AZVJC Ham Radio Net - Topics

[RandyT]

I thought it would be cool to collect some ideas for net topics for use in the future. Here are a few of my ideas.

radio emergency comms
limited space radio installs (TJ's) :)
antenna installs
APRS
proper auto patch use
cross banding
mountain topping
beyond 2m
trip reviews
ham only run scheduling
portable HF ops

what else?

[Calizonia]

After all these years, I still feel like a new Ham sometimes...so maybe open the floor to new ham questions. Maybe even info about IRLP, Echo Link and "to go box".

That's my 2 cents.

[lpennock]

Radio installs (Little more general than just the limited space topic.) in particular
wire sizing and routing
antenna mount types and converters (NMO, UHF, stud)
antenna types (1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, 5/8 wave, multi band)
grounding
bonding

[jporvaz]

Being the newb here, I still don't know what I don't know. Therefore this listing is looking pretty good to me. With 10 topics, theoretically that will take us 3 months to work through that list.

[Calizonia]

WEDNESDAY 5MAR08...

TOPIC: RADIO AND ANTENNA INSTALLS IN THE JEEP!
We can discuss what equipment you have installed, Was it easy, Was it hard, have you changed anything, what would you have done differently and what advice you can give to help others with their install.

I Figure that will get the ball rolling. See ya Wednesday night, if not sooner.

[jporvaz]

Sounds good.

[Cave Gimp]

I'll try to be on tonight, see you then.

[yellow_X]

I missed the last 2 nets, will try my arse off be on tonite

[gefelix]

WEDNESDAY 5MAR08...

TOPIC: RADIO AND ANTENNA INSTALLS IN THE JEEP!
We can discuss what equipment you have installed, Was it easy, Was it hard, have you changed anything, what would you have done differently and what advice you can give to help others with their install.

I Figure that will get the ball rolling. See ya Wednesday night, if not sooner.

Jimmy,
Nice job on the net tonight!

[AZG23]

My good friend Jimmy G...errrr KE6LLZ....errr Calizonia! Great job bro...

hope I sounded ok...hitting Shaw Butte from Surprise on an HT....I wasnt sure how well it would go..

great job to all..it was a good time.

[RandyT]

Great job Jimmy!
Good turn out too.

[jporvaz]

Great job ke6llz. The topic was a very appropriate one also.

[Calizonia]

Thanks guys for all the kind words. Whew!

Hopefully we can keep the interest in the net and keep things rolling for a long time. WE sure have a good group of guys that are checking in. I'm sure we will pickup a few more from time to time.

Ok who's next! LOL

[mbuckner]

Good morning,

I missed last nights net ....... What subject was covered?

Best regards,

Mike

[K7AZV]

Good morning,

I missed last nights net ....... What subject was covered?

Best regards,

Mike

Here you go Mike. Net Minutes (http://virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=31971)

[Calizonia]

WEDNESDAY 12MAR08

TOPIC: Trail Etiquette and Trail Preparedness. I think they go hand in hand. Let's talk about things we should do as drivers and as a trip leader.

[AZG23]

WEDNESDAY 12MAR08

TOPIC: Trail Etiquette and Trail Preparedness. I think they go hand in hand. Let's talk about things we should do as drivers and as a trip leader.


Sounds good...great topic.

[SilverBullet]

Sounds like it would have been a great subject! I wish I could hear it. From my home in PV, I was not able ot even listen. I even tried driving up the hill near my house, but no luck. Oh well, maybe some day if I get a tower installed at the house. :disappointed:

[lpennock]

Did you try both repeaters. I would think you should be able to hear 146.92 from PV.

[SilverBullet]

I could hear it fine, but not get into it... is there any PL or other tones? I figured it is a - but could not get in...

I live in a hole, so I had to drive to Fain Rd/89-A to get it better.

[lpennock]

162.2hz on all the ARA 2M repeaters and 100hz on the 440.

[SilverBullet]

I'll have to try next week, too late to drive back out there tonight, thanks.

