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I too got sucked into Ham Radio via the Ham Radio Forum here.
It is all AR-Jedi's fault. I live in the same zip code as Universal Radio's store. My wallet and my wife both scream. Not really I am only into it about the cost of an AR. I have about a thousand dollars tied up in a gaggle of 2m stuff and an HF rig. |
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Quoted: I have a radio shack hand held CB radio. I got it for use when 4-wheeling in groups. CB's still rule in these type activities and are used a lot between the lead vehicle and the tail gunner (last vehicle). They can be useful when working with spotters on technical sections of a trail. That's about all I use it for - it does have the weather channels so you can get the automated forecasts for your region on it. Is it a good one? It's ok. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and had a very specific use for it. So for me, it was the right choice. although i have a cobra handheld, this is exactly my situation. it's highly unlikely everyone is going to have a ham license or gear and the walkie talkie type radios are usually too cluttered with random users. it's also very easy to toss in any vehicle for emergency use. |
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In true ARFcom fashion get both , I run a cb and ham plus keep a ham handheld on me when I jeep. The Ham radio smokes the pants off a cb when I NEED to communicate . If they are a couple hams we will try to put them in separate groups that way they can relay comms between the groups on the trail. Im not sure if you can see it but thes a ft-2800 , a unidien cb and a hx-370... forgot my vx6r  My vx 6 r hanging out  Quoted: Quoted: I have a radio shack hand held CB radio. I got it for use when 4-wheeling in groups. CB's still rule in these type activities and are used a lot between the lead vehicle and the tail gunner (last vehicle). They can be useful when working with spotters on technical sections of a trail. That's about all I use it for - it does have the weather channels so you can get the automated forecasts for your region on it. Is it a good one? It's ok. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and had a very specific use for it. So for me, it was the right choice. although i have a cobra handheld, this is exactly my situation. it's highly unlikely everyone is going to have a ham license or gear and the walkie talkie type radios are usually too cluttered with random users. it's also very easy to toss in any vehicle for emergency use. |
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While snowshoeing alone I was losing phone signal and I could see town (Salt lake City). After looking at the various options HAM was the only one that would work at getting me long distance (more than 1 mile) in the hills. With 20-30 hours of study I passed the exam and got my license. Now I have a VX-7R and love it. Waterproof, good battery and can talk to my family over 40 miles away with the local repeater. Ham radio is the best back country, in town, trail, highway, urban, rural communication method out there. Get your license and never look back.
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| A used radio like the Yaesu Vx-6r will give you 140MHz, 440MHz transmit and receive from AM bands through 999MHz. I've seen them sell for just over a hundred bucks used. I used to have a 120' horizontal wire antenna in the back yard, I could pick up a lot of shortwave stations with that. |
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I was talking with our spectrum manager today and he showed me an updated hot off the FCC printers "proposed" frequency allocation chart being floated around. Let's just say that a lot of amateur radio enthusiasts and companies that rely on GMRS are going to be extremely pissed off WHEN (not IF) it's adopted in the not too distant future. Edit: RC enthusiasts to be included in the pissed off category too. Not too worried. I have seen "proposed" frequency charts all the time put forth by various industry groups to want our spectrum. Thing is, 90%+ of our spectrum is allocated by international treaties. The FCC can't change that. Between that and the inevitable long legal battle plus huge pressure on congress to resist it, I do t see us losing much. Maybe the bottom half of 440, but we are secondary to military radar there and I doubt the military will tolerate widespread commercial use on it. Just for giggles, post what you have and the source. Probably said more then I should have already. PM sent. |
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A two-meter handi-talkie would be 100x more useful and capable. Just sayin'. Interesting. Any recommended models? Where is a good place to get started on a HAM radio license? (As an 0602, I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit I don't know much at all about ham radio.) If you want a handie talkie (HT) get your HAM license and get a Yaesu VX-7R Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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As a bit of a hijack, I was operating at 40,000 feet tonight. 
