The Ham & CB Radio Thread

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Jerry Bransford said:
A Uniden Pro-520XL is one of the most popular and at only $38 on Amazon.com now is a bargain. I've been running one for 20 years now, they're darned near bulletproof. This one... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VXNI/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I wish you had asked about antennas first before buying the one you did like you asked about CBs first. To put it bluntly, that particular Firestik antenna you bought, uh, well, sucks. It is a no-groundplane style of antenna which does not perform well. Period. NGP antennas are designed for use on vehicles without any steel in them, like fiberglass or wooden boats. NGP antennas are compromise designs at best.

Conventional antennas (not no-groundplane models) designed to make use of the Jeep's inherently excellent groundplane (lots of steel makes for a good groundplane) work about a million times better. Maybe not a million times but you get the idea. The one you bought will technically "work" but it won't work in marginal conditions like a conventional CB antenna will.

This is the style of antenna I would have recommended had you asked first.... a Firestik II FS series which is available in lengths from 2' to 5' though I'd go for a 2' or 3' at the tallest. http://firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm and click on the Firestik II link. Amazon sells them. Personally I'd go for the Firestik FS-2B (black) or FS-3B which are 2' or 3' tall antennas, depending on what height you want. I prefer 2' tall since it doesn't get hung up on obstacles or need to be removed when I drive into my garage. It also works extremely well even when I am leading large groups of Jeeps around, the tail-end Jeeps always hear my CB loud and clear. You don't need a real tall antenna just to go trail riding with friends.
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Oddly, all of the antennas you recommend are 5/8 wave just like the one he chose.
5/8 wave antennas are all less sensitive to ground planes.
Take the Diamond SG-7900 dual band antenna.
I use it on my BMW K1200LT. I have had up to 75 mile contacts on 2 meters with that antenna with as little as 30 watts.
Jerry Bransford said:
😂It took me several seconds to figure out what you were asking about. That white slotted gizmo is the bottom of the electric garage door opener. 🤣
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I just couldn't let that one go...
 
RangerRick said:
Hello all,
Show of hands please of who speak CB radio when Jeeping and are also licensed HAM operators on this forum. Also, I would like to know who is interested in HAM that aren't right now. Being a radio operator is not only a hobby but also good for emergency preparedness and back country travel or SAR (Search And Rescue) teams. It is easier than ever to get your HAM "ticket" and have more advanced radio equipment at your disposal to communicate with. Plus there's a certain level of education gained by learning about HAM and radio in general as to how radio communications actually work. My family and the group of 4-wheelers I frequent all use HAM as a backup to the CB radio when reliable longer distance or adverse conditions communications is needed. Many have commented on my large HF antenna that hangs off the back of my Jeep tire rack and what it's used for.

I have multi-band radios in my Jeep that I use besides the standard CB radio. What if any do you use and why?

Thanks 73,
RangerRick W6RE

I've decided to add some additional information on HAM radio here so members can follow the links to help anyone who wants to study for their license. This is from part of a conversation I've been having with @Chris about ham radio because my brother-in-law and a group of us are expanding our repeater coverage in Oregon to cover the central Willamette Valley, Salem and neighboring communities along I5 & 99.

My recommendations for anyone who is not at all familiar with HAM or 2-Way radio in general is to take a locally sponsored "HAM CRAM" class to get your first license, the TECHNICIAN Class license so you can use a hand-held "HT" radio on your adventures.

You look On-Line to find the local "HAM CRAM" classes that go for one weekend and BAM! you have your license.

These are a condensed 1 or 2 day class that takes the student from knowing nothing about radio, all the way to passing the entry TECHNICIAN class license exam and learning the basics of using a hand held "HT" radio.

In many classes the attendance fee (which by law can only cover costs of the class and any equipment or materials used in the classroom materials, so it's going to be quite reasonable) may include your first radio, typically an entry level Baofeng or TYT Chinese made radio and the class will help to program it.

These radios can be had off ebay or

*I recommend through Amazon or Prime, to help this forum operate and donate a small portion of the sales to run the site here*. A Beofeng UV-5X3 covers three bands, 2 Meters, 220MHz & 440MHz IN ONE RADIO for under $70 widely available and a current model. The Beofeng UV-5R or variant with two bands in one radio (2 Meters & 440MHz) can be had frequently for under $29 shipped!

