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Alright as far as local comms - something to keep in mind is that the higher the frequency, the more direct/line of sight the signal propagates. For example, you can use a 30 dollar Baofeng UV5R handheld from amazon to work satellites directly (not necessarily easily though, a decent amount of skill is involved) all on 5 watts. (the uv5r is the AK47 of radios. It's cheap and durable. It aint pretty and the quality sucks, but it just works) However if you're in a valley, and your buddy is in the next valley over, you're going to have a tough time communicating without hiking up the mountain OR using a repeater on the mountain between you. With UHF or VHF (really anything higher than 30 mhz) - Height is might. Height helps on HF as well, but it's much more crucial as you increase frequency.
For very long distance comms HF (high frequency) is king. This is where you get into the fun of choosing frequencies based on how ionized the sun has made the atmosphere at that point in time etc. (CB is also HF by the way). HF propagates as a ground wave, following the terrain a bit (see knifes edge diffraction as well) as well as 'skipping' off of the atmosphere.
You're going to want to get your license - it's an easy test and it's worth studying up on things. You don't want to give yourself RF burn because you didn't know that you should calculate exposure limits do you?
Don't get too focused on the radio - Antennas are like 80% of how well you can hear and be heard. They're also fun to make and DIY is a big part of ham radio. The lower the frequency, the longer the wave length, the bigger the antenna you'll need. How big? There's a formula for that.
Typically I only run 2m/144-148 mhz in my vehicles. I've got a 60 watt mobile rig hooked up to a ~5 foot magmount antenna. I have had conversations 100 miles apart thru repeaters with very good quality while travelling. At home I've got an older all band radio that will do 10m(30 mhz) to 80m(3.5mhz). I've got that hooked up to a coax cable that connects to a couple of pieces of speaker wire about 20ft long each. From my location in the North East I've heard as far away as New Zealand and been heard as far away as southern Brazil. Most of my radios I buy from older hams in my local club, or on the swap nets on the weekend.
TLDR: Get a license. Get a UV5R. Get a magmount for the UV5R if you want to use it in a car. Get a ~50 watt mobile rig used (they also make great base stations for those frequencies, just get a powersupply). Get into HF if you can pass at least the general test. Try to buy used from your local Old Men. They're usually happy to give you a great deal and they've probably got a new radio they want to put the money towards hihi
I'm on my way out the door right now but if you describe your local geography and needs I can give you better recommendations. This hobby has a million directions you can go with it. UV5R is a great handheld/portable. Anything Yaesu/Kenwood is likely to be pretty solid as far as mobile rigs and HF rigs.
OH i forgot to mention - Local comms can also be done thru NVIS - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave - Very handy if you have a lot of unfavorable geography but want local comms as well. You're basically trying to send a HF signal nearly vertical to bounce off the atmosphere and come back down covering your area
Geography is horrible, my home is in a highish part in the middle of a valley approximately 25 miles mountain range to mountain range tallest peaks are east of me about 9000 ft and I am roughly 4000ft ASL so a 5000 ft elevation difference over 15ish miles. To the west and north not as bad, call it 3000 ft difference. I am in the southwest. Lots of open range from town to town. But also a lot of foothills, and random peaks in the 3-6000 ft ASL range.
Side note, I have a uv5r that I found at work, a lot of the construction crews around here use them, although I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to. Haven't played with it much and I keep my booger hook off the transmit button, there are a lot of aerials in my town so finding a club to take test pick up info shouldn't be difficult I'm thinking about picking up a few more of the 5rs getting my girl to take the test as well if for nothing else, if cellular goes wonky for whatever reason she knows it's me coming through the front door.
Thanks for the info, it's helped out a bunch, and I'm going to be spending some time looking up "stealth antennas" now 😀
Only cheap stuff is chinese but get it anyways. The absolute best bang for the buck is a Baofeng UV5R+. I recommend getting an aftermarket foldable antenna for it which will help with range, a magnetic antenna for your car with an N to SMA adapter, and at least 2 expanded batteries.
