<resolved>

[D4ZORT]

SoCal

http://www.scrrba.org/

NorCal

http://www.narcc.org/

Phone patch

http://www.arrl.org/phone-patch-guidelines

The Wouxun units have a great price point, and should make a good starter HT. The PC programing feature should make it a snap to do.

73

I found this too

http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/

[ldivinag]

I saw a video where a guys used his HAM radio to call his cell phone? Something about DTMF?

Also, where do you get a list of repeaters for your area?

ham to phone is a function of a repeater that has this feature.

ARRL publishes a book every year for repeaters in the US.

if you have a complicated radio, best to look up repeaters on the web. then pre-program your radio before you arrive at the destination.

i work a lot of public events (bicycle races, and lots of rally events) and most of the time, they give up frequency list, along with repeater info if needed. this gives me chance to do all the work before hand.

of course now that i have a netbook, this even comes in more handy when the event i work, decides to use portable/temporary repeaters and i have to change on the fly...

[D4ZORT]

ham to phone is a function of a repeater that has this feature.

ARRL publishes a book every year for repeaters in the US.

if you have a complicated radio, best to look up repeaters on the web. then pre-program your radio before you arrive at the destination.

i work a lot of public events (bicycle races, and lots of rally events) and most of the time, they give up frequency list, along with repeater info if needed. this gives me chance to do all the work before hand.

of course now that i have a netbook, this even comes in more handy when the event i work, decides to use portable/temporary repeaters and i have to change on the fly...

Thanks for info.

[D4ZORT]

OP, you should try to find out if there's an amateur radio club in your area. They can show you their gear, tell you about the local repeaters, help you with preparing and taking the licensing test, etc. If they help run any events I highly suggest you try to volunteer with them - the experience that comes out of big events is really valuable.

Found one in my city, and sent an email

[ldivinag]

Whats rule of thumb for a 5w handheld on distance using a repeater?

are you saying a 5w HT can hit a repeater?

i read some reviews on the mag put out by ARRL, QST and they normally write that they could hit a 10 or so mile away repeaters.

i have a yaesu vx-7r. this guy's review says he can hit 75 miles away with 2.5 watts and over 100 miles on 5 watts with an aftermarket rubber ducky antenna.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/mailto/83644

where i normally volunteer is mountainous terrain and often i have to add my 30-50 watt amplifier to work simplex, not repeater, mode...

[Cnynrat]

Whats rule of thumb for a 5w handheld on distance using a repeater?

VHF/UHF is basically line of sight, so the answer is heavily dependent on the terrain, tall buildings, etc. I've heard guys hit a repeater well over 20 miles away with favorable geography.

[nitroxdiver]

Whats rule of thumb for a 5w handheld on distance using a repeater?

It really depends on your antenna, your altitude and obstrutions between you and the repeater, the sensitivity of the repeater antenna etc. I once made an autopatch phone call though a repeater on mt diablo from the summit of half dome with a 5w handie talkie and a rubber duck antenna. That's over 130 miles line of sight. Clear as a bell, over....

[GrizzlyGuy]

If you're looking for a radio to use in a SHTF scenario, you might want to get one that has HF (shortwave) capabilities as well as (or instead of) VHF/UHF. In a SHTF situation, the repeaters are going to be jammed with traffic, assuming they survive whatever caused the SHTF. An HF radio isn't dependent on repeaters and you can communicate locally, across the country or internationally.

For example, maybe something like the setup I'm using here. It does 100W on the 10-160m HF bands, and has the 2m and 70cm bands that a dual-band HT would cover, with lots more power on those bands than an HT. It's obviously less compact than an HT but I will be able to communicate with people all over the country and all over the world, no matter where I am or what the nature of the SHTF event is.

[Satex]

Educate me on HAM radio's

Ham radio's don't have channels, they have banks that you can program different frequencies into.

grrrrrrrrrrrr.....

Here is a thread I started about this same subject: https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...d.php?t=489523

[bandook]

It really depends on your antenna, your altitude and obstrutions between you and the repeater, the sensitivity of the repeater antenna etc. I once made an autopatch phone call though a repeater on mt diablo from the summit of half dome with a 5w handie talkie and a rubber duck antenna. That's over 130 miles line of sight. Clear as a bell, over....

Of course, you had to pick Mt. Diablo. :-)
That place has the second largest-line-of-sight area in the world after Mt Kilimanjaro. Apparently, on a clear day you can see all the way down to Grapevine.

I really need to replace the FT-530 that was stolen when our house got burgled a few months ago. 5W with cross-band repeat... Sigh... they just don't make them like they used to anymore...

[Satex]

I really need to replace the FT-530 that was stolen when our house got burgled a few months ago. 5W with cross-band repeat... Sigh... they just don't make them like they used to anymore...

The FT-530 was one fine handheld!

[bandook]

The FT-530 was one fine handheld!

All I'm left with is the car charger
Anyway... didn't mean to hijack this thread. I'll get over it (eventually).

[socalbowhunter]

Anyone know of any classes in the Inland Empire. I searched the site and none came up within 250 miles. Does that sound right?

[waffenfabrik_]

http://www.tcara.org/ Local club, should have VEC exams
"The VE Testing session is held in the pilots lounge at Brackett Field Airport, 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91750. The Testing is held on the last Saturday of every month at 1:00 p.m. (1300 hrs.) sharp. The location is the same place where TCARA has their Club meetings."




KB6NU's personal adventures in amateur radio, and study guide.

http://kb6nu.com/

__________________
I wonder if there are any other if there is any one else in the IE looking for exams?

[gunafficionado]

It all depends on how much you are willing to spend. Amateur radio is like drinking from a hose.

Start with a good dual (2m/440) HT. The Yaesu FT60R worked for me. Find a repeater, listen then join in if you like the crowd. Unless you live our it the wilderness, there's plenty of repeaters around. From there move on to getting a dual band mobile rig. I went for the Yaesu FT7900R.

If you're planning to go beyond the entry level and delve into the world of HF, the the next buy would be an all band/ all mode transceiver. Take you pick....mobile/portable or base. The Yaesu FT857D works for me.

There's plenty of choices to be had. Amateur radio is a great hobby, not only for when SHTF.

Of course all this happens after you get licensed.