CB Radio and Ham Radio

[TerryD]

Right on! My best friends gpa growing up was a vet and he had a shed full of radio equip with a huge antenna out back. I can't remember now it's been 30yrs but he was talking to people all over the globe I think. Always wanted to get into it but figured I'd wait till I was old and needed a reason outta the house. Now I like the idea of reaching farther for help if needed while wheeling.

I got into CBs in college, setting them up for friends in the club. As I got more interested, I needed equipment. My great uncle was a ham and Mom said I should go see him. He made fun of me for playing with CBs but gave me a SWR meter he and my grandpa had bought together in the 70s.

Anyways, it was after I got out of college that I got my Tech ticket, although I never did get to talk to my great uncle on the radio. I still really regret that. But, I'm pretty well invested in it now and really enjoy what all it has to offer that I've managed to be involved in.

 

[meisanerd]

I keep thinking I need to go get my license, but realize that its another hobby that is just going to be a money sink at this point. Why do all my interests have to cost...

Bought a book on Linux, it's not helping yet...

If you have any specific questions, I play with Linux all the time. And by play, I mean manage a bunch of Linux servers at work and home, and run Linux on a few of my desktops...

 

[TerryD]

I keep thinking I need to go get my license, but realize that its another hobby that is just going to be a money sink at this point. Why do all my interests have to cost...



If you have any specific questions, I play with Linux all the time. And by play, I mean manage a bunch of Linux servers at work and home, and run Linux on a few of my desktops...

I appreciate the offer! I've got to learn enough so I know what to ask though.

I am not a computer person. I've never built one, I've never set one up from scratch or had to deal with terminal/ command line use beyond getting an old copy of the Lemmings game working on my W7 lap top a few years ago.

I'm completely out of my depth but I'm trying to figure some of it out.

There's lots of "type this" "how-tos" but I want to better understand WHY I need to type that rather than just click install like on windows.

I've wanted to better know for a while but never had a good enough reason. I'm happy with how windows works, or at least happy enough to not want to move on so until I had this Rpi setup, I didn't pursue it.

 

[CHUG]

I keep thinking I need to go get my license, but realize that its another hobby that is just going to be a money sink at this point. Why do all my interests have to cost...



If you have any specific questions, I play with Linux all the time. And by play, I mean manage a bunch of Linux servers at work and home, and run Linux on a few of my desktops...

For cost of Testing.. and your in the age of CHINA Makes Dam near everything for CHEAP. With Bofung radios costing about $30 bucks, Plus Cheap Bofung Antenna $15 bucks. Would be enough to talk to folks using a Repeater 60 miles With ease, and if they are linked couple hundred miles.
OR Just Simplex. Line of sight. 7 to 20 miles Depends on Geographic location. ( City Noise, or Mountain Valley's Etc ).

Thar is always a OLD Fart Geezer with his Feet up and Radio scanning.. alway's waiting for Radio to speak.. A good thing when yea need help.

 

[CHUG]

Just did a Quick amazon search.. for radio..
This is 1 watt to 3.4ish watts ( Real world). Cost is cheap.. Vs many years ago, having to buy a $400 Hand held and it only did basic.

with the cost of this, getting into Ham was cheap!.
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5...child=1&keywords=bofeng&qid=1602033618&sr=8-5

( Yes.. I might have At one point in time had 10 of these.. Currently down to 6 Bofengs, Plus, a Yasue & Alinco) NOTE the Yasue is Junk!!!. Its now my official Kayaking Rescue Radio. IF I roll.. Oh shucks!. if it drowns.. ;-)

 

[TerryD]

Just did a Quick amazon search.. for radio..
This is 1 watt to 3.4ish watts ( Real world). Cost is cheap.. Vs many years ago, having to buy a $400 Hand held and it only did basic.

with the cost of this, getting into Ham was cheap!.
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5...child=1&keywords=bofeng&qid=1602033618&sr=8-5

( Yes.. I might have At one point in time had 10 of these.. Currently down to 6 Bofengs, Plus, a Yasue & Alinco) NOTE the Yasue is Junk!!!. Its now my official Kayaking Rescue Radio. IF I roll.. Oh shucks!. if it drowns.. ;-)

I like my Yaesu FT-60R. It's kinda basic but it's a tank.

