Featherstone

This is something that I have been meaning to do for a while. Friend of mine gave me some baofeng radios to use for the scout troop during long backpacking trips / hikes as well as other events.

ChiefD

I found this this morning while re-learning some info. This is the ham's code:

“The ham is friendly. Slow and patient sending when requested, friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance, co-operation and consideration for the interests of other; these are the mark of the ham spirit.”

I love this.

tvsjr

Ahh, if only that's how it actually worked! Stay away from the big clubs and you'll find more of this.

duck9191

There was a riff created when they dropped the code requirement as the older higher licensed hams were not happy. Browse some of the forums(or clubs) and it's pretty obvious, some of the more senior member do not care for techs, but if they want to move forward they are going to need a user base to keep the FCC from finding a way sell off bandwidth.

I get some of their reasoning, there are a number of tech's that are only licensed for first person view on drones or rc and they have little to no interest in the actual technical and social aspect of ham, also without the code requirements it's quite easy to just memorize the test pool without learning much. But you need to get people involved unless they want ham radio to die. Our local clubs used to be pretty used to be a group of old elitist who were dicks, my grandfather never did much with clubs until he moved to northern MI and the club up there was a bunch of friendly people who enjoyed getting together for events and helping one another. Someday ill test for a tech at least, trying to get some of the guys at the Rc club to test to so they are "legal" for fpv.

ChiefD

I could just hear the "In my day..." I totally understand their point if there were folks that cutting corners. I used to live in Charlevoix, and I can agree with the friendly people thing. This hobby would have passed some of that cold winter time I spent up there.

ChiefD

I'll bet. It's good to dream, though. We could use some of that everywhere in today's society.

duck9191

A lot seem to want to eliminate tech and just test into general or add data knowledge requirements. Which makes no sense to me as general isn't hard to obtain either and not many are interested in . They really need to nurture the newbs that screw up callsigns and identification or even install issues instead of running them out of town. I've heard there is a lot of dead air now days around here.

They moved up to West Branch in the early 90's, the groups up there were fairly active. I used to spend a month and a half in the summer with them and I would go to the events with him. I learned a ton electronics and IC from his old ham and electrical books that got me in to computers and got me a job. Also has saved me a ton of money fixing and installing my own stuff.

ChiefD

Yeah, this is not something best suited for shortcuts. Almost anyone can memorize answers to test questions. They are doing themselves a disservice by shunning the new guys. After all, who will take over when they are gone? My neighbor in Peoria, AZ used to have a Yagi that sat 50' over his house. That was in the 70's, and log before HOA's. I wish I would approached him then with my interest, but I was always afraid to. Ha.

N4HHE

Might one ask for a daylight picture? Other than location I can't really see any details. Did you use a remote kit or is the entire radio in the console? My XLT doesn't have the center console.

Since purchasing my new 2018 on New Year's Eve I've been shopping for a transceiver. The Icom 2730A caught my eye as an attractive analog radio. Would like something with digital modes but there are 3 incompatible digital modes. Sort of like the Icom 5100 but its control head is huge. There is a Yaesu with color graphic control head I like much better. But darn it, 3 different incompatible digital modes so I'm installing my old Kenwood G707A. Most likely on the roof liner top center where some are installing "upfitter" switches.

Not wanting to hijack a thread but is there anything above the roof liner I need to avoid when drilling hole for NMO mount? Supercab door latch prevents me from dropping roof liner enough to see past the side curtain air bags to know if there are wires or struts under the roof I might hit when I drill the antenna hole. A well done hole in roof doesn't bother me and hasn't bothered buyers when I sold past vehicles. Buyer of my Prius loves the dual band antenna I left in the center of her roof. Not a ham, not even close!

Jack Anthony Rook

i drilled my hole about 2 months ago, and the short answer is no. first step will be to remove the third break lights. 3 screws. once you do, you can see how uch room to have to play with. this is my second one of these, i did one in my raptor as well. easy peasy lemon squeezy. i have the panorama roof and there was more then enough room.