Welcome theksmith

[4x4 Ham]

Hi theksmith, welcome to the 4x4 Ham group!

[theksmith]

woo hoo, i finally registered over here ;)

started a class tonight, should be ready for the tech test in a few weeks. i did part of a class a year or more ago but it was a little too slow paced and i got disinterested. this class is over in south tempe and is a crash course which i like. i know you don't really need to take a class to study and pass, but it gets me into it and forces me to dedicate some time to the effort!

also finished installing my mobile rig today and started listening to some traffic

[K7DCL]

Welcome and good luck with the test.

[K7VZ]

Welcome Kris. Glad to hear you finally got that radio installed and are going to get your ticket. I think you'll really enjoy ham radio. I know you are a techie/gadget guy.

[theksmith]

thanks guys, here's the radio install: http://www.offroadpassport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=920

[K7VZ]

Looks good Kris.

[theksmith]

a question on the antenna - the NR770HB is 40", which was fine when i didn't have a roof rack, but now with the rack, it means that i'm only getting like 6" of it in the clear... the next size up is the NR7900A, but that's a full 57" which i think might be a bit much with tree-cover encounters and such... any ideas on a good alternative somewhere between those 2 sizes?

i do realize the length is a factor of the wavelength you want to be resonant on in a str8 wire antenna, but all these modern mobiles seem to have extra coils and such in them to get the right electrical length regardless of the physical length, or am i way off base here?

EDIT - i found this:

CSB-770A
Comet's BEST DualBand Mobile Antennas
2M/440MHz high gain antenna
Gain& Wave:
2M 5/8 wave 4.4dBi
440MHz Two 5/8 waves 6.9dBi
VSWR: 1.5:1 or less
Max Power: 150W
Length: 50"
Connector: Gold-plated PL-259
Fold-over hinge included

thoughts?

[theksmith]

passed the technician test last night, got 1 wrong.

[K7VZ]

passed the technician test last night, got 1 wrong.

Ahh, but you got 34 right. Congrats!

[N7IYT]

Congratulations on passing your test!

[K7NNT]

Yea Gratz! Be sure to post your call sign!

[theksmith]

I'm now KF7NVL

[KE7NEA]

COOL!!
Congrads!
Now you can check into the 4x4Ham net tonight :D

[theksmith]

got my vanity sign, i am now K1KRS !