DMSKI's 2000 Xterra slow build

[Allof75]

Little update:

Well, still haven't swapped numero seis out yet but will hopefully get a chance this weekend. Picked this guy up of amazon for $30 shipped, the UV-5r+. Pretty amazing for the price in my opinion!


Now I have some better alternate coms when going out alone. Wouldn't rely on by any means, but one other thing to help. Still looking to find a winch which will likely have to wait till next year.

Sweet! I was just looking at those today! Any experience yet? First impressions?

 

[Dmski]

Sweet! I was just looking at those today! Any experience yet? First impressions?

So far I'm impressed! Be sure to get the programing cable as doing it by hand is just tedious. But otherwise I've been able to pick up clear transmissions about 10 miles out without a repeater. Simple to use, battery last forever, and would be a decent radio to get as a start. Obviously if you are deep in the outback somewhere, this may not help that much due to range limitations and power but its still great so far. Listening into police chatter and NOAA is a plus.

 

[Allof75]

So far I'm impressed! Be sure to get the programing cable as doing it by hand is just tedious. But otherwise I've been able to pick up clear transmissions about 10 miles out without a repeater. Simple to use, battery last forever, and would be a decent radio to get as a start. Obviously if you are deep in the outback somewhere, this may not help that much due to range limitations and power but its still great so far. Listening into police chatter and NOAA is a plus.

Sounds great, may be my next move. Mainly helpful when wheeling in a group, so distance isn't too big of concern. Unfortunately all the police in my area stopped using CBs about 10 years ago, so no dice there.

 

[Dmski]

Wouldn't be bad for a group setting but it's actually a HAM radio instead of a CB. For these you need to take a test to be licensed to use it, although I haven't bothered yet as it's strictly for weather and emergency's at this point. I've got a Uniden CB I found at a garage sale for a couple of bucks paired with a decent antenna and that does the job for group chatting.

 

[Allof75]

Wouldn't be bad for a group setting but it's actually a HAM radio instead of a CB. For these you need to take a test to be licensed to use it, although I haven't bothered yet as it's strictly for weather and emergency's at this point. I've got a Uniden CB I found at a garage sale for a couple of bucks paired with a decent antenna and that does the job for group chatting.

Oh whoops then, my eyes deceive me haha. Cool either way.

 

[stioc]

I have the same one and it works great but as you said it's a HAM radio and is governed by the FCC rules such that the operator (the minute you push the talk button you're an operator) must be licensed. FCC doesn't mess around and people that operate HAM radios are all pretty unforgiving about it because they don't want just anyone to pick up the radio and start chatting up like a CB or FRS. Of course if it's a true emergency they may look the other way. Amongst other things you must state your call sign at the start and end of the transmission as well as every 10mins, you get the call sign from FCC after you pass the test. All that to say please take the test and get licensed The good news is that the test is not too hard.

Police and Fire use a whole different freq band in most states now so about all you'll hear on the UV5R is the tow truck drivers who are on a private freq that usually falls in the UV5R range

 

[Dmski]

I agree, those on HAM seem to be very strict about it and for good reason. When I get my license I'm going to be pretty nervous with my first call. In Spokane the police seem to be using frequencies for the north/south city and car to car on the 2m band. Just google for local channels and you can see all the people using them. I even can listen in on campus police, the mall, and what parties are getting broken up around the neighborhood haha! But it's hardly on as its in the car and used to monitor on trips.

Stioc, what range do you see with yours? And do you have an antenna on your rig to help out signal?

 

[SpongeX]

I can get about 15 with a clean line of sight out of my UV-5R. Be careful with that radio and what you're listening too. The civil service frequencies are typically out of legal ham frequencies. Some of the Baofeng units come unlocked and are capable of extra legal activities.

Sent from my VS950 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Dmski]

Wow gees good to know about the unlocked frequencies! Is it legal to simply listen in, or is that even in the gray zone? No way would I broadcast on a police station or fire dept etc. That's plain stupid unless a serious emergency required it. And 15 is pretty dang good for a unit this size.

 

[Dmski]

Sad day for the X. This weekend went up skiing and the engine revs started bouncing. Thought it was something terrible so pulled over to see what was up. After looking around I could see, hear or smell anything that was outta place, so figured it was a fuel relay or pump issue. It wouldn't start up so unfortunately the tow truck had to give us a haul back to a shop.

And of course, right as we get off the tow truck, it starts right up without issue. Weird. I drive it back to my house whereupon it begins doing it again. Come to find out, it is a faulty distributor (the whole assembly). Is this a normal thing for a 1st gen xterras at around 125k mileage?

 

[Jack Stilts]

Sure is. The typical "100K fix" is the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, PCV valve, distributor, spark plugs & wires.

 

[Dmski]

Ah bummer. Well now I'm actually done then with all the 120k service stuff. Wish I had just done the entire distributor instead of just the cap. Well looking over all the recommended service stuff, looks like shocks and clutch will be the next "major" maintenance item. But the clutch seems great for how old it is so I'll run it until it doesn't hold under power.

 

[Dmski]

Some goodies from Christmas! Not too bad! We can always be improving our recovery equipment, but I'm now satisfied that with what I have I should be able to get out of most places I drive. Nice to be prepared for the worst.

 

[Dmski]

Did some odd jobs today. Mounted the hi lift up top using speaker mounts and mounted an indoor/outdoor thermometer. Not sure how I like it though as it was larger than I had expected and I'm all about making it look like it came with the vehicle instead of stand out. Maybe its the white. I'll have to see. Pics to come later.

Seriously considering building a rear cargo organizer, but I still have to be able to sleep in the car for ski trips. Will have to wait and see after some measurements.

 

[Dmski]

Some pics from a trip around the Index area. Went as far as it would allow till snow and trees held me back. Not a difficult road by any means, but good to get out.