Thread 2952430

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Previous: >>2939599

>New to /ham/? Read this shit!
http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service
>Your search engine of choice works well too!

>The FAQ is now back:
>https://wiki.cybsec.io/index.php/HamFAQ
>OP, the cybsec domain is gone.
>NEW FAQ is updated to preview 15
https://files.catbox.moe/aftx43.htm

>The wiki is down but is archived: https://archive.is/PjR5s
>Idiot's Guide to Coax Cable
https://www.pcs-electronics.com/guide_coax.php
>Looking for frequencies to monitor near you?
http://www.radioreference.com
>Basic Rx loop fundamentals
https://www.w8ji.com/magnetic_receiving_loops.htm
>DIY SWL Mag. Loop
http://www.kr1st.com/swlloop.htm
>Small Tx Loop
http://webclass.org/k5ijb/antennas/Small-magnetic-loops.htm
>In Depth Loop articles
http://www.kk5jy.net/magloop/
>Homebrew RF Circuits
https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas.htm
>NEW Library
https://mega.nz/file/UCgEGAjb#rwNcnMAQCUUbSp8supsFvn9QEHCWUW86eLcZa16ZG4Y

>Online Practice Tests:
http://aa9pw.com/
https://hamstudy.org/
https://hamexam.org/
> Real-Time Propagation Data
http://prop.kc2g.com/
>Space Weather
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/radio-communications
>WSJT-X Home Page
https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html
>Homosexual (ft8) guide
https://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf
>APRS
http://www.aprs.org/
>Weather Fax resources
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/rfax.pdf
https://weatherfax.com/stations/
>point to point predictions, its free and will give you an idea of how much power/ what frequencies to use to reliably talk to your friend
https://www.voacap.com/hf/
>how do I into Morse code in a good way?
https://pastebin.com/HByjfN4F

>Shortwave radio schedule
https://shortwave.live/

CQ contest CQ contest

>>2952435
yeah... no one enforces this anymore. good luck with that.

the chad scanner

>>2952437
>already seething

>>2952435
seethe cope

>>2952440
k

>new thread
>he's already having a meltdown

Just the eternal reminder to never, ever pay the antenna jews to dx.

>>2952469
I guess this would complicate the image, but a tree can hold more than 1 antenna and if you're using an auto tuner, that tuner can act as a switch.
Dig a trench, run one line for your really long wire and run another line for something like a dedicated 6 meter antenna.

>>2952478
Why would you need more than one antenna?

>>2952491
On HF? Are you pulling my chain?

>>2952491
Separate antennas work better if you make them fir each band. A dipole for 40m will wirk better on 40m than a multiband antennaike an off-center feed dipole.

But for me, idc. I use the ocfd. I had a fan dipole that was less noisy, but a trees during a storm brought it down. The thing was a bitch to tune. Not to mention the spacing of each element. If I do something in the future, I'll just make traps. It has issues I don't like but the atu can fix the main one.

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/berggeist-cb-funk-relais-repeater-set-11m-70cm-/3217335626-168-8980

well?

>>2952568
Crossbanding 11m and 70cm. Interesting. I just wonder if there will be a feedback loop if you use both the crossband repeaters and keep the same channels on each one. Or would you have to say for example have cb ch 3 as the common cb channel between the twonrepeaters and then have a different channel for the frs radios (e.g. one on ch3 and another on ch4.)

OM, where are you on this one? You are the most knowledgable one ITT. Would this create a feedback loop if the same channels are used on both frs? Would setting a ctcss tone help if there is a feedback loop? Just feeling it would if you use the same exact channels on both. I think you would have to have only one common frequency and a different channel on the other.

Also, regarding that, you better separate the antennas a bit away from each other on those HTs.

>>2952572
the docs say you have to use different cb channels with minimum 200khz distance and you have to position in and out at least 200-300 meters apart.
using the same cb channel would definitely create a feedback loop.

Why is it that almost every radio uses noisy mechanical relays for cw? Cost? Because even the higher end rigs for many brands are using loud mechanical relays instead of silent MOSFET. MOSFETs aren't even expensive. What am I missing?
I don't understand how anyone can tolerate the atrocious clicking of a mechanical relay while trying to send code.

>>2952578
Okay. So you wouldn't be able link them together using the same channel. Thank you for the info! I was legit curious on that one.

>>2952605
welcome. but I'm not even sure what this was about. what would be the point of using the same cb channel? it's a classic cb-relay: you send e.g. on cb ch2 and this gets then simultanously repeated e.g. on cb ch39. the pmr radios are the bridge to pass the signal from in to out.
there are only two options to repeat a signal: either delayed or transposed. this is the transposed option.

