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| Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'. |
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#1
01-15-2021, 8:42 AM
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Everything Amateur Radio
I wanted to start a thread about Amateur Radio where you can ask questions about UHF/VHF/HF, Testing, Antenna's, Radio's, Clubs, SOTA, POTA, and everything Radio.
While I have only been involved in the hobby for a short time I've jumped into the deep end with both feet and am an Extra VE with GLAARG, a member of ARRL, PAPA Systems, DARN Network LA County Disaster Communication Services with the Lost Hills Station, and much more. 
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#2
01-15-2021, 9:29 AM
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Since you're a VE with GLAARG, perhaps you can post the process for people to earn a Ham License? It's pretty cool what GLAARG has done with online testing, it has opened the doors for people to easily earn their Ham license if they're willing to put the time and effort into it.
I earned by Tech license in November, then earned my General last week. I may study up and take the AE test too, I just have to commit to the time and effort required to do it.
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Last edited by Paseclipse; 01-15-2021 at 9:32 AM..
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#3
01-15-2021, 9:40 AM
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Maybe look to expand on this sub forum.
https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...d.php?t=202581 It's kind of a yawner and has been so since I've been here.
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"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#4
01-15-2021, 9:42 AM
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tagged
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#5
01-15-2021, 10:22 AM
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and welcome to the hobby. Here is the Process. STUDY 1) Study for the Technician Exam. I used the Michael Burnett, "Fast Track to your Technician, General, Extra Class Ham Radio License. There is also an accompanying Audio Books I listened to. 2) Take Practice Exams until you achieve 80%+ score before taking the exam. I used the Ham Study App from HamStudy.org. 3) When you have studied and tested at over 80% you are ready to take the exam. TEST 1) Go to HamStudy.org and/or GLAARG.org to find an online test. 2) sign up for a test through any VEC. TEST PROCESS. 1) Using Zoom you sign in and enter the main Welcome Room. A VE will answer any and all of your questions. 2) You will likely then be sent to a Pre-Check room where they will check your ID, Computer, and answer questions. 3) you will then be sent to one of the test rooms where there will be 3-4 VE's to proctor the exam. 4) VE's will again check your ID and your form 605 and FRN before doing a room check. 5) The room check we ask you to slowly show us the room you are testing in. We will ask to see a 360 degree waist high of the room, the floor below and the ceiling above to make sure no one is cheating. 6) VE's turn off the audio and video and we watch you take the test. IF we see you looking at something other than the screen we may stop the test. AFTER THE TEST 1) As soon as you complete the test we grade it and you instantaneously and you get your score. 2) Upon passing we review your form 605 and have you sign. 3) If you don't pass we MAY allow you to take it again. We can also print out your test so you can see the answers you missed. The Technician Class is 35 questions The General Class is 35 questions The Extra Class is 50 questions A passing score on ALL classes is 74%. After passing I always suggest new Hams check out Papa Systems, https://www.papasys.com/ They are a 800+ member Club with 26+ linked repeaters offering Analogue, DMR, D-STAR, P-25 access. Papa Systems also has some of the best Nets: Monday - DMR Tuesday - D-STAR & P-25 Wednesday - New Hams Net Thursday - Technical Roundtable Net Friday - Antenna Net Saturday - Saturday Night Roundtable, (everything BUT ham radio) Sunday - Southern California Boaters Net, (Hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club) Papa Systems is a member supported club open to all. We suggest you join with a 90 day Guest membership, If you like the people and content, we ask you join as a member. Dues are $125 a year or $10.25 a month. There are also a lot of other local clubs to join. For Programming radios, I suggest CHIRP. Also, Papa Systems has code plugs for many common radios available to all members. Students, First Responders and ACTIVE military TEST FOR FREE. Otherwise there is a $10 test fee. The FCC has proposed adding a $35 fee for Licenses and upgrades. The fee will take effect 30 days AFTER the FCC publishes the new regulations. IF you want to avoid the fee, Begin Studying NOW and take the test(s) before the fee in instituted.
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#6
01-15-2021, 10:24 AM
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Thanks
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#8
01-15-2021, 5:57 PM
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I figure I'll post up some good online sources I used recently since I studied and tested for both the Technician and General tests.
