HAM radio...tech...ish...maybe...not

McCracken

McCracken

Logan Can't See This
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
With your mom at a nice seafood dinner
So I bought a Baofeng Chinese special to ride around with me in the Jeep. I figured they were dirt cheap and it'd be nice to have a good means of communication if ever there was a need in an emergency (read: I'm getting older and more responsible(?)).

So anyway, I started putting together a list of frequencies that might be useful. Frequencies like Windrock Park, Black Mtn (Harlan), Uwharrie NF, etc. However, I realized that by dipping my little toe into this I've really only seen a glimpse of the vastness that this pond holds. Anyway, I thought this might be helpful to some people in the future. Of course, I thought the same thing when I created the trail combo thread a few years ago and that fell flat. So... we shall see.

A few that I have are:

Windrock Park Repeater: 147.150
Windrock Weather: 162.450

Evarts Repeater: 147.210
Harlan Weather: 162.450

Uwharrie Nat Forest: 172.225
Uwharrie Weather: 162.500

If anyone has any others that'd like to add that would be cool. It doesn't even have to be wheeling related if you think folks may enjoy it. I know the International Space Station uses 145.800.

Lastly, this doesn't need to turn into a legal lecture on how to use the radio. Most people already know you have to have a license to transmit but you can legally transmit in an emergency. And in reality, most people get by using their HAMs person-to-person by using a GRMS/FRS frequency. So let's spare all of us that.
 
Do the online practice sessions and then head up to Wentworth on Sept 12th at 9am to take the HAM license test. Put in about 20 minutes a day for a week and you should be able to pass the technician test. I'm a VE and we have a test session scheduled that day. We have the test on computers so it's like the practice tests, we sanitize all computers before the test and between test takers and have the computers set up for social distancing.

PM me for info and site location but it's near AMCJeepman's house (but not at it)

Cost is $14.

I can't go to Potts due to surgery so I might as well run the test session.
 
obullfish said:
@McCracken you know you have to have a license to operate on those frequencies. :huggy:
Click to expand...
Don't start this shit. Bubble pack radios operate on the same frequencies just at a lower wattage. Last I checked no one asked me to buy a license when I bought a set at Walmart. Plus the HAM nerds aren't really looking to bust someone's ass for using them. Fight me.
 
McCracken said:
Don't start this shit. Bubble pack radios operate on the same frequencies just at a lower wattage. Last I checked no one asked me to buy a license when I bought a set at Walmart. Plus the HAM nerds aren't really looking to bust someone's ass for using them. Fight me.
Click to expand...

If you buy the FRS bubble pack radio's, correct, no license required. If you buy a bubble pack GMRS radio, you need a GMRS license. Somewhere in the documentation that us men don't read, it states this. $70 for a no test 5 year license that covers your immediate family.

Hardly anyone does this but legally, the requirement is there.
 
cranbiz said:
If you buy the FRS bubble pack radio's, correct, no license required. If you buy a bubble pack GMRS radio, you need a GMRS license. Somewhere in the documentation that us men don't read, it states this. $70 for a no test 5 year license that covers your immediate family.

Hardly anyone does this but legally, the requirement is there.
Click to expand...
Yes, but the frequencies are the same. It's all about the watts.
 
McCracken said:
Don't start this shit. Bubble pack radios operate on the same frequencies just at a lower wattage. Last I checked no one asked me to buy a license when I bought a set at Walmart. Plus the HAM nerds aren't really looking to bust someone's ass for using them. Fight me.
Click to expand...
I just figured I’d beat everyone else to the punch.
 
McCracken said:
Yes, but the frequencies are the same. It's all about the watts.
Click to expand...

Correct. The frequencies are the same to some degree. FRS can't operate through a GMRS repeater. They are not capable of doing the repeater offset. The power is limited as to attempt to limit harmful interference. 2W max on certain frequencies vs 50W, 2W vs 5W on others and a very small band at 50MW for both.

Using 50W can certainly cause harmful interference 2/5W not so much.
 
I thought you only needed a license to transmit, not to listen in ?!?

You also don’t need license to transmit if it’s in the event of an actual emergency.

So pretty much stick to frs and known race freq for normal comms. Then if it’s an emergency, licensing doesn’t matter any way.

I have the rugged Hz list for Offroad stuff and the list to preprogram the normal common frs/gmrs/rescue Hz.
 
Radio nerds are like a cult. Always trying to recruit people for some silly shit. The law and the FCC say that you are perfectly legal owning one and LISTENING. Sure it's always cool having another license and knowing more but it isn't needed.
That being said I'll put some freqs later. Two of mine came from rugged already programmed and they are pretty cool when at the hammers or Baja for listening to everything.

All that being said I also use them in the rzrs and with muffs pretty often doing bucket truck work and tx all the time, come get me FCC.
 
Mac5005 said:
I thought you only needed a license to transmit, not to listen in ?!?

You also don’t need license to transmit if it’s in the event of an actual emergency.

So pretty much stick to frs and known race freq for normal comms. Then if it’s an emergency, licensing doesn’t matter any way.

I have the rugged Hz list for Offroad stuff and the list to preprogram the normal common frs/gmrs/rescue Hz.
Click to expand...

Again, you are correct.

However unless your race team has a license or the site that is holding the race has a temporary site license, transmitting on a race frequency is also illegal. Race frequencies are not open to anyone and many are shared with businesses that have licenses. Oh and if you actually ask Rugged Radios about licensing, they will tell you but you have to ask.

The temptation will be there to make a quick call to your buddy on something you just happen to have programmed into the radio, we all do it. I just happen to have the correct license for any radio in my Jeep and the frequencies programmed into my radios.