[Sc00by]

Sorry I missed out tonight... VERY bad day at work so I opted to hit the bow shop and fire off a few arrows. to releave some stress

[Calizonia]

Sounds like it would have been a great subject! I wish I could hear it. From my home in PV, I was not able ot even listen. I even tried driving up the hill near my house, but no luck. Oh well, maybe some day if I get a tower installed at the house. :disappointed:

thanks for letting us know it was you. I felt bad that I could not acknowledge you on the radio. You just weren't holding the repeater...wow, you sure made some effort to get in the net. Hope to hear you next week.

[Calizonia]

Sorry I missed out tonight... VERY bad day at work so I opted to hit the bow shop and fire off a few arrows. to releave some stress

Scooby Dooooo where are youuuu? It's always nice to relieve that stress. See ya next week. We actually had 15 stations on the net. Actually with me that makes 16. we are growing every week.

[jporvaz]

Sounds like it would have been a great subject! I wish I could hear it. From my home in PV, I was not able ot even listen. I even tried driving up the hill near my house, but no luck. Oh well, maybe some day if I get a tower installed at the house. :disappointed:

PV-? Prescott Valley?

[gefelix]

WEDNESDAY 12MAR08

TOPIC: Trail Etiquette and Trail Preparedness. I think they go hand in hand. Let's talk about things we should do as drivers and as a trip leader.
Once again, great job Jimmy & Virgil. Enjoyed it.

[K7AZV]

I'll have to try next week, too late to drive back out there tonight, thanks.

I'm usually home weeknights by 5pm. Let me know if you wanted to try something different to connect and I can be on the other end to help.

[SilverBullet]

PV-? Prescott Valley?

Yup, tried again tonight, but even with the PL, I could not get the repeater solid... 55 watts i snot enough, or my antenna is not enough.

:dots: Antenna raising party anyone, here with my tower and j-pole?

[yellow_X]

thanks for letting us know it was you. I felt bad that I could not acknowledge you on the radio. You just weren't holding the repeater...wow, you sure made some effort to get in the net. Hope to hear you next week.

Auctually, that was me trying, thanks for giving me as many chances to get in as you did!

[K7AZV]

Yup, tried again tonight, but even with the PL, I could not get the repeater solid... 55 watts i snot enough, or my antenna is not enough.

:dots: Antenna raising party anyone, here with my tower and j-pole?

I think you are trying to go 60-80 miles as the radio waves fly. Some sort of directional antenna like a yagi might be able to do it. Or get your jpole 500ft. up like you mentioned. You are opening up the repeater, but that's about it. About all we heard was static with the very faint sound that someone was talking in the background.

[Calizonia]

Virgil...I hope I didn't jump the gun, but I announced on the net that you are taking Net Control for 26mar08.

Let me know if any thing has changed.

[K7AZV]

Virgil...I hope I didn't jump the gun, but I announced on the net that you are taking Net Control for 26mar08.

Let me know if any thing has changed.

Thanks guys. I wanted to take a crack at it and am looking forward to leading the group. Thanks for giving me the chance.

[K7AZV]

Ok, I've settled on a topic for 3-26-08. I believe this will spark a good discussion.

What is your favorite trail/trip you have been on? Most challenging, scenic, memorable, etc?

[AZG23]

Ok, I've settled on a topic for 3-26-08. I believe this will spark a good discussion.

What is your favorite trail/trip you have been on? Most challenging, scenic, memorable, etc?


Wow...thats gonna be a tough one to trim it down to just a few

[RandyT]

Sounds good Virgil.
I will be there!

[gefelix]

Thanks guys. I wanted to take a crack at it and am looking forward to leading the group. Thanks for giving me the chance.
Nice job on the net tonight Virgil.

[AZG23]

yup.....so far everyone has done a great job...good topic!

