Announcing the RME on-air ham radio net
- Thread starter TurboMinivan
- Start date
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I think I’m on? 146.620 just did a test and got a call back. KE7KVP
- Location
- The Village of Kay
So I was able to determine I can't hit the 146.94 from my house. I think weather tonight was a factor too, but it was good to test some limitations. I look forward to trying again next week.
TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
Congratulations to all who participated in our second RME net! Our attendance roll was as follows:
NM0AB---Dempsey (TurboMinivan) as net control
W7DMW---Dave (moab_cj5)
KD7DAA--Dave (DAA)
KE8L--Eric (unimog)
KI7BUY---Jared (iceaxe)
N7SHZ--John (gijohn40)
W6NDR--Nate (nnnnnate)
K7BTU---Rulon (not an RME member)
KE7KVP---Marc (mbryson) was tonight's "text message" check-in. He messaged me directly to tell me his tone was off, preventing him from accessing the repeater. John was driving while participating in the net and ended up driving right to Marc's house (maybe that was his original destination?) to help him configure his radio.
Nate got a late start, and tuned in while the net was already in progress. He was able to join in during our discussion phase, which was absolutely fine. If anyone among us feels like they need to shy away from participating because they weren't there at the very start, don't worry about it! Everyone is welcome to join in when they can. We are doing this to help everybody get experience and feel more comfortable on the air, and we are definitely not going to exclude someone just because their hectic schedule made them a few minutes late.
We again had an impromptu guest tonight, a man named Rulon. He was just scanning around on his radio, heard our net in progress, so he stayed on frequency and checked in at the end. He belongs to a group that holds a net on this repeater on Monday nights, hence the reason this machine is programmed into his radio. When he asked who we were, I explained RME4x4 to him. Hearing this, he mentioned he had just purchased his first 4WD vehicle. I invited him to check us out and perhaps get started in a new hobby.
At the end of tonight's net, I again asked the group about starting at 8:30pm rather than 9:00pm next week. Everyone who had a preference requested the earlier time, thus I plan to start at 8:30pm again next week. I will also post this on page 1, at the top of post 1 of this thread for easy reference. Unless or until I get requests to change things, this will probably remain our starting time for the next few weeks.
Thanks again to every one of you guys.
NM0AB---Dempsey (TurboMinivan) as net control
W7DMW---Dave (moab_cj5)
KD7DAA--Dave (DAA)
KE8L--Eric (unimog)
KI7BUY---Jared (iceaxe)
N7SHZ--John (gijohn40)
W6NDR--Nate (nnnnnate)
K7BTU---Rulon (not an RME member)
KE7KVP---Marc (mbryson) was tonight's "text message" check-in. He messaged me directly to tell me his tone was off, preventing him from accessing the repeater. John was driving while participating in the net and ended up driving right to Marc's house (maybe that was his original destination?) to help him configure his radio.
Nate got a late start, and tuned in while the net was already in progress. He was able to join in during our discussion phase, which was absolutely fine. If anyone among us feels like they need to shy away from participating because they weren't there at the very start, don't worry about it! Everyone is welcome to join in when they can. We are doing this to help everybody get experience and feel more comfortable on the air, and we are definitely not going to exclude someone just because their hectic schedule made them a few minutes late.
We again had an impromptu guest tonight, a man named Rulon. He was just scanning around on his radio, heard our net in progress, so he stayed on frequency and checked in at the end. He belongs to a group that holds a net on this repeater on Monday nights, hence the reason this machine is programmed into his radio. When he asked who we were, I explained RME4x4 to him. Hearing this, he mentioned he had just purchased his first 4WD vehicle. I invited him to check us out and perhaps get started in a new hobby.
At the end of tonight's net, I again asked the group about starting at 8:30pm rather than 9:00pm next week. Everyone who had a preference requested the earlier time, thus I plan to start at 8:30pm again next week. I will also post this on page 1, at the top of post 1 of this thread for easy reference. Unless or until I get requests to change things, this will probably remain our starting time for the next few weeks.
Thanks again to every one of you guys.
TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
Oops--wrong machine. We are on the 146.940 repeater (88.5 tone) located on Farnsworth Peak.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
gijohn40
too poor to wheel... :(
- Location
- Layton, Utah
my little baufueg however its spelled was able to get the repeater from about Lagoon. but the modulation wasn't strong enough to allow a conversation. so I moved to the maverik on parish lane just off the freeway and still not able to speak. so moved about half a mile south and bingo! so there is the limit from the north on a cheap handheld with the better antenna. Maybe next week I will actually have my mobile unit installed in my new jk.
- Location
- West Bountiful, UT
Thanks for doing this Dempsey and thanks to everyone for participating.
I was in the Walmart parking lot on Parrish lane in Centerville. As I thought I'd have a better line of sight and better chance of transmitting from there, than from my driveway.
Next week though, I am going to try from the driveway, just to see (sounds like John was just driving past my house when his Baofeng started working). To start out at least. Like Dempsey said, testing and learning is the point.
- DAA
I was in the Walmart parking lot on Parrish lane in Centerville. As I thought I'd have a better line of sight and better chance of transmitting from there, than from my driveway.
Next week though, I am going to try from the driveway, just to see (sounds like John was just driving past my house when his Baofeng started working). To start out at least. Like Dempsey said, testing and learning is the point.
- DAA
- Location
- West Bountiful, UT
I'm wondering if there would be interest in doing a "tech night" get together to make home brew antennas. Something that could be used at home but also packed up and taken to a camp site.
Doing a little searching it looks like there are plenty of options for low cost antennas and I've got a big roll of left over RG6 I'd donate for the cause. I could also potentially host if people were interested in driving to my place. I'd probably want to settle on a design before hand and perhaps buy any needed components in bulk (connectors and joints etc...) and maybe just split the cost that way. Not that any of that stuff is to expensive but with ray-elco gone (RIP) its just not easy to pick up one or two connectors anymore.
Doing a little searching it looks like there are plenty of options for low cost antennas and I've got a big roll of left over RG6 I'd donate for the cause. I could also potentially host if people were interested in driving to my place. I'd probably want to settle on a design before hand and perhaps buy any needed components in bulk (connectors and joints etc...) and maybe just split the cost that way. Not that any of that stuff is to expensive but with ray-elco gone (RIP) its just not easy to pick up one or two connectors anymore.
lhracing
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Layton, UT
I tried to get in again with my HT and going outside but no luck again. I can hear the conversations just fine but cannot get the repeater to hear me, may have to go for a ride next week and try again.
My buddy Chris (@EZRhino here) stocks a lot of connectors, cable, etc. since Ham radio is what he deals with for a living. http://www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Welcome.html
Online only AFAIK, but he is local so it might be worth asking him if you can stop in...
TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
I think this is a fantastic idea. Off the top of my head, I have two ideas for antennas we might want to build.
1) roll-up j-pole. This is a unidirectional antenna, and is the very definition of a portable antenna to be used while camping, etc. It is made from a flexible cable which is easily rolled up for storage. To use it, just unroll it and hang it from a tree (via a cord, thin rope, etc). My friend Jeff has made a few of these; I bet he'd be happy to come out one night and instruct us in a group build.
2) arrow yagi. This is a directional, handheld antenna (though you could also attach it to a tripod, or prop it up on something if needed). Because it is directional, these antennas are great when you're trying to reach a very distant repeater with a low power radio (such as a Baofeng handheld). There are a few different but similar designs; one example is pictured below. They all use a main spine with a number of rods poking out at very specific locations. The portable ones allow these rods to be easily removed; you then put everything in a tall, skinny sack for storage and portability.
Jeff has one of these, too. I don't know if he made his, but I suspect he may have. I'll check and let you guys know.
What do you guys think?
lhracing
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Layton, UT
I tried both the stock antenna and a DIAMOND SRH77CA, no luck hitting the repeater. I am about 32 miles from the repeater which is probably just too far for my radio. If I drive to Bountiful it seems to work fine.
Before work picked up this morning I found a few designs and thought this site had some good options.
www.caarert.org
I think I'm more inclined to build a roll up j pole or a brass j pole than an arrow yagi.
I have parts in my ebay shopping cart for the roll up style. We'll see if they get bought.
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I think I'm more inclined to build a roll up j pole or a brass j pole than an arrow yagi.
I have parts in my ebay shopping cart for the roll up style. We'll see if they get bought.