Official 2014 SS Georgia Rally Amateur Radio / Communications Thread

[ke5eua]

I just want to make sure we are going to mainly use 2m for comms. Making a list of what antennas to bring with the little mag mounts and want to make sure I grab the right ones.

 

[ke5eua]

Alright, I will bring 3 mag mounts with 2/440 antennas on them.

My mast is going to have to stay at home but my antennas will be at the top of the cab so it should give good height on them.

In the truck we can monitor frs/grms, murs, cb, ham band, and the prc radios.

 

[swbradley1]

My antenna mast is 20 feet in 4 five foot pieces. The 2m Diamond goes on top.

I still have figured out how to mount the base to something....

 

[ke5eua]

I'll bring my portable base then.

 

[ke5eua]

Need cable? I have some I can bring.

Mast just ended up getting pushed to the back burner and I don't want to run the risk of not getting it finished the way I want it with everything else I still have to do.

 

[swbradley1]

No, I have everything I think I need. I have considered mounting it to the M101A2 with u-bolts. It needs no guy wires and I have a 50 foot feed cable. Thanks Mike.

 

[ke5eua]

If you have the 2m side covered I will probably still bring the poles for mine if I can find the brackets to my Antron 99.

 

[SCSG-G4]

If you don't want to put up a mast, AND you are close enough to WM's mobile hooch, you could place the antenna on top of it and get a metal ground plane about 12 feet up in the air (a ladder or forklift would be handy to get it up there and take it down). Most any large MV would be able to do the same. Given a little incentive, I could dig out my RC-292 (it's somewhere around here) and we could cut a short section to match 2 meters (electrical length of 21.95 inches) for the vertical. See also > http://www.prc68.com/I/RC292.shtml

 

[ke5eua]

I figured I would make a list for those who need it.

The frequiencies for FRS, GMRS, MURS, & CB were copied right from the FCC website.

Admin frequency:

145.5000 No PL Noted

Green Radio Frequency:

51.0000 MHz (PL to talk via ham radio is 151.4) NATO PL is 150.0

Area repeaters via rfinder.net: I set the search radius for 20 miles of the rally.

	KC4GSS	Thomson	146.8350(-)	PL: 0.0	DCS: 0	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.47055600, -82.50472200)
[HR][/HR]
	KB4NA	Wrens	146.7750(-)	PL: 0.0	DCS: 0	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.20750000, -82.39194400)
Notes: OFF THE AIR MORE THAN 3 YEARS
[HR][/HR]
	W4AQL	Ga Tech	145.1500(-)	PL: 167.9	DCS: 0	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.52675900, -82.51542900)
Club: GA TECH
[HR][/HR]
	WXK54	NOAA Augusta	162.5500()	PL: 0.0	DCS: 0	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.25914930, -82.28540900)
Notes: 162.55 MHz - 1000 W♪◙NWS Columbia
[HR][/HR]
	KJ4PYA C	Appling/Augusta	145.0800(+)	PL: 88.5	DCS: 23	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.39720100, -82.31192100)
Notes: (DSTAR)
[HR][/HR]
	KJ4PYA B	Appling/Augusta	440.6500(+)	PL: 88.5	DCS: 23	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.39720100, -82.31192100)
Notes: (DSTAR)
[HR][/HR]
	KJ4PYA A	Appling/Augusta	1249.0000(X)	PL: 88.5	DCS: 23	IRLP: 0	ECHO:0	(33.39720100, -82.31192100)
Notes: (DSTAR)

Area repeaters via ARRL travel plus 2012-2013 edition: Same radius as above


1 420-450 MHz (70 cm) USA GEORGIA Greensboro 444.8500 + N4YXL o 103.5 (CA) 103.5 12 237
2 51-54 MHz (6 m) USA GEORGIA Crawford 53.3300 52.3300 KD4FVI o 88.5z 88.5 QRV ELECTR 17 328


FRS Frequencies:

There are 14 FRS channels and each channel is 12.5 kHz.

• 462.5625
• 462.5875
• 462.6125
• 462.6375
• 462.6625
• 462.6875
• 462.7125
• 467.5625
• 467.5875
• 467.6125
• 467.6375
• 467.6625
• 467.6875
• 467.7125

GMRS Frequencies:

There are 23 GMRS channels and each channel is 25 kHz.

• 462.5500
• 462.5625
• 462.5750
• 462.5875
• 462.6000
• 462.6125
• 462.6250
• 462.6375
• 462.6500
• 462.6625
• 462.6750
• 462.6875
• 462.7000
• 462.7125
• 462.7250
• 467.5500
• 467.5750
• 467.6000
• 467.6250
• 467.6500
• 467.6750
• 467.7000
• 467.7250

MURS:

There are five MURS channels and the channels are either 11.25 kHz or 20.00 kHz each.

151.820 MHz (11.25 kHz)
151.880 MHz (11.25 kHz)
151.940 MHz (11.25 kHz)
154.570 MHz (20.00 kHz)
154.600 MHz (20.00 kHz)


CB: (AM)

There are 40 CB channels. Each CB channel is 10 kHz.
1) 26.965
2) 26.975
3) 26.985
4) 27.005
5) 27.015
6) 27.025
7) 27.035
27.055
9) 27.065*
10) 27.075
11) 27.085
12) 27.105
13) 27.115
14) 27.125
15) 27.135
16) 27.155
17) 27.165
1 27.175
19) 27.185
20) 27.205
21) 27.215
22) 27.225
23) 27.255
24) 27.235
25) 27.245
26) 27.265
27) 27.275
2 27.285
29) 27.295
30) 27.305
31) 27.315
32) 27.325
33) 27.335
34) 27.345
35) 27.355
36) 27.365
37) 27.375
3 27.385
39) 27.395
40) 27.405


There you go. Program in peace.

