i have been given an opportunity to take a HAM radio technician class and license through work so i guess it's time to start looking at HAM radios.  i'd really prefer a handheld unit because then the install wouldn't have to be permanent.  unless of course handhelds suck.  so, all you hammers, school me on what i need to know. 

to be honest, i think i really just want that motorized antenna that some of you have on your trucks. 

andy

Andy,

Like most things there are pros/cons with everything, and the radio you want depends on what you want to do.

I like fixed radios and would recommend the Kenwood D700 or the ICOM 2720H. I have the latter, and despite early production problems this is now a great radio.

A handheld has limited range unless you plug it into an amplifier. It needs batteries, floats around the truck, and isn't typically wired into an external speaker. It also has limited (or difficult) GPS/mapping integration capabilities.

I went with a dual band fixed radio because it has a stronger signal, and allows me to do APRS, weatherband, monitor two frequencies simultaneously, etc. A dual band radio is essentially two radios in one. I use one for talking, and the other for one of many useful secondary tasks.

If you are going to put a carputer in your truck or a GPS w/ maps eventually then you might also be interested in Automatic Positioning Reporting System (APRS). With this setup, you can broadcast your location to other trucks in our group and we can see your position on our GPS or carputer. Similarly, you will be able to hear our positions and display them on your carputer or GPS. A bunch of guys in Portland have this going and they love it. They put one guy in the back with APRS, and the leader can then get a good idea as to how spread out the group is at any given time. I think it would be really cool if you could get this setup.

I sometimes listen to the Coast Guard weather band on my sub-channel. Like the time that you, Isaac, and myself went over the wagon trail. It was nice to have an idea as to what kind of weather to expect.

If you like to live dangerously, you can modify your radio to do FRS. In this case you can talk on FRS on one band and talk HAM on the other band.

Finally, if you have a handheld *and* the dual band setup in your truck you can setup your truck as a repeater for your handheld while you are off hiking. This way, if the handheld can reach the truck you can then talk to anyone within earshot of the truck too.

--Craig

hmmm...all very interesting. at first the thought of an in car setup was off putting, but looking at some of the dimensions (and recalling yours from memory) it isn't as bad as i had thought.

i'm sure that i'll get all these questions answered as i go through the class and read the book but regarding dual band-is this a necessity for APRS? APRS is the number 1 functionality i want.

i like the idea of having both an in car and handheld unit, and then using the car as a repeater.

any more recommendations on brands/models? or, better yet, whom should i stay away from? where would be a good place to get a radio?

andy

You don't *need* a dual band radio to do APRS, but you won't be able to talk and do APRS without one. You could get two separate radios, for example.

The good brands are ICOM, Kenwood, and Yaesu. Alinco is junk. The Kenwood D700 is by far the most popular radio for doing APRS because it just plugs into a GPS. If you want to go for a carputer setup, then go for the ICOM I reccomended. The dual banders from Alinco and Yaesu will not allow you to do APRS and talk at the same time.

Generically you want a radio that will do 2m and 70cm. If you think you are going to go for the higher class licenses then consider looking into radios like the ICOM MKGII (which is single band, ergo no APRS,  but can be modified to talk CB/FRS/HF/UHF). It's huge though.

Most of the radios are pretty small because the faceplace detaches from the main unit. I stuck my faceplate where the shifter sticker is, and put the radio under the drivers seat. I had to shift my amplifier forward a bit so it would fit, but it was a very easy modification to make.

Mike Rupp should have some suggestions too, although I don't believe he is doing APRS. My research is purely based on wanting to be able to talk and do APRS at the same time.

Good HAM sites are:

hamtestonline.com (*WAY* easier than the class)
eham.net for reviews
www.universal-radio.com for radios
qrz.com (once you have your license) for geeking out, and finding used equipment.

--Craig

ok, now i see the need for a dual band. too bad that makes it more expensive. you know i'm a cheap bastage and i just don't see myself talking to anyone apart from you or mike. i know that that can change. the APRS seems brilliant; too brilliant to not have. not being about to talk while broadcasting your location seems dumb. seems like dual band is the only way to go.

aesthetically (because i'm superficial) i like the way ICOM looks and i've heard good things about them from their marine apps. why is their setup better for a carputer? obviously, that is another mod i plan on doing in the future.

thanks for the links and info. one more question: apart from the radio itself, what else do i need? antenna? power supply?

andy

what about this unit?  it really appeals to my cheapness   is there some sort of standard/protocol that i should be aware of APRS or GPS connectivity?

a

Andy, if you want a good basic radio for 2 meter & 70 cm, the 208H is a great radio. If you want to get into APRS, listen to what Craig says. I haven't really delved into the APRS thing, so I haven't done a bit of research. I might go super geek and start studying for the General and Extra exams so I can get into HF.

Right now I'm using a Yaesu VX-5R handheld which is about 5 watts. The thing about handhelds is that they, like mobile radios, are very dependent on the antenna for optimal performance. I've heard of guys using handhelds with 5 watts doing simplex at around 30 miles. They were using really big antennae, which can be impractical if you are using the radio in the truck. I have an amplifier in my truck that I use with an antenna on the roofrack. My amplifier puts out about 45-50 watts, so its comparable in performance to most mobile setups. Like Craig mentioned, it doesn't have an external speaker, so its a little too quiet when it gets noisy.

