How cool that you recorded your first contact. I guess it depends on the time of day. Net time between 7 and 8pm is great, other times of day is hit and miss. One of my first handheld contacts from the backyard was done with an antenna made out of a baby bouncer.
Glad you stuck through with it. I've been having an absolute blast in my adventure. Probably one of the best things I did in my life. Also have to love the feeling of new toys coming in the mail every now and then. Keep sticking with it! 73's K4LBL
The range from within a vehicle is much shorter than outside a vehicle. Even though you are sticking the antenna outside your vehicle, you will get better results standing outside and away from your vehicle. Since you are in the desert, you can get excellent results hitting repeaters, especially ones up on high hills or mountains. Remember that position and relation to surrounding objects can significantly affect your results. As others have stated, getting a magmount to throw on the top of your vehicle will tremendously help. Either way, your determination paid off. Congrats on earning your license! 73, AI3DR
I feel your pain, I'm in connecticut and recently got my tech and general licence and still haven't made my first contact. Been calling most days but nothing from repeaters. But when I check QRZ I can see the searches for my call sign going Up but nobody replies, HF is where its at for contacts but I'm not set up for it yet.
Thanks awesome! I am currently waiting patiently for my call sign as i just became a technician on Saturday. Looking forward to also making my first contact by the weekend. Congrats on that as i see this was posted 4 years ago, so i'm sure you're well on your way. I am also on GMRS here in Eastern Pennsylvania. Maybe i can hear you on one of the NETS in the near future. 73's and take good care. -Bob -WRKH707 GMRS
@@CaptMaxADV there really are 1000 threads in this hobby. Big thing is not to get discouraged by bad actors, perceived high costs, or technical limitations. All of these things can be overcome and most Hams are awesome people. I'm getting into Earth-Moon-Earth antennas now, myself. Enjoyed HF SSB and VHF FM for years. I needed a new challenge.
About to take my technician test in a few weeks and I REALLY enjoyed your video. Thats just the way life is sometimes when it takes a lot of effort and persistence to make things happen or for them to fall in place. Thanks much for sharing your intro to HAM.
I was wondering why you were driving to the repeaters to call CQ rather than try to hit them from one place but it seems you are out in the middle of no where.. But you may want to try a bigger antenna and a base unit with more wattage so you can reach farther.
Sweet, first contact! I'm wanting to get my ham license too. Think it will be better than the Bluetooth when riding in the boonies. Watched the whole 3 series, good stuff!
Awesome! Thanks a lot! I'd be real interested to hear your impressions and results from running a Ham setup on bikes. I know it's been done, it'd be real cool to see a full how-to run down. Let me know!
Seems like the repeaters there are pretty dead. Might want to get a hotspot and get on a more active repeater system. I think clearnodes let you use your radio too you wont have to go through echolink or iphone.
Not in this vehicle. I currently have an ICOM radio and other Nagoya antenna mounted on the roof rack of my Land Cruiser. It’s working short range, but needs some tuning and a ground plane to really get some distance out of it.
I don't think you are opening the squelch on the first repeater. I hear no squelch tail or courtesy tone when you release the PTT. Check offset and tones. Something is not set right.
I've fiddled with CHIRP for HOURS! But on a Mac, using the programming cable, trying to locate the "drivers" for a cord I bought 4 years ago, which did come with a CD, has proven futile and aggravating beyond measure! I've had a friend program a number of channels for me. But we're both new, so he's improving on his CHIRP list and in time we'll have some dialed in radios!
I’m certain the offset has been right in most every instance, and that the T-CTSS as well. If there’s a PL tone to set in addition to that, I don’t know where that would be listed on the repeater’s data. All the data that’s available for each repeater I had tried was set. I just think no one was around to listen!
![How to Make Your First Contact on Ham Radio The EASY Way [Using Simplex]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oYu4fKiZJ4E/mqdefault.jpg)
You would be amazed how something as simple as standing in the bed of your truck can make a difference
I had the same frustrating experience until I got PL Tone figured out. Everybody has to go through it!
How cool that you recorded your first contact. I guess it depends on the time of day. Net time between 7 and 8pm is great, other times of day is hit and miss. One of my first handheld contacts from the backyard was done with an antenna made out of a baby bouncer.
A baby bouncer?! Sounds neat!
Glad you stuck through with it. I've been having an absolute blast in my adventure. Probably one of the best things I did in my life. Also have to love the feeling of new toys coming in the mail every now and then. Keep sticking with it! 73's K4LBL
🙌🏻
The range from within a vehicle is much shorter than outside a vehicle. Even though you are sticking the antenna outside your vehicle, you will get better results standing outside and away from your vehicle. Since you are in the desert, you can get excellent results hitting repeaters, especially ones up on high hills or mountains. Remember that position and relation to surrounding objects can significantly affect your results. As others have stated, getting a magmount to throw on the top of your vehicle will tremendously help. Either way, your determination paid off. Congrats on earning your license! 73, AI3DR
Congrats man. I've been doing GMRS for a few weeks now. Just grabbed a new quad band radio. Looking for that tech. next. Keep having fun! 73
I feel your pain, I'm in connecticut and recently got my tech and general licence and still haven't made my first contact. Been calling most days but nothing from repeaters. But when I check QRZ I can see the searches for my call sign going
Up but nobody replies, HF is where its at for contacts but I'm not set up for it yet.