 

[scottgs]

I haven't kept up with everything in this thread, but I'm not seeing any HF freqs listed?

Myself (W8BUG) and KM4V will be convoying Wednesday morning and will be on 14.342.5 USB. This is one of the standard Military HF Pack freqs. We could QSY to other HF Pack freqs, but I'll try to be sure we leave at least on radio on 14.342.5.

http://hfpack.com/air/

We will also be monitoring 51.000 MHz 150Hz on all our vehicles, as well as the 2m freq 145.500 MHz.

Can't wait to be there!

Garret

 

[bchauvette]

Quote: "Mayday is a no no, we are not in the sea. Now if it is truly a life or death situation then by all means use "break break break" instead."

I'm getting more confused by the minute. I was lead to believe "May Day" is for both marine and Non marine life threatening emergencies and "PAN" is for critical but not life threatening emergencies. The impression I got was May Day is used to Hail for assistance. "Break" is to interrupt a conversation for priority communication.For example if Ken is stuck on the trail AGAIN and the channel is tied up discussing how tight your lug nuts are using "break" would be in order.

Here is a quote from the internet from Yahoo answers. We all know if it is on the internet its-gota be true;

Mayday calls:
A Mayday situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.

 

[racing4funn]

Im going to be showing up early in the morning Saturday and staying only for the day. Im going to move around on a ATU that I have installed a 2 meter on for the day. Im planing on watching the trucks on the trail some and I will be able to radio around and run back to camp quickly if needed.

In installing the radio for the day I have no idea where the SWRs are. Did I read some where that someone was going to have a meter? If so could you text me or post your Call so when I get there I can call you on 145.500 with my handheld and find you?

Thanks

 

[ke5eua]

Im going to be showing up early in the morning Saturday and staying only for the day. Im going to move around on a ATU that I have installed a 2 meter on for the day. Im planing on watching the trucks on the trail some and I will be able to radio around and run back to camp quickly if needed.

In installing the radio for the day I have no idea where the SWRs are. Did I read some where that someone was going to have a meter? If so could you text me or post your Call so when I get there I can call you on 145.500 with my handheld and find you?

Thanks

I was brining my analyzer and meters but due to truck issues and my persistence to get it fixed I'm not making the rally at all.

If the antenna is 1/4 wave length should be 18"

1/2 wave 36"

3/4 wave 54"

4/4 full wave 72"

Side note, a 6 meter / cb 1/4 whip can be used on 2 meters in a pinch.

I go by the 18" rule and it doesn't fail when making a quick antenna.

If you have access to an ohm meter take the antenna off the base and verify at the 259 connector that the center pin and ground is infinite. Also you could ohm out the center pin to the center of the base of the mount and if it is over 50 ohm then you have an issue with your cable. Some ohm meters won't show 50 ohms I've noticed when checking cable integrity.

 

[scottgs]

NOTICE: there appears to be two 2m admin freqs in use at the rally:

145.500 MHz
146.500 MHz

Both have been listed in this thread. I suspect one is a mistake.

Our group has been on 145.500 the past three days, as listed last in this thread, but we have heard no other hams over the past three days.

Have any other hams arrived yet?

Garret
W8BUG

 

[racing4funn]

I was brining my analyzer and meters but due to truck issues and my persistence to get it fixed I'm not making the rally at all.

If the antenna is 1/4 wave length should be 18"

1/2 wave 36"

3/4 wave 54"

4/4 full wave 72"

Side note, a 6 meter / cb 1/4 whip can be used on 2 meters in a pinch.

I go by the 18" rule and it doesn't fail when making a quick antenna.

If you have access to an ohm meter take the antenna off the base and verify at the 259 connector that the center pin and ground is infinite. Also you could ohm out the center pin to the center of the base of the mount and if it is over 50 ohm then you have an issue with your cable. Some ohm meters won't show 50 ohms I've noticed when checking cable integrity.

View attachment 521232

View attachment 521233

I have a proper 2 meter purchased antenna.. Im worried about grounding to the ATU. The grounding is non existent.

 

[ke5eua]

I have a proper 2 meter purchased antenna.. Im worried about grounding to the ATU. The grounding is non existent.

Atu for hf correct? What is the antenna mounted on, vehicle, atv?

 

[racing4funn]

NOTICE: there appears to be two 2m admin freqs in use at the rally:

145.500 MHz
146.500 MHz

Both have been listed in this thread. I suspect one is a mistake.

Our group has been on 145.500 the past three days, as listed last in this thread, but we have heard no other hams over the past three days.

Have any other hams arrived yet?

Garret
W8BUG

Funny I was at the rally today. At check in I asked a guy there if the Hams where on 145.500 and he said no 146.500 but that he hadnt heard much goings on.. I told he the thread stated 145.500 and he said I was wrong.. Guess I wasnt wrong BUT I did make a contact on 145.500 and later on the trail 146.500 was used.. So thats nice.. Not sure since 145.500 was posted first why someone would over ride that, cause confusion, and change the frequency but the result was more harm than good..

 

[ke5eua]

Just checked my last post with all the frequencies and I put the right one.

 

[goldneagle]

This makes me want to learn about HAM.

Was that a joke with the picture of the pig as an avatar?

 

[scottgs]

Just checked my last post with all the frequencies and I put the right one.

I guess the question is which was the right one? They had 146.500 up front at the CP apparently, but we were all on 145.500. How did we let that happen?

We hams should be able to do better.

On the bright side, we did have several HF contacts made from Military rigs at the FOB and mobile during a couple of the trail rides, plus some use of our 51MHz tactical military rigs.

Garret
W8BUG