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New Ham checking in...

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Cammo
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:46 pm

New Ham checking in...

Post by Cammo » Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:36 am

I just passed my Technician test this AM, so don't have a call sign yet! Was kinda bummed 'cause I didn't read anywhere that code wasn't needed for General so didn't study for that one. Took the test, but some "remedial training " is required. Maybe next month. Anyway, I'm glad to finally get my ticket, I've wanted to do this since high school. I'm 50 something now, where has the time gone! I'm not exactly a newby here but haven't posted much. I figured this would be a great time & place for an introduction as Ollie has been a great motivating factor in getting this done (Thanks Ollie!).

Judy & I like to go offroading in our FJ Cruiser, take the SeaDoos to lake Havasu (yeah, the hated PWCs, I love 'em, they're like a motorcycle on the water!), and piddle with police scanners, computers, and now Amateur Radio. Just what I needed, something else to sink money into!

And now the quest begins...what to get for my first radio. I'm looking at a mobile dual band (2 meter & 70 cm). I like the Yaesu FT-8800R, but a 7900 would be great too.
W6SDF

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Willie H
Posts: 228
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:30 pm
Call Sign: KJ6HEJ

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by Willie H » Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:40 pm

Congratulations on passing the test! I'm a new ham myself, and absolutely enjoy it, I'm sure you will too. I know there are a few guys here that endorse and/or use the 8800. I just put one in my Jeep (my first mobile rig) I love it.

Congrats again!
KJ6HEJ
"So...Is this a response to a failed government"
FJ

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BlueFJ
Posts: 790
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:19 pm
Call Sign: N6CJW
Location: Escondido, CA

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by BlueFJ » Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:43 pm

Congrats! I have the 8800 in my rig. I highly recommend it!
-Craig
N6CJW


'07 FJ Voodoo Blue MT6 CQ UR GY
Mods: 3" OME coilover lift, Trail-Gear sliders, All Pro Skids, Bandi Mount,
Midland 75-822 CB, Yaesu FT-8800R, Lowrance XOG, K&N Air Filter, Baja Rack & Ladder, BFG 285/70R17 AT KO


"Show me a 4X4 that's never seen dirt and I'll show you a poser"

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cruiserlarry
OAUSA Board Member
Posts: 2646
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:23 pm
Call Sign: W6LPB
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by cruiserlarry » Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:56 pm

Welcome aboard, and congrats on passing the tech test.

The Yaesu FT-8800 is a fantastic radio, and many folks here use 'em. If you might have interest in APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System), you might also look at the new Yaesu FTM-350R, or the Kenwood TM-D710A, as they both do everything the FT-8800 does, and they also have a built-in TNC and software to do APRS - very useful on the trail, IMO.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear really bright, until they start talking

W6LPB / WPOK492

Become a DIRTY PARTS FACEBOOK fan !!!

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salad_man
Posts: 352
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:28 pm
Call Sign: KJ6GQS
Location: Rancho Cuamonga, So Cal

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by salad_man » Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:04 pm

Welcome, awesome group of people here and probably one of the best knowledge bases on radios, imo :)
93 4Runner, Land Crusier rear coils, BJ spacers up front, 33x12.50 bfg m/t, rear e-locker, armor
Call sign: KJ6GQS

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."
- Doc, Back to the Future

Cammo
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:46 pm

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by Cammo » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:34 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome, I look forward to doing some activities soon. Larry, I looked at both radios, they are awesome choices, if a little pricey! I thought the 8700 said it had APRS, but it was ARTS. Looks like a proprietary protocol. Gotta watch those acronyms. With the amount of power these things pull, I might need a dual battery setup after all 'eh?
W6SDF

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cruiserlarry
OAUSA Board Member
Posts: 2646
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:23 pm
Call Sign: W6LPB
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by cruiserlarry » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:02 am

Cammo wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome, I look forward to doing some activities soon. Larry, I looked at both radios, they are awesome choices, if a little pricey! I thought the 8700 said it had APRS, but it was ARTS. Looks like a proprietary protocol. Gotta watch those acronyms. With the amount of power these things pull, I might need a dual battery setup after all 'eh?
ARTS is a proprietary Yaesu protocol, unrelated to APRS (although it can be useful, too ).

While most of the mobile radios transmit 50 watts on 2 meters, relative to other accessories, it's not a big electrical draw. Most off-road lights draw 55-135 watts each, etc... While I think a dual battery system offers many advantages, it's not required to run a mobile ham radio - unless you are planning on operating for extended periods of time while parked.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear really bright, until they start talking

W6LPB / WPOK492

Become a DIRTY PARTS FACEBOOK fan !!!

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OLLIE
Posts: 2669
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:31 am
Call Sign: K6JYB
Location: Sweet Home Alabama!!!

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by OLLIE » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:21 pm

Congratulations on getting your ticket. We hope to see you out on the trails more now too. Try to check out our weekly net once you get a radio. :)
"OLLIE"
(K6JYB)


APRS
K6JYB ("BugEater")
K6JYB-7 (VX-8R)


http://www.facebook.com/FJOllie

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, the Marines don't have that problem."
-Ronald Reagan


CHECK OUT THE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE USA AMATEUR RADIO NET:
Every Thursday night at 7:30pm PST

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146.385+ PL: 146.2 Keller Peak (Echolink Equipped)

Cammo
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:46 pm

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by Cammo » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:14 pm

Thanks Ollie!

KJ6JLZ. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue...Got it yesterday, probably the most efficient Gov't action I've ever seen!

What does you're -7 mean Ollie?

Looking forward to the net, prolly just listen for a while...
W6SDF

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cruiserlarry
OAUSA Board Member
Posts: 2646
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:23 pm
Call Sign: W6LPB
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: New Ham checking in...

Post by cruiserlarry » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:54 pm

Congrats on getting your ticket...

If you pm your real name with your call sign, I'll add you to the official OAUSA Amateur Operator Roster :mrgreen:
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear really bright, until they start talking

W6LPB / WPOK492

Become a DIRTY PARTS FACEBOOK fan !!!

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