Ham radios

[down_home]

One or twice the subject has come up but the FRS and the other channels are not a great idea.
When out on the road in the middle of nowhere and the cells don't work and the CBs, now rare, and you don't have 100 watt linear and twin 10 ft antennas on one what to do?
I have considered 2 meter handhelds and find a few at modest prices.....and lots of comments..and personal experience with cheap printed (not the term I want) switches.....
So is 2 meter an answer or 10 meter or in Canada marine radios not just on the water.
So you guys with the ham radios I want a long range 2 way radios, the repeater situation, has had some negative comments too, so no more than a couple hundred dollars for two radios that more than just I would use that can reach otu there through woods and over mountains?
And how about a radio to our home based landlines or cells?

[wa8yxm]

There is a purposal to expand Tech phone ability but currently I think (Been a long time and several rule changes) 10 meters and up have Tech Phone Ten Meters is next door to 11 Meters (CB) by the way and often about the same performance wise.
My license .. Well I have the top license (Extra Class) but I do not normally use the extra only parts of the band .. Mostly I got it because I could. 🙂

I do use the 75 meter part of the bands (3.5 MHz) in fact I should be there now.
(But I'll wait till tomorrow)

When the bands are good (And rumor is they are improving but I do not see it yet) it's a ton of fun. Right now it's more challanging but still fun.

Another thing about Ham Radio.
in these days of COVID nightmare when people are holed up and not going out much. I still chat daily with several friends.. Kind of a coffee club. Only I'm on Lower Michigan's eastern shore. (St. Clair River side) Hank is on the Lake Michigan Shore (All the way across the state) Dave's in Virgina Beach Virginia.. We have a group member in Canada. one in Ohio. You get the picture... We still have our morning coffee group.. and maintain social distance with no problem.

[Wadcutter]

Slowmover wrote:


A CB is a worthy start for mobile radio. And there’s no need to skimp on a high-quality installation. Next to none of you has heard or used such (point being,

Started playing with CB in 1963. First license started out 18QA(forget the last 3 letters). Soon after went to the conventional CB licensing of KNK4413. We ran CB on the farm with a base station in the house and mobiles in the trucks, tractors, combines. And used some very good antennas on all. Stayed with CB on the farm operation but then went to business band which had a repeater 3 miles from the farm. That worked until the govt took the band freqs. Now using GMRS with a repeater which works OK for our use on the farm.

An Icom-718 or a Yaesu ft450d aren’t terrifically expensive as starters for Amateur, especially used. Have a look and see if either appeal. (It’s the antenna system where things get more complicated ).

Both are good basic radios. A good used 718 will run $350-$400. 450D $150 or so more. Both need either a power supply or run off a battery.
I've run both. I like the layout of the 450D but my 718 had a bit better receive. Now the 718 is taken when camping or CW at home and backup to my main.
Both require a ham license. Tech class will only get limited phone out of either.

[wa8yxm]

Where I am right now. I hear a bit of CB traffic *I'm parked in the RV section of a truck stop) but not much... USed to be constant traffic 50 years ago but today not much.

I'm not so sure CB would do it for me.. I'm sure of my TS-2000 Ham rig.

[Slowmover]

I put up a very long post about CB the past week or so.

The point to it is greatly that it is the radio most likely to be in use. .
What one has arranged with specific others is another thing. CB is basic.


A CB is a worthy start for mobile radio. And there’s no need to skimp on a high-quality installation. Next to none of you has heard or used such (point being, start fresh). Doesn’t matter your step-uncle was a truck driver, those vehicles are flat difficult to make decent much less exceptional. And the nephew with an antenna on the pickup headache rack is no better.

As to Ham:

An Icom-718 or a Yaesu ft450d aren’t terrifically expensive as starters for Amateur, especially used. Have a look and see if either appeal. (It’s the antenna system where things get more complicated ).

1). Radio is magic.
2). No corporate intercessor.
3). Others are just as decent as you, give them the chance.

.

[Wadcutter]

wa8yxm wrote:
I will admit the radio works better with a Full Size antenna. I have assorted wires and sticks from 25 to 83 feet long not one of 'em long enough to be a good 75Meter antenna.

A good antenna is where to spend the money instead of power.
Most of the time the past month at home I've been using a homemade 30 ft EARCHI at 8 ft due to the electrical storms that have been passing thru. Worked Israel and Russia on it.
When I'm operating out of my camper I'll usually string up the EARCHI simply because it's the easiest to get going. If I have room I'll run the 20M dipole that I can configure for 40M by clipping on wire.

[wa8yxm]

I will admit the radio works better with a Full Size antenna. I have assorted wires and sticks from 25 to 83 feet long not one of 'em long enough to be a good 75Meter antenna.

