Ham radio

[Sammy]

I'm studying for my Ham Radio certificate. One I get my certificate how hard is it to learn the ins/outs of using them?
I am trying to keep my mind occupied instead of thinking of the constant of missing my wife.
I know there are quite a few on here with radios mounted.
I had GMRS in my Bronco but am wanting to move up in capability.
TIA!

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[Awg9Tech]

If at first you’re focusing on a UHF/VHF (2m/70cm) Ham radio, and you used your GMRS radio on a repeater, you’re well ahead of the game. It’s the same concept. Transmit Freq/Receive Freq and the correct tone(s) for the repeater.

If you’ve used GMRS only in simplex, you’ll have to understand how to set up for repeater use.

That’s not to say you can’t use UHF/VHF ham bands in simplex, but I’d say that more than 95% of contacts on 2m/70cm are via repeater.

If you want to get into mobile HF, that’s were it’s starts to get just a little bit complicated. It’s not rocket science complicated, just a few more things you’ll need to be aware of. Mainly, antenna tuning/placement and grounding.

Antenna placement on 2m/70cm are important to, but most of those antennas (comet/Diamond) can be easily purchased and matched with a mount of your choice very easily-just get the antenna outside the truck, as high and as close to the center of the roof as possible, check and adjust for VSWRs, and you’re you’re way. Even if your antenna placement is less than optimal via vehicle or parking restraints, just getting the antenna outside the truck will allow you to hit most of the repeaters you’ll want to be on.

Find a local Ham radio club and an Elmer, they’ll set you straight.

I will say this about Ham Radio, especially UHF/VHF and repeater use. The type of dialogs and topics vary greatly. I personally, like to rag chew, check on traffic, just chat and see what’s going on around the county and local area. However, most conversations on my local repeaters are folks on the radio talking about being on the radio. “Yesterday, I was on my radio, and this other guy was on his radio, I could hear him on my radio, he could hear me on his radio.” Not much information is being exchanged and I dare say, not much communication going on.

Your mileage will vary, but I’ve actually moved more toward GMRS for the dialog.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

However, most conversations on my local repeaters are folks on the radio talking about being on the radio. “Yesterday, I was on my radio, and this other guy was on his radio, I could hear him on my radio, he could hear me on his radio.” Not much information is being exchanged and I dare say, not much communication going on.

I don't have much to add. Well, nothing to add. I love my Icom 2730 mounted in my truck. I haven't played around with it much, as I am mostly an 'appliance operator'. I had the MARS mod done and can use it on GMRS frequencies for trail days and HAM when I want to monitor on long drives.


I have to laugh at what I quoted because I listened to this type of convo the other day.

Guy 1: I can hear you
Guy 2 I can hear you
1: 5 out of 5
2: 5 out of 5
1: You sound great
2: You sound great too
1: I can't believe how good you sound for how far away you are.
2: yeah, its crazy how far away we are.
1: I don't usually get people that far on xxx.xxx
2: yeah, its weird to have someone that far away.


I changed the channel after that. friggin weird.

 

[MountainGoat]

Guy 1: I can hear you
Guy 2 I can hear you
1: 5 out of 5
2: 5 out of 5
1: You sound great
2: You sound great too
1: I can't believe how good you sound for how far away you are.
2: yeah, its crazy how far away we are.
1: I don't usually get people that far on xxx.xxx
2: yeah, its weird to have someone that far away.


I changed the channel after that. friggin weird.

Sounds like something that belongs in a softcore romance novel.

 

[Sammy]

I might get another GMRS setup for my truck. On my Bronco I had the mounting plate where everything was hidden out if sight behind the glovebox. All the controls were on the handheld. I used a Midland MXT 275VP4-15 watt.
If I decided to get another I think I will move up to the MXT 575 50 watt.

 

[Grandaccess]

as a 30+ year HAM I recommend it
If you have an engineering mind or enjoy high tech, you will love it, there are so many aspects of Ham radio its not funny, they removed the Code so its not as hard now
but like any other group like this one, you will go broke and be divorced within the year, but hey you will still have us LOL
at the time my mother got hers she was 60

 

[Grandaccess]

Sounds like something that belongs in a softcore romance novel.

newbies LOL or two old guys running QRP
I dont do QRP the lowest I am willing to transmit is 135 Watt

 

[Doc]

I'm studying for my Ham Radio certificate. One I get my certificate how hard is it to learn the ins/outs of using them?
I am trying to keep my mind occupied instead of thinking of the constant of missing my wife.
I know there are quite a few on here with radios mounted.
I had GMRS in my Bronco but am wanting to move up in capability.
TIA!

Congratulations ! No easy feat !
Doc
N4BX (Amateur Extra)

 

[PoorSpecRanger]

Retevis RT95 fits nicely in the shifter cubby area and can be mounted upside down as the screen can be flipped. Its also easy to "jailbreak" using a three finger salute.

https://www.retevis.com/rt95-dual-band-ham-mobile-radio-us-version-us

 

[ppfd]

I’m a “general” level ham. I don't do a whole lot with it. I have some complete insane set ups in vehicles. If I put a radio in the truck I want it small and compact.
There’s a few threads here of installs. One guy installed the antenna on his diamond back cover. Thats what I plan to do

 

[Gdub]

I have been using a 2M mobile ham radio for about 5 years. It replaced a CB because the groups I run with off-road switched over to ham. The ham transmissions are much clearer, and the communication distance is much greater.

I have never used repeaters because i have not had the need to yet. You can get as deep into ham as you want. I chose to use simplex because that is all need. Someday I may want more involvement. KN6 BNG out.

 

[Doc]

I have been using a 2M mobile ham radio for about 5 years. It replaced a CB because the groups I run with off-road switched over to ham. The ham transmissions are much clearer, and the communication distance is much greater.

I have never used repeaters because i have not had the need to yet. You can get as deep into ham as you want. I chose to use simplex because that is all need. Someday I may want more involvement. KN6 BNG out.

Nice !

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I have been using a 2M mobile ham radio for about 5 years. It replaced a CB because the groups I run with off-road switched over to ham. The ham transmissions are much clearer, and the communication distance is much greater.

I have never used repeaters because i have not had the need to yet. You can get as deep into ham as you want. I chose to use simplex because that is all need. Someday I may want more involvement. KN6 BNG out.

im trying to get my friends on HAM over GMRS. I did the MARS mod and can run both frequencies. GMRS is too busy and I get repeater CW calls constantly. I can handle chatter, but that beeping drives me nuts. Especially because it’s louder than voice.
I will say this: my Icom 2730a has a manual squelch and I didn’t get any repeaters last time I went out AND I could hear everyone in my group perfectly. That seems to have solved my problem with GMRS channels and CW.

 

[Doc]

im trying to get my friends on HAM over GMRS. I did the MARS mod and can run both frequencies. GMRS is too busy and I get repeater CW calls constantly. I can handle chatter, but that beeping drives me nuts. Especially because it’s louder than voice.
I will say this: my Icom 2730a has a manual squelch and I didn’t get any repeaters last time I went out AND I could hear everyone in my group perfectly. That seems to have solved my problem with GMRS channels and CW.

Keep Trying !
N4BX

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