I WANT a Kenwood TH-D74A. But I want to eat this month slightly more....

 

[CHUG]

The FT1XD Yaesu.. is the one Few of us bought, for a Better quality HT.. we did our best to learn it.. and it was just too Crappy..

Both of our Radio Battery or No battery.. shelf life is 7 day's D.O.A. Regardless how I have it stored. Not one to take camping.
Alinco.. 2 months easy.. just sitting on shelf with battery attached.

reason I turned it to a Rescue Ham Coast Guard hailing Radio. Charge before playing on the water.. It's rated for water.. But not floating.

More toy's.. must have more... But Cash.. must have more cash!.. never ends.

 

[TerryD]

The FT1XD Yaesu.. is the one Few of us bought, for a Better quality HT.. we did our best to learn it.. and it was just too Crappy..

Both of our Radio Battery or No battery.. shelf life is 7 day's D.O.A. Regardless how I have it stored. Not one to take camping.
Alinco.. 2 months easy.. just sitting on shelf with battery attached.

reason I turned it to a Rescue Ham Coast Guard hailing Radio. Charge before playing on the water.. It's rated for water.. But not floating.

More toy's.. must have more... But Cash.. must have more cash!.. never ends.

Ahhh. My FT-60R rides on my backpack. I probably top off the charge once a month, usually before a trip or outing. It holds charge great, but it's a Yaesu so it has their menu driven programming difficulties. Not bad though. I have the nifty card for it.

With the mic and 12V charging cord, it makes a neat EDC type of radio. If we had a repeater closer, I'd carry my IC-Q7 Icom. Runs on AA batteries and with a 0.35W output, it'll really scream! LOL It's actually my hamfesting radio. Rides on the shoulder strap of my small pack and doesn't cook my eyeballs with the stubby soft antenna. Plus I don't have to be concerned about charging. Just keep a spare pair of AAs in the pack.

 

[CHUG]

I have bofung stuffed under the Rear seat. PERFECT storage.. It's fully charged, with long 17" antenna. I check charge on it once a year.. holding charge on year 2.
It's my Ditch radio.. I keep it fully updated with Repeaters, and simplex freq. with the same Radio programming as the X Mobile Radio. a back up, and or emergency Comm's with other Rig Or event.. Plus keeping a Roll up J-Pole with 50 feet of 550 Cord. Have lots of tree's.. for Gaining elevation. Antenna makes the radio!! applies...

eh its a sickness we have.. Radio's for all needs..

 

[meisanerd]

For cost of Testing.. and your in the age of CHINA Makes Dam near everything for CHEAP. With Bofung radios costing about $30 bucks, Plus Cheap Bofung Antenna $15 bucks. Would be enough to talk to folks using a Repeater 60 miles With ease, and if they are linked couple hundred miles.
OR Just Simplex. Line of sight. 7 to 20 miles Depends on Geographic location. ( City Noise, or Mountain Valley's Etc ).

Thar is always a OLD Fart Geezer with his Feet up and Radio scanning.. alway's waiting for Radio to speak.. A good thing when yea need help.

I mean, yes, and no. Because I'm not the type to just be like "here's $30 for a radio, I'm good to go". There's always the "oooh, shiny...". And then I get into the whole tinkering stuff, and invariably break something, and have to replace it...

I might not do that much tinkering with the X as Im not as mechanically inclined, but give me computers or electronics, and things can go downhill very quickly...

Also, life has kept me on the beaten path for the past couple years, so I haven't had as much of a need for one. Once I do finally get this thing built up the way I want, HAM becomes a lot more likely for rescue situations.

 

[TerryD]

gobble, I hate Linux....

2 hours I spent following a guide to install a program on the version of Raspbian I'm running. First was an update/upgrade that took 30+ min. More on that later.

Then a bunch of the "type this" instructions just flat ass wouldn't work. So abandon and try another way. That failed too and I got a bunch more errors.

So heck with it, let's just start back where we were and we'll deal with it later. Nope! Upgrade wrecked the file manager so I can't access the file I need to edit it to get the damn original program functional again. Fix that with full-upgrade (after reading a bunch of linked threads on different sites I couldn't retrace if I had to) and another 10 min for that to complete. Then the upgrade had bumped my sound card from Card1 to Card2 so my conf was off. Had to edit it.