They may not be the best radio but they are dirt cheap and will get you started on the air on the CHEAP!

Use the free program downloadable on the web called "CHIRP" to program the radio with your computer and keep the memory positions in some kind of order.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeazy for any computer savvy guy or gal.

There are several free forums on the internet that have practice questions of the test for TECHNICIAN, the entry level ham license. Take these practice quizzes on-line until you score in the ninetieth percentile and you should be able to pass the real test from there on out.

Below is a partial list of reference sites where you can read the FCC rules and or take practice quizzes or see the question pool for the TECHNICIAN class license. There are three classes of license; TECHNICIAN (entry level), GENERAL (middle license with HF low frequency privileges included), EXTRA, (the top license) with all the operating privileges for every band and frequency that hams can use on every band.

***Study hint***:

Read the question and ONLY THE CORRECT ANSWER, then move on to the next question. This way you only memorize the right answer and no mumbo-jumbo that will confuse you when you take the exam. My wife is studying right now for hers and the sister who lives in Salem has hers and her son has his too. He got it at age 15.

http://www.arrl.org/question-pools
https://hamexam.org/
http://www.hamtesting.com/pbMain.php
http://ncvec.org/page.php?id=362
https://www.eham.net/exams/
https://hamstudy.org/tech2014
https://www.fcctestonline.com/question_pools.htm (also for your commercial license)
https://www.qrz.com/hamtest/


More statistics and info here:
https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/trouble-with-practice-exams.htm
http://www.nc4fb.org/wordpress/technician-license-20142018/

There are MANY MORE SITES but this is some starter information that will help you study on your own to begin with.

The ARRL is the national organization for hams called American Radio Relay League.

http://www.arrl.org/

They are the organization that helps to deal with Washington D.C. when it comes to politics and regulations along with a magazine QST and much of the leagues efforts that support continuing education in the field of radio and technology advancements. A wealth of information and help can be found here along with the following websites for radio enthusiasts:

https://www.qrz.com/
https://www.eham.net/
https://www.radioreference.com/ (all aspects of radio including MURS, GMRS, HAM, CB etc.)

There are some great swap sites for radio gear and test equipment for electronics on the following sites:

https://www.qrz.com/ (swap forum for used radios)
https://www.qth.com/ (largest swap & used radio site on the web that is ham related)
https://eham.net/ (swap, chat, radio topics and ham radio equipment reviews by other hams) Check out the ratings before buying that new radio related toy!

A nice article put out by the ARRL on choosing your ham radio here:

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/On the Air/Choosing.pdf

Another big thing to hit ham radio is linking via VoIP and the WWW. Repeaters and computers, radios and the internet all come together and here are some sites to visit for that information:

https://allstarlink.org/about.html (AllStar uses Asterisk a SIPP software suite that powers many internet based phone systems and more)
http://www.echolink.org/ (when you're licensed you can get the phone app. to talk worldwide on Android, iOS, Windows based phones and computers)
http://www.irlp.net/ (Internet Radio Linking Project version of VoIP linking from Canada)
http://www.yaesu.com/jp/en/wiresinfo-en/introduction.html (Yaesu's VoIP linking)
http://nxdninfo.com/wp/ (NXDN digital air bridge forum for ham radio)
http://www.dstarinfo.com/ (DStar, a ham specific "lite" version of NXDN technology)


If you have any questions, I like to get the word out about ham radio and inform Jeepers of just how easy and important it can be, that HAM radio goes well with the independent mindset of the average Jeeper who likes adventure, the back country to urban sprawl and to be prepared in a self reliant way.

Another thing I'd like to bring up is the largest single HAM related event is coming soon to an open space, mountain-top, campground, community, city, state or national park near you! It's called FIELD DAY and it is the single largest event in the amateur radio community and especially a good time to check out what HAM radio is. There are information booths at major FIELD DAY events everywhere where you can talk to ham operators and radio clubs to find out how and where they may offer licensing classes or tests and the best part is many of these clubs will actively solicit for non-licensed people to operate their FIELD DAY station to make contact for the experience and to see what HAM radio is all about. FIELD DAY 2017 dates this year are:

June 24th & 25th 2017

So go find that radio club FIELD DAY site and check it out! Plenty of friendly good folks who would gladly chat with you about all aspects of radio and technology and who knows, you may even get to make a contact or two out of the deal!

