Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Jan 25, 2006, 7:50 PM

Post #1 of 8 (7402 views)

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Ham Radio Operators

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For those not aware of the echolink software, it's a free program for hams wanting to use their computers to have QSOs with other hams world wide. A nice alternative for hams who can't take the time to go through all the paper work and spend $88 (I assume USD) for recip operating privilages. Take a look. only takes a few min to download and start talking.

http://www.echolink.org/
Getting older and still not down here.

johnv

Jan 26, 2006, 8:25 AM

Post #2 of 8 (7381 views)

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Re: [Ron Pickering] Ham Radio Operators

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I just clicked on your link and glanced at it for a few seconds. I am not a ham operator, but isn't connecting through a voip connection the same as using a phone line. Thus your making a phone call, and avoiding the whole idea of ham radio operation, which is to communicate with someone using a radio, and radio waves.

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Jan 26, 2006, 12:19 PM

Post #3 of 8 (7368 views)

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Re: [johnv] Ham Radio Operators

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It is a voip connection, but it connects pc to radio links enabling pc to amateur radio connection throughout the world via hand held, mobil and base station radios. It helps hams with limited local coverage on 144 & 440 hz (short range radio frequencies) to talk around the world without paying 3 or 6 or 18 cents per minute. In fact, I will be using it on my trip to MX in March to keep in touch with my friends in Tacoma. It's different due to the fact that many hams can link together at the same time in conference calls via radio waves and voip (via computer). Also, a reciprocal ham radio license ($88 in MX + much time running around filling out paperwork) is not required for operating in MX.
Getting older and still not down here.

johanson / Moderator

Jan 26, 2006, 1:48 PM

Post #4 of 8 (7361 views)

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Re: [Ron Pickering] Ham Radio Operators

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Good explanation, Ron. For anyone who is interested we have a ham radio club here in Ajijic. Our club meets Friday mornings at about 10:30 AM at the LCS (Lake Chapala Society) We have a club room and a base station. We used to be very active, giving classes etc.

5 years ago 3 to 7 of us would get on 146.40 every night. Sadly these days, I can keep my 2 meter band scanner on for days and hear almost nothing.

Another sad admission. The local government makes it so hard to get a reciprocal ham radio license, that the majority of the foreign ham operators don't bother. For that matter many of the local hams don't get licenses either.

I have a friend who is 39 who has been driving all of his life in Mexico, who only recently got his drivers license. When I kidded him about it, he said things are different in Mexico, and you (me) will learn

Sadly now I keep my cell phone with me rather than my Icom "hand-held"

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Jan 26, 2006, 3:29 PM

Post #5 of 8 (7350 views)

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Re: [johanson] Ham Radio Operators

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Well Pete,
Sounds like you're the one to get echolink established down there. Like I said, it's FREE and EASY. Hope I hear you on the band one day soon. For the foreign hams without reciprocal licensing, it's one way to keep in touch with a great hobby.
Getting older and still not down here.

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Jan 27, 2006, 4:37 PM

Post #6 of 8 (7317 views)

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Re: [johanson] Ham Radio Operators

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BTW & FYI, there is also another radio link program that can be added to a repeater (if that is what the club has) for radio to radio connection worldwide on 144 & 440, and echolink can be added to it also. There are two irlp hookups in MX. One in Durango and one on the Youcatan Peninsula. There are also several echolinks set up in various parts of MX. One in Mexico City, and a few around the main tourist areas.

http://www.irlp.net/
Getting older and still not down here.

whistler

Dec 20, 2006, 10:50 PM

Post #7 of 8 (7277 views)

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Re: [johanson] Ham Radio Operators

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Johanson - i have an amateur licence in the US and would like to operate next year in mexico. If one doesnt get a license in mexico, isnt it problematic because you then dont have a call sign? If you use your US callsign then it wouldnt make sense to give your QTH as somewhere in Mexico? How does it work?

johanson / Moderator

Dec 21, 2006, 12:01 PM

Post #8 of 8 (7265 views)

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Re: [whistler] Ham Radio Operators

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Rather than attempting to correctly answer your questions I would like to defer to a Ham radio webpage developed by George Warren a long time Lake Chapala resident and Ham radio enthusiast (expert). I just talked to him on the phone and he mentioned that he hasn't updated the webpage for a while but that in general everything is pretty accurate.

Here is the webpage: Happy reading http://www.qsl.net/n9viu/

And while I'm at it I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year