All of that and the testing fee to get into ham radio will cost you less than $100. The Technician license allows primarily for local communication as the range is limited while the General and Extra class licenses give worldwide range. A lot of clubs will allow you to take all 3 tests back to back during the same testing day if you pass the previous one, so if you pass technician you can test for general, and if you pass general you can test for extra.
Once you get into the general and extra class frequencies gear starts to cost close to the same as an used car.
Ok got it, so maybe a novice silly question. Can I get away with using a great big pine tree in my yard instead of a giant gantry antenna, ya know as to not "ruin the beauty of the neighborhood " ?
Baofeng uv5r or similar for about $25. While you' re at it go to hamexam.org and study for the tech license exam that costs $15. Once you get your license, save up for and learn about HF, but the Baofeng will let you access VHF and UHF repeaters.
yup this is the way. Thedonald.win needs to put up a repeater so we can all tune in asap.
Who here since 6th is now seriously considering HAM radio? Big fucking antenna on the house. Old school. I am. Sorry neighbors.
I would like to get into it some, any suggestions on a starter radio that won't break the bank?
I am starting to research, so I apologize I am not able to make recommendations. I would like to know as well!
It depends what you're looking to do in the hobby. Let me know what you're looking to accomplish and I may be able to suggest somethin
In general, shtf communication. I have worked cb for many years (former over the road truck driver) looking for something with more range.
Alright as far as local comms - something to keep in mind is that the higher the frequency, the more direct/line of sight the signal propagates. For example, you can use a 30 dollar Baofeng UV5R handheld from amazon to work satellites directly (not necessarily easily though, a decent amount of skill is involved) all on 5 watts. (the uv5r is the AK47 of radios. It's cheap and durable. It aint pretty and the quality sucks, but it just works) However if you're in a valley, and your buddy is in the next valley over, you're going to have a tough time communicating without hiking up the mountain OR using a repeater on the mountain between you. With UHF or VHF (really anything higher than 30 mhz) - Height is might. Height helps on HF as well, but it's much more crucial as you increase frequency.
For very long distance comms HF (high frequency) is king. This is where you get into the fun of choosing frequencies based on how ionized the sun has made the atmosphere at that point in time etc. (CB is also HF by the way). HF propagates as a ground wave, following the terrain a bit (see knifes edge diffraction as well) as well as 'skipping' off of the atmosphere.
You're going to want to get your license - it's an easy test and it's worth studying up on things. You don't want to give yourself RF burn because you didn't know that you should calculate exposure limits do you?
Don't get too focused on the radio - Antennas are like 80% of how well you can hear and be heard. They're also fun to make and DIY is a big part of ham radio. The lower the frequency, the longer the wave length, the bigger the antenna you'll need. How big? There's a formula for that.
Typically I only run 2m/144-148 mhz in my vehicles. I've got a 60 watt mobile rig hooked up to a ~5 foot magmount antenna. I have had conversations 100 miles apart thru repeaters with very good quality while travelling. At home I've got an older all band radio that will do 10m(30 mhz) to 80m(3.5mhz). I've got that hooked up to a coax cable that connects to a couple of pieces of speaker wire about 20ft long each. From my location in the North East I've heard as far away as New Zealand and been heard as far away as southern Brazil. Most of my radios I buy from older hams in my local club, or on the swap nets on the weekend.
TLDR: Get a license. Get a UV5R. Get a magmount for the UV5R if you want to use it in a car. Get a ~50 watt mobile rig used (they also make great base stations for those frequencies, just get a powersupply). Get into HF if you can pass at least the general test. Try to buy used from your local Old Men. They're usually happy to give you a great deal and they've probably got a new radio they want to put the money towards hihi
I'm on my way out the door right now but if you describe your local geography and needs I can give you better recommendations. This hobby has a million directions you can go with it. UV5R is a great handheld/portable. Anything Yaesu/Kenwood is likely to be pretty solid as far as mobile rigs and HF rigs.