[Wadcutter]

wa8yxm wrote:

I do not talk to overseas on HF I type to overseas on HF but talking given my gear is more or less limited to USA especially right now as band conditions are not that great. (I think I have had one overseas voice contact)
But when conditions are decent I talk from Mi to Ga on 40 or from SC to Ga and from both SC and MI to MI and several other states on 80

Propagation has been really bad the past month but there have been a few openings. I haven't had mine on much but in the past week I've worked Israel, Asiatic Russia, and Slovenia on 20M. Played with my antenna a bit to work some NVIS on 20M and worked IA from IL.
I'm not running anything special. 100W and a 80-10 Carolina Windom. In the last 3 years during the bottom of the cycle I've worked 163 countries, every state on 40M and 49 states on 20M. I don't work much 80 but have worked 45 states on 80M. All on phone SSB. CW is a bit easier to make some contacts during this low period. I don't work digital.

[wa8yxm]

Gdetrailer wrote:

If you are "out in a desert then just HOW can a "HF" rig help?

Sure, you can toss 1500W on HF out with a linear and wrap your signal halfway around the globe in the early evening or late morning when most HF bands are active..

I thought I posted a response to this with a like to a news article on the ARRL web site but alas. no can find

AR-Newsline and ARRL both reported within the week the story of a boater. Out of range of shore with his VHF marine radios (or other VHF) he checked into the 20 meter Maritime net (Someone else posted the frequency) and assistance was rendered. This net runs oh a frequency that is monitored most all the time.

There are other nets here in the US dang near every minute of every day... If you have a list of nets (Which you can get from ARRL.org) and the proper piece of wire (Antenna) and radio the odds of contact are excellent.

I do not talk to overseas on HF I type to overseas on HF but talking given my gear is more or less limited to USA especially right now as band conditions are not that great. (I think I have had one overseas voice contact)

But when conditions are decent I talk from Mi to Ga on 40 or from SC to Ga and from both SC and MI to MI and several other states on 80

Some times it's people as little as .. Same campground
Some times an hour down the road
Some times a 3 day drive

And with cell phones the Local to me PD is a local call.

[ReneeG]

ktmrfs wrote:

ReneeG wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We are looking at the Garmin Inreach. We camp and Jeep enough during the year to warrant getting one. Service options including a month by month basis which works for us. We often don't invite family to come boondocking because we always head out ahead of them and with no reception in those areas, communicating our location is near impossible. With an Inreach, we can send them our coordinates and they can see where we are. We Jeep often on the backroads and never have reception. The Inreach will help us keep in touch as to our whereabouts and a line of communication should we break down or are injured.

We have the inreach. Bought it when it came out to replace the spot. We've used it in Europe, all over south america, the U.S. out in the ocean on cruises. We love it. Easy to text anyone who can get text messages, has the ability to store about 20 preprogrammed messages, a long list of contacts. Easy for people to text you as well. And if you go with GEOS and/or SARS worldwide rescue and return as well. Since I race off road and we travel all over the world GEOS family plan makes sense for us to emergency rescue or return to home in case of medical emergency if needed.

Inreach uses iridium sat's, so it's as good as a sat phone for communication. (well text only, no voice). The only downside is that like any Sat phone, they do NOT work well inside a building, even a trailer can be marginal. you want to be outside, tree's etc. aren't an issue but enclosed buildings are.

Thanks for the feedback. We began really thinking of it on a recent trip to an area that has been having earthquakes. Before leaving town I told my boss that if I don't return as planned it's because an earthquake caused a landslide to block the only road out and with no reception, I'll have no way of alerting anyone. Well, that's when he suggested this device, but we've thought of one to have on the many backroad Jeep trips we take overnight.

like the landslide with boulders on 95 near Riggs? Instead of a sign saying "loose gravel" it should have said " caution boulders crossing roadway"

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/07/u-s-95-closed-indefinitely-after-more-boulders-crash-onto-highway/

Riggins. Sort of. We were up by Stanley two miles off the main road in an area experiencing frequent aftershocks.

[ktmrfs]

ReneeG wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We are looking at the Garmin Inreach. We camp and Jeep enough during the year to warrant getting one. Service options including a month by month basis which works for us. We often don't invite family to come boondocking because we always head out ahead of them and with no reception in those areas, communicating our location is near impossible. With an Inreach, we can send them our coordinates and they can see where we are. We Jeep often on the backroads and never have reception. The Inreach will help us keep in touch as to our whereabouts and a line of communication should we break down or are injured.