Gotta love that /AM tacked onto the end of my callsign. How long have you been doing that? I worked somone in a tanker on .52 about 4-5 years ago, he was over TN and I was outside Augusta GA. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I was talking with our spectrum manager today and he showed me an updated hot off the FCC printers "proposed" frequency allocation chart being floated around. Let's just say that a lot of amateur radio enthusiasts and companies that rely on GMRS are going to be extremely pissed off WHEN (not IF) it's adopted in the not too distant future. Edit: RC enthusiasts to be included in the pissed off category too. Not too worried. I have seen "proposed" frequency charts all the time put forth by various industry groups to want our spectrum. Thing is, 90%+ of our spectrum is allocated by international treaties. The FCC can't change that. Between that and the inevitable long legal battle plus huge pressure on congress to resist it, I do t see us losing much. Maybe the bottom half of 440, but we are secondary to military radar there and I doubt the military will tolerate widespread commercial use on it. Just for giggles, post what you have and the source. Probably said more then I should have already. PM sent. Working on high altitude rocket telemetry hardware/RF. Trying to get some assignments for freq's and got some backchannel static about the freq's we were looking at. Can't say much more than that. Hard to post links to conversations. |
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Quoted: awaiting AAR from JDC_VA_USMC... ar-jedi I passed my Tech and General! The class was pretty good but a little slow for me. So, I skipped the morning session this morning, studied Dan Romanchik's General guide, and took both tests in the afternoon. The testers almost talked me into taking the Extra exam. gigaparts is having a sale on the VX-7RB for $289. It's like they knew I was going to pass my test today.  |
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awaiting AAR from JDC_VA_USMC... ar-jedi I passed my Tech and General! The class was pretty good but a little slow for me. So, I skipped the morning session this morning, studied Dan Romanchik's General guide, and took both tests in the afternoon. The testers almost talked me into taking the Extra exam. gigaparts is having a sale on the VX-7RB for $289. It's like they knew I was going to pass my test today.
SWEET! |
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What accessories do you guys recommend right of the bat for the VX-7RB? I'm thinking vehicle charger and desk charger. What about the speaker mic? Waterproof one worth the extra $ ? IMHO, 6m on an HT is useless. suggestions for accessories –– pleather outer case, charging adapter for the car, small mag mount antenna which will give you reach during an emergency, tiny flex antenna for throwing the radio in your pocket, ARRL or Artsci repeater directory, ... and the list goes on... 
ar-jedi 
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZML-MH-209SMA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZDM-SRH77CA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZJS-JTM2S |
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What accessories do you guys recommend right of the bat for the VX-7RB? I'm thinking vehicle charger and desk charger. What about the speaker mic? Waterproof one worth the extra $ ? IMHO, 6m on an HT is useless. suggestions for accessories –– pleather outer case, charging adapter for the car, small mag mount antenna which will give you reach during an emergency, tiny flex antenna for throwing the radio in your pocket, ARRL or Artsci repeater directory, ... and the list goes on...
ar-jedi http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/bugoutbox/DSCN1908_sm.jpg http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZML-MH-209SMA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZDM-SRH77CA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZJS-JTM2S There's no weapons in that picture. 
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What accessories do you guys recommend right of the bat for the VX-7RB? I'm thinking vehicle charger and desk charger. What about the speaker mic? Waterproof one worth the extra $ ? Congratulations from a fellow newbie ham; also did the same-day tech & general. Here's what I got with my VX8R (not the new DR; found it on sale for $350): Waterproof mic (but that was only one available for mine). If you're buying a waterproof radio, might as well get a mic that is, too. Larger battery Car charger Better antenna with BNC connector Low profile SMA-BNC adapter to keep on radio. Quick change &minimize wear & tear on the Yaesu SMA connector, a known weak point on these radios. Comet SBB-1 1/4 wave flexible antenna, NMO base. Door clamp NMO antenna mount, terminating in BNC connector. Repeater directory. Programming software & cable. So much easier; you just wouldn't believe how handy it is to use a spreadsheet for memories instead of manual input. Quick reference book and pocket card. There are so many functions and menu items that I can't remember how to work them. I should have purchased the desk charger. Don't like lifting a rubber flap to plug it in. I didn't get a carrying case; they redesigned the belt clip on the -8 and folks said it was better. Should have done a case anyway, it still feels flimsy. The speaker volume on the mic is a little disappointing. I have to clip it to my seatbelt near my head to hear over road noise and quiet radio. Still better than holding up the radio itself with antenna & charger wires attached. Skip the AA battery adapter. Tx at much reduced power. Beer Slayer in the ham forum described a DIY AA box he built to charge the main battery. I like that idea better. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Thats used to call in all his friend with guns .... Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What accessories do you guys recommend right of the bat for the VX-7RB? I'm thinking vehicle charger and desk charger. What about the speaker mic? Waterproof one worth the extra $ ? IMHO, 6m on an HT is useless. suggestions for accessories –– pleather outer case, charging adapter for the car, small mag mount antenna which will give you reach during an emergency, tiny flex antenna for throwing the radio in your pocket, ARRL or Artsci repeater directory, ... and the list goes on... ar-jedi http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/bugoutbox/DSCN1908_sm.jpg http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZML-MH-209SMA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZDM-SRH77CA http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZJS-JTM2S There's no weapons in that picture. |
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Quoted: I passed my Tech and General! The class was pretty good but a little slow for me. So, I skipped the morning session this morning, studied Dan Romanchik's General guide, and took both tests in the afternoon. The testers almost talked me into taking the Extra exam. Congrats! |