So, I'm frustrated, and exactly back where I started for 2 hours worth of effort.

Maybe I need to just go back to semaphore...

 

[CHUG]

Dang.. what a Pain. I would be tossing unit in the air.. followed up with a .12 Gauge #4 shot..

I Like simplex.. No need for internet, cell technology.. Towers.. Those are the weak link.

The wildland fires we had.. Before hand everyone preaching Repeaters will with stand Quakes and are tough. No need for Learning Simplex E-COMM's.
till fire hit!! All them Repeaters went off line or burned up.. Talk about lack of comm's and people not knowing how to type in the Freq, for simple simplex.

Bunch of us, that mainly Use Simplex for our comm's. Were laughing. As when Net time arrived. we had zero issues.. With people Asking how did we do that?. haha.

Technology is nice.. BUT must have Chimp Simple method to make it work. otherwise, it becomes Issues when it fails or Kinks up... If a non-computer user can make it work!. you have a good system.
I HATE COMPUTERS!!!..

 

[TerryD]

Dang.. what a Pain. I would be tossing unit in the air.. followed up with a .12 Gauge #4 shot..

I Like simplex.. No need for internet, cell technology.. Towers.. Those are the weak link.

The wildland fires we had.. Before hand everyone preaching Repeaters will with stand Quakes and are tough. No need for Learning Simplex E-COMM's.
till fire hit!! All them Repeaters went off line or burned up.. Talk about lack of comm's and people not knowing how to type in the Freq, for simple simplex.

Bunch of us, that mainly Use Simplex for our comm's. Were laughing. As when Net time arrived. we had zero issues.. With people Asking how did we do that?. haha.

Technology is nice.. BUT must have Chimp Simple method to make it work. otherwise, it becomes Issues when it fails or Kinks up... If a non-computer user can make it work!. you have a good system.
I HATE COMPUTERS!!!..

I'm a big proponent of KNOW YOUR GEAR. I would be embarrassed to not be able to enter a repeater into my radios by hand or set a simplex frequency. The number of folks who can't is staggering...

We were doing a simplex net once a month in our club and 6m nets after the ARES repeater meets but that's died of. Several reasons I won't discuss here. I enjoyed them and it gave me the chance to play with simplex around the county when I was free to roam.

We've had several scenarios in which we've had to fall back on simplex and relay style check-ins from outliers. Our club repeater has battery power but no solar setup (stolen) so when power is down, only announcements are made on it should it be needed for wide area coverage. In that case, the net is announced and QSY to the local 2m simplex frequency.

APRS has interested me for a while and the further I dig in, the more useful it seems for area wide awareness and tactical information. I wish others locally would take a little more interest, but it'll be available when I can get this setup going.

 

[CHUG]

We tend to have issues with no net, or repeater not working.. we told folks back up freq when repeater goes down.. to QSY automatically.. to simplex.
that is just too stink-in easy.. and fails every time.

Really good reason to know your gear!!!. helps allot.

 

[meisanerd]

It helps if you have a brain. And do like Terry is trying to do, not just mindlessly following commands, but actually taking the time to understand what the command does. And a lot comes down to your purpose in doing things.

For this, the question is, "do you just want to randomly talk to people far away periodically", or "are you doing this for emergency purposes". If the former, having someone program your gear for you and just telling you what buttons to press works. And don't complain if it doesn't due to some external influence (emergency situation, repeater failure, etc). For the latter, you better know how your gear works, or just stay offline.

And thats not to say you need to know everything before you get into it. But what is your attitude towards it, and are you willing to try to learn. Things will get frustrating and not work, but thats all part of the adventure we call life.

gobble, I hate Linux....

2 hours I spent following a guide to install a program on the version of Raspbian I'm running. First was an update/upgrade that took 30+ min. More on that later.

Then a bunch of the "type this" instructions just flat ass wouldn't work. So abandon and try another way. That failed too and I got a bunch more errors.

So heck with it, let's just start back where we were and we'll deal with it later. Nope! Upgrade wrecked the file manager so I can't access the file I need to edit it to get the damn original program functional again. Fix that with full-upgrade (after reading a bunch of linked threads on different sites I couldn't retrace if I had to) and another 10 min for that to complete. Then the upgrade had bumped my sound card from Card1 to Card2 so my conf was off. Had to edit it.