Why do so many hams create catastrophes just to make themselves feel relevant?

>>2952609
>but I'm not even sure what this was about.
Sorry, I'm having a total dumbass moment when I typed that this morning. I was thinking of something completely different which was wrong anyway.

>>2952666
Same reason you post this every single thread.

>>2952430 (OP)
I passed my general exam yesterday, and stopped into HRO to reserve a first right of refusal for an Icom 7300mk2

>>2952584
Huh. You have a valid question, I'm not sure. I don't hear the relays on mine while wearing headphones. But I don't run with full QSK break-in either. Not sure what transceiver you are using but you can probably adjust it like mine do.

>>2952690
Best answer.

what would be best for somebody wanting to use comms for hunting and shit hit the fan stuff?

I plan on having a murs vhf regular walkie talkie setup, plus a handheld cb radio setup, then get my ham license down the line

I kind of want to get a baofeng just for receiving until I get my license

Is this a dumb route? If I want to do woods stuff with my friends I want them to be able to talk back to me. A couple handheld cbs or walkie talkies might suit me better, and keep the ham for any real emergency + just listening to stuff

please tell me if I'm stupid or using terms wrong so I can learn. I know no one in real life that knows anything about this stuff

>>2952568
So they are using a UHF link to separate the two CBs because the output will come back into the input channel even if they are separated on the CB band, that's normal, all VHF, UHF relays use huge cavity filters to avoid that. 10m relays have the emmiter and the receiver on different sites.
These cavity filters are very steep and very narrow so that for example for a R0 VHF relay the emitter at 145.600 MHz doesn't trigger the 145.000 MHz receiver.
Another way to do that is have a CTCSS squelch for the receiver and the emitter doesn't has CTCSS.

Cavity filters dimensions are of course proportional to the wavelength so they are ok for UHF, big for VHF and for 11m they would be about 2.5m long
http://www.amalgamate2000.com/radio-hobbies/radio/cavity_resonator_for_29__mhz.htm

Not impossible to make apparently

>>2952759
just get some qanshengs and you use them on whatever bands that can be used without licenses nobody cares.
If SHTF you can use them on the frequency you like.

>>2952759
>hunting
GMRS. How's the terrain? You'll have to test out whether you can reach each other. Everything affects everything in radio. If you find dead spots, you can crossband GMRS and MURS with a crossband repeater. There are radios that have this ability. Just have the crossband repeater set to crossband a certain channel on GMRS and MURS (e.g. ch 3 on both), then have your HTs set to those same channels. Set it's antenna up high.

>shit hit the fan stuff
Better hurry, SHTF is going to happen. Give it two more weeks.

>>2952819
as someone who has used frs and gmrs radios when hunting, you can easily talk over 2 miles.

>>2952816
I don't see that CTCSS would help at all. When the receiver gets a signal with sub-tone, its squelch is open. When then the emitter passes the signal, it can interfer with the receivers input. Whether the emitter sends a sub-tone or not.
Filtering is very interesting, but has the downside, that your setup is fixed on the two channels in use. If you want to change the frequencies, you have to change the filters as well.
Nevertheless, interesting link, thanks for that.

>>2952819
>>2952817
after tons of more research and your guys recommendations ive decided to go with all of them

I have a gmrs radio pair and a ham radio pair coming in the mail

next month Im going to buy murs and cb handhelds too

I'm going to get my gmrs license so my wife can use it. with the repeaters in my area I should be able to radio her while im hunting miles away. I'm going to get my ham license sometime next year, and until then just listen to shit. just like the murs and cb. unlikely ill transmit but I want all of them so I can listen to everything at the same time

>>2952986
>JRC JST-245 transceiver
>NRD-535D hf receiver above it
Man, those still fetch a pretty penny. At one time the 535D was my dream receiver.

>>2952986
>buy murs
Don't buy it sepatately. Many ham hts can be unlocked to transmit on gmrs and murs. Don't waste your money on separate radios per band.

>>2952952
>I don't see that CTCSS would help at all. When the receiver gets a signal with sub-tone, its squelch is open. When then the emitter passes the signal, it can interfer with the receivers input. Whether the emitter sends a sub-tone or not.
Of course, sorry I am dumb...

Hey hams. I've been thinking about getting a ham license, more specifically the german class A which would be CEPT or our equivalent to the american amateur extra license.
I know everyone is different but how long do you think studying for it would take?
I only have very basic knowledge when it comes to electrical engineering stuff but I do come from a math background.

