How many Amateur Radio people here?

[Jerry Falletta]

I will start this one.....

My call sign is KD2DR; my wife (Sherry) is N2LQI.

Using Kenwood TM-741A (6M, 2M, and 3/4M) in the Jeeps.

[Paulwpetrea]

Howdy, KB4WZB here in Savannah. I have a 2/440 in my '90 YJ. It's an Icom 207H, and I am very pleased with it. I also run a larsen dual band antenna for it. Approximately $350 dollars, I believe.

Of course, for the trails too, I have an 11 meter rig. I got a killer deal at a pawn shop. It's a weather resistant Radio Shack CB on a Wilson 2000 antenna, along with high-end coax. It had never been even opened, apparently. $30 dollars.

73

[Chip in Pennsylvania]

N3MBX here in Pa. 2m

[Paulwpetrea]

Hey Jerry,
Is that a dual band rig that shows both bands at once on the display? I believe it was the 731 or maybe the 741 I had, back in ohhh ... '90 or '91. That was a very good radio. You could modify it to use as a 'second party' repeater. They were wonderful for when you may be shopping in a mall or other places with a hand held. You just go through your mobile repeater, then to the main machine. Talk about a solid signal.

[Jerry Falletta]

The 731 is a dual band radio, and it is an updated version of the 721. It displays both bands ('main' & 'sub') simultaneously. It is somewhat limited compared with the 741/742 tri-band radios, but works perfectly for what we use it for. One of us can use a hand-held on UHF to communicate with the other person on VHF over a distance of 10-15 miles using low power :D.

The only problem is that a lot of repeaters have a long "squelch tail", locking up the 'mobile repeater' so you cannot access it (until the repeater drops its 'tail') because the mobile unit is repeating the hilltop repeater's 'tail'.

The solution would be to make ham repeaters with very short squelch tails, but most are using the ACC and similar controllers with the voice features and 'courtesy beep' set up with the long tail.

Commercial systems never use long tails or the beeps and work very well. A couple of the local repeaters have the short tail and are compatible with the Mobile Repeat function of the Kenwood and other radios.

[TOOLman]

SM3PWN here.

Haven't been "radio active" for many years, though.

[Ghery]

N6TPT. Been a ham since 1988. Kenwood TM-G707A dual bander in the Jeep. 160 m through 2 meters (minus 6 meters) in the shack.

I've got a TM-731 in reserve. Used it for years, but couldn't find a good way to mount it in the Jeep (until after I bought the G707A, of course). Good rugged radio. I do miss the dual band receive capability, but I like the aircraft band receive in the G707A (I'm a pilot, too).

Anyone up for a Jeepers net?

[BlackJeepOfTheFamily]

VE6 FLX (Flex)
VE6 BFJ (BigF*Jeep) :)

Not sure which one yet, still waiting for my licence to arrive...just passed my Canadian Basic Qualifications Exam last Wednesday...80%. :D:D:D

Here's the break-down of the levels up here

Canadian Basic Qualification (which requires NO MORSE CODE EXAMINATION) receives all amateur radio privileges above 30 MHz, except high power transmitter operation. These privileges include the very popular 2 metre band. Many Basic Qualification holders enjoy using small 2 metre hand-held radios to stay in touch with other ham friends in their area. They may operate FM voice, digital packet (computer communication), television, single-sideband voice, and several other interesting modes. They can even make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple equipment. To earn your certificate with Basic Qualification, you'll need to pass a written exam. These are multiple-choice tests, written with beginners in mind. You'll study topics such as radio operating practices, basic electrical theory, and government radiocommunication regulations which apply to amateur radio.

5WPM 5 Words Per Minute Morse Code Qualification added to your Basic Qualification you will receive all ham radio privileges on the 160, 80 and 10 metre bands (1.8 - 2.0 MHz , 3.5 - 4.0 MHz and 28.0 to 29.7 MHz), except high power transmitter operation.

12WPM12 Words Per Minute Morse Code Qualification added to your Basic Qualification, you will receive all ham radio privileges on all the amateur radio bands below 30 MHz , except high power transmitter operation,. These include the popular short wave bands with world-wide communications capability.

Advanced Qualification added to your Basic Qualification you can build and operate your own transmitting equipment, operate a high power transmitter and operate your own repeater station.

After aquiring Basic you can be tested for any addtional qualifications in any order. Got my eye on Advanced and 5WPM next ;)

I'm installing my RadioShack HTX-242 2-METRE today

http://plaza.powersurfr.com/RJOTF/ham.jpg

[JeepRat]

Ham Radio sure beats the heck out of CB my call is W6RAT and my Jeep kinda looks like a Porcupine with all the antennas on it I have 2 metters 70 cenametters 1.25 metters and a CB on acount of a lot of the folks I sometimes wheel with don't have anything else and I most always keep it on channel 4 and I have a scanner, and for the most part keep it on 146.52 just in case some one notices the Ham plate on the Jeep ( W6RAT what else) Jeep Rat