HAM, CB, FRS, GMRS, Etc... what is your setup?

[tonygiotta]

So it is it a HAM related deal or a separate device?

Yes, and sometimes yes... lol

The information "Packets" are transmitted over a Ham radio frequency. However, in order for the packets to be able to share your location, your radio has to know where you are. Depending on the rig, some have built in GPS, and some have provisions to hook up an external GPS.

The Kenwood rig that I have has its own built in GPS, but it also has a spot to plug in an external GPS. I'm guessing it's to provide flexibility in case your mounting location doesn't allow your control panel to get a good GPS signal.

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[DanW]

Yes, and sometimes yes... lol

The information "Packets" are transmitted over a Ham radio frequency. However, in order for the packets to be able to share your location, your radio has to know where you are. Depending on the rig, some have built in GPS, and some have provisions to hook up an external GPS.

The Kenwood rig that I have has its own built in GPS, but it also has a spot to plug in an external GPS. I'm guessing it's to provide flexibility in case your mounting location doesn't allow your control panel to get a good GPS signal.

Thanks! Sounds fascinating!

 

[LUV2JEEP]

So it is it a HAM related deal or a separate device?

You just have to get an APRS ready radio like the kenwood tm-d710ga. Basically an APRS radio will have GPS built in.

 

[DirtRoad]

I've got an Icom ID-5100 in my Jeep. The thing I like most about it is the "Near Repeater" function. When you program the radio, you put the locations of the repeaters in there too. It also has GPS so you can have it look up a list of your nearest repeaters any time you want.

 

[TCS1666]

I've got an Icom ID-5100 in my Jeep. The thing I like most about it is the "Near Repeater" function. When you program the radio, you put the locations of the repeaters in there too. It also has GPS so you can have it look up a list of your nearest repeaters any time you want.

I was just looking at this radio last night and thinking it may be at the top of my list. Good to hear other Jeepers with it installed and like it.

 

[LUV2JEEP]

eHam.net for reviews

 

[DirtRoad]

I was just looking at this radio last night and thinking it may be at the top of my list. Good to hear other Jeepers with it installed and like it.

Programming it is super easy too. The link below will take your location and make you a file that will fill up the memories with all the repeaters closest to you. Programming is done on an SD card with free software, so no cables to buy. Probably the easiest radio I've ever had for programming and using.
http://www.dstarinfo.com/RepeaterDownloads.aspx

 

[prerunner1982]

Installed Kenwood TM-D710GA Ham Radio. Proclip mount was perfect for the base and head unit. Did a quick test and spoke to my friend 8 miles away here in Tulsa. Much better than CB....

If you are on Facebook feel free to join Oklahoma Off Road Amateur Radio.

 

[prerunner1982]

APRS was invented as a situational awareness tool, not just position though that is what most users use it for. It can do other things as well, such as send direct messages to other APRS users, send SMS text message to a cell phone, send short email, get a weather report for your area or an area you are travelling to. Users can also drop pins for important info that hams may find useful such as repeater info (frequency, tone, offset), hospital/police/fire station locations, hamfest locations, club meeting locations, field day locations, hydration stations for bike/running events, etc... anything that may be of value to the local ham community.
This is not a 100% reliable tool as the infrastructure is provided by hams and there are less digital repeaters (digipeater) and internet gateways (igate) than there are normal voice repeaters and there are places that are pretty void of coverage though that doesn't mean APRS isn't useful in those areas it just means your data won't reach the internet. If you were travelling in a group with more than one APRS radio you could still see where the other was and see where each of you had been, etc.
In addition to terrestrial digipeaters there are also a few satellites including the International Space Station that have digipeaters on board. So even if there aren't local digipeaters, you could try to get a packet out via a satellite....easier if you know when they will be flying over.
I have sent text messages from the ham radio in my Jeep to my wife's cell phone via the ISS... mainly just to prove that I could in case I needed to.

A radio with APRS built in is often easier to the average user, especially where options for mounting a radio are few. I put my ham radio setup together over time so I ended up with a dual band radio for voice and a separate 2m radio for APRS. A radio does not have to have APRS built in to be used for APRS. There are additional hardware you can purchase called TNC (Terminal Node Controllers) that allow you to use almost any radio for APRS.

A tablet can also be used in conjunction with an APRS radio to see the other stations info and location on a map.

 

[prerunner1982]

To answer the original question...
I have all 3, ham, GMRS/FRS, and CB in that order of preference.
Ham radio for it's capabilities...and that I am a ham hobbyist.
GMRS because it is slowly gaining popularity (Jeep Jamboree has transitioned to GMRS) and it allows my wife and I to talk since we have to take 2 vehicles to go camping. Cities may also have GMRS repeaters which will extend your range. The local GMRS repeater here has at least a 60 mile range. GMRS also works with FRS handhelds so if someone didn't have a radio or weren't licensed or was out of their rig spotting you could throw them a FRS handheld.
CB because there are still groups that love their 70s technology....or don't want to jack with the licensing. In areas with active logging operations CB may be useful to know where the logging trucks are so you can get out of their way.

 

[gijohn56]

I have a Yaesu ftm-100 that does aprs in my jeep along with a Stryker sr-94hpc (cb/ham) to use for cb. I lead trails in Moab for easter jeep safari so I have to have the cb but more and more are going the ham radio route. GMRS/FRS is starting to pick up steam with people refusing to pay for the license but still use it.

APRS is a fun little tool. I use APRSdroid on my android cell which sends info to a mobilinkd TNC hooked to a cheap chinese radio (like a buefung) in my VW Passat with a magnetic mount antenna. There is a website that shows how to make a digipeter/igate out of a cheap raspberry PI and a software defined radio USB. Look up direwolf.

 

[Jef]

Yes, and sometimes yes... lol

The information "Packets" are transmitted over a Ham radio frequency. However, in order for the packets to be able to share your location, your radio has to know where you are. Depending on the rig, some have built in GPS, and some have provisions to hook up an external GPS.

The Kenwood rig that I have has its own built in GPS, but it also has a spot to plug in an external GPS. I'm guessing it's to provide flexibility in case your mounting location doesn't allow your control panel to get a good GPS signal.

I dig the setup. What is that rocker panel called and where did you get it?

 

[tonygiotta]

I dig the setup. What is that rocker panel called and where did you get it?

It’s the Voswitch panel. Comes with 8 SPST switches and the two Ram balls on the panel. I did a little customizing adding the USBs and making it work for my winch controls. Switch relay/fuse box mounts under the hood. Really puts my Ham control panel in a great spot and the ball mount allows infinite adjustment.

Putting the ball mount on the Ham control panel was kind of a custom creation too. Couldn’t find any info anywhere on adapting the Kenwood to work with a Ram mount. Bought a few different mount plates, a variety of screws and spacers, and figured out a slick way to make it work.

 

[tonygiotta]

I might add too (regarding my overall setup) that my mic is on the move and I’m working on panel mounting a pair of external speakers on my roll bar. I’ll post up some pics of the results soon if it works out. Otherwise, I’ll be buying a new trim panel for my roll bar! Lol

Update 7/19, made the speakers work!

 

[Griff71]

Well I decided to upgrade and I am much happier with my FT3D over the Baofeng (still keeping it). Will probably end up getting mobile unit, deciding between FTM400 or FTM300.

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