TCs, Ham Radio and Kids

[Cannon_George]

Passing along as ‘FYI.’
A ham radio operator, often use my TC as a “Ham Shack.” Active in my local ARES/ACS radio support group and often deploy to support local civic and charity events including Marathons and Bicycle Races.

For many events, I deploy and set up in remote areas outside of cell phone range. In this case, the ability to access repeaters, communicate with an Event Net Control Operator, makes all the difference in obtaining a speedy response, be it as simple as getting more water or even emergency medical support. In rare cases, the ability for a mobile “Ham Shack” to drive off-road to a particular “off-grid” way-point becomes even more pronounced. (The TC is perfect for this)

Most of what I use is simple dual-band (2M/440) communications but on occasion will string out an HF antenna – and listen/chat around the world!

By using APRS repeaters, (Automatic Position Reporting System) one can send short messages to cell phones and e-mail, even though you are way out of cell phone range.

Ham radio clubs all over the country need new, younger members – (to backfill dying and retiring members) I have discovered taking kids out camping, setting up the campsite, then setting up the radio station works wonders! Let them talk! They are hooked and right away I have kids (girls and boys) interested in getting their FCC license – as well as volunteering to support the next event. Especially if it involves camping; something else disappearing from the lexicon of young adults today….

Finally, (in case you are wondering), kids are quite happy to set up their own new-found tents outside the camper, leaving me with my own personal space. I'll cook and feed them. If weather is really bad we’ll adjust; but kids are amazingly resilient to adverse conditions….

'73,
KC6LPE

[d3500ram]

Would have loved to have set up a portable station when I had my TC.
Sold the camper due to the fixer-upper house needing weekend attention...
...maybe when it is in a further state of repair I can get the home shack up and running more.

73s,
W2OKJ

[towpro]

sljohnson1938 wrote:
WHAT -no morse code for a license????

gee wiz - what is next?

Chinese walkie talkies on Amazon for UHF/VHF starting at around $30 bucks? (and they work well)

[Cannon_George]

I just finished supporting the Bishop 100K Ultra event; in addition to HTs (which worked fine) I also used an FTM-400 for coms.

Unlike most years, we had snow/sleet/rain and I had a warm space to crawl into to upload data.

[mountainkowboy]

Geewizard wrote:
I'm in the process of setting up a portable amateur radio satellite system for my TC.

W7OTJ

Nice!

Our rig has a Yeasu FTM-350 and we can broadcast with or without the TC, from the cab or the camper as long as the TC is on the truck. I built a mount that attaches to the front bed rail that uses the same antenna mount that's on the ladder of the TC, and just disconnect the TC's cable from the truck and move the antenna. It works surprisingly well and have use it all over the PNW in our travels.

[Geewizard]

.

[Cannon_George]

Thanks for all the replies! The local group set up a temporary portable repeater (2M) earlier this week, and early today we put it to good use providing communications in support of a large Autism 5K/10K fun run event. I deployed with the TC and brought along two new young hams and let them work the radios for me. The 4:00 wake-up call meant the TC also became the breakfast wagon once we were on station. The TC also provides a reliable (and solar backed) source of 12VDC power for operating higher power (50W) mobile radios in situations where handhelds (5W) won't work.

Acampingwewillgo, Jimh425, etc. Gordon West is still around and busy as ever, full of energy, I ran into him at the ARRL HamFest in Quartzite earlier this year.

I have found memories of Heathkit (as well as mags Popular Electronics, Electronics Illustrated, etching my own PC boards and lots of solder burns but the truth is nowadays not many kids have even seen a soldering iron. Times are a changing....

For those of you interested in taking the FCC exam it really is pretty easy, a site like "Hamstudy.org" to build custom practice tests around what you don't know. Gordon West and ARRL offer excellent study materials.

