RV's and Ham Radio

MartyQ · 03-01-2015, 11:17 AM

A nice YouTube video from HamRadioNow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0VX...em-uploademail

And a new YouTube series entitled "Ham College". Episodes 1 and 2 are now available. More to come. A new series for those that are new to the hobby and wanting to become amateur radio operators.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHx5uHV8wPI

..Marty W9EAA

BooBoo23 · 03-01-2015, 07:46 PM

For RVing hams there are quite a few nets to check in on and there are forums that are for RV Hams. Open Roads Radio is one of them. I won't give the exact web address as some of the forum administrators are a little sensitive about advertising competition. I am not a regular viewer of Ham Radio Now nor Ham College. As mentioned Ham College is an attempt by the presenters to study for license exams. I like the fact that they explain why a answer is correct and why the other answers are not. It helps people to understand the questions and not just memorize an answer.
I've been a ham for 23 years now and am active in 2 local clubs and am a VE (Volunteer Examiner) for license testing. I also assist a certified ARRL instructor with license classes several times a year.
Age is not a factor. We have had a number of young boys and girls get their technician license, the youngest for us was 7. We had one 11 year old pass all three license levels in one exam session and go all the way to Amateur Extra class. The icing on the cake was that he knew and practiced CW. We have them in their 70's get their first license. So, if you would like to be able to talk to someone (most) anywhere in the world or just in the next county study for the exam and become a ham. Radio's can be purchased new for as little as $35 on Amazon or for deep pockets you can spend $15,000 for radio gear. No one on the other side of the speaker knows who you are or how much money you have, and don't care. Join in the fun! One thing to remember is you MUST have a license to get on the air and have a Call Sign. If not you will have Uncle Charlie (the FCC) knock on your door.
Marv KT4W

ourflat · 03-01-2015, 08:01 PM

Plan on installing a TS-1000 with an auto tuner in my Forester some time in the near future. Haven't decided on my antenna yet. Was thinking about remote control through a computer from my shack but internet isn't always accessible!

Cheers,
Frank
KM4FVI

coupevillefish · 03-01-2015, 08:30 PM

Passed general yesterday. I have a FT2900 that I move between the RV and the house plus a FT60R for HT.

Thanks for the video links. I will take a look at them.

KG7JCA

BooBoo23 · 03-01-2015, 10:26 PM

Congratulations on getting the General, I will expect you to get the Amateur Extra next month. I know it can be done because that's the way I did it.

coupevillefish · 03-01-2015, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooBoo23

Congratulations on getting the General, I will expect you to get the Amateur Extra next month. I know it can be done because that's the way I did it.

Thanks. I took the extra but they quit grading it after the first page. It was that bad. Haven't exactly figured out what I am going to do with the General yet, but the adventure continues.

BooBoo23 · 03-01-2015, 11:57 PM

Just open your wallet and get that HF rig and then hit the airways. Plenty of bandwidth for the General and hope the propagation gets better.

Witch Doctor · 03-02-2015, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooBoo23

Just open your wallet and get that HF rig and then hit the airways. Plenty of bandwidth for the General and hope the propagation gets better.

I have a lic: KF6SDM but it's not a general I didn't need a general to use on my boat in other countries. I know that there is a requirement here. That I would need a general or be limited to certain bands only. Do they still make you take the short wave requirement the click click short wave test or have they got by that. Still have friends around the world and here is the USA. would like to set up at home and also for the road. Any info would be helpful.

coupevillefish · 03-02-2015, 02:51 PM

The Technical limits what bands you can use but your can use the 2m and .7cm bands on the boat or in the RV without upgrading. There are limited frequencies in the 10m band for technical as well, which would give you some HF capability.

And NO, you don't need the Morse code to pass any of the exam levels. We would not be having this discussion if you did. They do ask a number of questions about CW but you do not need to know the codes.

I see that you license has expired, so I think you would basically need to start over with the testing levels. Since you have previously had the license, you could probably pass the Technical and General in a single sitting with a little refresher.

Good luck and enjoy.

BooBoo23 · 03-02-2015, 03:22 PM

KF6SDM license expired on 7/29/2008 so you are no longer able to talk on any ham radio until you retest. The grace period ended 7/30/2010. Ham radio licenses are good for 10 years and the need to be renewed at no cost. The only cost for a license is to take the exam, usually $15. If you want a vanity call there is a cost, I think it is about $25 now, again for a 10 year period. CW (Code) is no longer required for any license level, since I believe 2005. A Technician level license will let you talk on 2 meters, 440mhz/70cm, or higher UHF/VHF. Also the entire 6 meter band and 200mhz in the 10 meter band from 28.300 to 28.500 on SSB. CW can be used in a number of bands in the lower frequencies. I would advise you purchase a ARRL license manual for Technician and study it. You are in CA and there is a lot of amateur radio activity there so I suggest you find a local club and get some help from there. Just do a Google search. If you go to www.arrl.org you will find a lot of information. You can also search for a local club there. Tons of other web sites for ham radio. By the way, the FCC no longer issues a paper license unless specifically requested but you can download a copy from the FCC web site.
Marv
KT4W

**Flybob** · 03-02-2015, 03:47 PM

I am running a Elecraft KX3- KXPA100-PX3 set up feeding a Buddipole ant on a 10 Ft tripod. Works great. Use for both DX and daily traffic nets.