My main interest/motivation is SDR stuff which I want to get into so studying for a license seems like a good way to gather some verifiable basic knowledge and get something out of it along the way.

Also: If I am licensed, can I get something like a Quansheng UV-5 to give to my wife (or any unlicensed person) and operate/set it up in such a way that I can communicate with her within legal boundaries?
Can something like a (more expensive) ham hand radio communicate with one those simple hand radios anyone can buy/use?

>>2953028
>If I am licensed, can I get something like a Quansheng UV-5 to give to my wife (or any unlicensed person) and operate/set it up in such a way that I can communicate with her within legal boundaries?
just use it outside ham bands with minimal power, nobody gives a fuck as long as yo ustay out of aircraft, military, commercial bands, does PMR 446 MHz exists in Germany ?
you can also get a more complex radio like a RADTEL RT-880 or iRADIO UV-98Plus and use it on CB band (27MHz)

>>2953028
>Can something like a (more expensive) ham hand radio communicate with one those simple hand radios anyone can buy/use?
mostly, yes, the qansheng will do VHF / UHF ham bands

>>2953028
you will realize, that learning for the license won't give you any useful knowledge. especially in regard to SDR. unfortunately the exam is very outdated and besides useless stuff like learning ITU prefixes, you will be bored to death while learning e.g. the circuit scheme for a highpass filter.
consider that if you want not to participate in stupid dx contests and prostata talks anyways, but want to do digi modes, packet radio and experimental radio in general, you really do not need a license. nobody cares for you having a license but that old ham boomers. do not talk to them anyways, they are unbearable.

>>2953002
My baofeng will transmit and receive murs, but I want dedicated handhelds so I can monitor more channels at a time. Plus I want to have a type accepted device for every band I plan on talking on. Not because Im a particular fan of the fcc rules and regulations. But because Im just autistic and want a setup for every band lol. Plus if I have lots of friends I plan on hunting with, which I do. I want the choice to talk on a bunch of different channels, and if I have two ham handhelds that can transmit murs, and if I have two murs handhelds, 4 people can effectively communicate now.

>>2953057
>more channels at a time
Scanning is a feature on almost every HT.

>Plus I want to have a type accepted device for every band I plan on talking on
If you want to throw money away for this reason, then okay.

>and if I have two ham handhelds that can transmit murs, and if I have two murs handhelds, 4 people can effectively communicate now.
Or you can get 4 ham radios that are unlocked. There, you now have 4 radios that you can listen to murs on. Not to mention, you can create custom channels on them on the same murs frequency using ctcss tones. Then scan through them.

Your autism is going to make you waste money.

>>2952986
>I'm going to get my gmrs license
why?

>>2953030
>just use it outside ham bands with minimal power, nobody gives a fuck

>>2952430 (OP)
best design for AM loop antennas for the rtlsdr? i dont feel like running 80m of wire down the street to pick up fuck all

>>2953057
>so I can monitor more channels at a time
4 radios listening to nothing.

>>2953099
>>2953096
>>2953092
you guys do be laying down some facts

do any of you use cb?

I bought the GPS kit for my Uniden SDS100 only to find out today, that the same day they announced an SDS150 upgrade that has GPS internally.

thinking about getting 2 cobras next month to go with my other radios. looking forward to being racist with random truck drivers

How retarded am I for wanting to buy a IC-756 Pro 3 from a local OM? Includes matching power supply and speaker. Radio looks mint; one owner who didn't use it much. Price is fair.
But I'm afraid of the janky reputation of the old style LCD. The cathode to LED mod is easy enough if the cathode backlight dims. But if the display shits the bed, which they do, it's going to be a somewhat expensive nightmare for me to resolve.
I hate new radios and this is perfect for me, aside from the questionable reliability of the display. I have decision paralysis.

>>2953110
>do any of you use cb?
not anymore, no one local.

>>2953110
>cb
Cb dx is cool.
The FCC relaxed the distance rule a few years ago, so dx is kosher now. (within legal power limits)

>>2953096
GMRS seems like a genuinely useful thing.
In my area, theres a bunch of gmrs guys, I can pick them up on my janky little FRS HT. Useful local intel sometimes.
Being an actually licensed service, it's way cleaner than cb. No blatant jamming, etc.

Also, for any domestic intel types, there do appear to be 'leftist activists' obviously using cb radios to transmit malicious interference, mostly on 27.375lsb, 27.385lsb, and 27.395lsb.
I'm not personally offended by this kind of thing, it just is what it is, but if you want an extra legal angle to go after these degenerates, it's there...

