'm hoping to go on the HITR trail with folks here in Sep?