The TRS Amateur Radio (HAM) thread

[97RangerXLT]

So, I have decided to go for my Technician license (will eventually get General and Extra). I figured it is a nice step up from my GMRS set up, and I already have an FRN.

This is a neat hobby, a local township has a club that me and my son have joined, and they are very interested in getting the youth involved. my son likes meteorology, and many Amateur radio operators do storm watch and early warning when the weather is getting bad. something I learned, your storm radar is only good above ~2000 feet and many times a tornado can form well under that ceiling, so the spotters are the first ones to get the word out in that situation.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, I highly suggest hamstudy.org. they have the exact questions and answers that will be on the tests. work them over and once you can get 90 percent most of the time, take the test.

So lets see your set ups. who is the furthest contact that you have made?

AJ

 

[sgtsandman]

So, I have decided to go for my Technician license (will eventually get General and Extra). I figured it is a nice step up from my GMRS set up, and I already have an FRN.

This is a neat hobby, a local township has a club that me and my son have joined, and they are very interested in getting the youth involved. my son likes meteorology, and many Amateur radio operators do storm watch and early warning when the weather is getting bad. something I learned, your storm radar is only good above ~2000 feet and many times a tornado can form well under that ceiling, so the spotters are the first ones to get the word out in that situation.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, I highly suggest hamstudy.org. they have the exact questions and answers that will be on the tests. work them over and once you can get 90 percent most of the time, take the test.

So lets see your set ups. who is the furthest contact that you have made?

AJ

Try for General at the same session you take your Technician. Both are pretty easy. I passed both in one go. Extra, on the other hand, I had to take more than one whack at that before I passed.

As far as setups, I don't have enough bandwidth here to post up pictures. I know the 2011 is on here somewhere. The 2019 may not be.

The 2011 has a TYT 9800+ quad band radio and TYT 9600 dual band DMR radio stacked on top of each other where a cup holder is on some Rangers in the dip of the center section is on the driver's seat.

The 2019 has an ANYSECU dual band radio mounted under the driver's seat since there isn't any room for a regular radio anywhere else. Everything is controlled and displayed in the handset, much like a few of the Midland GMRS radios are setup.

 

[broncc]

Missed my free general by 1 question when getting my tech license. It's not bad at all if you study and know a little about electricity.

I use my basic license for slightly better than line-of-sight comms for offroading and road trips. Eavesdropping on repeaters can be fun too.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My dad used to have a license. I think he picked it up when we were in Africa for 3 years. I was very young then. I remember some bigass antenna in the back yard as a preteen. Iirc you had to know Morse code in order to get your license.
I remember he was talking to people around the world. At least it seemed so to me then.