Permalink
Cannot retrieve contributors at this time
This commit does not belong to any branch on this repository, and may belong to a fork outside of the repository.
129 lines (125 sloc)
8.08 KB
This file contains bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
| <HTML> | |
| <HEAD> | |
| <TITLE>Why do I need Amateur Radio in my 4x4?</TITLE> | |
| <META NAME="Author" CONTENT="Rick Horwitz"> | |
| <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="Amateur Radio, ham radio, 4x4, off-road, fourwheeling, communications, radio, offroad"> | |
| </HEAD> | |
| <BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#000080" ALINK="#FF0000" BACKGROUND="blueline.gif"> | |
| <CENTER><TABLE CELLPADDING=12 WIDTH="100%" > | |
| <TR> | |
| <TD VALIGN=TOP><b><font face="Arial,Helvetica">Editor</font></b> | |
| <br><b><a href="mailto:explorer@4x4central.com">Rick Horwitz</a></b> | |
| <p><img SRC="leftnav.gif" height=480 width=89 usemap="#leftnav" border="0"> | |
| <p><a href="http://www.theautochannel.com/netrev/trucks/97080515240805.html"><img SRC="best.gif" height=90 width=75></a> | |
| <p><a href="http://4wheeldrive.miningco.com"><img SRC="bon_mar.gif" height=72 width=83></a> | |
| <p><a href="http://www.autodirectory.com"><img SRC="3featured.gif" BORDER=0 height=39 width=117></a> | |
| <map name="leftnav"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Home Page" coords="0,2,89,32" href="index.html" title="Home Page"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Message Board" coords="1,32,88,62" href="cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi" title="Message Board"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Bookstore" coords="0,62,87,94" href="bookstore.html" title="Bookstore"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Resources" coords="0,94,86,125" href="resources.htm" title="Resources"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="FAQ" coords="0,128,87,158" href="faq.htm" title="FAQ"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Tips" coords="0,160,87,190" href="tips.htm" title="Tips"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Reviews" coords="1,192,87,221" href="reviews.html" title="Reviews"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Readers Rides" coords="3,224,88,254" href="rides.html" title="Readers Rides"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Add" coords="1,255,88,285" href="http://www.explorer4x4.com/#add" title="Add"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="More Explorers" coords="0,290,87,317" href="http://www.explorer4x4.com/#more" title="More Explorers"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Explorer Runs" coords="2,318,87,348" href="runs.html" title="Explorer Runs"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Whoops" coords="0,353,87,381" href="whoops.htm" title="Whoops"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Save Trails" coords="1,382,86,413" href="savetrails.html" title="Save Trails"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Links" coords="1,415,86,447" href="cgi-bin/linkmat.cgi" title="Links"> | |
| <area shape="rect" alt="Ham Radio" coords="1,448,87,477" href="radio.html" title="Ham Radio"> | |
| <area shape="default" nohref> | |
| </map></TD> | |
| <TD BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> | |
| <!-- BEGIN LINKEXCHANGE CODE --> | |
| <center><iframe src="http://leader.linkexchange.com/8/X942094/showiframe?" width=468 height=60 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 hspace=0 vspace=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no> | |
| <a href="http://leader.linkexchange.com/8/X942094/clickle" target="_top"><img width=468 height=60 border=0 ismap alt="" src="http://leader.linkexchange.com/8/X942094/showle?"></a></iframe><br><a href="http://leader.linkexchange.com/8/X942094/clicklogo" target="_top"><img src="http://leader.linkexchange.com/8/X942094/showlogo?" width=468 height=16 border=0 ismap alt=""></a><br></center> | |
| <!-- END LINKEXCHANGE CODE --> | |
| <CENTER><IMG SRC="otbt.jpg" HEIGHT=52 WIDTH=330> | |
| <BR><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+2>Why do I need Amateur | |
| Radio in my 4x4?</FONT></FONT></B> | |
| <BR><FONT SIZE=+0>by <A HREF="mailto:explorer@4x4central.com">Rick Horwitz</A>, | |
| AB7FH</FONT> | |
| <BR><IMG SRC="n0lrj.jpg" ALT="N0LRJ on Mt .Evans" HEIGHT=213 WIDTH=313> | |
| <BR>Randy Simons, N0LRJ's Radio Active Samurai</CENTER> | |
| <P><BR> | |
| <P><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+2>Everyone | |
| already uses a C.B. so why do I need Amateur Radio?</FONT></FONT></FONT></B> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>Range and versatility are | |
| the biggest advantages. A C.B. radio is normally limited to line of site | |
| contacts, which means that hills buildings, and even the curvature of the | |
