Ham Radio vs CB

[Cactus Red]

Communication on the trail has been dominated by CB for years. Slowly but surely, amateur radio is making a dent in that.

I was introduced to Ham on the trail about 7 years ago, and quickly joined in. The test for the Tech License requires some study, but overall is pretty easy. The license is valid for 10 years, and testing is not required to renew it.

QRZ (http://www.qrz.com/ht/) has the complete test question pool online, and you can, as I did, take it until the answers are memorized. The cost for a license is cheap.

http://www.arrl.org/licensing-preparation-exams has the answers to most questions you might have about getting the testing completed.

One of the main reasons I use a 2M Ham Radio in our vehicles is that it offers long range reliable communications even in areas that don't have cell service. We take most day trips as well as extended trips solo, so it's nice to know we can get ahold of someone if need be.

CB's use the 11M band AM (amplitude modulation, just like tho good old scratchy AM radio in the truck), and with power limited to 5 watts, offer a range of under 10 miles in most cases. They are noisy at best, even with the squelch turned up, the transmissions are of poor quality.

A 2M band FM (frequency modulation) radio at the same 5W can make contact at 50 or more miles line of sight, and at 50 to 75W, I've made clean contact at over 100 miles line of sight. Line of sight is the key with 2M - if you can see it (or in the case of the wooded country, don't have any hills or mountains blocking the signal) you can talk to it. The voice quality of Ham is clear and clean just like the FM music stations. Straight radio to radio communication is called simplex operation. By using a repeater, you can increase the range of communications to literally state wide in some cases. We have a linked repeater system in AZ that allows me to contact people in Tuscon, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, Payson, Casa Grande, Springerville in the White Mountains, and even all the way to southern California in the San Diego to Yuma area. Since repeaters are often on top of the highest peaks, they offer much greater range - remember the line of sight rule.

APRS -Automatic Position Reporting System
Some Ham radios are coming from the factory with the correct equipment installed to do APRS. In combination with a laptop, you can keep track of folks via Ham radio signals. it's also possible to build the correct system yourself using two radios and a GPS puck. It's not something I've done, but I have seen it used. It's even possible to send text messages via the system.

Equipment:

A basic 2M radio like the Yaesu FT-2900R is about $150.00, a mag mount antenna and cable will add another $50.00, so a great basic rig will be about $200.00. Seems expensive vs CB, but the radios are high quality, durable units made for the abuse of off road travel. In the old days I had to replace my CB's every couple years due to chassis or component failure.

From there, the sky is the limit. If you get into the hobby, and get a General license, you can mount a mobile radio that will allow you to talk to anyone, anywhere.

My personal equipment is a Yaesu VX-170 hand held 2M (it gets used as a loaner if someone comes along and doesn't have a radio), a Yaesu FT2900R, and a Yaesu FT-7900R dual band.

I no longer have CB equipment mounted in either vehicle. If you'd like to see my stuff, check out the Cactus Red mod thread!

CB works, but Ham 2M is way better!

Mark

[Pit Slave]

Can't wait to get my FT2900R/E installed! I still need to pick out an antenna for the roof. I'm leaning on getting this one:

http://www.pciraceradios.com/ProductDet ... 4758563073

[BlkWgn]

I have been running an ft60 on a mag mount in the truck. It is great. I am about to purchase an import 2900 (100watts, and mars/cap) this will eventually become an aprs radio and I will get something that will Cossband

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[chromehound]

So you need a license to use one? I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to put in my truck for out on the trail and a Ham radio sound like it'd be a perfect addition to my standard CB stuff, I just need to figure out where to mount everything.

[BlkWgn]

You do need a license, but the technician class (first level) is easy to get. Pick up the book written by Gordon West, and take the free practice tests at qrz.com and you will pass no problem

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[chromehound]

What's the name of the book?

