Craig Miller
Posts:11803
 | | 10 Oct 2008 08:53 PM |
| I just wanted to encourage you guys who haven't picked up their HAM radio license to make plans to get it this winter. Don't let another overlanding season go by without your license. Passing the test is really easy because every single question and it's answer is published and made freely available. There aren't ANY surprises. If you were in college this would be like cheating. There's no morse code, you just need to memorize the answer to a couple hundred questions. How easy is that!? Go to http://www.arrl.org/exam.html and pick a date/time when you will take your exam. Go to http://hamtestonline.com and start studying. If having all the questions and answers already published isn't enough, Hamtestonline makes it even easier. They have an adaptive study guide. They show you the 1-2 sentences you need to know to answer a group of test questions so you don't have to read an entire chapter in the regular "Now Your Talking" HAM study guide. Yep, they boil it down to a few pages of study material that is presented in bite sized chunks. After showing you the text, they ask you the questions about that section, and mix in a few questions from earlier sections you've already studied so you don't start forgetting it. If you miss a question, they'll repeat that question more often until you get it memorized. It's adaptive, so it makes it really fast. If you miss a question, they show you the answer right then and there. Because it's adaptive it is fast, and because you learn fast it is actually kinda fun like a game show. Get your HAM license this winter. You'll be glad you did (and so will I). Craig | | |
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Corey Tando
Basic Member
Posts:122
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 12 Oct 2008 11:27 AM |
| Awesome Corey! I've been considering a handheld for use when I'm outside of the vehicle spotting someone on a winch, on a day hike (with the truck set up as a repeater), or just waiting for someone to get into camp and not wanting to stick close to the truck. They aren't as effective for back-country communications but are great for getting started.
If you get frustrated studying from the book, try hamtestonline.com. You won't learn as much with hamtestonline.com as you would by reading / studying the entire book, but you will pass the test sooner. I only mention it because I want to see as many people licensed as possible and a lot of people that try studying from the book give up pretty fast. Everyone I know who has tried hamtestonline.com has wound up getting licensed. | | | |
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Max Chapman
Basic Member
Posts:214
| | 12 Oct 2008 12:14 PM |
| I tried the online tool yesterday, and it was indeed sorta fun. Seems I kept failing all te non techincal questions cause as long as remember the formulas the others are pretty easy...so far. Do you actually suggest subscribing to it, or are the study questions enough? Anyhow, I'd like to try for it.
Is there a good place to look for radios This was the cheapest one I saw, but I dunno anything about them.
http://www.hamcity.com/Detail.aspx?ID=321 | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 12 Oct 2008 01:53 PM |
| Max,
You can only study the first 50 questions for free (out of 200). That's enough to see if you like it or not though.
Yes the math is really easy. A=B/C type formulas and there are only 2, maybe 3 all together. I'm also pretty sure that all of the math is introduced within the first 50 questions, which makes the rest of the studying a lot easier. When I studied, I just gave it one long evening from 6 until 10 which got me through enough of the material that I could have probably passed the whole exam. I then followed that up with 2 hours each night for 4 more nights, and went and took the test of the 5th day. I got 100%, so you can certainly get by with less studying than I did.
I don't know where to find cheap radios. In my experience, I like to find the radio with the features I want then find someplace that sells it cheap (either used or new). There are a couple of Amateur Radio websites that have good classifieds but you need to have your license before they will grant you access to that portion of the website.
E.g. qrz.com
Craig
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Nate Skate
Advanced Member
Posts:725
| | 14 Oct 2008 04:36 PM |
| What equipment/training would I have to have if I wanted to send an email via HAM? Would the cheap and popular Yaesa YT2800 do the trick?
I might take the test next month. So many fun gadgets with this hobby. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 14 Oct 2008 05:18 PM |
| You can send email via APRS. You can do that out of the box with the Kenwood APRS ready radios, or if you can use a "TNC" and a computer to do it with most other radios. The specific equipment that you will need depends on the radio itself. Different radios have different ports. I believe there is an APRS for dummies book out there.
You can do APRS over VHF or UHF. THe VHF network is the more common, but the UHF network gives you greater range. I'd start with VHF and see how it goes.
Generally, if you can see an APRS repeater on your APRS map, then you know that you can reach the APRS network when you send your position or message (or email). You can also listen to see if that APRS repeater broadcasts your current location which will further confirm that it is "hearing" you.
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Peter Kirkham
New Member
Posts:34
| | 21 Oct 2008 07:16 PM |
| Any suggestions on where to take the test? | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 21 Oct 2008 07:57 PM |
| Peter,
There should be a link to the test location/dates in the first post of this thread.
