Learning in Atlanta, GA

[cjlewis]

Hi everyone. I've been reading through this forum trying to learn as much as I can. I am currently in the process of studying for my Tech license and wanted to see if there were any metro Atlanta HAMs here.

I am trying to find some folks who both have HAM experience as well as Overlanding so I can properly get setup. In particular I am curious to see there setups, find out where to tune into, and get someone to practice with.

I ultimately would like to use some of my developing skills and apply them to helping out in the community when needed. While I love learning new things, I like even more to be able to contribute when things like natural disasters and severe weather set in. So I am interest in more of the practical application of HAM than the hobby side of it.

I will also mention that I did visit one of the Field Day sites this past weekend but didn't get a warm welcome other than someone saying please sign-up so we can say you were here. Everyone seemed pretty focused on their radios and/or friends.

If anyone is willing to help me out please send me a PM.

Cheers!

 

[rjcj-8]

Just want to say hay.
I live in Rome and work in Kennesaw.

I just took my tech exam this past Saturday at a field day event here in Rome.
The bunch was quite friendly, one even loaned me a 2M HT to play around with till I got my own. So I guess it is a mater of finding the right group.

As for taking the test I used the study guide here, http://kb6nu.com/tech-manual/
There is a large list of study guides here http://www.hamradioinstructor.com/guides.html

The test was pretty easy, I have a basic electrical and electronics back ground so those question were easy, some of the other stuff I had to stuff a little bit for but just spent a couple of evenings before the test reading through the guides.

I took my exam for a similar reason to augment my skills when working with my local CERT, EMA and EMS.

It looks like Fulton Co has a CERT team. That would be a good place to look for information and even some like minded HAMs if you want to help out in natural disasters and severe weather
http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/cert

As far as radios I'm currently waiting for UPS to drop off a yaesu ft-60r. Its a handheld 5W transceiver. Figured it would be a good starting point and with a hand held I would not be tied to the Jeep as with a mobile but down the road I could add an amp and larger antenna to the JK to get more range out if it.

Later and good luck on the test.

 

[cjlewis]

Thanks for the links. Hopefully in a month or so I'll have my ticket. I'll ping you when I'm on the air.

Let me know if you find any good groups up your way.

 

[rjcj-8]

Glad I could help out.
I'll be keeping an ear out for you.

 

[85CUCV]

I will also mention that I did visit one of the Field Day sites this past weekend but didn't get a warm welcome other than someone saying please sign-up so we can say you were here. Everyone seemed pretty focused on their radios and/or friends.

I'm new to Amateur Radio. I've been fortunate the local Hams have been helpful. When I tested three counties from home I had HAMS I never met loaning me books, powersupplies and antennas to get me on the air. Don't let the field day experience bother you. Generally, I've found HAM operators to very helpful.

Good luck with your setup. I almost finished installing a mobile yaesu ft2900r and a 1/4wave Larson in my CUCV. Works great so far. I'm wanting to mount the radio in a Tuffy box (radio is sitting on the passenger seat now). Hardest part on mine was fish taping the coax thru. After three evenings I finally got it routed properly.

Edit. If you are wanting to listen to some net calls, 4x4 Ham has a weekly net call recorded on their website. They also have some installs on the site. I listened in on a local Sunday night net via scanner for a while I was studying for the exam.

 

[cjlewis]

Thank you for the response. I will checkout the 4x4 Ham website. Once the holiday weekend is over its back to the books for me.

I still have a lot of research to do in terms of radios, antennas and mounting solutions. Thankfully this forum is full of great ideas. Being a technologist, I am very interest in exploring the digital aspects of HAM radio once I get going.

 

[xtatik]

I just took my tech exam this past Saturday at a field day event here in Rome.

Congrats!

 

[rjcj-8]

Congrats!

Thanks.
Just waiting for the FCC to post up my call sign.
I just might go ahead and go for my general in September.

 

[xtatik]

Thanks.
Just waiting for the FCC to post up my call sign.
I just might go ahead and go for my general in September.

You might as well. The test isn't much more difficult, but you gain a lot more privileges.
Let us know what the new callsign will be.......

 

[rjcj-8]

You might as well. The test isn't much more difficult, but you gain a lot more privileges.
Let us know what the new callsign will be.......

My call sign is KK4CYB

 

[taugust]

Congratulations to you and good luck to the OP. My best advice is to get involved and use it. I got into ham radio for trail comms with the 4x4 club I was joining. They all use ham radio on the trail. Then I started scanning local repeaters, and learned the active ones. Met someone on the air that introduced me to Skywarn (weather spotting for the National Weather Service using ham radio). Met someone else who introduced me to RACES (Radio Amateur Community Emergency Service) which is an emergency communications group affiliated with the sheriff's dept. These groups keep you active and involved, even if you don't yet have friends on the air to talk to. Do a search for them local to you, and see what you find. It helps alot if you get friends and family involved for someone to talk with as well. After I got my license, my brother, son, brother-in-law, and nephew all got theirs.