| earth can all be limiting factors to the range of your transmissions. Amateur | |
| Radio operators or "Hams" have the added advantage of using repeaters to | |
| increase the range of reliable contacts. </FONT></FONT> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>Repeaters can be located | |
| on mountain tops, tall buildings or tall free standing towers. Your signal | |
| is sent from your location, to the repeater and is instantaneously retransmitted | |
| from the repeater location over a wide spread area. This can be extremely | |
| helpful when four wheeling or camping in remote locations. Some repeaters | |
| have autopatch capabilities, which means you can make telephone calls from | |
| your radio. There are thousands of amateur radio repeaters located across | |
| the country and they are often located on top of the mountain ranges we | |
| do our wheelin' in. </FONT></FONT> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>High Frequency amateur radio | |
| equipment (HF) is capable of communicating with stations anywhere in the | |
| world using voice, Morse code, Slow Scan TV and many other modes of communications. </FONT></FONT> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>With a "packet radio" a GPS | |
| unit and APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) software, you can | |
| keep track of vehicles on a moving map, transmitting the information to | |
| any number of monitoring stations. Hams have used this system for years | |
| while providing communications assistance for bike races, walkathons and | |
| parades.</FONT></FONT> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>Many Hams have installed | |
| APRS in their vehicles as a vehicle locator system. When they leave their | |
| vehicle they turn the system on and the system sends out a "packet burst" | |
| every few minutes. Hams have called their local police and told them that | |
| there car has been stolen and then they tell the police exactly where it's | |
| located. This system was in place before LOJACK.</FONT></FONT> | |
| <BR> | |
| <BR> | |
| <P><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+2>Do | |
| I need a license to operate a Amateur Radio station?</FONT></FONT></FONT></B> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>YES! A license is a must, | |
| but don't worry there is no longer a requirement to learn Morse code and | |
| the theory for the written test can be learned by many people over a weekend | |
| or two. The Technician license permits you to use all VHF/UHF amateur radio | |
| frequencies, use transmitters capable of up to 1500 watts output, use satellites | |
| for re-transmitting your signal and many other privileges. </FONT></FONT> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>In order to use the world | |
| wide HF bands Morse Code is still required. The minimum requirement is | |
| 5 wpm for a Tech Plus license the maximum is 20 wpm for an Extra class | |
| license.</FONT></FONT> | |
| <BR> | |
| <BR> | |
| <P><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+2>What | |
| type of equipment do I need?</FONT></FONT></FONT></B> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>For a very capable package | |
| that can be used while your offroad, I recommend a high power mobile unit | |
| capable of at least 40 watts. A dual band mobile (VHF/UHF) with crossband | |
| repeater capabilities is even more desirable because you can use the radio | |
| in your own truck as a repeater while you are out hiking with a HT (handi-talkie). | |
| HT's are low power units producing up to 7 watts output, which is why I | |
| don't recommend them as your primary unit.</FONT></FONT> | |
| <BR> | |
| <BR> | |
| <P><B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+2>I'm | |
| interested how can I get more information?</FONT></FONT></FONT></B> | |
| <CENTER> | |
| <P><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica"><FONT SIZE=+1>Try to find an amateur radio | |
| club in your area. Many Hams are already involved in four wheeling so if | |
| there is a ham in your 4x4 club ask him to show you the ropes. The ARRL | |
| (Amateur Radio Relay League) is a national organization for amateur radio | |
| operators. Their website can provide you with much more <A HREF="http://www.arrl.org/">information</A> | |
| about getting started.</FONT></FONT><BR> | |
| <BR> | |
| <IMG ISMAP SRC="expint~1.jpg" ALT="Explorer interior" HEIGHT=180 WIDTH=262> | |
| <BR>Communications equipment installed in my Explorer. | |
| <BR>Top center, Alinco VHF/UHF FM transceiver. Below | |
| <BR>ashtray, Kenwood 160-10 meter all mode transceiver. | |
| <BR>Between seats, Magellan Trailblazer GPS.</CENTER> | |
| </TD> | |
| </TR> | |
| </TABLE></CENTER> | |
| </BODY> | |
| </HTML> |