Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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12-21-2007, 7:33 PM DaveNearAtlanta Joined on 03-03-2006 Lawrenceville, GA Posts 500 Who here is a ham? I'm curious how many folks on the forum are also ham radio operators. KW4M here. aka Kissing Women for Money. My Home Page 1981 GL500I 1982 GL500I 1983 GL650I This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.    Report

12-21-2007, 11:05 PM R80Dave Joined on 03-03-2006 Appleton, WI Posts 851 Re: Who here is a ham? Dave, There are a lot of ham's here ... some even have radios you can talk with. ;-) David in Wisconsin    Report

12-22-2007, 3:15 AM Anonymous Re: Who here is a ham? Hams are in big trouble at my house Christmas Eve. I like to eat.

12-22-2007, 7:58 PM R80Dave Joined on 03-03-2006 Appleton, WI Posts 851 Re: Who here is a ham? Dave, What is your ham radio range??? My cousin is planning on getting me the call sign for a friend of hers in AK for you to talk with. David in Wisconsin    Report

12-22-2007, 8:28 PM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 598 Re: Who here is a ham? R80Dave, it all depends on what frequency you use. Hams have many different ones to use and under the right conditions half way round the world is no problem. Alaska is not a problem, however the time of the year, sunspots and many other factors must be considered. Probably 20 meter band would be good, although many years past I have worked Alaska on 40 meters! Dave F, as you know I am an Advanced class ham (WA4OAU), I believe Jerry W.(N0ALS, for you non-hams thats N Zero ALS) is an Extra class. I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

12-23-2007, 7:15 AM DaveNearAtlanta Joined on 03-03-2006 Lawrenceville, GA Posts 500 Re: Who here is a ham?  R80Dave wrote: Dave, What is your ham radio range??? My cousin is planning on getting me the call sign for a friend of hers in AK for you to talk with. I've made many contacts all over the world.  One problem is consistency, because long distance (DX) band openings depend upon sunspot activity.  Another problem, at least as far as bikes are concerned, is that an efficient antenna for the DX bands (10 MHz - 30MHz HF bands) is naturally larger than is practical for vehicle installation.  So vehicle-mounted antennas tend to be rather inefficient, and as a general rule, mobile stations have the weakest signals.  In spite of this, mobile operation is fairly popular. Efficient mobile antennas for the VHF and UHF bands are very practical, but at these frequencies propagation is basically line-of-sight.  Point-to-point range is generally limited to 10-30 miles without the use of a repeater station. For the upcoming AK trip, I'm not very optimistic about using ham radio to maintain consistent contact between the various groups of riders who may be separated by distances ranging from tens to thousands of miles.  There are probably alternatives that may be better suited, possibly a common voice phone mailbox, scheduled Skype chat, etc. My Home Page 1981 GL500I 1982 GL500I 1983 GL650I This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.    Report

12-23-2007, 9:03 PM RustyTec Joined on 08-26-2007 Dallas Posts 296 Re: Who here is a ham? I got the Technician license with no endorsements (KD5ILW), but I’ve never really used it much. My buddy talked me into taking the test. I had some time on my hands, so I agreed. After passing, he gave me a $180 Q-7.       (~7 mile range VHF, I think). I decided to also take the Morse code test. I studied for three months, for 2 to 6 hours each day, using various PC programs (‘99). I just could not learn it! I failed worst than anyone that has ever taken the test, after spending more time and effort than anyone.  (I guessing that it because it was developed like the keyboard layout. As I can not master that either). If it was math/science derived, I would have a chance. I would enjoy bouncing a micro powered transceiver off of the moon. Is bouncing off planets possible now? (btw I’m not into astronomy either). However, I spent two years at a ground-station satellite antenna control company. They used [longitude, latitude, angle, and compass] to point the antenna at the satellite, then by signal strength of a beacon signal emitted by the sat. Then ‘attempted’ to anticipate the figure-eight movement (non-geo-synchronous ). These motor controllers cost thousands of $. Then, I ran across a ‘foreign-made’ telescope that could put our controller to shame, for $200.    Why did they not put a telescope on the antenna? With the right optics, you might be able to read the serial off of the Sat. -- DaveNearAtlanta, “”Another problem, at least as far as bikes are concerned”” You could carry a helium balloon, or a kite ‘n string, or at least a slingshot (for tall trees). [I know that there is a lot of cable loss at 2-4 meters, but you could place a LNA (low noise amp) at altitude. (If it is light enough)]. Or hit a repeater near cities, at some ‘very cheap’ cost, to call landlines, (maybe cell-phones, these days). I do wish that Hams competed against cell-phones. (Big time). That didn’t happen. I like the inital cost verse monthly/minutely cost. RustyTec on a ’81 GL500. She’s not my bike. I’m just her current boyfriend. - She gets everything that she needs, and most of what she wants. - Works for us.    Report