Craig
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Corey Tando
Basic Member
Posts:122
| | 21 Oct 2008 08:08 PM |
| Still studying for mine.
I ordred a Diamond NR770HA antenna, 18' of coax, and a GL58 mount for the ARB bumper yesterday.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...antm/2568.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...antm/2210.html
Changed my mind on the HT unit too, a friend talked me into getting the Yaesu 857D, a very compact unit that packs a whoppin' 100 watts.
He has the same unit in his FJ Cruiser, and he says this unit will grow with me.
I will be sticking with the 2 meter and 70 cm bands for awhile on it though. 
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 21 Oct 2008 10:02 PM |
| That's a pretty bad-ass radio. | | | |
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Mike Rupp
Veteran Member
Posts:1355
| | 22 Oct 2008 08:33 AM |
| Corey, that radio is 50 watts on the 2 meter and 20 watts on the 70cm bands (VHF and UHF). That radio is primarily geared to people that use HF frequencies for long range communications.
It is a really nice radio, but unless you plan on testing for the General or Amateur Extra license classes and want to get into HF, you end up paying a bunch of extra money for a radio that you won't really use to its potential. Think of the radio as a HF radio that also works on the VHF and UHF bands. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 22 Oct 2008 01:18 PM |
| Guess I should have read the specs.
In contrast Corey, my 2m/70cm radio does 5/15/55 watts (user selectable) on either 2m or 70cm.
Craig
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Mike Rupp
Veteran Member
Posts:1355
| | 22 Oct 2008 01:37 PM |
| Craig, no biggie. The Yaesu 857 is an awesome radio for what it is designed for. I think a bunch of new HAMs look at it briefly and see 100 watts and think its an awesome radio. The problem with HF is that the antenna is the major hangup. Sure, if you have the antenna dialed in, you can talk around the world, but when people see how the portable / mobile HF antennas look they don't go for it. Then you end up having a really expensive 857 that is not as good on UHF as a $200 radio. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 22 Oct 2008 01:50 PM |
| Yeah, if I were going to go for an UHF/HF I'd go for the Icom IC-706 MKII.http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/63 Don't mind me Corey... I'm just going to hi-jack your thread and offer advice that wasn't asked for. lol. It doesn't really matter what you get as long as you are on the air on 2m when you hit the trail with us. :) Hmmm... there's a controversial idea. HAM radio required for all NWOS runs beginning next spring? C | | | |
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Corey Tando
Basic Member
Posts:122
| | 22 Oct 2008 02:14 PM |
| Here is another unit I was looking at, the Yaesu 8900 
But as far as the 857D goes, I could grow into it when I upgrade my license.
Also for using the HF bands to really get out there and talk, I know a lot setup an external antenna system like this when camped.
I have been doing some research on the Bud products.
Here is the Deluxe package.
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Mike Rupp
Veteran Member
Posts:1355
| | 22 Oct 2008 02:51 PM |
| If you want to learn about HF, subscribe to the Buddipole email list. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 22 Oct 2008 03:03 PM |
| I think Dale has one of those buddy poles... have a look through the gallery. If you are going to go for the 877, look into the Icom 706 MKII. Higher power and plenty of room to grow. You can change it's display to Amber if that is your preference. It is a very popular radio, albeit expensive.
*If* you are going to go for the 8900, then have a look at the Kenwood D710 and the Icom 2720h (or whatever replaced it). The reason for this is because both the Kenwood and the Icom can be configured so you can do APRS or other packet radio on the sub-band w/o interrupting the main band. APRS allows you to broadcast your GPS location on the sub-band (second radio) and receive other's location. Other than tracking vehicles, this is also very useful for locating the closest repeater and determining if you are being heard. The Kenwood in particular is really easy to plumb into your GPS so you can see where others are located. If you don't think you'll ever get into packet radio, then the Yaesu would work well.
Craig | | | |
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Mike Rupp
Veteran Member
Posts:1355
| | 22 Oct 2008 03:59 PM |
| Craig, you might want to go and read the specs. :)
The Yaesu FT-857D (I think that's the radio you were referring to when you wrote 877) and the Icom IC-706MKIIG have the exact same power specifications: 100 watts max on HF, 50 watts on VHF and 20 watts on UHF. The Yaesu can change its display color as well.
I could be wrong, but I remember Dale writing about using a screwdriver mobile HF antenna. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 22 Oct 2008 07:48 PM |
| I know, I should read the spec... LOL.. I'm on a roll today.
I know the Yaesu can change its color, Corey just seemed to strongly favor the Yaesu's over the Kenwoods and Icoms. I thought it might be because he liked the Amber screen, so I was pointing out that an Icom can look the same way.
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