The Ham & CB Radio Thread

[Jerry Bransford]

This will get you started on the right foot!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0872598810/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Here are two more helpful links... http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio and
http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed
N6TAY

 

[Byhumba]

I thought this little compact unit was pretty cool...I haven't see it in person...does anyone use one or seen one? Has some pretty cool features...

https://www.rightchannelradios.com/...z)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Weekly Chatter

I don't know if you already watched this video (40 minutes long) but it shows a lot about the President Bill radio. This Youtuber dissects and repairs radios for a living. He is very knowledgeable!

 

[Jeepn_Texas]

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.

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.

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.

I just couldn't let that one go...

 

[Jeepn_Texas]

Here are two more helpful links... http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio and
http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed
N6TAY

Great link!
KJ5XJ

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Get yourself a Gordon West Technician class license course and you'll be good to go. They're available at https://www.w5yi.org/catalog.php?sort=5 or on Amazon. Gordo has a great sense of humor and his teaching style makes it go well and quickly.

 

[DEValken]

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

 

[JC123]

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

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

 

[DEValken]

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

Thanks, and I can see where this is going. Already looking for a good place to mount a base station antenna...

 

[j8ksdad]

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

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.

 

[DEValken]

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.

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.

 

[j8ksdad]

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.

Cool, thanks. I was wondering about the two camera part.

 

[DEValken]

Your phone has to be at a 90* angle to the computer so they can watch you from the side as well as the front. Kinda creepy, tbh. Started to feel like a porn shoot.

 

[Zorba]

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!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

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

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

 

[Zorba]

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

 

[MillAlien]

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

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.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

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

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.

 

[mxz800]

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.

9mm or 45 are those a socket, and torx bit? You do after all you live in CA so you can't be talking firearms??

 

[Jerry Bransford]

9mm or 45 are those a socket, and torx bit? You do after all you live in CA so you can't be talking firearms??

Yeah exactly. Today not even my most reliable gun shop had any 9mm in stock.

 

[Mudflat]

StG58, that was one of my concerns. I know ideally, mounting an antenna over a nice flat ground plane would be great, but not many places on a Jeep will work. I have been told, that a half-wave antenna should work okay in that position, but a quarter or 5/8ths would have trouble without a decent ground plain. So I am looking for a half-wave to initially try. The cable routing might be fun. I seen a youtube video on running the coax inside the tailgate, but haven't looked to see if that was a TJ or a JK. I will post some pictures once I get everything done.

You will probably laugh at me, but wouldn’t a magnet mount antenna on the hood, cowl or even front fender give you an adequate ground plane, especially if it’s a temporary thing?