Technician Class Study Books- ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (Technician)- https://www.amazon.com/ARRL-Radio-Li...0759919&sr=8-3 ARRL Tech Q&A (to study the questions and answers for the technician test)- https://www.amazon.com/ARRLs-Tech-Q-...25950861&psc=1 2018-2022 Technician Class study guide by Gordon West- https://www.amazon.com/2018-2022-Tec...760024&sr=8-12 YouTube Videos for Technician Class- Ham Radio Technician Class License Course and Test Prep, Part 1- Ham Radio Technician Class License Course and Test Prep, Part 2- Ham Radio Technician Class License Course and Test Prep, Part 3- General Class Study Books- The ARRL General Class License Manual- https://www.amazon.com/ARRL-General-...760024&sr=8-10 ARRL General Q&A (to study the questions for the General test)- https://www.amazon.com/ARRLs-General...25951108&psc=1 2019-2023 General Class Study Guide by Gordon West- https://www.amazon.com/2019-2023-Gen...760024&sr=8-15 YouTube Videos for General Class- Ham Radio General Class License Course Livestream - Get Your Upgrade!- Ham Radio General Class License Course Livestream, Part 2 - Get Your Upgrade!- Ham Radio General Class License Course Livestream, Part 3 - Get Your Upgrade!- Ham Radio General Class License Course Livestream, Part 4 - Get Your Upgrade!- Online Practice tests QRZ.com Practice Tests- https://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ ARRL Practice Tests- http://www.arrl.org/exam-practice AA9PW Practice Tests- http://aa9pw.com/technician-license/ Hamstudy.org- https://hamstudy.org/ Testing Find an Exam in Your area (in person)- http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session Hamstudy.org online testing- https://hamstudy.org/sessions GLAARG.org- https://glaarg.org/exam_sessions/ Hopefully this helps. Good luck!
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Last edited by Paseclipse; 01-15-2021 at 6:33 PM.. Reason: Embedded videos
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#9
01-15-2021, 6:02 PM
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Oops, double post
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Last edited by Paseclipse; 01-15-2021 at 6:13 PM..
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#10
01-30-2021, 9:52 AM
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BTT
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#11
01-30-2021, 12:18 PM
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I would love to have a HAM radio sub-forum (rather than a thread), here is probably as good a place as any.
When I got my Tech & General, I downloaded (pirated) an audio course and listened to it on motorcycle trips & car rides, then took the practice tests at eham.com until I was getting 90% reliably then went and took the test - aced them both (about 9months apart).
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#12
01-30-2021, 12:22 PM
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Here is a question: I live in SoCal, my nephew lives in the midwest; is there any HAM solution that would allow us to reliably communicate for under $250 ea?
The easy solution would be linked repeaters - but there are no links between him & me.
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#13
02-02-2021, 12:25 PM
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#16
02-06-2021, 5:41 PM
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The more people who take the tests the more you are linked and the easier to get where you want to go. In times of trouble when everything else goes down the ham operators will be ours and the country's salvation.
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#17
02-07-2021, 10:19 AM
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The ham net intel was a full hour ahead of the msm meat puppets burping up the "latest updates" on tv /radio. Repeater emergency nets/mobile users intel was absolute gold. *we are way north of that area.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#19
02-07-2021, 6:41 PM
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Every wildfire or other natural disaster, the local hams are hours ahead of the government and media. Last wildfire I got an 0230 cellphone alert from the government, TV was zero, scanner non trunked SO was evacuating 15 miles away, door to door. Ham Net came up and in a minute or two realized no danger existed and went back to sleep.
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"The California matrix of gun control laws is among the harshest in the nation and are filled with criminal law traps for people of common intelligence who desire to obey the law." - U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez
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#20
02-07-2021, 7:15 PM
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#21
02-08-2021, 9:40 AM
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 https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/ Repeaters are paid for and maintained by club people. Many hams are into prepping to some degree. You can get a good feel for what they are about by listening in to their traffic. *Caution. Be prepared to  The conversations always go into the weeds just like computer nerds do on computer/programming forums.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#22
02-08-2021, 1:22 PM
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https://sbcara.org/testing-training/
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#23
02-08-2021, 3:40 PM
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Congratulations new hams!!!
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#24
02-08-2021, 4:03 PM
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#25
02-10-2021, 8:15 AM
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If you want to make a sub forum for all things HAMster then you gotta fill it with content.
Why don't the hamsters post up pics and details of their home/mobile/antlers and ht equipment and spell out why they chose the equipment. "How to get a license" videos are necessary, but only after people express an interest in using HAM. You're gonna have to compete with a cell phone users and explain HAM advantages in the real world. Give people a reason to use it. Once licensed explain how/who police the whole service. Answer the whys. Advance the pro over con argument. Talk about phone apps that scan emergency services. Maybe cover the language restrictive nature of HAM vs cell and lack of privacy over the air. Just one man's opinion. Carry on.
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"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#26
02-10-2021, 8:20 AM
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Need to get off my butt and set up my shack. Have a general license and two great radios and an antenna sitting in the garage. Maybe this thread will inspire me to move forward.
Friend talked me into going with him and getting our licenses back over a year ago. His radio is still in the original box.
