Ham Radio

[Curly]

I'm relatively new to the Ham Radio world but with the help of my Father (K6AJS) I have renewed interest in the hobby and after a few incidents that occurred last year while on the Rubicon Trail the usefulness of a Dual Band FM Mobile Transceiver became even more apparent. My father was kind enough to hand down to me his old mobile set up. Any opinions on this set up would be appreciated.

Yaesu FT-8100R Dual Band FM Mobile
Larsen NM02/70B Antenna

I have the rig set up and ready to go in the Heep, awaiting my test on the 19th of April (studying like crazy). My father and I ran some tests and seem to be able to hit the 146.805 repeater okay from down here in Sacramento. Any tips for Ham use on the trail would be greatly appreciated. I mostly did this for contact in case of emergencies. We all know cell phone coverage is limited in the area and I would like to be able to call for help should myself or others need it.

The practice tests on qrz.com are a god send

[BRENTWADE]

If now for the Ham radio my friend would have died up at little sluice when he lost his balance and fell 6' head first on the slabs. A guy in a black land rover called in life flight. I'm glad your getting a radio. My opinion would be to always have a GPS to know your quardinates.

[SlowMo]

In addition to the West Slope "805" repeater, you'll also want to program in 145.605, +, PL 123. This is the Tahoe side of the 805 repeater. Once you get to about Miller Laker you'll have better luck with that one. The 2 systems are connected and are simulcasted.

Good Luck,
KG6KSD

[renolaw]

that's a good combo. i have a Yeasu FT7800 in both my heep and daily driver. they work awesome. study hard, its worth it. I'm going for the general exam 4/19 here in reno and there is a LOT of more stuff to comprehend. I used to be a general class back in the late 70s and i should NEVER have let it lapse, now to relearn old theory and the new digital stuff... argh! qrz is a good source as is the arrl study guides as well as gordon west's books.

a member of our local club sat for and passed the tech, general and extra in one day-- thats a real mind bender!

wonder if we could get some echolink coverage on the con... if all goes accordnig to plan and i pass, we'll be operating HF from the springs July 11-14 at the DD camp ground. (plus 2m/70cm) Come over and say hi if ur out and about.

mb

[Curly]

Originally Posted by renolaw

that's a good combo. i have a Yeasu FT7800 in both my heep and daily driver. they work awesome. study hard, its worth it. I'm going for the general exam 4/19 here in reno and there is a LOT of more stuff to comprehend. I used to be a general class back in the late 70s and i should NEVER have let it lapse, now to relearn old theory and the new digital stuff... argh! qrz is a good source as is the arrl study guides as well as gordon west's books.

a member of our local club sat for and passed the tech, general and extra in one day-- thats a real mind bender!

wonder if we could get some echolink coverage on the con... if all goes accordnig to plan and i pass, we'll be operating HF from the springs July 11-14 at the DD camp ground. (plus 2m/70cm) Come over and say hi if ur out and about.

mb

Good info guys, thanks. As for being out and about, we're on the Rubicon most every chance we get during the summer and fall. I think you asked about the CJ8 in my pics? That's actually a friend of mine and I forwarded the invite on to him. I may have to ride along if he takes you up on the offer as I only have a short one (CJ7 that is)

[renolaw]

its a run for scramblers but most drivers bring a buddy in another rig, so all CJs are welcome!

[randii]

Good on you getting your ham ticket, Tim. There are many good reasons to improve comms along Rubicon but the ability to assist with medical emergencies (my own and others) is a STRONG benefit!

Mark, we'll have to let Dennis know when you have your General tag so that he can use you as a VE in Technician exams.

Randii

[64YellowTux]

Originally Posted by randii

Good on you getting your ham ticket, Tim. There are many good reasons to improve comms along Rubicon but the ability to assist with medical emergencies (my own and others) is a STRONG benefit!

Mark, we'll have to let Dennis know when you have your General tag so that he can use you as a VE in Technician exams.

Randii

Umm...... Mr. General class Randy you are already on my list of VE's.

Tim I sent you a PM and invited you to our test session on the 19th. Hope you can make it.

Mark I know we'll see each other soon. Good luck on your General. It is a little harder than Technician isn't it. I will be testing for General as well on the 19th.

Dennis
KI6MLG

[renolaw]

Originally Posted by 64YellowTux

Mark I know we'll see each other soon. Good luck on your General. It is a little harder than Technician isn't it. I will be testing for General as well on the 19th.

Dennis
KI6MLG

yes for sure-- i was a general class for many years in the early 80s, but went off to law school after college and foolishly let my ticket lapse. I passed when u needed 13 WPM CW and had to know all about vacuum tubes. All this digital logic stuff is foreign to me. i've read all the books, have some strong areas and a few weak areas (memorizing those formulas that once licensed, are just a reference point away...)

i'm averaging 80% on the QRZ testing, so......

GL!

mb

[64YellowTux]

Originally Posted by renolaw

i'm averaging 80% on the QRZ testing, so......

GL!

mb

Yea I'm at 80% right now too but won't be comfortable until at least high 80's or preferably low to mid 90's.

Thanks,

Dennis
KI6MLG

[resqme]

Hey Dennis, you can add Ken Knull to the VE list too! Just heard that today. He probably won't be available a lot down here, but if he is, I'm sure he'll be happy to VE.

[64YellowTux]

Originally Posted by resqme

Hey Dennis, you can add Ken Knull to the VE list too! Just heard that today. He probably won't be available a lot down here, but if he is, I'm sure he'll be happy to VE.