[Cactus Red]

Gordon West: http://www.amazon.com/Technician-Class- ... 0945053622

I used the ARRL Guide: ARRL's Tech Q&A -- Fifth Edition

[chromehound]

Thanks

[verdesardog]

I have a 75wattt 2 meter rig, used mostly for search and rescue (KD7YCL):



[img]http://photocamel.com/gallery/data ... .jpg[/img]

[AceMan]

Dumb question, but do any radios offer combined CB and 2M bands?

[AceMan]

Now I'm in research mode with a CB and a 2M radio. I found a UK distributor selling a YAESU FT2900R/E for £142.99 Inc. VAT, and then asks if you want to add "Wide Band Transmit Coverage" for an additional 12.50£. Here's the link:
http://www.haydon.info/proddetail.asp?prod=FT2900

Of course I'm not going to buy anything from the UK, but curious what wide band is.

And what do you guys think of ICON compared to Yaesu? Compatible and just the price?
Icom V8000 75 Watt Mobile 2 Meter Radio
https://cmjradios.com/products.php?714&cPath=21

And funny, I was looking at eBay for these radios, and I found this. Viagra screen??? Uhh? I masked my zip code, but most of you know I'm west of Philly - but it says I'm 1,000,000 miles from my zip?? China ain't that far! The moon ain't even that far!

[Cactus Red]

Dumb question, but do any radios offer combined CB and 2M bands?

Nope, not in anything I know of. CB is an 11 meter freq radio, the closest amateur band is 10 meter freq. There are "all band" radios, but those only cover the legal freq spectrum.

Now I'm in research mode with a CB and a 2M radio. I found a UK distributor selling a YAESU FT2900R/E for £142.99 Inc. VAT, and then asks if you want to add "Wide Band Transmit Coverage" for an additional 12.50£. Here's the link:
http://www.haydon.info/proddetail.asp?prod=FT2900

Of course I'm not going to buy anything from the UK, but curious what wide band is.

And what do you guys think of ICON compared to Yaesu? Compatible and just the price?
Icom V8000 75 Watt Mobile 2 Meter Radio

The wide band transmit modification allow you to use the radio out of the legal amateur range of frequencies. http://www.arrl.org/frequency-allocations shows the ranges allowed by the FCC. I have modified my radio (contrary to what some folks may say, it is not illegal to do so, but it is illegal to use it in a non legal manner like transmitting on LE frequencies) to allow me to use it as a race radio for Best In The Desert events. The frequency BITD is above the limit for amateur use at the 151.490 frequency.

ICOM vs Yaesu is like furd vs Dodge. Both are pretty darn good at what they do, some folks just like one over the other. Kenwood, ICOM, and Yaesu are the best of the bunch, but Alinco and the others are OK too.

Check Ham Radio Outlet and Universal Radio for pricing. If you have an HRO close, that's really cool since you can see the stuff before buying, and the guys at HRO are all very knowledgeable licensed HAM operators. Both outfits will match pricing.

[AceMan]

I just spent the last 3 hours reading up on this stuff, and it's just generating more questions, such as 2m vs HF, dual band, 50m, and all the other wavelengths, etc, and their frequency equivalents and what mobile and home antenna to get. Seems the more I read and getting acclimated, the more my CC is now burning in my hands to use it... but not sure which direction to go. I'm now looking at the FT897 dual band or FT8800R 144/430 Mhz, but it's only 50w compared to the 75w FT2900R single band 2m (144Mhz).

Looks like I've caught the bug! LOL!

Posted by a malnourished, drunk Carrier Pigeon and Borg ENIAC TRS-80 nanobots @2.4k baud.

[AceMan]

And I found an FT897D overseas edition 1.8 - 470 Mhz, with 150w. Wow. Now if I did my math right, 2m (144 MHz) falls in that range.

Posted by a malnourished, drunk Carrier Pigeon and Borg ENIAC TRS-80 nanobots @2.4k baud.

[Cactus Red]

http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training is a good place to start on what is required for the different licence classes. Since I use mine for local comms only, I got a Tech level licence. To use an all band radio, you'll need to get a General level licence.