12-23-2007, 9:24 PM Don in Oz Joined on 03-10-2006 Melbourne, Australia Posts 316 Re: Who here is a ham? Hi all, the callsign here is VK3ZIE, and I'm sometimes active on 2mx, 20mx and 40mx, but the HF activity is only from my holiday house, about 100 miles from the city. This makes it at least three of the AK trip participants being hams.    Report

12-29-2007, 8:11 PM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 631 Re: Who here is a ham? Ham seems like it's going or has gone the way of buggy whips in light of all the new telecommunications technology. I am currently far south of the equator, about 15 klicks from the nearest town using a USB GPRS on a notebook. Only about $25 a month with a free 1gig allowance of data transmission. With the price of notebook computers diving quicker than OEM CX500 forks, it might be a viable alternative communication method, especially compared to some of the ridiculous roaming charges some carriers charge for cell phone use. I'm starting to feel old, when I first bought this place, CB radio and BBC on shortwave were the only communication options avaiable. I'm seriously considering another Alaska trek on the CX next year too, if it does work out would be nice to meet up with the list contingents at a couple of waypoints along the way. 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report

12-30-2007, 11:30 AM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 598 Re: Who here is a ham?  Cobram wrote: Ham seems like it's going or has gone the way of buggy whips in light of all the new telecommunications technology. I am currently far south of the equator, about 15 klicks from the nearest town using a USB GPRS on a notebook. Only about $25 a month with a free 1gig allowance of data transmission. With the price of notebook computers diving quicker than OEM CX500 forks, it might be a viable alternative communication method, especially compared to some of the ridiculous roaming charges some carriers charge for cell phone use. I'm starting to feel old, when I first bought this place, CB radio and BBC on shortwave were the only communication options avaiable. I'm seriously considering another Alaska trek on the CX next year too, if it does work out would be nice to meet up with the list contingents at a couple of waypoints along the way. Your comment regarding ham radio and buggy whips would seem to be true at first blush.  However, hams are using the new technology in combination with ham radio and the hobby is actually growing!  Now, next summer, it would be great to meet you anywhere in Alaska or in between here and there.  Don and I are taking the entire summer and ending at the Amish rally in August in eastern Pa.  Surely we can cross paths during that time.  BTW you say currently you are  far south of the equator, where in South America are you,  your avatar indicates Boston, Ma! Gene I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

12-30-2007, 5:04 PM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 631 Re: Who here is a ham? That's great news about the Ham radios, I have a friend who literally wallpapered his entire atttic with post cards he received from fellow hams at every conceivable point on the globe. I always thought it was pretty cool, but there was always $omething el$e coming up. I have had enough of New England winters and divide my time between Boston and Brazil, avoiding winter like the plague. If you click on the WWW link on my posts there's an old pic on the personal page, I'll get around to updating it one of these days. I would really like to meet up with you guys too, and maybe get a headstart on plans for a ride to points South, I know of at least one other CX rider on the list who's showed solid interest. I started a solo ride to Tierra del Fuego from Boston back in the early 80's on the CX, didn't get much farther than Central America before I turned tail and rode back, nothing like waking in the middle of the night in some third world God forsaken fleabag hotel to the shouts of "REVOUCION!" and machine gun fire to ruin ones plans.... ;-) 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report