Repeater book app is a good thing to have. It also shows the tone needed
Thanks awesome! I am currently waiting patiently for my call sign as i just became a technician on Saturday. Looking forward to also making my first contact by the weekend. Congrats on that as i see this was posted 4 years ago, so i'm sure you're well on your way. I am also on GMRS here in Eastern Pennsylvania. Maybe i can hear you on one of the NETS in the near future. 73's and take good care. -Bob -WRKH707 GMRS
Hell yah brother! Getting your radio comms on! 🙌🏻
@@CaptMaxADV Thanks my friend! -KD3ABM
I was nervous during my first contact. It was awesome. Thanks for sharing. I made 3 new contacts on 2m simplex today which was killer !
Heck yeah dude!
If that is a pickup truck, stand in the back for a little extra height. A slight adjustment in position makes a world of difference with an HT.
Congratulations on becoming licensed. I hope it brings many years of fun. I've enjoyed it greatly over the last 6 years.
Thanks man! There's all sorts of things to explore in the world of amateur radio it seems!
@@CaptMaxADV there really are 1000 threads in this hobby. Big thing is not to get discouraged by bad actors, perceived high costs, or technical limitations. All of these things can be overcome and most Hams are awesome people. I'm getting into Earth-Moon-Earth antennas now, myself. Enjoyed HF SSB and VHF FM for years. I needed a new challenge.
About to take my technician test in a few weeks and I REALLY enjoyed your video. Thats just the way life is sometimes when it takes a lot of effort and persistence to make things happen or for them to fall in place. Thanks much for sharing your intro to HAM.
Awesome! Have fun with it! 🙌🏻
Just took my tech/gen tests today, looking forward to making my first contact. Awesome vid!
Thanks a lot! And congrats!
congrats well done
Stick with it, it's worth it. BTW, congrats on your ticket, i licensed August of 1994 and love seeing new hams coming aboard!
I mean, at this point I’m a licensed walkie talkie operator but wouldn’t call myself a Ham! Lol kinda neat though. 👊🏻
That's pretty cool I just got a radio and I m working on my license that's pretty awesome
Glad you made it! I'm studying for my Technician's license here in Northern Colorado.
Get it brother! 🙌🏻
Time to get on 10 meters. HF is where it’s at!
Well done for your first contact!
Thanks!
I was wondering why you were driving to the repeaters to call CQ rather than try to hit them from one place but it seems you are out in the middle of no where.. But you may want to try a bigger antenna and a base unit with more wattage so you can reach farther.
I take it you are a pilot as well lol, learning the ham stuff while being a pilot is a unique transition
🚁 🙌🏻
2 meter is dead around my area even some repeaters that were active once have been left untouched and not working
Thanks! Thatz nutz!
Sweet, first contact! I'm wanting to get my ham license too. Think it will be better than the Bluetooth when riding in the boonies. Watched the whole 3 series, good stuff!
Awesome! Thanks a lot! I'd be real interested to hear your impressions and results from running a Ham setup on bikes. I know it's been done, it'd be real cool to see a full how-to run down. Let me know!
Seems like the repeaters there are pretty dead. Might want to get a hotspot and get on a more active repeater system. I think clearnodes let you use your radio too you wont have to go through echolink or iphone.
ive been trying for 2 days and cannot make my first contact getting frustrated is an understatement
I know I'm late to the party, but have you tried to use a mag mount antenna on your vehicle?
Not in this vehicle. I currently have an ICOM radio and other Nagoya antenna mounted on the roof rack of my Land Cruiser. It’s working short range, but needs some tuning and a ground plane to really get some distance out of it.
Congratulations on getting your license, vanity callsign and making your first contact!
73 de W6CPL
Thanks!!
@@CaptMaxADV You're welcome!
I don't think you are opening the squelch on the first repeater. I hear no squelch tail or courtesy tone when you release the PTT. Check offset and tones. Something is not set right.
Calling CQ
Hey Jeremy are you using Chirp to program your radio?
I've fiddled with CHIRP for HOURS! But on a Mac, using the programming cable, trying to locate the "drivers" for a cord I bought 4 years ago, which did come with a CD, has proven futile and aggravating beyond measure! I've had a friend program a number of channels for me. But we're both new, so he's improving on his CHIRP list and in time we'll have some dialed in radios!
Seems like you don't have your PL tone or maybe your offset isn't set right.
I’m certain the offset has been right in most every instance, and that the T-CTSS as well. If there’s a PL tone to set in addition to that, I don’t know where that would be listed on the repeater’s data. All the data that’s available for each repeater I had tried was set. I just think no one was around to listen!
@@CaptMaxADV what about your offset frequency Direction
CQ 11 Meter 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