[mbuckner]

Virgil ..... thanks for the great work as "Net Control"

[K7AZV]

Ok, I have a topic for the 4-2-08 net already. It's actually the runner-up topic from last week. You can't say I didn't give you plenty of notice this time.

Topic: What is on your to-do or want list? This can be either vehicle or radio related.

-I'm planning on going down the list in order of check-in like normal prodecure, but then opening up for comments after each person. For example, if someone says "I'm planning on doing a 3" lift to my TJ.", we can then open up the floor to others to offer input like "I installed the 3.5" RE lift on mine and couldn't be happier. Make sure you get the adjustable track bar too."

I hope to hear everyone Wed. night.

[Transrock2]

I see the HAM net and was not sure the time? I will try to call in.

This is a great idea!

Where and when?

Thanks, Mark

[Calizonia]

I see the HAM net and was not sure the time? I will try to call in.

This is a great idea!

Where and when?

Thanks, Mark

every Wednesday night at 8:15pm...on the ARA repeaters that are linked together on Mt. Ord, 146.920(-) and Shaw Butte 147.240 (+) both use PL 162.2

Hope to see you there.

[Transrock2]

every Wednesday night at 8:15pm...on the ARA repeaters that are linked together on Mt. Ord, 146.920(-) and Shaw Butte 147.240 (+) both use PL 162.2

Hope to see you there.

Thanks, I'll be there..............

[K7AZV]

Thanks, I'll be there..............
Good to hear you on last night Mark.

Does anyone have requests for next week's (4-9-08) topic? I have a few ideas, but nothing is really an obvious winner yet. I'm open to suggestions at this time.

[K7AZV]

Anybody have a topic they want to hear for tonight? I still haven't decided. :rolleyes:

[yellow_X]

Anybody have a topic they want to hear for tonight? I still haven't decided. :rolleyes:

How about how to squeeze more power out of my rig so I can hit the repeater, LOL, listen 5 x 5 every week just cant get signal into it, oh well I'll be the one listening and not communicating tonight

[Sc00by]

Humm...
Well, were HAM's & Jeepers.... What about our normal everyday life / professhion?

[K7AZV]

Humm...
Well, were HAM's & Jeepers.... What about our normal everyday life / professhion?

Ok, good idea.

[Sc00by]

Doh! :eek:

lol ok look forward to the net tonight :D

[K7AZV]

I'm going to put a little different twist on it, but my mind was really blanked out for picking a topic. :D

[Transrock2]

I would like to discuss cross band repeting with my 8800 Yaesu. I don't have a clue how to use it?

[Calizonia]

www.aen-mar.org go to files, they have transmit boost and cross band instructions. I know that cross band is a touchy subject. Transmit boost is the way to go.

[Transrock2]

www.aen-mar.org go to files, they have transmit boost and cross band instructions. I know that cross band is a touchy subject. Transmit boost is the way to go.


Thanks, I will take a look.

[Sc00by]

Lookie what I picked up yesterday :D

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pzelez/DSC_8978Medium.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pzelez/DSC_8979Medium.jpg

[mbuckner]

That is HOA friendly looking ....... go some detail
you want to share about it?

Best regards,

[Sc00by]

Diamon X-30 ($70) @ HRO
the guy at the counter said meny people set this up in their attic to avoid the HOA stuff...
Im in a manfactured home area (no not a park) and theres several tall antennas around here, but Im renting so once in my own place (no HOA) then Ill put up a tower :D

But this was quick & easy to set up no tunning needed AND I think Ill take it with me too on wheelin trips incase I need that extra umph!

But heres some info:
Diamond X-30 2m/70cm dual band high performance gain vertical antenna
Gail: 3.0db (2m) 5.5db(70cm) max power 150W
1/2wave element (2m) 5/8wave two element (70cm)

[corwyyn]

Darn guys, I meant to check in tonight since I am off work after gall bladder removal (ouch!) but I plum forgot about it until I looked at the clock and it was 9:12 - oh well maybe next week.

