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cw821

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Some companies in the oil patch are using the Boafeng for on site comms. They seem to like them, but those are very close comms.
 

p238shooter

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In general, varies with radio models and brands, but if you can hear clearly with no white noise in the background, you most likely would be able to talk back. You might want to do a search for other radio clubs in your area on the internet, most clubs have a weekly net. Most likely one of their websites will have a listing of all the nets in the area and you can figure out which repeaters might be located close enough to hear. You can most likely program your radio for several possible frequencies and put it on scan to pick up traffic in between nets or when you travel to a different area. I suspect AE5C is like most hams, happy to help out.

The Tulsa area and I would suspect the OKC area has one or two nets most every week night, we just finished one here north of Tulsa on 147.06. You might pick out one radio club and visit one of their monthly meetings, they usually find the good places to eat.

I was just about ready to hit the "post key" but had to run over to my radio desk, mobile radio here in the house with a little beam pointed North, scanning through the channels I have programmed in it, and heard a call. I made contact with a guy flying cargo 100 miles NW of Kansas City (I am 32 miles East of Tulsa,) at 22,000 ft headed to El Paso TX on 146.52 simplex. (direct, no repeater) I talked a couple of minutes about flying, I fly a Cherokee 235. He was running a 1/2 watt HT in the cockpit, I was running 40 watts on my mobile.

Reminds me of 20 years or so, most likely more, ago, I heard a short conversation from Sky Lab on 10 meters with a school somewhere. I could not get back to them, but it was neat to listen to.

I am in the process of wiring a HT in one of my planes to have the same kind of fun, but I will not be at 22,000 ft.

Ham radio can be a fun hobby. ON HF, one of my ham friends in South America reported it was a cool 87 there today, and he only caught 2 fish to grill, but they were big enough for he, his wife, and kids to have a great meal.

Keep studying, couple of hours a night, try to get your wife to do it also, like mine did.
 

MyMonkey

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I hope folks don't mind that I post this junk here. Just figured I would share my trials and tribulations of the HAM radio world!

Well, after the little HT was so fun I decided I had to get into a 10meter radio. Thus, I ordered one of these bad boys:
https://www.gijoesradioelectronics.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1296

Based on the reviews I read here it is a great little radio and a good deal: http://www.worldwidedx.com/export-radios/56228-magnum-257-hp-review.html

Thereafter I read this though: http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=78057.15

Seems some think these are a bit troublesome based on the CB radio in a 10 meter radio housing! However, I figure so long as I simply run it as a 10 meter I should be ok. Then, I reasoned that folks would think I was misusing the thing anyway so I ordered this one: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/288 which was actually even a bit cheaper.

So, will be obtaining a power supply as well as a mag mount antenna for this bad boy. I plan on using it for the house with the antenna just mounted on a baking sheet until I am familiar with it then will stick in the new ride! :friday:
 

Poke78

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I hope folks don't mind that I post this junk here. Just figured I would share my trials and tribulations of the HAM radio world!

Well, after the little HT was so fun I decided I had to get into a 10meter radio. Thus, I ordered one of these bad boys:
https://www.gijoesradioelectronics.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1296

Based on the reviews I read here it is a great little radio and a good deal: http://www.worldwidedx.com/export-radios/56228-magnum-257-hp-review.html

Thereafter I read this though: http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=78057.15

Seems some think these are a bit troublesome based on the CB radio in a 10 meter radio housing! However, I figure so long as I simply run it as a 10 meter I should be ok. Then, I reasoned that folks would think I was misusing the thing anyway so I ordered this one: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/288 which was actually even a bit cheaper.

So, will be obtaining a power supply as well as a mag mount antenna for this bad boy. I plan on using it for the house with the antenna just mounted on a baking sheet until I am familiar with it then will stick in the new ride! :friday:

You've dropped into deep kimchee because that Magnum radio is not type accepted for use in the Amateur Radio Service. You do not hold an Amateur Radio license. Should you ever achieve licensed status and transmit with that radio, you would jeopardize your license. The info in that eham.net forum is correct. If you're trying to say you acquired the Radio Shack equivalent radio, I doubt that since that unit hasn't been made or sold for quite some time.
 

MyMonkey

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You've dropped into deep kimchee because that Magnum radio is not type accepted for use in the Amateur Radio Service. You do not hold an Amateur Radio license. Should you ever achieve licensed status and transmit with that radio, you would jeopardize your license. The info in that eham.net forum is correct. If you're trying to say you acquired the Radio Shack equivalent radio, I doubt that since that unit hasn't been made or sold for quite some time.

Let me be sure I got this straight. You are saying that in an unmodified state, this radio is not accepted for use in the Amateur Radio service? ( http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-257hp-Meter-Amateur-Radio/dp/B00AQNDC2O ) Trying to be sure I get things right and would not tx on anything until properly licensed of course.

Next, it appears as though you just called me a liar. Wow... Unexpected at best. You can doubt it all you like though I suppose. What earthly or otherwise inclined motivation may I have to misrepresent what I just ordered?

Just in case there is a doubt here is the ebay link to the closed listing where you can likely determine that I was the purchaser just this afternoon. http://www.ebay.com/itm/151001420978?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Now, moving on from the Spanish Inquisition. Anything further...
 

cw821

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The only equipment listed for any type of certification in Part 97 rules is "Certification of external RF power amplifiers." I'm certainly to expert, but what I understand from talking to many older hams, is we can use basically any equipment we want to transmit in the ham bands. There are lots of people who use used commercial and other radios not specifically sold for hams on the ham bands. On the contrary, using these radios sold as 10 meter on the 11 meter CB bands is illegal if the radio is not certified for the CB bands.

If this isn't correct, please post link to it so I may have it for future reference.
 

MyMonkey

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The only equipment listed for any type of certification in Part 97 rules is "Certification of external RF power amplifiers." I'm certainly to expert, but what I understand from talking to many older hams, is we can use basically any equipment we want to transmit in the ham bands. There are lots of people who use used commercial and other radios not specifically sold for hams on the ham bands. On the contrary, using these radios sold as 10 meter on the 11 meter CB bands is illegal if the radio is not certified for the CB bands.

If this isn't correct, please post link to it so I may have it for future reference.

Nope, that seems correct to me as well. Using the Magnum on a CB frequency is a no go. Apparently these units are easily modified to do so hence the disdain for them. I can certainly understand that. I found it by searching for "cheap 10 meter radio" and it was an impulse buy. Then, after reading more into the unit I figured I wanted to avoid units that would pull into question my intent so I ordered the Radio Shack unit. However, my reading of the FCC regs and related case law shows some sort of disjointed approach to the Magnum type units. The FCC has apparently instilled regulations that have been ruled unlawful on several occasions yet they continue to send out the same enforcement material. The trick here is that it is not illegal to own such a unit but it is illegal to misuse, sell or market it according to the FCC and they obviously are not enforcing that one for now. Time will tell though I suppose.

Odd though, the Magnum unit will not receive any better than a standard old CB radio. I am more for listening and not for talking so this would not help me anyway.
 

ki4ppg

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as far as that bofeng radio goes i have one and love it look into getting a better antenna like tram 1185 dual band and nagoya na701 antenna both made a HUGE diff for me
 

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