3464james - 5-26-2010 at 08:39 AM
Does anyone know the legality of bringing Ham radios into Baja? My son-in-law is a real Ham radio enthusiast and has a giant "stinger" antenae on his
truck. On our planned trip to Gonzaga, he wants to bring his radios and the aforementioned high profile antenae, which is attached to his rig. I say;
keep a low profile and less attention will be given you. Any thoughts?
bonanza bucko - 5-26-2010 at 08:49 AM
You used to be able to get a Mexican Ham license for $5...no test. A buddy had one at GB...don't know where in Mexico City he applied. That was
years ago. I don't know but I would guess that that is no longer available because satellite comm has reduced the application of Ham comm to hobby
only...no long range cruiser or fisherman is gonna need it.
A really big and/or unusual antenna on your rig is gonna cause the military check points to spend extra time looking you over....don't know what they
will think about Ham comm....might make them think you and the druggers are in cahoots....???
desertcpl - 5-26-2010 at 09:18 AM
I agree,, i think you are just looking for trouble, not a good idea
BajaRob - 5-26-2010 at 09:43 AM
Many of us use 2 meter handhelds and base units with large antennas. Have never heard of any problems with their use.
Bob and Susan - 5-26-2010 at 09:59 AM
i think hams are so "old school"
that it doesn't matter anymore
every kid and adult around has a cell phone and
the ability to "text"
not to metion laptops and the internet
drug guys don't use "hams"
they wouldn't know what they were
kinda like a VHS tape...what's that?
capt. mike - 5-26-2010 at 10:20 AM
wild bill is the ham expert along with Elana.
maybe they'll see this and chime.
also our Lopez clinic coordinator is the ham net operator for lopez. there is a huge amount of ham activity in baja. it is how many actually
communicate because so much is remote.
all the race teams use 2 meter stuff.
my friend in SQ area has a veritable "radio shack" at his place - he talks to people world wide, i think it is pretty cool.
oh...i need to change the tape on my betamax...
bonanza bucko - 5-26-2010 at 08:04 PM
This may be redundant....but I think a big antenna on the rig is asking for trouble because the Mexican Army has long wire antenna (I don't know the
freq) radios that they set up whenever they have a camp or have an incident to investigate. It would naturally occur the them that a ham set up on a
truck would be of use to the bad guys....and assume that you may be one of them.
....for what it's worth.
BB
Jack Swords - 5-26-2010 at 08:37 PM
Capt Mike is correct about lots of ham radio traffic in Baja. A ham license is required, obtained through SCT. It is a reciprocal license (evidenced
by your stateside license) and currently costs about $100 USD and is good for the duration of your tourist permit. Most well equipped cruisers use
ham radio on the Sea for reliable communications within the Sea and back home to the states. There are many ham nets that give daily weather and are
set up for emergencies. Many a missing boat has been located thru ham cruisers. Ham radio is anything but "old school" as all current technologies
are integrated with all the various ham activities, e-mail, digital communication, satellite, etc.. The ability to communicate with boats all over
the Sea, in fact all over the world, has saved many a life. With a satellite phone, who you gonna call? Ham radio nets are listened to by cruisers
daily for weather (most accurate) and other communication. By the way, there is no cost (free) to use this equipment on the ham bands.
2 meter and marine VHF are both only line-of-sight and not reliable for serious distance communication. 2 meters can use repeaters, but again, line
of sight from the repeater.
Any person who has the Mexican reciprocal ham license will have no difficulty with antennas on their boat or car.
Jack, N1IY, s/v La Paloma, La Paz
wessongroup - 5-26-2010 at 08:45 PM
Really a "hobby" that a lot of folks just love.. good for you.... very interesting what one can do with the radio
3464james - 5-27-2010 at 07:38 AM
Jack Swords,
Thanks for the info. I will advise him of the licensing requirement, however with the short time we have left to obtain don't think that will be
possible.
Jim D.
capt. mike - 5-27-2010 at 07:57 AM
Jim Johansen at Chivato, - residents of Chivato here will know him. he since left, used to go by "mooney Base" - it was Jim Johansen. he flew a
Mooney.
anyway his home was spectacular and he had an impressive ham shack including internet and email service thru the ham system. very impressive.
we used to say hi enroute from Guaymas to Serenidad on 122.8 mhz.
i wonder who bought his place, one of the nicest on the beach taxi access. i think he had a hangar there too, one of few.
Hook - 5-27-2010 at 11:47 AM
Mooney base was on the Sonrisa net this AM, as I recall. He was also on the San Carlos VHF net on 72. He's putting his boat in the water today.
The ham nets are still alive and well, contrary to popular opinion. Easily the most comprehensive weather report for the Sea and the outside passage
from San Diego to Cabo is on 3968 LSB at 0645 at this time of the year. That time is PDT and MST, which are one and the same right now.