[jporvaz]

Randy, Nice job, as usual. I noticed there seemed to be a lot of white noise on a lot of the calls tonight. Was that just me? I'm running a short pigtail coax from the antenna coax to the radio.

I will volunteer to take the Net Control for next week(s) and will post the topic as we get closer.

Took the pigtail out, still a lot of white noise. Anyone else?
Thanks.

[AZG23]

I noticed it too....

[corwyyn]

Noticed a bit of noise on quite a few of the check-ins tonight so you're not alone. And for the record I was the 'phantom caller' that tried in vain to get in tonight. I switched my antenna out a few weeks ago but I know it's worked prior to tonight, guess I'll just have to take everything apart and put a meter on it to see what's what...

[gefelix]

Yep, noise here in Chandler too.

Nice job as usual, Randy.

[K7AZV]

It was alien interference. See the other thread on red lights. :1eye:

[jporvaz]

This week, I will try to equal the excellent performance of the Net Control that we have had since the Net began. Please go easy on me. :)

I will be asking for someone to volunteer as Alternate Net Control.

Topic for this week, Wed 4/30/08 : Go Kits:
One of the original purposes of Ham was to provide emergency communications in times of trouble. With the combination of Ham and Jeep, sometimes we need to provide more than just communications, we need to head out to where the help is needed. When the call comes in that helps is needed and you are on your way to help, what do you take with you?

Questions to discuss:
1. Do you have a GO KIT prepared and ready to go or do you just start grabbing the things you think you will need?
2. What do you have in the kit?
3. What would you add or delete from your go kit?

The AZVJC ARUN meets on Wed nights on 146.92- PL 162.2 and 147.24+ PL 162.2. See you there.

[K7AZV]

That's going to be a good topic. I have some examples from as recently as this past Saturday night. Quite a few hams were involved before the end of it and I added a few things to my list to keep in the Jeep. I think I'm going to have to do a write-up of our adventure also. Stay tuned.

[Calizonia]

Net Topic For 21may08

The All Ham Night Run On 24may08.

I Will Confirm The List Of People Going. Basically Do Some What Of A Drivers Meeting. Go Over Any Last Minute Details.

Then Open Up The Floor For Discussion.

[lpennock]

Net Topic For 21may08

The All Ham Night Run On 24may08.

I Will Confirm The List Of People Going. Basically Do Some What Of A Drivers Meeting. Go Over Any Last Minute Details.

Then Open Up The Floor For Discussion.

I'm going to attempt to make it. Have a lot of things I need to get done around the house though. Can you put me down as tentative?

[RandyT]

Leonard to are hereby marked as: A Definate Tenative!

[crawlin'n4L]

I'm definately going on the night run, and looking forward to it!

KI4EXQ

[corwyyn]

I'm definately going on the night run, and looking forward to it!

KI4EXQ
Me too, now that my radio works! Good to hear everyone on the net tonight, at least until I had to bail and go back in to work :pinch:

[crawlin'n4L]

I didn't make the net last night. Any last minute details that I missed?

[Calizonia]

NO major changes in the details...it's pretty much the same...Randy stated he would be at HRO around 4pm if anyone wanted to meet up early, then head out and get some PB&J sandwiches...other than that, we are leaving the air down spot at 8pm.

[crawlin'n4L]

I'm planning on going a few hours early and getting a few miles on my dirt bike. Would it be a good idea to park the dirt bike (it has a keyed ignition and locked fork) and the jeep doors at the air down site, and will we be returning to the air down site, or does the trail lead to another road?

[AZG23]

its a point A to point B run....and I wouldnt recommend leaving either at an airdown spot unless you dont like those items.

even leaving them at the airup spot wouldnt be prudent...a bike can be lifted and throw in a truck..

