Amateur Radio Operators (Hams)

Anyone have a radio license?

Do you operate while running, and what mode?

Thanks

Anyone have a radio license?

Do you operate while running, and what mode?

Thanks

"Everybody's" got CB. A few drivers even have an operator's license.

But a Ham Shack on wheels? I'd like to see that. Me? No I don't.

Knew an operator who was a car hauler, run cw (morse code) on a key strapped to his leg.

Knew an operator who was a car hauler, run cw (morse code) on a key strapped to his leg.

Would that be considered texting? ... Or just tapping?

Good question. Not sure.... Interesting question.

Knew an operator who was a car hauler, run cw (morse code) on a key strapped to his leg.

Would that be considered texting? ... Or just tapping?

thats like the old school texting. when you had to hit 2, 3 times to get C then pause hit 2 one time to get A...

Anyone have a radio license?

Do you operate while running, and what mode?

Thanks

I have a ham license and plan to put a rig in my truck soon. I already have a CB but it is mostly useless except during weather or traffic situations...and too often it's not useful even then, since the conversation too frequently devolves into stupid jokes or race-baiting rather than actual useful information, even during serious weather events. And only once have I gotten a response when I called another driver to warn them of some issue with their load or truck.

I will most likely install an older 2 meter rig, and then possibly a multimode HF rig, if I can figure out where to mount a longer antenna with some kind of ground plane on all that plastic.

I'm a flatbedder, so the headache rack might work for 2 meters. For HF, I have thought of rigging up some sort of portable antenna using an empty flatbed as a ground plane, but then I think I would not have the energy needed to make it all work except on an occasional weekend...but I almost always have a load on the weekends, so that wouldn't always work either, except for steel loads.

On the other hand, despite the obstacles, I think it would be great fun to provide contacts from rare grids for those who hunt them and wake up some of the sleepier repeaters with a strange callsign as I pass through.

If I can get HF working, I figure that will be a great chance to work on my CW skills. My dad just passed this weekend. He worked many, many contacts on CW with a QRP rig, so maybe that's the route I'll pursue.

Are you running a mobile ham rig?

I saw a central driver with a multiband antenna on his driver side mirror. I asked him about it on the cb and he told me it was good for ten to 160 meters. I have often thought about getting a multi mode-band radio. Yaesu used to have one for about 750 bucks, and I believe it had a antenna tuner as well. I got my general class license in 2000 (when you still had to pass a code test).

A couple of things about using a ham rig in a truck.

First--to transmit on ANY ham frequency you must be licensed by the FCC in the US. You don't need a license to buy a radio--but if you try to use (without a license) it to talk to hams they will figure you out right away. Trust me it isn't CB. The first time you say something like "come back" you're busted.

Now as to the radio. CB is channelized......channel 1 through 40. Ham radio is not. CB gear is limited to 4 watts (or 12 watts if you use SSB). Ham radio is limited to 1500 watts!! I don't know anyone who runs that kind of power from a vehicle but you could. Ham rigs are infinitely more complicated to use. CB radios are basically plug and play--power--antenna--talk. Ham (with the possible exception of 2 meter radios) rigs are not. Most HF (from 1.8 to 30 MHz) gear runs about 100 watts output--that's 25 times the output of your CB radio. Good, huh? Maybe. When you're using that kind of power in your truck you can run into all kinds of problems. If you don't install and use it correctly (and even sometimes if you do) you can disrupt your Qualcomm , your truck's other computers and electronics--even your cell phone. There's even a distinct possibility that you could fry them permanently. Yup--push the transmit button on your mike and--poof--your truck stops. Heard the doomsday stories about an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) that would return us to the stone age? When you push the transmit button you're generating electro magnetic energy. At 4 watts it usually isn't a problem. At 100 watts........it could be. Your antenna will probably very close to your cab--and plastic/glass doesn't protect against radio frequency energy.

There's a reason you have to pass tests to get a license.......you have to know what you're doing to use a ham rig properly. Think CDL license and then think hazmat and other endorsements. Now think experience........your first solo and beyond. HOw much did you learn in CDL school and how much has the road taught you?

Antenna considerations are important--very important. CB antennas are typically short--using gimmicks to make them work. Ham antennas are typically longer--sometimes a lot longer. CB antennas are designed to work over a very small frequency range. Ham antennas are expected to work over a much wider frequency range. Why is this important? Because an antenna that works on the 20 meter ham band (14 MHz) won't work on 7 Mhz (40 meter band) without some fancy jiggery pokery. Many times it means physically changing a component of your antenna--taking off the 14 MHz piece and putting on the 7 Mhz piece and then retuning your radio to the new antenna element.

There's a lot more I could say--and if there is any interest I will......but......if you're considering putting an HF rig in your truck there's a lot you should know beforehand. 73.

Mmmmmmmmm.....haaaam.....