Got Baofeng?
- Thread starter Red Marley
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Average Joe
Just A Everyday Joe
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I hope to start on it soon. I’ll be looking for tips from every one [emoji16]
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When you’re ready, Chatham now has a team of four VE’s that are authorized and recognized by the ARRL to conduct test sessions.
Dang man, next thing you know ya'll will have indoor plumbing!
RacerX
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Question...
If I was to order a radio, would anyone be willing to talk me through setting it up? If the setup is any longer 15 mins, I’m leaning towards getting a Midland. I really need plug and go, but don’t have time to program and manage the radio.
I don’t plan to transmit on the “licensed” channels / distances as this is really intended for use while off-roading.
I’m not lazy, just intimidated by the process...
If I was to order a radio, would anyone be willing to talk me through setting it up? If the setup is any longer 15 mins, I’m leaning towards getting a Midland. I really need plug and go, but don’t have time to program and manage the radio.
I don’t plan to transmit on the “licensed” channels / distances as this is really intended for use while off-roading.
I’m not lazy, just intimidated by the process...
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two fingers
Well-Known Member
It would be great to have a ham sub forum, or at least "mega thread". The only downside I can see is that call signs are easily searchable for names and addresses for those wanting to stay a little under the radar.
Here in Eastern NC, so many hams have gone to digital formats that don't transmit/receive on standard issue VHF/UHF radios. I work in 22 towns in Eastern NC. I got permission from my boss to run a mag mount antenna on my work van. I had it up there for months. There is so little traffic on Eastern NC VHF/UHF repeaters it's not even funny. I don't even keep one in my personal truck anymore. Sometimes I fire it up at the house. When we're down at Topsail/Surf City I usually go out on the 3rd floor deck and use a cookie sheet as a ground plane. The folks down there are pretty friendly. I've even hit a couple of Raleigh repeaters from out there when conditions were good.
Hopefully a positive side effect of all of the recent nonsense is that ham will make a little comeback.
Just do me a favor if you get into it. Read up on ham etiquette. Ham radio isn't CB radio. Use your manners and stay away from too much politics. There's a long tradition of just chatting and being ready for emergencies. If the SHTF, of course, all bets are off. Do what you gotta do. But until then, keep it civil.
Here in Eastern NC, so many hams have gone to digital formats that don't transmit/receive on standard issue VHF/UHF radios. I work in 22 towns in Eastern NC. I got permission from my boss to run a mag mount antenna on my work van. I had it up there for months. There is so little traffic on Eastern NC VHF/UHF repeaters it's not even funny. I don't even keep one in my personal truck anymore. Sometimes I fire it up at the house. When we're down at Topsail/Surf City I usually go out on the 3rd floor deck and use a cookie sheet as a ground plane. The folks down there are pretty friendly. I've even hit a couple of Raleigh repeaters from out there when conditions were good.
Hopefully a positive side effect of all of the recent nonsense is that ham will make a little comeback.
Just do me a favor if you get into it. Read up on ham etiquette. Ham radio isn't CB radio. Use your manners and stay away from too much politics. There's a long tradition of just chatting and being ready for emergencies. If the SHTF, of course, all bets are off. Do what you gotta do. But until then, keep it civil.
two fingers
Well-Known Member
Man, studying for the test these days is stupid simple. There are even apps that will ask you typical test questions. Once you get a license, a lot of hams are happy to help. You program the radio once. Just put all the repeaters in your area in it once and you're done.
Here's where all of the repeaters are. They always stay a little behind on updating. But it's still a good resource. It has all of the info you need to plug into CHIRP.
Repeaterbook.com - Home
Getting cheap Chinese radios to sync up with your computer is the only frustrating part. You just have to figure out the order of plugging it in, turning it on, bringing up the app, etc.
Then go with the FRS / GMRS. The setup is as simple as picking a channel and a tone code from the menu. Technically the GMRS stuff is licensed ($70 for 10 years) and you, or rather everyone transmitting, need to identify your station every 15 minutes but the GMRS radios all seem to fall under the FRS limits in terms of power, etc. In other words, unless there is a problem I think the FCC has basically written this area off.
I have all of mine setup for GMRS by default. When I travel with my kids for camping or backpacking we bring a few of them along in a zip lock just in case. I use the aftermarket (nagoya na771) which gives the radio a boost. I got a GMRS license earlier this year just in case there is a FCC guy in the woods 
I think they carpool with the ATF.
I think they carpool with the ATF.
Okay, so I was KC4DDK back in the day. After my dad passed, I let my ticket expire. It was kinda our thing, and after he died, it didn’t feel the same.
However, with the recent uptick in shenanigans, I’m thinking I should get back into it. Anybody know what the statute of limitations is on an expired license? Do I gotta start from scratch? I still have the knowledge. I could probably pass the test without much fuss....
