Another HAM . . .

[corax]

just passed my Technician level test yesterday (just $14 and easy to pass if you use the self study guide at HAMelmer.com) and I already have a radio on its way :D

I read a whole bunch of reviews on eham.net (http://www.eham.net/) and decided on the Yaesu FT-2800M (http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=F111F6B21D7F46EDD122C1706B70F543&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0) from Universal Radio for <$130. Later, when I have more experience I might upgrade to dual or quad band (FT-8900R or FTM-10R?) with some more bells and whistles - this one can stay with me in the work vehicle.
http://www.yaesu.com/ProductImages/FT-2800M_thumb.jpg
This thing looks like a giant heat sink with a display - it's a simple single band 2M (144MHz - 148MHz) with a supposedly awesome receiver and 4 levels of transmit up to 65W -no cross band repeat, no packet, no APRS, it does have Weather Band with Severe Weather Alert, 221 memories (Memories can store repeater shift information, CTCSS/DCS data, power output level, scanning status (“Skip”), and Alpha-Numeric labels) and WIRES. The only negative I read about it is that the buttons feel loose :roll:
I already know the first mod I'll be doing, which is a simple solder/desolder (http://www.ham.dmz.ro/yaesu/ft-2800m-extended-tx-mod.php) on the board, to open up the transceiver to 137MHz - 174MHz.

Since I just got my job back (but in the Eastern Region), I'll have a whole lot of seat time running mobile and needed an antenna that can be moved quickly between vehicles without permanent mounting. So I also got a Comet M-24M dual band mag mount for < $40.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/2818.jpg
At 2M, there is less need for direct antenna grounding and a mag mount can provide capacitance ground plane to the vehicle roof - so not so bad there, although I'll probably do a hard mount on the 4runner with a bracket coming through the cowl below the windshield and a slightly taller antenna. This antenna is also only 19.5" tall so it shouldn't get knocked off by wind at highway speeds.

I also have an idea involving this waterproof military surplus case, for "field days" and equipment mounting
http://store.colemans.com/cart/bmz_cache/3/30baae6eaa3d3442b0a31b45a0f1dad6.image.217x180.gif
the mag mount antenna will fit in it diagonally and, just by sticking it on something metal (garbage can, fridge, etc), can be used as a base station antenna (or I might make something like this mag mount radial ground plane to stick on the bottom)
http://redmancb.com/zzzzgpk.JPG
I also plan to use some spare coax to make an extra antenna like this ->Indestrucible 2M Antenna (http://alpharubicon.com/elect/bob2antennajaden.htm) <- or this -> Portable 2M Antennas (http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/5003/twig.htm) <- which would be easy to hoist and set up

I still need an SWR/Power meter for 2M (don't want to use a CB meter), but that'll have to wait a few weeks as the cheapest ones I found are still over $80.

So, to the more experienced HAMs out there, does this sound like a decent plan? Am I missing any key equipment?

[4x4mike]

How are you liking your radio? And the antennas? Do you use the radio for work or just for talking to others out there? I spent some time reading around the other day and am toying with the idea of becoming licensed and buying a mobile unit. Problem is that I don't wheel with anyone else that that uses HAM. I like the idea of farther clearer transmission and the hope of getting people in an emgergency. I figured this might be the ticket and if I can get others into it I'd be set. I also like the idea of having a couple mobile units out on the trail and a handheld at camp. I'm not sure of all the limitations (handhelds and mobiles- single and dual band) but it would be nice to have communication with camp especially if it's miles away.

It seems you are pretty knowledgable in the subject. Did you have much experience before taking your test and getting your radio? If not where'd you learn. I've been told I should sit down with an old timer but from reading and some other responses it seems like I'll be lectured on a bunch of stuff I don't need or want to know. I wish to use this like a CB but with greater range and clarity. Autopatch is something else that catches my interest. Not for regular calls so much but more of a 911 situation.

[Good Times]

Mike,

Take your practice test here! Click me (http://www.qrz.com/testing.html)

Just take the test over and over and over and over until you memorize the answers.

Go get em!

[4x4mike]

Sounds like a plan Lance. I did get an FCC part 97 book today so I'll read through that. When I was 16 I got a bunch of old DMV tests from older friends. I'm not sure how many there are or were but I got the easiest one and was out of there in minutes.

[corax]

Mike,

Take your practice test here! Click me (http://www.qrz.com/testing.html)

Just take the test over and over and over and over until you memorize the answers.

Go get em!


Or you can learn the material instead of just the test answers -> Check this out (http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=5972.0)

[corax]

How are you liking your radio? And the antennas? Do you use the radio for work or just for talking to others out there? I spent some time reading around the other day and am toying with the idea of becoming licensed and buying a mobile unit. Problem is that I don't wheel with anyone else that that uses HAM. I like the idea of farther clearer transmission and the hope of getting people in an emgergency. I figured this might be the ticket and if I can get others into it I'd be set. I also like the idea of having a couple mobile units out on the trail and a handheld at camp. I'm not sure of all the limitations (handhelds and mobiles- single and dual band) but it would be nice to have communication with camp especially if it's miles away.

It seems you are pretty knowledgable in the subject. Did you have much experience before taking your test and getting your radio? If not where'd you learn. I've been told I should sit down with an old timer but from reading and some other responses it seems like I'll be lectured on a bunch of stuff I don't need or want to know. I wish to use this like a CB but with greater range and clarity. Autopatch is something else that catches my interest. Not for regular calls so much but more of a 911 situation.