Thanks John, see you Saturday!

Dennis

[Curly]

Okay all you General guys. From my reading about the QRZ practice exams I am under the impression the questions come directly from the real question pool, correct? Are these tests close to the real thing? I have found an exam happening on the 5th in Santa Rosa and I'm gonna take the drive down Saturday morning to take the test. I'm averaging 94% on the practice test and feel pretty good about it, just hope I don't get any surprises come test day.

[renolaw]

that is correct-- there is but one official pool of Qs for each element. one thing i've noticed about the qrz General tests-- some are totally easy and i can blast thru in under 8 minutes w/ a 97%-- then the next one covers more difficult questions and i barely pass w/ 78%-- boy, i'll be glad when 4/19 passes-- I have become a monk of radio theory-- hiding in the guest room for quiet study after dinner, toting around one of the two study guides, mumbling formulas, chanting band plan allocations, taking gordon west w/ me to the bathroom, looking for sunspots, thinking about log antennas, noise bridges and dip meters while driving to work and sneaking a practice test or two at work... I'm having theory dreams and am not sleeping well... My wife is supportive but just rolls her eyes. (thank God we have different interests!) I AM motivated for many reasons and one minute i'm all confident (passing in high 90s) then the next test focuses on one oif my weak areas and bombs me down into the high 60s... my friends stay away because all i want to talk about is inductance, gamma match and beverage antennas, not weld up their junk.

So on I trudge in my studies with confident determination...

mb

[64YellowTux]

It looks like you're well on your way to being a Tech class ham Curly. There are no surprises in the Q & A pool other than the answers may be presented in a different order. All that means is that you should read all answers before making your decision.

Good luck to you on Saturday and let us know how it went and when you get itlet us know your call sign.

Dennis
KI6MLG

[Kurtuleas]

Just what I need.....ANOTHER hobby

How long will this class be Dennis? The reason that I am asking is that we have friends that are watching the kids in Auburn, but they can only watch them for so long..

We are driving up tonight if anyone wants to have a few brewskis somewhere.

[64YellowTux]

I am guessing about mid afternoon 3:30 to 4PM gaging from the class last October. It all depends on how smart you guys and gals are. :-D

See you tomorrow.

Dennis

[Curly]

Originally Posted by 64YellowTux

It looks like you're well on your way to being a Tech class ham Curly. There are no surprises in the Q & A pool other than the answers may be presented in a different order. All that means is that you should read all answers before making your decision.

Good luck to you on Saturday and let us know how it went and when you get itlet us know your call sign.

Dennis
KI6MLG

Passed!!! 34 out of 35. Kinda bummed I missed one but what the hey. The old boys talked me into taking the General while I was there, which I failed but it was close, maybe I'll study up and give it a shot on the 19th

Thanks again for all the info and input. I'll post up my call sign when it hits the Data Base.

[randii]

Congratulations, Technician Tim! Looks like we'll have another KI6 on the Rubicon!

Randii (KI6MKV)

[64YellowTux]

That's great news Tim and I will look for your post on your call sign.

Our class went great as well and I consider it a huge success with 42 in attendance. Now we look to the test day on the 19th when I expect over 50 for testing.

Dennis
KI6MLG

[n6boa]

To all who attened class on Saturday, thank you for being such a good "audience"! I know it's tough sitting through that but we did the best we could when teaching a cram course in ham radio. I am sure you will all do well on the 19th. If everyone passes, that will bring the total to 92 I believe for the three classes taught. Even to my VEs, they find that quite commendable to have so many in a class and test session - and all pass.

Randy, Ken and Dennis - I look forward to your VE help. The three of you complete a VE team for the Tech class (element 2) test. Good onya! Now get your Extras please!!!

Barb

[atvobsession]

Thanks Barb. The class was fun. My great uncle, was one of those Ham nerds....huge tower....shed in the backyard filled with a wall of radio junk. But he's dead now...so no morse code ridicule. Just waiting for the rest...

Off to more practice tests.....

[Curly]

Call Sign: KI6PPU Oh boy I get to do more than listen now

[Kurtuleas]

Originally Posted by Curly

Call Sign: KI6PPU Oh boy I get to do more than listen now

Wow, I hope the FCC turn around is that quick after my test.

My club's annual BIG yearly run is the weekend of the 26th and I would LOVE to be on by then.

I already got my vanity call-sign picked out anyone know how long it takes to change over to a vanity callsign once yours gets issued?

I am thinking on getting: KS6FOE (that's legit right?)

[renolaw]

Way to go OM! I've been cramming for the General exam on the 19th here in Reno. Boy, there is a LOT of new stuff to learn, but I'm passing all of the QRZ practice tests 90% and usually higher. Now that u can operate on VHF/UHF and some limited 10m voice and HF CW, consider the next logical jump to General. Get a 2ed hand HF rig and start listening on the HF bands-- there is a lot of stuff going on and with the new sun spot cycle upon us, things should really open up.

The hardest thing for me is waiting 9 more days-- I'm ready NOW! So every day its read, review, practice testing and more of the same. Went wheeling last Sat with the club ( hillsangels4x4.com) and it was a nice break from all this theory. Good news: we got to top of Peavine Peak, 8200' and was able to work repeaters in Hawthorne, NV, Susanville, CA and out to near Winnemucca, NV. Also the Donner summit and Brockway summit machines-- all w/ 5/9 signals. Amazing what 50 watts and a high perch can do-- even if with only a 1/4 wave omnidirectional mobile antenna.

Looking fwd to meeting y'all on the 'Con this season.

mb