01-05-2008, 1:50 AM Don in Oz Joined on 03-10-2006 Melbourne, Australia Posts 316 Re: Who here is a ham? Cobram, I'm also a Mini owner, but a van - 1973 model with the 1078cc engine. See you somewhere with Gene in mid-2008.    Report

01-05-2008, 9:38 AM DaveNearAtlanta Joined on 03-03-2006 Lawrenceville, GA Posts 500 Re: Who here is a ham?  Cobram wrote: ...I'm seriously considering another Alaska trek on the CX next year too, if it does work out would be nice to meet up with the list contingents at a couple of waypoints along the way. Check your email. My Home Page 1981 GL500I 1982 GL500I 1983 GL650I This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.    Report

01-05-2008, 11:33 AM RandyWA Joined on 12-30-2007 Olympia, WA Posts 63 Re: Who here is a ham? Randy here in Olympia, WA, KA7VNE. I'd love to join the group for part of the Alaska trip, perhaps at the Canandian border on the way up. I just bought a 1982 GL500I without a fairing, but it does have the trunk and saddle bags. It runs great, needs front fork seals and wipers replaced, front brake pads, and a new rear tire. I bought a used fairing, so hopefully I'll be trip worthy by Spring.    Report

01-07-2008, 11:00 AM DaveNearAtlanta Joined on 03-03-2006 Lawrenceville, GA Posts 500 Re: Who here is a ham? As you've probably picked up from all the forum chatter, the AK trip participants will be widely scattered as they will be leaving at different times from different locations and taking different routes.  About the only thing we all seem to have in common, at least as far as the trip itself is concerned, is a common destination of Alaska. Many (most?) of the details are still being worked out. If you plan to join in, please send me or one of the known participants an email for contact information.  And be sure to check this webpage occasionally. Note Da Bear in Portland, OR is another forum member who may also be making the trip.  You may want to contact him directly since you're both in the same general part of the country. Edit:  In the interest of keeping discussion regarding the 08 Alaska trip from being spread across many places and overlooked, let's place all follow-up discussion on that topic in this thread. My Home Page 1981 GL500I 1982 GL500I 1983 GL650I This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.    Report

01-08-2008, 10:36 AM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 631 Re: Who here is a ham? Seems some hams are as hell bent on keeping their vintage equipment up and running as we on this list are in keeping our vintage steeds up and running: http://paillard.claude.free.fr/ 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report

01-08-2008, 3:29 PM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 598 Re: Who here is a ham? Cobram that was a fantastic video. There is an Antique Amateur Radio Society that is very active but I have never seen anyone go so far as to build their own vacuum tube! BTW the morse code he sent was CQ de, which was a general call to anyone who wanted to answer. Normally the de would have been followed by the station call letters, in my case, WA4OAU. I wish it had been in english but it was great, thanks for posting it. Those tubes were what made the radio operate, I guess you would have to equate it to building your own engine block for a GL/CX I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

01-08-2008, 4:49 PM Randall-in-Mpls Joined on 07-06-2007 Minneapolis, MN Posts 1,110 Re: Who here is a ham? I want his spot-welder.  That's sweet! R '78 CX500 - The Black Maggot My mid-life crisis has two wheels. CX500 Factory Service Manual (Downloadable by chapter)    Report

01-09-2008, 1:22 AM Len in PA Joined on 03-31-2006 Bristol, PA Posts 185 Re: Who here is a ham? Cobram, Great video for someone who grew up with tubes. Thanx! Len '82 GL500i...nearing 100,000 miles    Report

01-14-2008, 6:08 AM Vanmor Joined on 01-11-2008 USA Posts 204 Re: Who here is a ham? N5HNY Glad to see some radio buffs on this site. Maybe we need to start a CX500 net. Vance    Report

02-19-2008, 11:16 AM Shoalin Joined on 03-16-2007 Weare, NH Posts 25 Re: Who here is a ham? KB1LDL,  Upgraded to general last spring. Bob 95 Vulcan 1500 79 CX500 (Sold to Previous owner) 2001 Honda Rubicon 2002 Honda Recon 96 Ski Doo LE 98 Ski Doo SLE 2001 Dodge Ram Sport    Report