|
Post by iceman on Oct 16, 2012 12:15:12 GMT -8
Well I know Hottie did this before and i dont know if anyone went with him. I have been wanting a new comm system in the XJ. So i have decided that i am going to take a ham radio technician test on Dec 15, 2012. I need this test to buy and operate the race radio and the new 10meter / cb radio i will be installing in the cherokee. If you are interested in taking the test please let me know. They are taking this test in salmon creek on Dec 15. Here is the link. www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/vancouver-wa-98686-1442-17If you are interested i will get you all the info, and if your interested we can do a couple practice sessions. Ket me know .
|
|
|
Post by hootie on Oct 16, 2012 13:51:46 GMT -8
( he called me Hottie ! ) ( feeling a little uncomfortable now)
Yes.. I did test and license for ham radio.
I took the online practice tests that are available ( google em ).
I use a 2 meter radio in my Suburban and I have a 2 meter/70 cm dual band portable for use in the Blazer.
Yacolt Burn has good coverage for both those types of radio as they have repeaters up there for both. Clark County Amateur Radio Club hosts those repeaters. Coverage is good in Tillamook Burn as well.
I don't have all the answers regarding this subject... but you can try me if you have any questions .. Dave.
|
|
|
Post by ljdude on Oct 16, 2012 15:38:37 GMT -8
( he called me Hottie ! ) ( feeling a little uncomfortable now) LMAO!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by iceman on Oct 16, 2012 21:47:16 GMT -8
( he called me Hottie ! ) Stupid auto correct.
|
|
|
Post by petee on Oct 18, 2012 19:08:33 GMT -8
ya right
|
|
doug
Active Member
Posts: 9
|
Post by doug on Oct 31, 2012 15:52:21 GMT -8
I am interested is there study material somewhere. I see that Hottie aka Hootie took on line practice tests....is that enough.
|
|
|
Post by hootie on Jul 25, 2013 12:25:04 GMT -8
Old post ... new posting. I got a phone call from Moose ( Alan ) the other day... he told me about a HAM radio net. ( network ). This one, ( and there are many ), was internet linked and he wanted to see if we could hook up on it.. So, last thursday morning we tuned our radios for the repeater in our areas.. ( me tuning for Banks OR area repeater,,, and Alan for one in San Diego). We were able to talk on our radios to each other from WA to CA. It was kind of fun. The advantage... for HAM is exactly this... you can tune for local repeaters... ( that are Often placed exactly where we wheel .. the tops of mountains..) and be able to communicate over long distances. This can be important in an emergency as cell phone and cb radios usually have trouble in both these environments.
I would love to see our club have 3 or 4 of us with these radios.. (. could have been useful at the poker run). It would allow us to communicate throughout the forest between groups or individuals when we are separated by greater distance than our cbs can do.
As stated earlier in this thread.... I went online and found several practice tests available. I just took the tests over and over and at a certain point... you will have had all of the questions that are in the testing pool. Actual testing is done at a site ( like Mt Hood Community College ),,, and each person gets a separate test with a group of questions from the larger pool of questions.. This way you don't know exactly which questions you will answer that day. I never read a book or anything... just retook the practice test and noted correct answers to questions untill I consistantly passed the practice tests.. Then I went to the exam... had no problem.
I know it seems like a hassle.... but the other advantage of HAM radio is that the users are required to operate at a standard that doesn't allow the crap that you hear on cb. Actual talk on the radio is not technical at all and is natural talk except that you must include your call letters at times during your conversation. Otherwise you use your name just like the cb or phone.
Another advantage.. that I hope we never need, is being able to get help to an injury in the forest.
And lastly.... if society fails or serious power outtages occur,,, you will still have some form of communication.. most repeaters operate on or at least have backup of self power provided by solar and wind.
I will talk to anyone,,, or demonstrate my radio for any who are interested. Dave.
|
|
|
Post by petee on Jul 25, 2013 15:39:51 GMT -8
You had me at "if society fails"
Let's talk.