The radio was just a basic entry level 2M - by all accounts rugged as hell with huge heat sinks and 65W TX/Yaesu's excellent receiver. The antenna is a basic mag mount 2M/70cm that I can easily transfer from one company car to another in a few minutes. I also ended up using giant alligator clips on the power wires for the radio to make transfering it easier. I got the 2M because it looked like that band was used more that 70cm and the price was right. Mostly I just listen in while driving through my area (5 states), since I'm usually mobile (and haven't set up the repeaters in memory) I just use Simplex.

I bought mine here -> http://www.universal-radio.com/
but this is another good place to shop -> http://www.hamradio.com/
for radio reviews I used site -> http://www.eham.net/reviews/
There are also a few units that operate in Duplex - much like a repeater, except you TX on one band and it will reTX on another (ie your rig radio is on, you use a low power walkie while hiking to TX on 2M and the rig radio receives and reTXs with higher power on 70cm to the repeater . . . or however you want it set up)

The test isn't difficult - a bit of regulatory, a bit of theory. The link in the post above taught me everything I needed (some of it - wave priciples, frequency, etc - I already had a good basic understanding of being and ex-self-schooled-physics-and-engineering-geek).

The biggest hurdle I had, in actual use, was learning my radio and how to scroll through many menus to set it up how I wanted . . . I've gotten away from using it for the last few months, but I've been thinking lately about putting it back in the car again (getting tired of learning Korean while I'm driving lately)

[4x4mike]

All good info, thanks. I'll be looking through this stuff and see what I want to do. The radios just seem more complicated and technical than a CB. I just want range. Up in the mountains a couple of weeks ago I was listening in on some jeepers and all was well when I could see then. They pulled off to look at some maps but were still talking. I lost them in a matter of minutes.

[olharleyman]

Mike,

Take your practice test here! Click me (http://www.qrz.com/testing.html)



Just take the test over and over and over and over until you memorize the answers.

Go get em!


But the problem with that is there are 481 questions they can randomly be thrown at you and when you go up to the GENERAL test there are 750 If I remember corectily am getttting ready to get my EXTRA licence and all I can say is WOW I scored 100 on the tech and general but I don't think its going to happen on the extra it is some serious equations and theory's.

I run a 10 meter in my truck and a Kenwood TS30 at home it's fun talking (DXing) to people from all over the world.

[corax]

I have been doing a little research in setting up my rig and came across the HAM thread you started. I got a deal on a 2800M like yours and am in the market for an antenna.

How do you like the mag mount one you have? I&#39;m looking for something just like it. There are quite a lot of repeaters here in CA so I don&#39;t think I need something too tall but have come across a lot of antenna info that has confused me (1/4, 5/8 wave, grounding planes, etc). I leaning on starting with something like you have and going from there, do you think that is a good idea? The shorter magnet mount should do fine with obstructions as I have a similar CB antenna that I run with little problem. My only concern was distance (not even sure if that will be an issue until I start using it) and having different antennas for different needs. I&#39;m hoping that after some experience I will know what exactly I need and get a base that will except different whips.

You stated that your antenna is a dual band? As long as you have the 2800m plugged in it&#39;ll work with 2m only, right?

One last thing, you mentioned the solder mod. Have you done this? I need to look into it a little more to see if it&#39;s something I want.

Thank you,
x


Antennas can be confusing, no doubt about it. The mag mount is nice, never got pushed around by wind and was what I was using in the company cars (gotta start carrying the radio again, got away from it a bit lately), though I recently did an NMO mount in the roof of my 4runner getting ready to hard mount the radio before heading west again (:D) - for the NMO mount I got a cheap/small 1/4 wave which I have yet to try with the radio. To be honest I never even really dialed up a repeater - for the size of the area I cover I could never remember to pre-program any repeaters or carry the references I printed out, so mag mount was mostly used for simplex (radio-to-radio direct). The only thing I didn&#39;t like about the mag mount was the stress on the coax from having to run it through the door jamb.

The dual band part of my antenna just means that it can be used for 2M or 70cm - you will want/need separate antennas for the CB and the HAM. Most HAM use a NMO (New Motorola Mount) type connection which is different than the 3/8" thread used for CB.

Never did the solder mod - I found you can accomplish the same thing by holding down certain buttons which makes it a "world market" radio and removes the FCC bandwidth restrictions (might want to leave them on to be safe and prevent yourself from transmitting on freqs you&#39;re not supposed to be on)
scroll down to TX Mod (http://www.hampedia.net/yaesu/ft-2800m-tx-mod.php) - the only thing about doing it this way is that I think it also removes the automatic freq offset for repeaters (can&#39;t remember exactly) and I forget how to restore it to the original version (but I have it written down in my radio case at home, same button sequence maybe? I&#39;ll post when I get home if I remember)

[corax]

just passed the exam for General Class :banana:

. . . so does that make me a General Ham or Ham General? I'm thinking I need some shoulder epaulets if I'm a Ham General

[4x4mike]

Congratulations. Any big plans with your General ticket? I know two guys locally getting their general because they are into CW and DX'ing. They have all the equipment but they just listen in. Personally I don't have the need although HF does seem like fun, I just don't have anywhere near the time to get into it that much.

I recently added a HT to my arsenal and have been having fun. The 2800 is great for the vehicle but I needed something a little more mobile. I ended up getting an FT-60r and am really impressed with all of it's functions, just need to ditch the rubber ducky.

[corax]

Thanks. I can't actually do much of anything with it for now - unemployed and getting tight on money, so equipment will have to wait a bit. Besides, 2M will be getting a workout at the Olympus and Oregon Trail rallies in a month or so. I kinda took the test because I was bored and needed something to study and do. Now I'm thinking I'll take some of the free online emcomm courses through the ARRL and maybe some of the ones through FEMA (http://training.fema.gov/IS/)