So, I'm frustrated, and exactly back where I started for 2 hours worth of effort.

Maybe I need to just go back to semaphore...

As said, if you need advice, hit me up. Part of the problem with some of this Linux stuff is that they have changed how things work between versions, sometimes in a way that isn't exactly backwards-compatible. And there is a lot of stupidity in some of the developer community that isn't helping, certain factions seem to like to change the way things work because they are bored, and unwilling to understand the history of why things were done a certain way. And things can snowball quickly if you don't fix the initial errors before attempting to continue.

 

[CHUG]

From Space: https://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=06&month=10&year=2020

Would be nice to Dial in with the Long wire, for Mars Rover Freq. Doubt my 140' Horizontal Antenna will work. Does pick up the China Over the Horizon Radar. As with Japan's Radio stations annoying!
Nice thing about HF, lots of More Freq to dial in. With sticky Notes, when yea find the working Freq's. Tried the Water fall to locate Active Freq. Helps When the Band conditions are iffy. With NVIS, Can Talk 7 miles away, 19 miles away the Wave changes.. and can't talk to station but 30 miles-500 easy. Odd critters when NVIS is added to the mix.

Best part of Ham.. Learning the trick's. and Take notes!!!. Before winter Sets in, will run another Long wire East to West. For Winter Propagation testing.

Never ends. Someday, will add Vertical Tower With Beam (Maybe)

 

[CHUG]

For Boefungs.. Radio info. Lots and lots of good info in this site. For someone wanting to Learn the way's of the Ham Jedi!. A cheap means to start with.

Vs buying a $500 hand held. and Never to use it again. $25 is cheap.

For the Already Ham's of the Dark side. Has a nice section for making 2m Antenna's at home. Step by step spec's. ( Just watch your Watt levels.. Or might cook antenna. )

enjoy:
https://www.miklor.com/

 

[CHUG]

Space station now has active Repeater for us folks stuck on the Round Ball earth. 5 watts ducky antenna to hit repeater.. that should be fun, from camp.

heck, will toss in my Arrow Yagi, Fire off 50 watts and Ping who ever is in the 5,000 range.. OOP's better confirm my arrow wattage limit. Do not want glowing radiation. ;-)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_pkPGiU3R4&feature=emb_logo


article: https://swling.com/blog/2020/09/the-international-space-station-now-has-an-accessible-fm-repeater/

One for TerryD: https://www.kj7nzl.net/blog/sending-sms-messages-through-iss/

Need SATCubes, and make them Floating Repeaters... for us to play with..

 

[CHUG]

Back from camp, as with Playing with ham radio.
Dropped a 8Watt Bofung radio, THwack rock to screen. D.O.A! ugh. A $30 Radio, 4 years old. Used hard Played hard with that radio.
Will Attempt a fix, if that fails. Will Drain Battery to Zero, Use a BFH and smash its Headbone flat for trash can.

Tried ISS space station, But no luck Wrong antenna.. OOP's But was able to make few simplex contacts 50 miles away. I held the High ground!!!.

Vehicle ICOM Radio, left it on for few day's To listen for Coast Guard & radio traffic . This morning, tried to call a fellow no luck on 5 watts. Switched to High power. Hit mic POOF radio DEAD!. Hmmm?? WTF?
turn on Try again. POOF dead radio. Hmm Grr...
turn on. Seen the screen indicating 11 VOLTS.. OOOP's. Per design Human Chimp Failed to read instructions When installed.
The X was sluggish to start!. whew. got it fired up. ( Jump box not needed. Its always with me!!! )

 

[Brunnie]

WOO HOO!!! Passed Tech test...... now to get call sign... (tapping foot)

Also need to see if I can track down my General RadioTelephone Operator License info.

 

[CHUG]

Good Job, welcome to the DARK side..
Soon as your call sign is Posted @ FCC. You can Transmit on ham freq. Plan on buying Radios and growing Antenna's. ;-). Learn your Area Repeater Network & Range for each one. Plus your simplex. For your outdoor Adventures, & alway's have a Back up Plan for Comm's.