Morse Code (CW) is no longer required for your license but many, many people still use (and are learning) it. Ham Radio has exploded in the past decade into several different directions - I like using APRS (Automatic Position Reporting Systems) to transmit coordinates and short messages to other cell phones despite me being out of cell phone range. I'm also learning how to use FLDIGI to transmit digital files. Other people swear by using DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) modes of transmission which may also include bridges to Dstar and Fusion systems. Finally, a number of cross-internet platforms out there where you can use computer or even cell phone to access a powerful radio station somewhere else in the world and re-broadcast your voice through a simple headset connection!

Lots to learn, and learning keeps me young!
The two young (age 12) kids that helped me this morning want to build something out of Arduino and Raspberry Pis cobbled together, can't wait to see what it is!


'73,
KC6LPE
Cannon George

[jimh406]

Thanks, that’s helpful information for someone like myself who would dabble in my vehicle. A guy who worked for me said I had an ideal place to put a very long loop antenna on my ranch, so who knows ...

[towpro]

Removed, kohldad covered what I was going to say.

[kohldad]

Hmm, if there is no license for Ham radios, that might be an option for me in the mountains around here where the wireless is spotty. Probably showing my ignorance of Ham, but is that the same as people use in vehicles where CBs aren’t used?

License is still required but now it is all rules and theory. The higher the class which gives more privileges (bands) the deeper the rules/theory go. For a technician class which is the easiest class but gives you the most popular two bands for vehicle use, it really isn't that hard. To get an idea, check out a Technician Practice Exam.

[mountainkowboy]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Since I was in Jr High school, I've wanted to get into Ham radio but I've always come up with some excuse for not following through....I mentioned this someplace else recently, but I remember Heath Kit use to sell Receivers and Transceivers as kits back in the day. Fast forward 50 years later and I'm still picking up my ARRL/Gordon West answer/question book. Maybe one of these days I'll actually do it. Oh...I see the OP is in Ojai, Ventura here.

Heath Kit...man, you’re bringing back some memories! I built a lot of things from them. I did a search...they still make a couple of kits, though I understand they are owned by a different company now.

I also built a multi-meter from Radio Shack about 40 years ago. Still use it!

I did the same as you....thought about Heath Kit and had to look it up to see if they were still around. Rather disappointing to see what they offer now...I was like a kid in a candy store when they were big, so many kits to chose from! Good Old Days....

I built my first Ham radio with my dad, I think we had $20.00 in it in parts.....LOL. I was 12 I think the first time I got my Lic, my dad had a big array on the garage with a rota-tor under it. There was a little hole in the basement with ALL KINDS of equipment stacked with a lollipop D104 on the bench....Hahaha, old times

[Giltex]

Also a member of our county ARES. Since this is tornado season in East Texas we have all been a little uptight. Had the sirens Wednesday night for 30 minutes, and I was grabbing my "go pack". We lucked out on that one.

73s
W5QZB

[joerg68]

http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

That link should answer all questions.
You still need a license, but you no longer need to learn Morse code.

[jimh406]

Hmm, if there is no license for Ham radios, that might be an option for me in the mountains around here where the wireless is spotty. Probably showing my ignorance of Ham, but is that the same as people use in vehicles where CBs aren’t used?

[Acampingwewillg]

jfkmk wrote:

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Since I was in Jr High school, I've wanted to get into Ham radio but I've always come up with some excuse for not following through....I mentioned this someplace else recently, but I remember Heath Kit use to sell Receivers and Transceivers as kits back in the day. Fast forward 50 years later and I'm still picking up my ARRL/Gordon West answer/question book. Maybe one of these days I'll actually do it. Oh...I see the OP is in Ojai, Ventura here.

Heath Kit...man, you’re bringing back some memories! I built a lot of things from them. I did a search...they still make a couple of kits, though I understand they are owned by a different company now.

I also built a multi-meter from Radio Shack about 40 years ago. Still use it!

I did the same as you....thought about Heath Kit and had to look it up to see if they were still around. Rather disappointing to see what they offer now...I was like a kid in a candy store when they were big, so many kits to chose from! Good Old Days....