Good friend of mine just started a Yahoo Group for railfans who are also hams (or hams who are also railfans). It will be a place to share photos, tips about photography, ham radio, and railfanning.
Since our Yaesu FT-60R HT's can scan the railroad band we monitor the train dispatcher, local hotbox/dragging equipment detectors, and the EOT frequency to keep us up to date about what's coming.
If you are railfanning with a large group, or even just 2 of you, and you separate from each other to get different shots of the same train you can operate simplex to stay in touch with each other. Having a ham radio can also be an asset if there's trouble. Not all railfan locations are in the best area for cell phone service but I'll bet you can hit a repeater almost anywhere, even with a 5W HT. We also use our Yaesu FT7800R's in our respective vehicles the same way we use our HT's.
The Group name can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NJAHRB/
While it's titled 'North Jersey' I don't think the moderator will have any problem with anyone who joins who is not from the NJ/NY metro area.
Ham radio and railfanning......can't beat 'em!
73!
Since our Yaesu FT-60R HT's can scan the railroad band we monitor the train dispatcher, local hotbox/dragging equipment detectors, and the EOT frequency to keep us up to date about what's coming.
If you are railfanning with a large group, or even just 2 of you, and you separate from each other to get different shots of the same train you can operate simplex to stay in touch with each other. Having a ham radio can also be an asset if there's trouble. Not all railfan locations are in the best area for cell phone service but I'll bet you can hit a repeater almost anywhere, even with a 5W HT. We also use our Yaesu FT7800R's in our respective vehicles the same way we use our HT's.
The Group name can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NJAHRB/
While it's titled 'North Jersey' I don't think the moderator will have any problem with anyone who joins who is not from the NJ/NY metro area.
Ham radio and railfanning......can't beat 'em!
73!
Joe P, KC2PJL
Charter Member of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club, NJ Chapter 15
Amateur radio....the only REAL radio left in the world.
Emergency Services Dispatcher
Charter Member of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club, NJ Chapter 15
Amateur radio....the only REAL radio left in the world.
Emergency Services Dispatcher
