Ham Radio Exams in San Diego County

[StvDiego]

After seeing the after-effects of two extremely severe rolls out in very remote areas of Anza-Borrego including one that launched an all-out rescue operation I had a doh! moment and realized that a cell phone and a CB just don't cut it. Time for a HAM radio. So,

On Saturday, July 19th, the San Diego County Amateur Radio Council (SANDARC) will be giving ham radio exams at the North Park Recreation Center and now there's a small group of us planning on taking, and passing , the exam. The exam costs $5 and takes about an hour total.

SANDARC actually offers the exams every Saturday throughout the county:

http://www.arprsd.org/class_test.htm

If you're interested in taking the exam there's more info on the SANDARC site, also, you should get a FRN# from the FCC before taking the exam, makes it easier. Get your FRN here:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

I took this test once before and obviously didn't pass, but it wasn't that difficult and no morse code is required.Yeah, yeah, I should have at least read the book...

There's several good study books, Ham Radio Outlet ( http://www.hamradio.com/ ) on Balboa at the 163 and Fry's for a couple have them. Take the time to read the book and you can pass the exam.

There are also several practice exams available on line and many people do little more than reading a small book and doing a few practice exams before taking and passing the real exam, it really isn't that hard. Some practice exams can be found here:

http://www.ac6v.com/help.htm#PE

Ya never know, a Ham radio way out there where cells phones and CB can't reach anybody just may make the difference one day

[Metal Twister]

Thanks StvDiego,
You have made it very easy to get started for me... I really appreciate the info., and you taking the time to post it, Im sure alot more than just myself will use this Info.to get their liscenses.
 ;D If there are any other bits of information that you feel would be of interest, please post it up...

[Mike330R]

I use the Yeasu Ft2800 in my sand car and trailer. No license needed and it's 65 watts with plenty of reach. We are thinking of using them in the trucks/jeeps as well.
A new radio is about $130 plus an antenna.

[Metal Twister]

is that a ham or cb? 

[Mike330R]

It's amateur band and I think that means ham amateur but I am not sure.

You can also do very sinple mod to make it have a wider range of frequencies. I also have the programming cable for it to program in all of PCI's and RacerX's standard channels.
Radio's they sell are 50 watts and are $300-500  :o



More info here:
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=F111F6B21D7F46EDD122C1706B70F543&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

[xjvaldeez]

It's amateur band and I think that means ham amateur but I am not sure.

You can also do very simple mod to make it have a wider range of frequencies. I also have the programming cable for it to program in all of PCI's and RacerX's standard channels.
Radio's they sell are 50 watts and are $300-500  :o



More info here:
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=F111F6B21D7F46EDD122C1706B70F543&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

That a ham/amateur  radio(I have 5 of the 2800 great radio)and you are running in the business band, which is a no-no...there are some out there that my say something, not me I have done the "mod" on all mine from the ol' racing days...But if you are going to going to take your exam look at getting a dual/tri or quad band radio, more range, more channels/repeaters to use. Oh just to let you know the amateur 2m freq is between 144.000 to 147.990 some are simplex and some are repeater.

[GN4WHLN]

I am glad to see the interest in ham radio in the wheelin' community. A lot of the places I go have good repeater coverage but sometime marginal or non existent cell coverage. I have been places in the Sierra Nevadas so remote that if you were severely broken down and no one came along, you would probably die. One time in Big Bear, I got a heads up on a local RACES repeater about a fire that allowed me to get off the trail quickly and get out of there.

I have one of the Yaesu's and it has been a great radio, but currently I run a Kenwood dual band in my truck and have an ICOM 6M+2M+HF mobile that I occasionally run in the truck. I also have an assortment of hand helds and other mobile radios I use from home. Most of my radios are "tweaked" like others have mentioned, but I wouldn't advertise that too heavily. It is illegal to modify a radio to operate outside its intended range and some of the ham geeks I have come across would turn you in to the FCC who actually do come after people.

[markw]

Get your license.  It's not that hard.  Heck, half of the socalxj guys have it. :)

Practice the "Technician" exam here until you get good at it, then go in and take the test.
It's given every weekend somewhere in San Diego county.

http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

Like the thread starter said, it can save your life.  The guys I wheel with came across a rolled samurai on the Rubicon, Ham radio saved the passengers life, and is the reason most the socalxj guys got their ticket.   Besides, you want to be legal with the rig, and a $10000 Fine from the FCC would suck.   There are those who monitor, ham bands are self policed and we don't want to loose them.

[Metal Twister]

Yeah my buddy swapped out the base unit today for a babillion knobed Yaesu FT-07M? Im afraid to touch it. I think a license is in short order and thanks for the link! 

[BrandonTJ]

Passed the Technician exam today!

Can't wait to get my callsign and a radio.

[StvDiego]

Passed the Technician exam today!

Can't wait to get my callsign and a radio.

 

Cool, more crap to put in the Jeep now 

[Metal Twister]

Passed the Technician exam today!

Can't wait to get my callsign and a radio.

Cool Brandon! I too want to get my Ham permit someday. Was the exam what you expected? How did you study for it? How was the overall experience as far as the test?

[BrandonTJ]

http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl <--- all you need.
It was exactly like these except for being on paper. Easy breezy as my wife would say.
Speaking of which, I'm gonna have her and the kids study too.

Just went out and got the Yaesu VX-170. It's a 2m handheld.
I'll get a mobile unit for the Jeep later, but this will work at home, on the road, and even on hikes and stuff.

[Dratwagon]

Congrats on getting your license, I have the radio pictured above, it is a great radio but Yeasu now has a duel band radio with fins, if your rig gets very dusty in the cab stick to the radios with fins instead of the radios with fans, the fans will suck the dust into the radio.

[BrandonTJ]

Yeah, I walked in determined to buy the 1802 because of how rugged it is.
But now that I have a rugged 2m (that I just found works great as a base-station), I'll be shopping for a dual band soon.


Geez, these things are just like Jeeps. ;)

[Dratwagon]

This is the one that I want for the Willys. http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=AF7E08DC3F2467B1B4B2CB4DA49BCF88&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

[Mikegyver1]

Ordered my study guide today, got a  "D" on my pratice test.. lol  I knew some of the answers... 

[SNOTROCKET]

alright. i hope im not the only one here. but im so confused  by the difference between a citizens band radio, ham radio, ameture band radio, and just about everythign in between. why do you need a liscense for a ham and not a cb? what are the benefits of having a ham in your vehicle? and are a cb and ham the same, or do they run on the same freq's? can i talk to someone using a cb through a ham?

im hearing more and more about people putting hams in their rigs so i just want to know if its somethign i should invest in or if i should just keep the cb.

[jchappy]

CB's are limited to 4-5 watts and a set freq. (40 channels)
Ham is limited by your license. You have a much greater freq. range and more wattage.

[HEEP4me]

So whats the diff between a 10 meter and a HAM??