[FirerescuePW]

Ace, there is an HRO near us in DE. New Castle, I think. Check their website.

Sent from an undisclosed location.

[AceMan]

Then maybe I'll just stick to 2m and work from there.

Thanks, Mike. I'll look into it. I only have an eve class next week, so I might take a ride down there.

Posted by a malnourished, drunk Carrier Pigeon and Borg ENIAC TRS-80 nanobots @2.4k baud.

[AceMan]

Cactus, I took a quick test just to see where I'm at, and here are the results:
You have finished this segment of the course.
You answered 22 out of 35 questions correctly for a final score of 62.86%.

A minimum score of 70% is required to pass your amateur radio exam.

Some of the subject categories that you might want to study individually are:
T6A T0A T1B T9B T8D T8A T4A T7B T2C T2B T3A T3B T8B

From the pool of 396 questions, you have answered 22 of them correctly. For best results, we recommend that you continue studying until you've seen all of the available questions. Once your practice exam scores are consistently above 85%, your chances of passing the actual exam are extremely good.


I guess for a beginner it's not that bad. Ihave to study up on some of the stuff, of course, but I had electronics and digital circuitry classes in college many, many years ago, so I remembered some of them such as Ohm's Law, which helped with the circuitry and electronics questions. I just have to nail down the RF stuff, lingo and other stuff.

[Cactus Red]

Not bad!

I've had my license for years, and never used any of the electrical or antenna theory. The most important part is learning the rules that are required for proper use.

One of my freinds is going thru the process of deciding what he wants to do for a radio and is taking the practice tests prior to the testing. He also uses a quad for his exploring, and is leaning toward a 2M handy talkie instead of a mobile unit. It's a great option!

[verdesardog]

I have two ht's and a mobile in my truck.

Mark are you going to be at the Prescott Rally? I have signed up to be a comm. guy....

[AceMan]

I have two ht's and a mobile in my truck.

Mark are you going to be at the Prescott Rally? I have signed up to be a comm. guy....

A couple of the guys at the local ham club mentioned I should stay away from an HT and get a mobile, until I learn it, as well as stick to one name brand, to make it easier to learn the menus of one manufacturer, instead of mixing them. And they don't really care of D-Star. I like the idea of D-Star, being a computer guy, but now this has given me doubts.

I was originally going to buy an Icom IA-92D HT, and possibly the Icom 2820 mobile, both multiband and D-Star. But the one guy suggested the VX-8DR due to it being quad-band.

Head's spinning...

[shellriv]

cant you guys in the states use M.u.r.s without a license? that would be the way to go for rig to rig comms would it not?

[Cactus Red]

Mark are you going to be at the Prescott Rally? I have signed up to be a comm. guy....

Yes I will, we'll be up on the Witty Tom stage.

[AceMan]

cant you guys in the states use M.u.r.s without a license? that would be the way to go for rig to rig comms would it not?

Sure, for non-hams. I would rather have an amateur radio modded for those frequencies.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2

[Cactus Red]

A couple of the guys at the local ham club mentioned I should stay away from an HT and get a mobile, until I learn it, as well as stick to one name brand, to make it easier to learn the menus of one manufacturer, instead of mixing them. And they don't really care of D-Star. I like the idea of D-Star, being a computer guy, but now this has given me doubts.

I was originally going to buy an Icom IA-92D HT, and possibly the Icom 2820 mobile, both multiband and D-Star. But the one guy suggested the VX-8DR due to it being quad-band.

Head's spinning...

It's you $$$, your gear, get want you want.

I frequently recommend starting with an HT for trail comms. The work great for that. If you want to get into the hobby end of the HAM radio, you'll end up with a General Licence and a HF/UHF mobil unit anyway. As a techie, you'll have no problem with multiple brands - you'll be doing most of your programming on a computer anyway vs me doing it all manually.