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However, with the recent uptick in shenanigans, I’m thinking I should get back into it. Anybody know what the statute of limitations is on an expired license? Do I gotta start from scratch? I still have the knowledge. I could probably pass the test without much fuss....
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Unless you are talking about a technician class prior to March 21, 1987, there is a two year grace period during which you can get credit for your credentials. According to the FCC's ULS system, you held a general class license that expired 10/09/2010 and was canceled 10/10/2012. Consequently, yes, you would need to start from scratch. I agree, you could pass without much fuss as you put it, but you would need to review the current testing materials because the questions, which are really designed to test if you read the material more than anything else in my opinion, will have changed.
Yup. Spot on. I think I’ll do that. I wonder if I can get my old call sign?
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It hasn't been assigned to anyone else, yet, and is currently inactive. You would need to apply for a vanity call sign, but yes you could get it back. I am not sure if it would be possible to do that on the same form 605 for reinstating your license or if you would have to wait for a sequentially issued call and then change it. One thing you will want to look up, which you can do in the ULS system by searching for your old call sign, unless you already know or still have it, is your FRN number which you will need before re-applying.
It’s currently available as a vanity.
I’ll see when our next test session is and drop you a text.
It’s currently available as a vanity.
I’ll see when our next test session is and drop you a text.
Copy. Thanks bud
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I have found the airwaves here in way east nc are often quiet but when I call out for radio check while tweaking stuff someone almost answers, usually right away. Maybe I am just lucky.
I will do whatever I can to help out; have a couple different vhf/uhf radios and am getting ready to build one of the ubitx Hf radios (wish me luck)
Anyone know if these radios have a scan feature or is it just a radio? Asking because the wifes scanner died and was looking at getting her another one.
Also is this a good deal for two of them.
Also is this a good deal for two of them.
They have a scan function however it’s no where near as fast as a purpose built scanner. What are your scanning goals?
Been trying to find out how but not finding anything.
How to get licensed?
For GMRS, Yes.
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Here is a list to take it online http://www.arrl.org/findonlineexam
Here is where to search for in person testing
Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
Just something for the wife to listen to. Fire and rescue and police. She works at the local paper and they use one to know what is happening in the community. Nothing special
You need to first go to the FCC site and register for an FRN, which is free and easy (this applies to both ham and GMRS). For ham you need to pass the test. For GMRS, you apply for the license online on their website and it will go into an approval queue. I checked the next day doing a look up on their site and it had issued me a station call sign. In part of the process, it had a pop up that took me to the finance site where I gave them my CC and charged me $70. What was weird is that part of the process kept saying "pending", though I was issued the station.
Why Do I Need a GMRS License & How Do I Get It?
The FCC requires a GMRS license to regulate frequencies that are used by two-way radio devices. Read this blog and learn more about GMRS licensing process.
midlandusa.com
Also, you may need to navigate a bit but theres a lot of information here. What complicates things is that there are two systems, CORES and ULS and then I think the finance part is sort of a third.
CORES Payment System
The Commission’s payment processing system, which is accessible through the Commission’s Registration System (CORES), enables users to submit a variety of FCC fees for payment. Certain fees are automatically found based upon the FRN (FCC registration number) you use to log in, such as pre-billed...
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Thanks! It appears to only be 108' tall, and owned by Chatham Co.
The contractors told me it was going to be a 300'cell phone tower.
I wonder if it's for Chatham Co new EMS, fire and LEO coms changing over to an integrated digital system. A gent in the know said the sheriff's cars are being outfitted with new radios.
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You DON’T want to know how much money is being stolen from you to pay for it, either. Don’t you just love being robbed to fund the boot on your neck?
$5,400 a year in property tax for my wife and i to have permission to live in the woods?
Average Joe
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Yes, that is one of the new towers for LEO, Fire, and EMS.
That's 108m, 355' AGL. That's what they're approved for, not necessarily what they stacked to. But I'm sure they went to 350 or they wouldn't have put the triple beacon system on it.
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@Pink_Vapor @noway2 Ya'll need to schmooze up to the county and see if they will let y'all throw a repeater up there.
You can program in which memory locations to scan. Set each channel up and which ones get scanned. I don't recall if you HAVE to use chirp to program the scan setting or not; but it is easy that way.
First you need to determine what radio system the locals are using. If they're on viper or another P25 network a baofeng will do her no good. If they are still using vhf/uhf FM analog it may work (I highly doubt they are for anything other than Fire/EMS paging).
Radio reference shows Martin Co having Fire/EMS/LE talkgroups on viper. I would expect viper to be where their main traffic is. You'll need to check with some locals to confirm this. If that is the case, she will need a scanner capable of decoding P25.
What’s a good handheld not made in China? I can’t bring myself to buy one of the baofengs.
Plenty of models from any of the big three. Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu.
Bet there's an even chance that at a minimum, low end KenYaeIcom are made in China these days ...
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