 |
Our Journey into the Jeep Experience |
Our Quest for Jeep-to-Jeep and long range communications |
You can follow our Journey on YOUTUBE
or check out our CO2 system on Instagram @OffroadAirBuddy
Want details on how to air up your tires FAST Offroadairbuddy.com
In 2019 my wife and I went out to run our first Jeep Badge of Honor Trail in Big Bend National Park. The only Badge of Honor trail in Texas.
It was a super easy trail called Black Gap Rd.
Black Gap road is rated a 3-4 on the Jeep Badge of Honor App. But it should probably be rated a 1-2. It's literally just a dirt road, with the exception of one "shelf" that you need to climb up, or drop down, depending on which direction you're going.
Chrisy drove the whole thing, and it was her first time driving offroad!
But after that trail.. We ended up going down River Road West.. Miles and miles of nothing for hours and hours. Sometimes, we weren't sure if we were even on a trail. There was no cell phone service, and we never saw another vehicle the entire time. It was at this moment that I decided to get some backup communications in the Jeep! Hah!
I've currently completed my Technician's class HAM operator test, and am waiting for my call sign from the FCC. Then I'\ll purchase some equipment and do a video on the install and tests.
Update 2/15/20. I received my call sign from the FCC and apllied for a vanity call sign. That's a free service they offer so that you can select at least some of the letters in your call sign and personalize it a bit.
I've learned that most vehicles that actually use HAM to communicate use either VHF 2 meter frequencies, or if they are in an Urban area, they may use UHF 70 cm frequencies. I'm currently looking for an antenna that is pre-tuned for both of those ranges. I've also learned that "tuning" the antenna is almost more important than having an expensive head unit!