[crawlin'n4L]

lol Thanks, I like my dirt bike and Jeep doors alot, so I think I'll leave them at home or make other arrangements :)

[corwyyn]

Randy stated he would be at HRO around 4pm if anyone wanted to meet up early
Cool, I was thinking of going by to pick up a battery charger and to thank Paul (can't remember his call at the moment) for all his help getting my radio sorted out. I think it's always good to support stores where the employees go above and beyond :fashizzle:

[AZG23]

Cool, I was thinking of going by to pick up a battery charger and to thank Paul (can't remember his call at the moment) for all his help getting my radio sorted out. I think it's always good to support stores where the employees go above and beyond :fashizzle:


Dont forget the PBJ's too!

[rangers_range]

NET TOPIC FOR MAY 28

SAR*: Land of the Lost

We will discuss the last over due Jeeper search, then ponder how to better employ amateur radio in similar future events.

Please bring your "I was there/I was virtually" there stories about THIS incident.
Also, think about how we can best respond to the next lost/overdue Wheeler and share your ideas with the net.

Take your Jeep and Ham radio to go help someone; how cool is that!

Tony, rangers_range, WB7PZH will be your nc/mc (net control/master of ceremonies). By the way, the Back Country Emergency Management class is outlined and awaiting for me to find/set a meeting place and date.

* Search and Rescue

[rangers_range]

I am taking applications for Alternate Net Control Wednesday 5-28. Please have a good signal in to the repeater, phone and internet access. Operators walking beagles with walkie talkies are not acceptable. :operator:

[K7AZV]

Net Topic for 6-11-08

Well, it's the topic that seems to be the center of every discussion. GAS PRICES. Have you done anything to your 4x4 to save gas or get better gas mileage? What have you been doing to pay for gas? How has the gas prices changed your wheeling amount and time?

[AZG23]

sounds like a great topic Virgil!

[K7AZV]

Sorry for not getting this posted earlier in the week. Here's what the net topic for tonight is going to be. 6-18-08

Net Control: K7AZV
Topic: Different uses for ham radio. -Covering autopatch, IRLP, remote repeaters, radio programming, and maybe a little APRS. This should be presentation/informational with chances to comment or ask questions.

[rvisokey]

How about "Trail Communications". Talk about the best practices to use for trail communications. Also, a topic of "what repeater where" might be nice. I often wheel away from my side of town and can't always remember what repeaters works good on distant trails. What's a good RPT in Florence, AJ, Whitetanks, TableMesa, etc?

[K7AZV]

How about "Trail Communications". Talk about the best practices to use for trail communications. Also, a topic of "what repeater where" might be nice. I often wheel away from my side of town and can't always remember what repeaters works good on distant trails. What's a good RPT in Florence, AJ, Whitetanks, TableMesa, etc?

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

Wow, that is exactly the topic I was thinking of for next week. I was going to call it "Remote Repeaters", but you summarized it much better. Topic for 6-25-08 in quotes above.

[ROKCRLR]

How about "Trail Communications". Talk about the best practices to use for trail communications. Also, a topic of "what repeater where" might be nice. I often wheel away from my side of town and can't always remember what repeaters works good on distant trails. What's a good RPT in Florence, AJ, Whitetanks, TableMesa, etc?

Great idea :fashizzle:

I've wondered that myself.

[jporvaz]

Unfortunately, I'll miss the next one as I'll be playing baseball. I'll put my suggestions here. Get a good repeater book, check out www.azrepeaters.com or have a good "Elmer".

[mbuckner]

Are you sure that is the link?

Comes up parked ........

[K7AZV]

The .com and .net got him. Try this: http://www.azrepeaters.net/

[jporvaz]

Darn it. Goofed again. Sorry for the confusion!

[K7AZV]

Radio installs (Little more general than just the limited space topic.) in particular
wire sizing and routing
antenna mount types and converters (NMO, UHF, stud)
antenna types (1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, 5/8 wave, multi band)
grounding
bonding

I'm not sure if that is too much for one net, but I don't think we've really done a net that covered much, if any, of these topics.

[K7AZV]

Here's another idea for a net.
Build your own antennas. (Or it could go as far as build your own components, trancievers, etc.)