Simply put, if it's not MURS or FRS and at the legal power levels, you need a license. Will you get caught, most likely not. However, should you get caught, it's a $10K fine and can be 10 years in the pen.

Do what you want. I don't really care and unless you are interfereing with my comms, I won't say anything.
 
My wheeling group all has Baofeng UV-5Rs for communications (no,we don't have licenses either). I bought the cable and use the CHIRP software to program these to a channel set I got off a jeep forum , with the intent to not accidentally get on a channel we didn't need to be on.

It took 1 google search to realize how complex these radios are - does anyone have any literature that's HAM for the dumbest of dummies on how to tune and work these contraptions?

EDIT: I'll send my channel file to whoever wants it.
 
Last edited:
I've been watching videos and reading. I've yet to find one that answers simple questions. They may seem simple to the HAM enthusiast but Joe Blow (that's Logan btw) has no clue.

We need an operator that wears a mask and tells the secrets of it, kind of like those magicians that show how the trick is done. They all push for you to have a license. I'd say they're just covering their ass.

I'll be the guy that says it but I don't believe the FCC is actively looking for law breakers. It generally is some nerd who gets hot about you not having a license and talking on it. I'd just about bet my left but that if you use it in the woods to talk to your buddies while you wheel one weekend you're not going to catch a lot of shit for it or get caught for that matter.
 
Jesus Christ, cant we just list the frequencies as the gentleman requested.

For those who must have a license, get the damn thing. For those who don't want one, take your chances, live on the edge. It shouldn't matter at all to anyone else( but it does :rolleyes:). Sure in the hell doesn't to me. Doesn't matter to me if you drive 60 in a 55 either and shouldn't matter to you if I pass you doing 65. :flipoff2:

Edit...what model did you buy @McCracken
 
89wrangler said:
Jesus Christ, cant we just list the frequencies as the gentleman requested.

For those who must have a license, get the damn thing. For those who don't want one, take your chances, live on the edge. It shouldn't matter at all to anyone else( but it does :rolleyes:). Sure in the hell doesn't to me. Doesn't matter to me if you drive 60 in a 55 either and shouldn't matter to you if I pass you doing 65. :flipoff2:

Edit...what model did you buy @McCracken
Click to expand...

The lists of frequencies are very easy to get. Use your google fu.

Google GMRS frequencies to get FRS/GMRS, rugged radios for the race radio most common frequencies, repeaterbook for 2m and 440 frequencies and MURS for the dot frequencies.

Don't forget 2m national simplex of 146.52 (which I use alot on the trails with the other hams who ride) and 70cm simplex calling frequency of 446.00
 
cranbiz said:
The lists of frequencies are very easy to get. Use your google fu.

Google GMRS frequencies to get FRS/GMRS, rugged radios for the race radio most common frequencies, repeaterbook for 2m and 440 frequencies and MURS for the dot frequencies.

Don't forget 2m national simplex of 146.52 (which I use alot on the trails with the other hams who ride) and 70cm simplex calling frequency of 446.00
Click to expand...
If we did that what was the point of the thread? The point was to share info about places we ride and fun things to tune into. Safety being a big concern when in remote areas so those emergency frequencies would be nice to have.
 
McCracken said:
If we did that what was the point of the thread? The point was to share info about places we ride and fun things to tune into. Safety being a big concern when in remote areas so those emergency frequencies would be nice to have.
Click to expand...

I use repeaterbook to pull the ham repeaters. I update my radio from that when I go on trips, repeater access tones can change, repeaters go down, new ones get added.

There is no one emergency frequency on any of these radios. In fact, the only actual emergency frequencies available would be local public safety, many of which are now 800mhz trunked and not within the capabilities of the cheap chicom radios. And while the local sheriff would help in a true emergency, they will be a mite pissed that you are on their frequency providing that they are still on VHF/UHF.

If safety is paramount when in remote areas, get a Sat Phone. It's probably the only thing that is close to 100% effective.
 
Curious what the Vin diagram overlap is between HAM 'must have a license or else' guys and 'guns should be registered and recorded' guys.
Somehow I suspect many are hypocrits.
 
cranbiz said:
There is no one emergency frequency on any of these radios. In fact, the only actual emergency frequencies available would be local public safety, many of which are now 800mhz trunked and not within the capabilities of the cheap chicom radios. And while the local sheriff would help in a true emergency, they will be a mite pissed that you are on their frequency providing that they are still on VHF/UHF.
Click to expand...

*sigh*
 
9e3fc1deb65fcb0fe91a575647a56bc2.jpg


be0ae79c4a555879820dd3b9a3055b38.jpg


653a9ab592fcd97efcf5128f1655f55e.jpg


f1d7a089073ac0b73d1cb53feb4c2b85.jpg


b2d6c554b61f7ae16415e2845ff83348.jpg


#1 I do what I want, when I want, with Chinese junk I bought from wherever.

#2. I respect the rules in place, but refer to #1.

#3. I’m not a loudmouth blaring away on channels i know I shouldn’t. I stick to our race freq and frs.

I wasn’t referring to using these to cross with actual LEO/EMT radios, freqs etc.

I meant, licensing doesn’t mean shit during an actual emergency.
 
You can listen to the one in Evarts but I don't think you can transmit on it. It is digital trunking or something like that. The radio tech has some kind of code he has to put in your radio to get it to work. I am over the Rescue Squad in Harlan They changed all our radio's about 8 years ago to meet gov reg. I liked the old system better had better reception and range.
Your cell phone will work just about allover the park you might have to get on a point in some places to make a call.
 
Back
Top