OH i forgot to mention - Local comms can also be done thru NVIS - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave - Very handy if you have a lot of unfavorable geography but want local comms as well. You're basically trying to send a HF signal nearly vertical to bounce off the atmosphere and come back down covering your area
Geography is horrible, my home is in a highish part in the middle of a valley approximately 25 miles mountain range to mountain range tallest peaks are east of me about 9000 ft and I am roughly 4000ft ASL so a 5000 ft elevation difference over 15ish miles. To the west and north not as bad, call it 3000 ft difference. I am in the southwest. Lots of open range from town to town. But also a lot of foothills, and random peaks in the 3-6000 ft ASL range.
Side note, I have a uv5r that I found at work, a lot of the construction crews around here use them, although I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to. Haven't played with it much and I keep my booger hook off the transmit button, there are a lot of aerials in my town so finding a club to take test pick up info shouldn't be difficult I'm thinking about picking up a few more of the 5rs getting my girl to take the test as well if for nothing else, if cellular goes wonky for whatever reason she knows it's me coming through the front door.
Thanks for the info, it's helped out a bunch, and I'm going to be spending some time looking up "stealth antennas" now 😀
Only cheap stuff is chinese but get it anyways. The absolute best bang for the buck is a Baofeng UV5R+. I recommend getting an aftermarket foldable antenna for it which will help with range, a magnetic antenna for your car with an N to SMA adapter, and at least 2 expanded batteries.
All of that and the testing fee to get into ham radio will cost you less than $100. The Technician license allows primarily for local communication as the range is limited while the General and Extra class licenses give worldwide range. A lot of clubs will allow you to take all 3 tests back to back during the same testing day if you pass the previous one, so if you pass technician you can test for general, and if you pass general you can test for extra.
Once you get into the general and extra class frequencies gear starts to cost close to the same as an used car.
Ok got it, so maybe a novice silly question. Can I get away with using a great big pine tree in my yard instead of a giant gantry antenna, ya know as to not "ruin the beauty of the neighborhood " ?
Check out 'Stealth Antennas' theres a lot of work that's been done to deal with HOA regs etc. Like hiding antennas in flagpoles, gutters, attics etc
Baofeng uv5r or similar for about $25. While you' re at it go to hamexam.org and study for the tech license exam that costs $15. Once you get your license, save up for and learn about HF, but the Baofeng will let you access VHF and UHF repeaters.
Hopefully more discussion could spring from this, I would love to see more talk about it.
I'm ordering an IC-7300, prolly tonight. Already ordered several ARRL handbooks to catch up on things.
Haven't worked on or operated any equipment since the '80s (MARS).
This should be fun...
Cool!!
Ive been saying this for years. My husband says I’m nuts, my dream seems to be coming closer everyday and he will give in.
I'll trade you. My wife is addicted to social media...
Got in on the cheap baofengs last january. My dad ordered his 2 weeks after me and it still hasnt come in lol. I just listen though.
papa echo papa echo 73
What frequencies? I already got my shortwave receiver ready.
HAM radio shit posters rise up!
THEY WILL NEVER TAKE [inhales] OUR MEMES!!!
Theyll have to pry my memes from my cold dead harddrive!
Just passed my test this week!
SSTV - Slow Scan Television is the gentlemans ham radio meme sharing protocol.
Ps - it's Ham or ham - it's not an acronym
Fresh OC btw.
All of you should go to survivalblog.com and do a search for HAM radio. BOOM you just hit the froggy load brothers!
Pepe being cute
So... So.. sniggers its an apu pepe meme, right? And... And... muffled sniggering and he's playing with a butterfly and...
You can send images over ham.
You can do internet over ham ;)
Hahahahahha! Please do!
"CQ CQ CQ DE KEK76, SO NPC IN LEFT PNL, PEPE IN RIGHT, NPC SAY WEAR EFFING MASK PEPE SAY LOL NO, BASED AMIRITE K"