Who in Bear Nation can effectively field radio(ham/cb/gmrs/DMR/apps/etc, ad nauseam) questions? I'm just starting out in ham myself (studying for technician and general license). I think it would benefit us all in our preparedness to get closer to being on the same page for comms.
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JS Badger, I have a like minded question. While at one point in my life I was a Field Radio Operator, I used PRC 77, and SINCGARS and various FM and AM radio systems. I am currently using Motorola in the civilian world (not ideal by any stretch of the imagination). They worked great on very short range with little or now structural interference. Looking on getting my ham technician and general license.
I am a Gerneral Class ham radio operator (KF6AAL.) I have operated on HF with an old Atlas 210x radio that was my grandfathers, and made a wonderful contact from Eureka California to a farm in Ogden Utah. I was using an Outbacker antenna on 3.955MHz and about 95W rf power. Ironically the operator I was conversing with was also using an Atlas 210x, so he made me an honorary member of his club (FarmNet.) I own a Baofeng UV5R+ and am looking to expand my commo equipment to include more multi band multimode equipment (Yaesu 857 radio.)
Mobile and handhelds are designed for vibrations, accidental drops etcetera. Radios for sheltered environment like the FT-736 not so much.
What does this all mean? I can pack up up the complete radio, antenna, tuner and power system in a bundle that weighs less than 5 lbs, hike up a mountain an establish some kind of comms. While still being able to carry a standard patrol loadout. At some point I want to use my little Raspberry pi3 computer and my Radio interface to establish full digital communications over that same distance to pass things like emails or instant messages...It's crazy the amount of comms that can be carried by one person!
I have to ask gang, what do you all think of the features of the BAOFENG UV-5R 8W High Power 3800 MAH Long Battery Dual Band Intercom? I've heard you can monitor on it, what do they mean? Just listening to it? Is it like a scanner of sorts?
I am not sure what you guy's are looking for. I am a general class licensed been around since about 1988. I have a fare amount of experience and old school knowledge under my belt. Have had lot of radios towers equipment antennas ect, not to brag I was very serious into hobby for years. I run hot and cold now. I have been exposed different modes in ham radio even ham TV called ATV and is even now digital.
Go check out the ARRL.com gold mine and the back bone of ham radio. (The best place to learn is the club you are being tested at) most are very willing to teah and it is not a cheap hobby if you get hooked I did. If I can be of help will try. 73's Mike
The math for General isn't too bad, some algebra and basic algebra manipulations. Some basic knowledge of electronics. Basic knowledge of waves. Electrical safety. When you need to seek a permit from FAA if your tower is going to be too high...that sort of thing. Anybody studying for their ticket, I am happy to field questions. I've had my General for almost a year now, so I consider myself a "Novice General!"
Yeah, but I'm tired of replacing them after an overpass scrapes them off the back of my truck! :)
Hey guys n gals, I was wondering can anyone suggest to me a decent hand held comms device that I could purchase?
My area is alot of hills, lakes and basically Tundra areas, im mind boggled looking at options haha, I was looking at radios and all shiny haha I'm as bad as a crow
These are tough questions to answer. What do you want to achieve with the radio. What are it's most important features, water resistance, price point so you can replace it in an event of dropping in the lake, range, battery drain, ease of use??
A multi-use and popular radio is the Beofang UV series. You can often compare Beofang against other brands and honestly find many of the same features at different prices
Here's been my experience, an inexpensive radio often feels like a toy walkie talkies but when you hold a commercial radio like a police officers Motorola you know it can/will take a lot of abuse.
A Beofang with a good antenna from atop The hills will cover a lot more ground than the same radio down on the lake (and definitely more than from the bottom of the lake). FRS radios can't use upgraded antennas, that's a VERY important feature on radios, the better antenna the better performance period. GMRS radios require a paid license and offer more power 5watt handhelds. And often cover the FRS frequencies though at the same power output of 500mW or 1/2 watt. MURS radios can't talk to FRS/GMRS radios but require no license and allow 5watts but limited to only 5 channels. CB radios are limited to 40 channels, 4 watts, but can offer USB/LSB modes and 12w in those modes plus upgradable antennas and ionisphereic propagation. Ham radio require a license, testing, but offer frequencies from 2MHz all the way up to 2GHz and beyond with power limits ranging from 100w to 1,500watts.
Ok thanks, I was looking at a radio on YouTube a Yaesu FT-817 it's like a mobile with a battery so it's mobile lol, but I'd like a hand held, I have used the Motorola CP-200 vhf radios, they feel good but 450 a radio, not my price range haha
Ok cool. So you're aware of things! It's look for something 810 milspec for vibration, temp testing, water resistance etc, definitely something with dual band capabilities and upgrade the antenna, just make sure it's designed for dual band use. A 144/440 or similar. Would love to hear what you go with.
I use a Yaesu ft-270R single band and a telescopic 5/8 wave antenna
Ok thanks, in looking at the Yaesu line now, how do you find the prices? I honestly cannot find anything in Canada haha, I'll look up your radio for a idea.
I would like to take just a moment to reiterate that "Privacy Codes" on FRS and GMRS (and even MURS) are not private at all. The word "privacy" implies "secure" but anyone with that kind of radio or even a scanner can listen in on it. Only encrypted communications are "secure" and even then, only maybe...
My father told me, never say anything over the air you didn't want your neighbors to hear... This applied to the cordless phone.
(shameless plug) if you want to read up on why "privacy codes" are not Private at all, I have a post in the Communications board titled Radio SOP: PL Tone Squelch and DCS Squelch
Six meters 50-54Mhz is a fascinating area to "play" around with and capable of doing much more than the typical handheld devices we're well versed in. Such as working meteor skatter, Aurora, and sparatic E propagation or tropospheric ducting to achieve long distances. Learning how to effectively communicate over longer distance by concentration of RF power into a more narrow bandwidth (think about a garden hose with your thumb slightly over the end of the hose), example would be 146.520 FM simplex might not reach the station as well as 144.205 USB simplex. FM carries a lot of information with a modulated carrier wave plus both sidebands, AM on CB has this as well. But what if we cut one of the sidebands out and suppress the carrier on the transmitter side, and reintroduce the carrier and missing sideband on the receiver side?? That's how SSB works. The transmitter only has to transmit either the upper or the lower sideband information and can send that "lighter" load further.
Morse Code is even better at going the distance because it is a continuous wave. Hence the reason Morse code is refered to as CW, it's a carrier that is either on or off. Technically Morse code was one of the first digital modes of Communications, 10101 on off on off dah dah dit dit dit, dit dit dit dah dah.
I watch a lot of YouTube, KM4ACK is putting out great vids on Digital on Raspberry Pies
We own a tower in Northern California. My apologies I am not knowledgeable on how to use it, my boyfriend took over business after his father passed away. If we can help with questions or operators near needing to use it just let me know. He hasn't joined site yet I can have him use mine til he sets profile up.
There's a lot of stuff floating around in my head, but mainly sarcasm! Feel free to ask!