BooBoo23 · 03-02-2015, 04:07 PM

I am running a FT-450 which is not too large for moving around. I have it set up in a "go" box arrangement with my LG-200 pro tuner and a Radio Shack 25A switching power supply. For remote use I have an Eagle One vertical antenna that does pretty good, I use it for field day. Easy to set up and doesn't take up a lot of room in storage. I haven't taken my radio along on any camping trips as they are mostly to go visit relative rather than a true sit back and relax trip. I need to plan to take the HF along this year. This month I'm going to Tampa to the FROG Fun Fest and then visit relatives in The Villages and in April plan to go to DD's in Magnolia, TX.

Side note: Just talked to an old friend that I worked with 50 years ago in Omaha. He got his ticket when he was 12 so I figure he's been licensed for at least 60+years. He hasn't been on the air for over 30 years and just now getting back into it. Sweet!

Ke5rbd · 03-02-2015, 04:58 PM

I used a screwdriver antenna with a 9 foot whip on top. Had camper with aluminum frame grounded the antenna to the frame and the radio to it. Worked great for me. Talked on 75 meter to California from North Carolina, before the propagation got good. This was several years ago. Did have some issues with interference I never really solved. I was running Icom 746 Pro and Keathkit SB 200. Never ran it over about 200 watts. On 75 meter it would cause interference with the electronic AC thermostat, fix was turn the breaker on AC off and ran the manual air in bedroom. 40 meters would trip the ground fault breaker in bath room. 20 meter would turn the fault light on on the refrigerator. Really wasn't that much problem as I only talked late at night. I also talked to neighbors and no problems. Did install an outside plug and ran heavy 12 gauge extension cord to the campground electrical. This helped in some campgrounds but not all. Evidently some didn't have good earth ground. It was too much sugar for nickle to put in ground rod. With my luck I would have hit a gas line or something, but never really considered it. Never did too much 2 meter unless in truck.

Eaglelover · 03-02-2015, 07:02 PM

Hi All: WB2IRE here. I am full time in a 2012 Rockwood windjammer 3001W
I built a desk in the bedroom for the HF radio equipment and also have a spot under the TV location for the 2mtr/440 and a CB. I tried to attach pictures but was not successful. My antenna is a Hustler attached to the front Jack stand and also a push up pole on the rear ladder for the VHF/UHF. I attached a CB antenna to the arm of the TV antenna. Frank

rattleNsmoke · 03-02-2015, 07:31 PM

Ya'll have some serious Ham components here.

BGKirkham · 03-05-2015, 09:02 PM

I have been a Ham for almost a year and I really enjoy it so far. I am pretty active on my local 2 meter repeaters (Yaesu FT2900) and a little on HF (Kenwood TS-480 SAT). I have been thinking about how I will mount my HF rig in the RV when I am camping and what type of antenna works well (both for signal and ease of setup and break down). I primarily work 20 and 40 meters, but the ability to hit several other bands would be good. I'd be interested in hearing what types of antennas everyone uses when RVing. I was thinking a screwdriver antenna would be great for this application.

KK4ZYM

ETA: I didn't realize there was a second page when I posted this.

BooBoo23 · 03-05-2015, 09:30 PM

I'm sure there will be lots of suggestions for an antenna. A lot of guys just hang a dipole up in some trees but some parks that isn't practical. As a compact antenna I like the ease of setup with the Eagle One. You will need a tuner to work all the bands. I use a LG-200pro auto tuner for that. It will operate on 40/15M without a tuner but other bands it will be required, I tune all the bands anyway. Last field day I worked 15M mainly and not working hard had over 100 contacts. It helps to lay out a couple radials but depending on the kind of ground you set up on it works very well. http://w8afx.com.

BGKirkham · 03-05-2015, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooBoo23

I'm sure there will be lots of suggestions for an antenna. A lot of guys just hang a dipole up in some trees but some parks that isn't practical. As a compact antenna I like the ease of setup with the Eagle One. You will need a tuner to work all the bands. I use a LG-200pro auto tuner for that. It will operate on 40/15M without a tuner but other bands it will be required, I tune all the bands anyway. Last field day I worked 15M mainly and not working hard had over 100 contacts. It helps to lay out a couple radials but depending on the kind of ground you set up on it works very well. http://w8afx.com.

Thanks for the recommendation, Marv....I will check it out. I use a LDG KT-100 tuner that does a good job.

BooBoo23 · 03-06-2015, 12:24 AM

Gary, I've talked to Steve (Eagle One) a number of times at local hamfests. I don't know if he has ever been to Huntsville hamfest. He doesn't make as many hamfests as he did about 5 years ago. He had back surgery and as a result was paralyzed from his waist down. It looks like he got a new MH. He was going to sell his old one and stop traveling and then he showed up at the hamfest in Lawrenceville, GA and said he had decided to fix up his old MH and keep going to hamfests but it looks like a new(er) one now. I think he has a lift for his wheelchair. If you are interested in his antenna and have questions just give him a call. Like I say there are other possible antennas to use but the Eagle One works for me.

BGKirkham · 03-06-2015, 07:33 AM

Marv, thanks for the info. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to Steve. Back surgery is a scary thing; it seems like for every success story you hear about, there are two or three more that ended up being made worse by surgery.

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