H. = Hertz ( Heinrich Hertz )
A. = ARMSTRONG (Edwin Howard Armstrong)
M.= Marconi (Gugliemo Marconi)

 

[TerryD]

JOIN A CLUB! There's a ton to be learned in a club. Proper operating procedures to be able to really communicate effectively and pass information easily. Plus learning local emergency frequencies and procedures.

It can be a bit annoying to be in a group of non hams and having to communicate with them sometimes. Folks really tear up the air waves sometimes.

 

[Brunnie]

JOIN A CLUB! There's a ton to be learned in a club. Proper operating procedures to be able to really communicate effectively and pass information easily. Plus learning local emergency frequencies and procedures.

The test group here gives you a 1 year membership to the local club, so I'll be doing that so I can pick their brains.

I started being involved in ham radio when I was stationed up in Alaska. Using the setup there sure took away some of the boredom, and I learned things too.

 

[CHUG]

The test group here gives you a 1 year membership to the local club, so I'll be doing that so I can pick their brains.

I started being involved in ham radio when I was stationed up in Alaska. Using the setup there sure took away some of the boredom, and I learned things too.

Local group will give you the inside tricks to the local repeaters, simplex. Plus, They should have local nets every week, that do Local check in's.
Most Hams, in my county know my Call sign and voice. Which is a good thing, If I request EVAC, or E-Comms. They will chime in really quick to assist. Benefits of being known i area. As I will Monitor them, and assist.. If required.

What yea got for radios?. Starting with a Bofung? or More USA made Icom, Kenwood manly radio's. ;-)

Fun hobby with a purpose.

 

[Brunnie]

For mobile I have Icom 2300H. Right now doing a lot of reading about the radio, gads the Collins KWM-2, 312B-5 and 30L-1 was so much simpler.

 

[CHUG]

Icom 2300H. is a good Radio. good power, good display. I have one of those, great radio. 2Meter only, but its has the power to transmit. Use the RT system software to program it.. Manual is a Bi$ch. Dual band is nice, for ease in use in the 2m & 70Cm. bands. Granted mos Nets and traffic is on the 2meter side.

Keep this website handy.. Helps allot. For all your repeaters in area. : https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeat...ate_id=41&loc=%&county_id=%&freq=&status_id=%


The antenna makes the radio.. Its the Key stone in the whole system.

 

[Brunnie]

RT software in on the way. And I've got the repeaterbook app. As for antenna, Larsen 5/8 wave. I had decided what radio I wanted, so when I went to a ham shop in Denver I had them recommend an antenna and mount. A little more than I wanted to spend total, but overall it is meeting my expectations.

 

[Prime]

Guess I need to get my shiat in gear. Gone is going 100% GMRS next year. So as per the norm, I'll go above and beyond.

Who wants to buy a good CB and FireStik?

 

[CHUG]

I tossed my CB years ago.. But kept the firestik, Worked great for Garden Pea Post.

Now, Mr.Musky! needs to make a STARLINK Dish, in mini-form for Taking camping OR mounting on Vehicle.

COOL to have HIGH speed net anywhere.. Bad Part! Dam 42,000 Satellites now in Orbit glowing! grrrr..

Brand New Starlink Dish To Reduce Power Yet Improve Efficiency & Density

In an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SpaceX applies for approval of a brand new Starlink user terminal.

wccftech.com

Hmmm.. Wondering?? That many Dam birds in the Orbit, They are Metallic. Would, I be able to Point a YAGI Beam. Will I get a good NVIS/Reflection skip? using simplex?. Use them to Bounce my signal 500 miles away or more.. Hmmm? IT's a theory above my Pay grade, will need to seek Other ham's thoughts on that..

 

[TerryD]

For mobile I have Icom 2300H. Right now doing a lot of reading about the radio, gads the Collins KWM-2, 312B-5 and 30L-1 was so much simpler.

2300 is a great little radio. Easy to program from the mic, plenty of power, and rugged.

I had the 2100. Miss that radio. They make good APRS stations once you move to dual band in the future.

 

[Prime]

The government is terrible. I'm trying to pay for my GMRS license before going full HAM and the website it just sitting here blank.