If you are in the Southern California area and would like to visit the FIELD DAY site where the club I am working with is going to have our event, you can stop by and say HI!

We will be at:

Friendship Park in San Pedro overlooking the top field under the radar domes of Palos Verdes peninsula.

Feel free to drop by and say hello! The club is the famous W6TRW/NG6RC TRW Northrop Grumman Amateur Radio Club, (the club that hosts the electronics swap meet at the NG facility in Redondo Beach the last weekend of every month). We welcome anyone who would like to find out what ham radio is, you can see first hand what it is all about.


Rick
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Thanks for this post. I'm interested in studying for my license, but I can't take one of your recommended weekend CRAM classes. I see there are several online courses that one can take. Do you recommend any of those in particular?

Or, is there not just an FCC guide that I can read and then do the publicly available practice questions?
 
David Valentine said:
Most of my jeep driving is solo in places out of cell coverage. Was debating on ham or one of the Garmin things. After reading all these great posts, I took the test Saturday. Thanks for all the tips from everyone.

73s

KO4KZW
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Congratulations!
I got licensed a couple of years ago after being inspired by this forum and have expanded from there. Lots of different aspects of the hobby to explore.

73,
Jerry, KN4SYO
 
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David Valentine said:
Most of my jeep driving is solo in places out of cell coverage. Was debating on ham or one of the Garmin things. After reading all these great posts, I took the test Saturday. Thanks for all the tips from everyone.

73s

KO4KZW
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Congrats! Did you do an online or in-person test? If online, how was it? From what I've read, the online tests seems really wired to take.
 
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j8ksdad said:
Congrats! Did you do an online or in-person test? If online, how was it? From what I've read, the online tests seems really wired to take.
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Thanks!

Online, the setup (two devices w/ cameras on zoom) was a little tricky, but only because we use teams at work and I thought I could figure it out before the test started. You log in to zoom 45 minutes prior to test time, and I was trying to figure out how to swap cameras when they showed up. Yeah, I was that guy.

Ten minutes later it was done. If you've taken practice exams and been passing it was easy.
 
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David Valentine said:
Thanks!

Online, the setup (two devices w/ cameras on zoom) was a little tricky, but only because we use teams at work and I thought I could figure it out before the test started. You log in to zoom 45 minutes prior to test time, and I was trying to figure out how to swap cameras when they showed up. Yeah, I was that guy.

Ten minutes later it was done. If you've taken practice exams and been passing it was easy.
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Cool, thanks. I was wondering about the two camera part.
 
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I'm testing early next month - in person. I don't have a smartphone, so the 2 video cams for online would be problematic, although I probably could do it with a pair of laptops. Far more trouble than its worth, I'll just drive 30 minutes and do it. Only bad thing is that its at 10 AM, which is about an hour *before* I usually wake up!
 
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David Valentine said:
Most of my jeep driving is solo in places out of cell coverage. Was debating on ham or one of the Garmin things. After reading all these great posts, I took the test Saturday. Thanks for all the tips from everyone.

73s

KO4KZW
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That's awesome, congrats!! And you already got your callsign, that's cool!! Getting it immediately like that is new to me I had to wait weeks to get mine. N6TAY
 
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David Valentine said:
Most of my jeep driving is solo in places out of cell coverage. Was debating on ham or one of the Garmin things. After reading all these great posts, I took the test Saturday. Thanks for all the tips from everyone.

73s

KO4KZW
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The very first upgrade I did on my TJ was to uninstall the PO's CB and install an ARS mobile. I've rarely ventured anywhere without at least one VHF HT or mobile handy since about 1975. GL es 73s, N7RX.
 
Zorba said:
Just a word of caution - you both have now broadcast your legal name and ADDRESS over the open Internet. Its up to you, but I don't recommend it...
@Jerry Bransford @David Valentine
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Yep my local burglar friends here who are hams will have no problem learning where I live. They would however be rolling the dice on if they'd meet their demise with 9mm or .45. 🤩
 
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