Two meter HAM
 

I have been thinking for a long time about getting into a HAM setup for the rig.
I have found two good radios.

The Yaesu VX-8 handheld is brand new
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0008.html

http://www.hamcity.com/images/vx8r.jpg

The first vid loads very slow for some reason, been like this all day.

[YOUTUBE]9x_sZ-6Yo8o[/YOUTUBE]

Or a hard mount for the rig, the Yaesu 8800
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...xvrs/0080.html

http://www.norad.dk/yaesu/img/ft8900r-1.jpg

[YOUTUBE]yrqevGIx1A0[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]k00dJyQzuY4[/YOUTUBE]

The latter one you can mount the guts under your seat, and the faceplate you can mount elsewhere.

Obviously the latter one puts out more power too.
But the handheld would also do fine with repeaters.
I am pretty sure there are repeater systems up near Greenwater where I like to explore.

I have to check into getting a license to run two meter.
I hear that is the best band that most use when off road.

What setups do some of you run?

I've got an Alinco DR635 in my 4Runner. I looked at the Yaesu 8800 as well but went with the Alinco on the recommendation of a friend who has one. The features of both are very similar. If you're using repeaters then the small handheld should have enough power, and some of them have the capability of connecting to an external antenna which increases the range. Generally in this part of the world we use 146.520 or 146.460 MHz.

Once you see the range and clarity of a VHF you'll wonder how you ever survived with CB before. The terrain here is similar to what you have and with CB I'm lucky to get a km or 2, with the VHF I've talked to people about 40 km away, using 50W.

Don't know much about the test and license in the US but up here it's very easy to pass. License is free and lasts for life too.

I'm running a Kenwood TM-271A mounted in the dash under the stereo in my 95 PU. It was one of the few I could find that had a front firing speaker. I wasn't sure how the sound quality was going to be but it has proven to be excellent. It was also one of the most robust radios that I researched.

In 3 years of using it I have yet to have a problem with it. After you switch to VHF you'll be giving your buddies crap for still using cb's. Tha't been the biggest problem, most 4wheelers still use cb's. I use mine mostly for the logging trucks anyway.

i've been thinking of getting my HAM license as well.....

why do you have to have a licence to have one ?

because its controlled by the FCC... its amateur radio.

Good book to buy for the technician class exam
http://www.amazon.com/Technician-Cla.../dp/0945053452
There are thirty five questions on the test.

Here is a practice site that has the questions on it
http://www.qrz.com/testing.html

Also found this site with a technician study document on it.
http://www.microhams.com/softcontent.aspx?scId=31

I called Radio Shack up earlier, and shame on them.
They use to always carry all sorts of books for hobbies.
Not anymore...

I will probably order that book tomorrow from Amazon.
I am leaning towards that Yaesu VX-8 too as my first radio.
With it being a portable, I can bring it into my home and play with it more than I could a dedicated radio out in the rig.

Down the road I will more than likely get another unit for the rig.

This is something that I should have gotten into thirty years or more ago,
Better late than never :D

Chris, what type of radio are you looking at?
I read up more on that handheld, and it is a dual receiver type which mean you can monitor more than one freq.

Eric, Neo, I am sure this will be a kick in the butt compared to CB, especially how clear it will seem compared to the scratchy sound of CB.

Oh, i see.
is it hard to get a licence

Take that 35 question on the URL I posted above, and you will see.
You need 60% of the 35 to pass.

THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO STUDY!!!! When I took the test the questions were word for word from the practice test to the real test.

For my 2-meter setup I have a Icom 2200H, with a Diamond two meter antenna (I'm not sure on the model).

Also a good thing to pickup when you get your license is one of the ARRL repeater directory, it has all the repeaters with their frequencies, tones, and all that good stuff you need to know.

Another good test
http://www.hamtestonline.com/

Only 35 questions?? Our test up here is 100 questions, with a pass mark of 70%. Above 80% gets you an honours certification with access to all the amateur bands. Not to boast or anything but I scored 88% :hillbill:

There seems to be three different 35 question tests on that site, so I am not sure.

Going to order a book today, but not that one I posted earlier.
I hear the AARL book is better.
http://www.arrl.org/
I also plugged in my zipcode, and I found two places not to far from me that do the testing.

An advantage to not working and being home is I get to surf a lot and do research.

Found the Yaesu VX-8 operators manual
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf

And pictures
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf

Major Fail on the test.
Guess i wont be thinking about one of those for like...ever

If you take a study guide online or get a book to help, you can pass.
I ordered this today.
http://www.amazon.com/Technician-Cla.../dp/0945053452

I want to get my license. One of the guys on my club has his and at lunch one day we picked up a guy from Wyoming, over 200 miles away...

Just cool enough to get one :D

Did he have a handheld or a mobile unit?
That handheld I posted at the beginning I am going to get is five watts maximum.

The mobiles on the same frequency are like fifty watts.

With repeaters installed around though, the handheld should do fine for my first unit, plus give me more time to play with it when in my home.

I will end up with a nice mobile unit after I get familiar with the handheld first.

He has a unit more like the second one. He is a radio geek though, and he has a really...nice(since I know nothing about them) unit.