We have the inreach. Bought it when it came out to replace the spot. We've used it in Europe, all over south america, the U.S. out in the ocean on cruises. We love it. Easy to text anyone who can get text messages, has the ability to store about 20 preprogrammed messages, a long list of contacts. Easy for people to text you as well. And if you go with GEOS and/or SARS worldwide rescue and return as well. Since I race off road and we travel all over the world GEOS family plan makes sense for us to emergency rescue or return to home in case of medical emergency if needed.

Inreach uses iridium sat's, so it's as good as a sat phone for communication. (well text only, no voice). The only downside is that like any Sat phone, they do NOT work well inside a building, even a trailer can be marginal. you want to be outside, tree's etc. aren't an issue but enclosed buildings are.

Thanks for the feedback. We began really thinking of it on a recent trip to an area that has been having earthquakes. Before leaving town I told my boss that if I don't return as planned it's because an earthquake caused a landslide to block the only road out and with no reception, I'll have no way of alerting anyone. Well, that's when he suggested this device, but we've thought of one to have on the many backroad Jeep trips we take overnight.

like the landslide with boulders on 95 near Riggs? Instead of a sign saying "loose gravel" it should have said " caution boulders crossing roadway"

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/07/u-s-95-closed-indefinitely-after-more-boulders-crash-onto-highway/

[ReneeG]

ktmrfs wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
We are looking at the Garmin Inreach. We camp and Jeep enough during the year to warrant getting one. Service options including a month by month basis which works for us. We often don't invite family to come boondocking because we always head out ahead of them and with no reception in those areas, communicating our location is near impossible. With an Inreach, we can send them our coordinates and they can see where we are. We Jeep often on the backroads and never have reception. The Inreach will help us keep in touch as to our whereabouts and a line of communication should we break down or are injured.

We have the inreach. Bought it when it came out to replace the spot. We've used it in Europe, all over south america, the U.S. out in the ocean on cruises. We love it. Easy to text anyone who can get text messages, has the ability to store about 20 preprogrammed messages, a long list of contacts. Easy for people to text you as well. And if you go with GEOS and/or SARS worldwide rescue and return as well. Since I race off road and we travel all over the world GEOS family plan makes sense for us to emergency rescue or return to home in case of medical emergency if needed.

Inreach uses iridium sat's, so it's as good as a sat phone for communication. (well text only, no voice). The only downside is that like any Sat phone, they do NOT work well inside a building, even a trailer can be marginal. you want to be outside, tree's etc. aren't an issue but enclosed buildings are.

Thanks for the feedback. We began really thinking of it on a recent trip to an area that has been having earthquakes. Before leaving town I told my boss that if I don't return as planned it's because an earthquake caused a landslide to block the only road out and with no reception, I'll have no way of alerting anyone. Well, that's when he suggested this device, but we've thought of one to have on the many backroad Jeep trips we take overnight.

[ktmrfs]

ReneeG wrote:
We are looking at the Garmin Inreach. We camp and Jeep enough during the year to warrant getting one. Service options including a month by month basis which works for us. We often don't invite family to come boondocking because we always head out ahead of them and with no reception in those areas, communicating our location is near impossible. With an Inreach, we can send them our coordinates and they can see where we are. We Jeep often on the backroads and never have reception. The Inreach will help us keep in touch as to our whereabouts and a line of communication should we break down or are injured.

We have the inreach. Bought it when it came out to replace the spot. We've used it in Europe, all over south america, the U.S. out in the ocean on cruises. We love it. Easy to text anyone who can get text messages, has the ability to store about 20 preprogrammed messages, a long list of contacts. Easy for people to text you as well. And if you go with GEOS and/or SARS worldwide rescue and return as well. Since I race off road and we travel all over the world GEOS family plan makes sense for us to emergency rescue or return to home in case of medical emergency if needed.

Inreach uses iridium sat's, so it's as good as a sat phone for communication. (well text only, no voice). The only downside is that like any Sat phone, they do NOT work well inside a building, even a trailer can be marginal. you want to be outside, tree's etc. aren't an issue but enclosed buildings are.

[Grit_dog]

The 1960s called and want their conversation back!
This is LOL. Hobby yes. 21st century communication? No.
Get a phone. If the phone don’t work and your worried, get a plb or a sat phone. Sat phones are expensive though.
Are you literally going where there are NO other people? In your RV? There’s about a 0% chance of that.
Now if you’re getting into the back country I understand, but anywhere you can have a ham radio plugged into your RV, you will encounter other people.

Unless you’re a hell of a lot more adventurous than me! Which I doubt.

[wa8yxm]

Gdetrailer wrote:


If you are "out in a desert then just HOW can a "HF" rig help?

There are many bands. Some are good for talking half way around the globe. some for one state over.

Read the link.. Now he was off shore but the net will help a stranded Land lubber if needed. that's ...