Afraid to pick up your "bad" habits...

[Krishna]

I have been a member for quite some time, but have never posted. In fact I just started looking into this site again recently for lack of diversity on other sites that I belong to. I was initially scared of this site knowing that I will soon be looking into buying more electronic gadgets i.e. radios! Well I think I am close to being ready to dive in and learn all about that side of communicating.

I have met some of you, though some may not remember, I tend to not post too much. I do look forward to joining you on some trails. My lady and I own an FJ cruiser and have been enjoying it and all those that we get to meet because of it.


See ya all out there and you should be seeing some of my questions regarding amateur radio licensing.


-Shawn

[BlueFJ]

Welcome aboard/back to OAUSA, Shawn! Here's an excellent website for amateur radio info. If you follow the link for Free Test Software, it will take you to a site where you can download the same tests you have to take to get your license. http://hamelmer.com/
Looking forward to seeing you on the trail!

[BruisedFJ]

Hi Shawn,
I just recently took my ham radio test. I spent about a month studying a ham manual and taking the practice tests, which was more than enough time. If you already have an interest in it, I recommend just jumping in to start prepping for the test now. I am glad I did.

From the board index (see the link at the top of the page), there is a grouping for communications, and subgroupings for ham, cb, gfrs, etc. I learned a lot from reading the posts there. Take a look when you have a few minutes.

Hope to see you on the trail soon.

[OLLIE]

Hey brother!!!! Great to see you posting over here. We really enjoyed you and your lady's company on the trails in Ouray. You made some pretty good neighbors too.

It is a misperception to think you need to be a radio operator to be over here. We like the idea and encourage it but don't sweat that. Join us for some runs. I have one going on Saturday in Anza Borrego. "Momollie" is coming out from NE. You met her already.

[cruiserlarry]

Hey Shawn, welcome back to OAUSA !!!

If you are considering getting your ham license, I'd do just as BruisedFJ suggested - just jump in and do it !! I think you'll find, as most others have, that it's not that difficult (heck, I've got a ham license, how hard can it be ? ). Some is logic, some takes a little memorization, and most is intuitive. take an hour a day, and you'll have it nailed in no time...

By the way, I just want to compliment you on that awesome yellow sticker on the back window of your FJ !!!

[lacruiser]

Shawn, get your ham license.

I introduced my LandCruiser buddies to the hobby. We all used to be trying to hear each other over the CB's, but as soon as one guy got two turns up a canyon, there was no way the tailgunner could hear him. We had to relay a message back and forth.

Now, with the 2M gear, we routinely can communicate from the top of the canyon back down to the valley below, or even more.

The first time we really saw this in action was on our annual trek to Utah. I was in Mexican Hat, UT, about 80 miles or so north of Flagstaff, just inside the UT border. The group I was meeting, coming down from Northern California, was about 120 miles north of me. I heard them quite clearly on my radio, and when I called out for them, they heard me just fine as well. This was line-of-sight (radio to radio, no repeaters) simplex, and was the final proof to all those guys that they had made the right choice. This was my mobile radio, a Yaesu. Once you try amateur radio, you'll only use your CB radio on runs where the other participants don't yet have 2M gear.

Later on during that trip, we were in the Canyonlands NP, up on a plateau. I was talking with folks about 40 miles away, using my handi-talkie, a Kenwood. I could talk with them just fine using only 1/4 watt of power. Truly amazing little radios.

Dana