|
|
|
Post by ljdude on Jul 25, 2013 20:02:47 GMT -8
You had me at "if society fails" Let's talk. Crazy prepper!!!Also interested
|
|
|
Post by ljdude on Nov 10, 2013 20:52:04 GMT -8
Old post ... new posting. I got a phone call from Moose ( Alan ) the other day... he told me about a HAM radio net. ( network ). This one, ( and there are many ), was internet linked and he wanted to see if we could hook up on it.. So, last thursday morning we tuned our radios for the repeater in our areas.. ( me tuning for Banks OR area repeater,,, and Alan for one in San Diego). We were able to talk on our radios to each other from WA to CA. It was kind of fun. The advantage... for HAM is exactly this... you can tune for local repeaters... ( that are Often placed exactly where we wheel .. the tops of mountains..) and be able to communicate over long distances. This can be important in an emergency as cell phone and cb radios usually have trouble in both these environments. Dave, I want to make sure that I understand this. When you and Moose were chatting on your radios you were both using your radios to communicate with a repeater tower (yours in Banks, Moose's in San Diego) and the towers were connected via the internet. Daryl
|
|
|
Post by hootie on Nov 21, 2013 11:42:42 GMT -8
Regarding Internet connected repeaters..
Yes.. Moose and I both used our radios.. tuned to local repeaters.. This particular "net" ( word for an organized radio meeting or conversation ) used certain repeaters. Moose tuned to a local repeater for him which is located in San Diego. I tuned to the participating repeater in this area which was located in Banks OR. The operators of those repeaters linked them by way of the internet. The internet being a free connection to bridge that long distance.
Generally a repeater uses two frequencies.. and your radio automatically sets the offset ( one frequency for transmission and one frequency for reception ) This way signals coming into the repeater come from us with our low powered radios are amplified by the repeater and sent back out to everyone at a higher wattage and at a slightly different frequency. ( you speak on one frequency and recieve on another,,, seemlessly,,, by way of the automatic offset ).
Repeaters have the option of being a stand alone unit or they may choose to link with other repeaters to widen their range. In this area one very popular linked system is Beach Net. You can pretty much speak and listen to anyone on the WA and OR coast and Inland to here in this area on this net. You can speak from hear to Ocean Park or Lincoln City and many others. You also hear all those conversations from those areas.
You can typically reach dozens of repeaters from anywhere you are. I have a list of repeaters that I think I may need programed into my radios. They include repeaters from Salem to Longview and from the Cascades to the Coast.
I was in the Tillamook Forest on Memorial Day.. ( saving our camp spot ) and hit the Yacolt Burn repeater from there at Medium power on my radio. I could have also tuned to Tillamook Forest repeaters and had great coverage of that area. ( although I would have needed another person to talk to... and ( advantage ) there is not that much radio traffic in the Tillamook Forest. ( Wide open for us wheelers to communicate ).
Ryan Wells is getting a HAM radio... would still be awsome to have a few more.. or several more.
Any other questions or comments are welcome. Dave.
|
|
|
Post by ljdude on Nov 21, 2013 20:37:23 GMT -8
Interesting stuff. Im sure that I will have some more questions to shoot your way.
|
|
|
Post by themooses on Dec 9, 2013 23:35:50 GMT -8
Hi Gang!! Good to see all the talk about ham radio (HAM is actually incorrect). I just this past Saturday passed my test to become an Amateur Extra, the highest level there is. Even for a knothead like me this was not ALL that hard. I got an app for my phone that was a great help. It was free and had all 947 questions in the Extra pool and the answers in a "study the correct answers" or " take a sample test" or " take a section quiz" format. No class to take, no book to read. Now I can talk on any available frequency I want.
If any of you would like a demo, let Dave and/or me know and we can set something up. There are several more ways to communicate than through repeaters. On my last desert trip I "worked" a station in northern Michigan on 10 meters and it sounded like he was standing right next to me. Just radio waves through the atmosphere, no repeaters. Many of us have solar panels that charge storage batteries that can power our stations during a power outage or other emergency (such as the zombie apocalypse, Daryl;)) We hold disaster preparedness drills and work closely with the Red Cross and local authorities. Anyway, if you have any questions that Dave can't anser for you, just shoot me an email at KF7ITJ@arrl.net and I'll be happy to find you an answer if I don't know it. Lastly, I sure miss you guys... 73, Moose, KF7ITJ
|
|
|
Post by bigstuck on Apr 11, 2014 9:55:48 GMT -8
Sooo. Since most of us are involved in some way shape or form with one of the few race teams in the group now. We should keep this fresh and going. With the race cars having radios and most the support rigs having them too. It would just complete the circle with the rest of you. My Icom radio came in with soon install into the jeep. These are a much better way to reach out and touch someone in the group and stay in contact. I got mine through John at Auburn car repair and he programs them with all the channels one would need. Especially all the desert race and KOH channels too.
|
|
|
Post by ljdude on Apr 11, 2014 22:20:57 GMT -8
Purdy
|
|