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#27
02-10-2021, 8:30 AM
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My next project will be setting up my Excursion as a mobile 2M repeater. Would love to talk to anyone who has done this
__________________
Only slaves don't need guns Quote:
We already have the only reasonable Gun Control we need, It's called the Second Amendment and it's the government it controls. What doesn't kill me, better run
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#28
02-11-2021, 4:59 PM
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I was looking at a CB for my new truck and the next thing you know RADIO CRAZY. Been studying for ham Tech.....my favorite is using the very SPEED OF LIGHT to calculate antenna length------hilarious. Hoping to take the test FTF next quarter on the other side of San Pablo Bay.
Meantime WRKS703 sittin most times (eves and weekends) on 462.675 with handheld near RRGC. Thinking about ordering a chinese made product is just killing me, I like that 3-band 50W mobile. CALGUNS AMATUEUR RADIO yah!!!!
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#29
02-11-2021, 5:31 PM
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Technician license KK6xxx. Don't need to go any further. If I want to talk to somebody in another country I'll use my phone. Own a couple Yaesus and Icom handheld and mobile. Also own a dozen Baofengs which I can program with CHIRP to any VHF frequencies I might need for local communications 2 meter, 440, MURS, FRS/GMRS, (and more) like that. Should 2meter/440 repeaters near me fail, I can still communicate within my AO.
My problem is that the local HAMS are complete aszholes. Doubt any of them have any clue what is happening right now. I'll post their callsigns if anyone here can school them on reality.
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California Native Lifelong Gun Owner NRA Member CRPA Member ....."He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance." Declaration of Independence, 1776
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#30
02-12-2021, 8:47 AM
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I've had a similar experience with the nearest club to us and that really put us off to associating with them. Being pedantic/condescending is NOT a good way to attract new members.  We live really rural and the ham club pickings are slim. Our nearest neighbors are about 6 miles away and out further than that. Comms are rough and cell service is better now, but a plan B is good to have. Out of necessity we formed a neighborhood watch/qrf group that use radio comms for emergencies du jour. I gave away 3 programmed BF-uv5r ht radios to seed the beginnings of our group. I took a chance and it's paying off. We added 2 new members since then. It took years to do this. Herding cats is an art form.  We use 3 different channels (primary plus back ups) to simplex point to point and we also monitor the emergency services such as they are. If I lived in a city I'd get on top of this ham radio equipment thing fast. Build a group and keep it tight.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#31
02-12-2021, 8:57 AM
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#32
02-12-2021, 8:58 AM
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papasys.com
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#33
02-12-2021, 10:58 AM
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Can you start by posting pics of your gear and/or what your plans are? I'm interested to know more. *I don't use these radios for a hobby. They are for emergency/survival purposes and have paid for themselves many times over.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#34
02-12-2021, 3:42 PM
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I have a question about repeaters....
I've a general license but no decent radio to speak of ;-) I've a couple of cheap Baofengs and a nice waterproof marine vhf handheld which I take offshore. I've programmed several local (according to repeaterbook) repeaters into my Baofengs, but cannot detect any activity on them. I'm probably doing something wrong....
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#35
02-12-2021, 4:26 PM
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__________________
California Native Lifelong Gun Owner NRA Member CRPA Member ....."He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance." Declaration of Independence, 1776
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#36
02-12-2021, 4:27 PM
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__________________
California Native Lifelong Gun Owner NRA Member CRPA Member ....."He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance." Declaration of Independence, 1776
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#37
02-12-2021, 5:55 PM
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Turn radio on max power setting to tx and key the mic for a bit and you should get a return announcement (station id) or a something if you connect. Barring obstructions or mystical bad juju. *Some repeaters are listed, but can be down for service (broken) and because these are paid for out of club funds, using volunteer member labor they can sit idle for months. Keep checking. I ran into this same problem. I programmed the 2 closest repeaters and one was awol for over a year and a half.  The furthest one was great and I can tag it with ht radios.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass --
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#38
02-12-2021, 5:59 PM
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__________________
California Native Lifelong Gun Owner NRA Member CRPA Member ....."He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance." Declaration of Independence, 1776
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#39
02-12-2021, 9:04 PM
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The easiest mistakes for new HAM's with repeaters is 1: properly configuring the radio 2: properly program the repeater offset & PL tone. Double check those. After that the most likely problem is that you don't have a good line of sight to your repeaters antenna. The Baofeng's have cheap receivers and they have poor sensitivity - so you need to have a fairly low noise floor and a fairly strong signal. For example I live in an area with a high noise floor and I'm on the backside of a hill from my local repeater - the result is that my Yaesu radio will work, but my Baofeng's will not, but If I go to the other side of the hill I can receive the repeater on the Baofeng's. My suggestion is that you find the repeater on a map and then drive to it - see if you can connect with a known line of sight at a couple miles. If you still cannot hear the receiver find your local club and get one of the experienced guys to help. Heads up; a lot of experienced Ham's look down their noses at Baofeng's.
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#40
02-12-2021, 9:21 PM
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I also like the HYS tactical foldable antenna: https://www.amazon.com/HYS-Tactical-...dDbGljaz10cnVl
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