The HAM radio seems to be a community even beyond the JK, and a true life saver.

Question:

- How do I get a tech or general license? What's the difference between the two in training time, and radio usage/performance?

- What HAM radios and antennas do you suggest for either license?

- In fact, what license do you suggest for the newbie?

If there's something I missed than please inform me. I really want to get one for the safety/rescue reason as I'll be traveling the US back roads soon for quite some time with the JK. And, I'm a tech savvy guy so I'm sure I'll pick this up fast. Oh, I have a Garmin nuvi GPS and a Uniden xl cb already.

Thanks!

 

google ARRL you will find your answers. You would start with Technician class.

 

I would start by finding a local amateur radio club in your area to find out about classes and testing. You could start by contacting the HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) in Phoenix and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

As far as gear goes, I would suggest attending a few meetings and talk to the guys; the chances of a HAM club in the Phoenix area not having someone that wheels to be about zero. The guys at HRO are also very helpful.

And as far as license, in my opinion a technician license is all you should need. The most common rigs you will find in most off-road vehicles are VHF and UHF. A mountain top repeater can cover a lot of territory.

I hope you go for it!

NW6M
Jerry

 

Very true and let me give the OP an example.......I went back into a remote wheeling spot earlier tonight that has little to no cell coverage...The entire way back into this spot I was talking with my friends on one of the local 2m repeaters (they were at home)..Again the cell was showing "no service", we then switched around to 3 or 4 other local repeaters just to test and I had no trouble maintaining communication...It was nice to know if something bad happened or I got stranded I would be able to call out for help if the cell was dead..

On the way out I stopped at the absolute peak elevation for this spot and told my buddies to QSY to "double oh in Scranton" which is a Scranton area 2m repeater (147.00) I was able to bring up this repeater with no trouble and they were hearing me just fine.....We all live an hour north of Scranton, PA !! So mountain top repeaters do reach out a long way..

Thats just a quick example of one of the many things ham radio has to offer..

Good Luck !!

 

getting a licenese is easier today with that morse code requirment gone. Having a HAM radio will be fun in the trails and if you get within distance of a repeater who knows how far you can DX

 

Thank you all. I am 100% getting a HAM radio once I get a couple more pay checks, and I'll check out my local Phoenix HAM radio group.

 

[QUOTE=RN M OVR;1087900]
And, I'm a tech savvy guy so I'm sure I'll pick this up fast. QUOTE]


If you're as "tech savvy" as you say, then I would study for not only the Tech, but the Generals as well. It's pretty easy. If you pass the Tech you can take the General at the same time. If you think you are really feeling the pull of HAM radio, then I can't empasize enough.......GET YOUR GENERALS...!!!! Why stop at VHF/UHF and a small section of 10 meters (HF), when you can open yourself up to "almost" the entire radio spectrum...AND THE WORLD with your Generals lic.
Remember......even tho VHF is nice, someday you may still drive far from VHF repeater range. If you break down and you have HF privlidges, You will still be able to get help. The HF spectum is HUGE and there is ALWAYS somebody listening. It is not uncommon for somebody on the east coast to get help from somebody on the west coast....all via HF propagation. In fact, this past weekend late at night on 40m, I heard, quite well I might add, a mobile station in AZ. all the way up here in Alaska. So that right there was the potential for help if needed if nothing else was possible.

Go for it man.......you'll be glad you did....!!!

 

Someone in your local Phoenix Ham radio group may also have a good used radio to help get you started...

 

As far as the tests go they have to be taken in sequence.
Technician, General, and Extra
The Technician ticket will give you enought to get started with a little HF.
The General gives you most of HF
The Extra gives you the rest of HF
You could study on your own for technician getting a book or 2 at HRO.

The idea of having 3 tests is to advance in the hobbie at your own pace. Yes you could study for and take Technician and General in one sitting. The word Hobbie is is what you want to remember it's not done after you take the test, it's a beginning. It's not just about getting on the air it's about electronics, service, learning, making new friends, and so on.

Having a radio in the Jeep is great but is that the only place you will use it?
Will you design and build your own antenna's or radios?
There are the services like Storm Watch and ARES, classes you can take offered by local ham clubs. Service for community events like the MS 150 and so on.

The test is just a beginning

 

When I took the tech test I got a 100% so they told me to take the general just because. I hadn't studied ANYTHING for the general and only missed it by a couple questions. I now wish I had spent a little time studying so I could have passed the general too, just didn't realize it would have been attainable. So, now I have to find time to study again and go take the test again. I may get me the extra manual too and start working on it.