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Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: syoungs on January 30, 2016, 11:01:02 PM

Title: ham radio??
Post by: syoungs on January 30, 2016, 11:01:02 PM: So this year I'm going to be getting my ham license, I picked up a baeofeng uv5r last year and started playing with it, anyone else have their license?

I've been reading alot about it, but need to find some decent study materials.

Am I going to be missing out on not having a dedicated in vehicle radio? My plan was to mount the uv5r to a remote antenna when in the rig, in a cradle mount
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: Special T on January 31, 2016, 06:22:36 AM: https://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training

I bought the book and have been reading it. A friend that is a ham said one of the best things to do is to do some reading and then take some practice tests. Im likely going to take a weekend course.
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: netcoyote on January 31, 2016, 07:01:54 AM: Want to follow this thread since I've been thinking about this myself. Going to be doing some overland traveling this summer and it would be much more useful than CB or FRS. Saw how it worked last summer when I was on trail crew in the Pasayten and we had to contact a base camp to get fire information.
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: Wazukie on January 31, 2016, 07:08:38 AM: Easiest way today to study is on the internet, but one of your greatest resources would be to find a local club to help you out. The Boefang and such radios work well, but yes, you will miss out on so much if you only have a HT, even if it's hooked up to an external antenna.

W7GRH
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: syoungs on January 31, 2016, 08:32:26 PM: I'll be studying on down time at work, no one else I know has a ham, but they have interested me for a few years now, so I figure I might as well get ine.
Overland travel is what got me started researching them

I'll look into a local group, probably my best bet :tup:
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: Yankee on February 10, 2016, 08:46:38 PM: WA7MUD here. I downloaded an app on my phone with all the practice questions, took a weekend class where they administered the test at the end. I don't talk too much on it, but it's nice to have on in the background on long trips. I have a Yaesu and used my laptop to program a bunch of repeaters in the NW. I offroad with a Toyota land cruiser group, we've migrated from CB to HAM over the last couple of years.
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: Da stump on February 13, 2016, 05:01:53 PM: KE7SMC here, i recommend getting a nice yaesu or similar radio. Start simple with a 2 m and 440 cm rig then when you feel you want to shout further invest more. The chinese radio's work but are not anything to write home about and will get you frustrated. Check out qrz.com for test help and for ham equipment. Ham Radio Outlet in portland is a good solid company as well.
Dale
Title: Re: ham radio??
Post by: Wazukie on February 13, 2016, 06:21:09 PM: Quote from: Da stump on February 13, 2016, 05:01:53 PM
KE7SMC here, i recommend getting a nice yaesu or similar radio. Start simple with a 2 m and 440 cm rig then when you feel you want to shout further invest more. The chinese radio's work but are not anything to write home about and will get you frustrated. Check out qrz.com for test help and for ham equipment. Ham Radio Outlet in portland is a good solid company as well.
Dale

I'll respectfully disagree about the "Chinese" radios. I have several and they work well and yes, as well as my $1k Yeasu. Besides, have you looked where your Yeasu us made? YUP, China.

Get what you can afford, get on the air and have fun :tup: