Please post if you have an amateur radio license.  I'll keep the top post updated so you have everyone's call signs before a trip.  Please update your profile with your callsign as well.  That way it will show up in your profile and can be used by yet to be developed website modules such as an NWOS Member APRS Tracker module, be included in the Events Calendar list of attendees, etc.

To update your profile callsign:
- Click on "Profile" in the menus at the top of the page.
- Click "Edit Profile" on the left hand side.  The "Pane" on the right hand side will switch to the "Edit Profile" view.
- Click "Manage Profile"
- Update the HAM_Call_Sign field and press "Update"

If you don't have a license, it is easy:

1.  Go to www.arrl.org and find out when a test near your location is being given. Decide on a test to take.
2.  Go to www.hamtestonline.com and study 2-3 hours each evening night for about 5 days.
3.  Go spend 15 minutes to take the test.
4.  Buy a radio

NWOS Amateur Radio Operators

Michael Kronmal KC6YPJ
Mike Rupp WZ7V
Shirley Vanderveen N7OZV
Craig Miller K7NAV
Rich Williams KE7GSI
Allen de Steiguer K7VMI
Ran Freundlich KE7HPZ
Todd Eliason K2RVR
Paul Wilhelm KE7KRV
Chris Marzonie KD7UUS
Mike Bach - KE7KEW
C. Alexander Leigh -  KE7MSY
Mike Pierson - KD0BUZ
Dale Avery - WU7X
Davis Miracle - KE7OJM
Erik Lindstrom - KE7QVK
Gabe Greene - KD7JAZ
Larry Grubbs - KE7UYR
Mark Janke - N7YQM
Ed Sanman - KD7TRX
Bjorn Bakke - KD7TGH
Walt Gibson - KE7USP
Terrance Bailey - KF6IAO
Jerry Horn - K7PNW
AJ Lightfoot - KF7DCD
Peter Schuldt - KF7FTB
Jay Erickson - KF7GEG
Mark Elfrin -  KF7GQR
Tom Thomas - KF7GWV
Brett Curry - KF7HHB
Robert Smith - W7RAS
Max Chapman - KF7HGZ
Dustin Morrow - KF7IJN
Jim Henderson - K7EXP
Ben Bailey - KF7KFZ
Joe Koegler - KF7ANC
William Gillette - KF7KSX
Nathan Henson - KF7LJI
Garrett Grebe -  K2KIL
Scott Bruder - W7GSB
Benny Benson - KF7MVP
Carl Greene - KF7NFW
Chris K - KF7NHI
Kadar Leraas - KF7NKS
Jack Shepherd - K7JFS
Louis De La Cruz - KF7OKH
Don Childers - KF7WAR
Dave Reindl - W4DVE
Todd Guill - K2TBG
Kevin S - KF7RQR
Dan Griffin - KF7SMB

Got my call sign today - KE7KRV

Got my call sign today - KE7KRV

Thanks Craig,

This is the thread I was looking for and what I emailed you about earlier today.  I appreciate the fact that you found it! 

I will be a Ham operator soon.

In great gratitude,

Renee

I am way out here in Colorado, but I just received my call sign today. It is KD0BUZ. Waiting for my radio to arrive now. I will let you know when I am on the air. Mike Pierson  Silverton ,Colorado

Glad to see that this group is supporting ham radio!  It totally blows CB, FRS, etc., off the air for clear, clean communications.  Plus, the international repeater systems on 2 meters and 70 cm make long distance communications even more fun. 

While on the way to meet a prospective roof-top tent buyer last night, I turned on my Icom 706MKIIG radio, flicked it on to 20 meters, and started chatting with another ham in Santa Ana, CA.  I was driving down the road near Spokane, WA.   Just think of the potential for this kind of communication if you have an emergency while off-roading. 

Hope to catch you on the two tracks some time.  I usually have the rig on 146.52 mHz simplex if I'm by myself, or use 146.58 mHz simplex when traveling with other hams.

Dale WU7X (ex KA7JGH, KC7MM)

Hello Mike!

I also use a Diamond dual bander antenna for 2M/440.  For HF, believe it or not, I use a Tarheel 100HF screwdriver antenna.  This is my second Tarheel btw.  My first one was about five years old and I sent it in to be refurbished a bit (Off-roading is a bit tough on anything).  Robert the owner of Tarheel offered me $200 for it on trade for a new one!  I use the antenna with a Turbo-Tuner for one button tuning on all the HF bands.  My radio is an Icom 706MKIIG which I have had for at least five years.  I have narrow CW and HF filters installed, but for off-roading they aren't really necessary.  The new Icom 7000 is supposed to be even better than the 706 versions.  the DSP especially is supposed to work at noise suppression better.  I bring that up because my 2000 Tacoma has the "coilless" ignition system which is a real RFI generator.  for HF only, I have heard really wonderful things about the Kenwood TS480 series.  There are two versions with one of them putting out 200 watts output.  You would have to find something else for VHF/UHF though, and that starts to make things more complex and take up more room.  If you haven't done so already, I would recommend going to www.eHam.com and look under their review section for mobile HF/VHF/UHF radios.  I personally have no experience with the Yaseau mobiles.  Check out the eham ratings on these rigs and decide which one works best for you.  Oh, I did just hear that Motorola just bought out Yaseu. 

Back to the Tarheel for a moment.  I use a quick disconnect on the 6 foot stinger used atop the screwdriver segment.  For awhile I also used a heavy Hustler type spring, but now just pull the stinger off whenever I am in the woody areas.  The Tarheel bodies are very tough.  I have had a lot of brush push against it with no problems what so ever.  I was very careful when down in Moab to keep from scrapping it against the rock outcrops though, hi hi.  I think I have some photos of my installation, if you want I could put a couple up on photo album on this site. 

If you want additional info about Tarheels, look again at their eham reviews, and/or call Robert and Cindy.  They are really great folks to work with.  Say hello to them for me. 

With the noise generated by the ignition in my truck, I find I really use HF primarily after parking for the day.  It can be lots of fun.  When I first installed the system in the Taco I was camped out at Glacier Nat'l Park.  I gave a couple of CQ's and started a QSO with a ham, sitting in his car in his garage, in Hawaii.  He was using a mobile system also!  Small world, eh?

I passed the Tech level this past saturday, and I just got my callsign....

KE7QVK

Now for a radio.....I'm leaning to the Icom 706MKIIG.  Anyone want to talk me in/out of it?

Just signed up on hamtestonline. But, being a bit dense, there's one thing about it that I don't understand.

Am I right in assuming that you need to go out and get some books to study from and then use hamtestonline to check yourself or is the site alone enough by itself?

Thanks.