 

[Brunnie]

The government is terrible. I'm trying to pay for my GMRS license before going full HAM and the website it just sitting here blank.

Hold off if you can. The fee is supposed to go down.

 

[TerryD]

Icom 2300H. is a good Radio. good power, good display. I have one of those, great radio. 2Meter only, but its has the power to transmit. Use the RT system software to program it.. Manual is a Bi$ch. Dual band is nice, for ease in use in the 2m & 70Cm. bands. Granted mos Nets and traffic is on the 2meter side.

Keep this website handy.. Helps allot. For all your repeaters in area. : https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeat...ate_id=41&loc=%&county_id=%&freq=&status_id=%


The antenna makes the radio.. Its the Key stone in the whole system.

Yaesus are a B!TCH. ICOM and Kenwood are easy peasy.

RT software in on the way. And I've got the repeaterbook app. As for antenna, Larsen 5/8 wave. I had decided what radio I wanted, so when I went to a ham shop in Denver I had them recommend an antenna and mount. A little more than I wanted to spend total, but overall it is meeting my expectations.

RT is good for cloning and saving your program once it's set. I implore you to do you first setup with the face plate and mic. Nothing worse than a Ham that can't use their radio.

Me: Go to (insert freq here)

Them: I dOn'T hAvE tHaT pRoGrAmMeD iN!

Me: grrrrrrr

 

[CHUG]

Keep Manual Handy( in paper form) .. for manual input, Or 3 x 5 Cards stuffed in glove box. Nice thing with RT system Fill your needs of Freq/names. Save file. dump into radio. DONE. Then play with radio, of manual imputing Say a repeater with Tones. If you screw up radio so bad, your saved file will be a fix. Been thar done that!!.

Kenwood, ICOM's are your best quality Radio's. Ya-Sue.. is CRAP.. Got a Hand Held, I strictly use for kayaking For Coast Guard/Patrol Freq. If I roll Kayak, and radio goes Thunk!.. I be a Happy happy man!!. Hate that thing!!!.

 

[TerryD]

Keep Manual Handy( in paper form) .. for manual input, Or 3 x 5 Cards stuffed in glove box. Nice thing with RT system Fill your needs of Freq/names. Save file. dump into radio. DONE. Then play with radio, of manual imputing Say a repeater with Tones. If you screw up radio so bad, your saved file will be a fix. Been thar done that!!.

Kenwood, ICOM's are your best quality Radio's. Ya-Sue.. is CRAP.. Got a Hand Held, I strictly use for kayaking For Coast Guard/Patrol Freq. If I roll Kayak, and radio goes Thunk!.. I be a Happy happy man!!. Hate that thing!!!.

Which one? I have had all three. My HF is 897D. My APRS Digi-IGate is Yaesu. My mobiles are ALL Kenwood and will never be anything but. My HT is Yaesu and I wanted Kenwood but drug my feed and the TH-D74A is no longer available....

 

[TerryD]

Oh yeah. My Hamfest dedicated HT is an Icom. 0.35W! Much power, RF burns..... hahaha but runs on two AA. No worry about charging. And no worries about cooking what brain I have left.

 

[CHUG]

The Yaesue HT i have is the FT1XD. screen and menu's are a Bugger.. If you want to talk to a Repater must use the A side, If your B side and try to key up Repeater Nothing happens.. Or the other way around.. I forget which side A Or B.. Simplex no issues ether way.
Just hard to Remember when your walking in the deep dark woods. and want to talk.. finding out your not getting out since its on the A channel. grrrr.

 

[CHUG]

0.35 Watts.. OOOOOOOOOO.. gonna go Bald and grow hair on your palms with that High power in watts.. Pretty sure the FCC, say's that is TOO HOT!!!. hahahaha..

Buddy has the ICOM HT.. not sure which model. He loves it Vs the ALinco's DJ-MD5. Which, is my Primary HT radio for use.

 

[TerryD]

I have the FT-60R on my pack. Simple, reliable, heavy like a good brick. Can be used for emergency comms or looting!

 

[CHUG]

Winter is near.. time to dust off those HAM radio's. Make sure they work good. Oh yea check your antenna's on the rig.. Mine was loose due to thumping tree's.

Some good weather Freq for your area.. If your able to program them.. Good to have handy.

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