Also, check out hamtestsonline.com for studying. There is a free section if you want to try it out. It is definitely the easiest way to prepare for the exam. The subscription lasts for 2 years, so you can also study for the general and extra exams at no additional cost.

thanks for the input mike. one of the main things i'm looking into is APRS and if the 208H doesn't support that then i'll either go super duper dirtbag cheap or ante up and get the 2720. i just don't want to get into this deeper than comms among the group w/ the ability to have APRS when i get my carputer set up (or at least so that craig can keep track of me when i get lost ).

i've heard nothing but good things about hamtestonline.com but it requires more motivation on my part than i happen to have. with the class through work, i have to be there, study, and take the test. and, it's free. that cheepness coming through again!

andy

thanks for the link peter.

a

Andy,

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I think it is in your best interest that I do.

I've tried the book and I've tried hamtestonline.com. A class doesn't really help make it easier, in the end, when the instruction is over, you will have to memorize the answers to the questions on the test. I think you'll find that it takes less motivation to do hamtestonline than it does to pour over the material in a book trying to remember it.

In case you care, the 2720H matches the interior style of the Land Rover really nice. The Kenwood has an amber display that looks out of place with everything else being green. The one complaint people have about the 2720H is that you can't give frequencies alpha-numeric labels. It always displays the frequency. I haven't found it to be a problem, but for some people it is. I haven't found the *perfect* radio at the *perfect* price yet. The ICOM 2720H and the D700 are the closest I've found so far.

--Craig

Craig,
As an overschedule procrastinator I think I can speak for Andy. It isn't that the class is easier or better but he will be required to attend the class and learn, for free. As opposed the making himself set aside the time to learn stuff, on his own, from hamtestonline.com. I have wanted to prep for the test for a long time but I "can't find the time" to do the hamtestonline stuff. If someone told me I could skip work and attend a free class I would actually get it done.

Rick

Rick, you can skip work, dress up like Andy, and attend a free class.

rick-

i'll get you a set of scrubs and a namebadge. you hit the nail on the head exactly regarding my, er, motivation. the class will be *easier* because i need to be there and sit and listen. i've heard nothing but good things about the hamtestonline.com thing but i've also known about it for, uh...about a year now and still haven't done anything. i know the subscription is good for two years but you obviously don't know how long i can wait. i appreciate your good intentions though. for normal people like yourself, the online testing is the only way to fly.

also, it seems that the 2720H is the choicest of choice. i agree the selectable color is cool. apparently with the 208H, while dual band, it can't monitor or transmit on both bands. it is like having two radios without the convenience. i'd still have to stop voice transmission and then switch to transmit APRS. knowing me, by the time i get around to it, i'll probably find an old vacuum tube monster that cost $10 but takes up the whole back of the truck

andy

Rick,

I understand, but an instructor can't study for the exam for Andy. When he has to study, he will find hamtestonline.com a lot easier than trying to memorize everything in the book.

The test is made up of 30 questions from a pool of 200 multiple choice questions. Studying requires that you memorize the answer to 200 questions. Yep, the FCC publishes the questions and the answers. It is an easy test. You just have to memorize the test questions.

The class and book will give you the theoretical background to make it easier to understand the questions and answers which may make it a bit easier to memorize the answers to the questions. It will take longer though. Hamtestonline.com focuses on what you need to know to pass the exam. Short and sweet 5-10 hours and you have passed.

I procrastinated studying since 1991, and for 2 years since knowing about hamtestonline.com.  In the end I was embarrassed with myself when I realized just how easy it was to get licensed.  Just decide.  Go to arrl.org and find out when a test near you is being offered and decide that is the date.  Then just start studying.  Next thing you know you'll be licensed.

It's a heck of a lot easier than install a locker at 3am.

--Craig

Andy, here's the issue with the free classes: you will still have to study the exam questions after taking the classes.

I've got a plan for you. I've seen the posts you make on discoweb. You obviously put some thought into the posts, especially the political posts. Take the time you put into discoweb and put that into studying.

If cost is a concern for you than here's the cheapest way to study: http://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2006tech.pdf. That is the exam question pool. All you have to do is memorize the answers to the questions in that exam pool. That's it. All of the actual exam questions will be drawn from that pool.

Craig, I understand and agree with all of your points. However, no one is paying us to spend work time at hamtestonline.com (like Andy's situation), so it hasn't gotten done.

I think Andy and I just have a higher threshold before we get embarrased with ourselves for slacking around. Actually, I can only speak for myself. I don't know Andy's threshold. I've known about hamtestonline for a long time and it has always come down to not being the most important thing at the moment. Putting the locker in was important at that moment. Getting certified almost never is, even though the benefits are high and the workload is easy.

I'll get there eventually.

Rick

wuss













(Did that work? Pissed off enough to study yet?) 

Thanks for the link, Mike. It's funny you made that comment to Andy because as I typed the response to Craig, I was thinking, "If I stopped wasting time posting all day, I could get out of work on time and have time in the evenings to study." LOL.

It's always a matter of what is urgent rather than what is important. I'm in the moment and posting, so it seems important but I could easily ignore the board during the day and spend a few minutes at night summing up the day with time left over for studying. Instead, I'm writing another post.

Rick

Stop posting, Craig. You are killing my productivity. LOL.