>>2953207
I'm a new HAM, I don't shit about radios, but I do know that when a good deal comes around, you take it. Even if the display shits the bed, and you can't repair it for whatever reason, it still comes with all of the other shit. You'd still be up.

>>2953232
I'm planning on getting a portapack or tinysa ultra, it'd be pretty easy to find the source of that transmitter pretty easy with one of those right?

>>2953238
Well, not as easy as you'd initially think.
Sure, it's easy to find the spot on the sky where the skip signal is bouncing from, but considering Faraday rotation and ducting, and so on, it's a bit more silly.
The 'crying baby' signal is probably west coast, norcal, oregon, or washigton, for example.
At any rate, you can basically tell if a thing is coming from the east or the west by listening to the transition along the 'grey zone', (the fuzzy area of the skip signals as they go along at dusk or dawn)
I.e, My reception of said 'crying baby' signal is inversely proportional to my reception of signals from legitimate stations on the east coast.
I'm basically exactly on the centerline of the continental US, so I can hear both coasts equally well, but my null zone means I can't hear central US stations.

>>2953232
> leftist activists' obviously using cb radios to transmit malicious interference, mostly on 27.375lsb, 27.385lsb, and 27.395lsb.
Why are they like this?

>>2953247
I don't know, but it's fucking stupid. Literally no one is using god damn cb for actual operations. They're just punching at ghosts at that point. it's just off-the-wall silly.

>>2953232
thats your local rfi from a shitty power supply or something. you need to take your meds now.

What would be a good handheld radio that can be considered "one tier up" in quality from baofeng/quansheng?
At first glance it seems like there is the 30 dollar chink shitand next there's the 300-400 dollar kenwood devices.
Something at ~100 - 150 dollars price wise?
> purpose?
Currently studying for my license, I just want something to play around with and still have it be useful later.

>>2953110
I do have the channels in my scanner since I live in bumfuck nowhere where no one knows gmrs nor murs. They use cb. The only exception with murs is car dealerships and Walmart. I even have my family using dmr and encryption on murs since it's not used at all. I even recorded the channels on my sdr just to see any activity and there is none.

>>2953250
>Literally no one is using god damn cb for actual operations.
Nta: Businesses around here still do, which is dumb imo. They want to keep their comms private and not have anyone know what's going on at job sites, yet they use a free public service. Families and duch also use CB. Hams are considered genius level shit here.

>>2953028
To answer your last two questions; you need to study up on your country's amateur radio regulations. Licenced talking to unlicenced radio operators within (or outside!) the designated amateur bands is probably strictly verboten. Just obey the rules and you'll have no problems and keep the hobby enjoyable for all.

>expensive radio communicate with cheaper radios?
As long as it uses the same frequency and modulation, it doesn't matter. I've used my 32 year old $700 HT to communicate with a $30 piece of of crap (Baofeng) without issues. Ideally you should check to see if the communication authority in your country has equipment requirements that the radio be type-certified for amateur band use.

Other than that I can only suggest you check out a local radio club to see what it's like. Undoubtedly you'll find someone technically proficient with SDR's who will be a wealth of information.

>>2953237
>I'm a new HAM
that's hugely obvious when you spell it with all caps.

>>2953262
probably a decent second hand yaesu or icom handheld.
a baofeng/quansheng will get the job done if you are just wanting local repeater connections.

Can someone brief me on the whole Quansheng v2 situation?
Should I avoid getting one if I can't reliably get a v1?
Are people (successfully) working on adapting the good firmware for the newer hardware revisions or is that unlikely to happen?

>>2953273
>businesses
Weird.
Why not just get a business radio license?
Shit isn't expensive at all.

>>2953261
>local rfi is playing music, recordings of Trump, and various looped sound effects
Kek, I figured I might find one of you here.
What is even the goal of these operations?
Like who are you even trying to jam? The handful of autists and old farts dxing on cb? I mean, are those guys that worthy of an enemy? They're just trying to enjoy their hobby, which has literally nothing to do with anything political.

>>2953096
nah I am still thinking about getting my gmrs license when the fcc opens back up, and get my ham license sometime next year

I want to be able to radio my brother on the other end of the state regularly with repeaters. I'll need at least 1 gmrs license between the two of us to do that for a long period of time without people getting mad, or the fcc writing us a very strongly worded letter and add our name to the wall of shame

>>2953448
>repeaters
What is the distance between you two as the crow flies? Can you already hit a ham repeater on certain towers? Will you be using an HT, or will you be using a base station? There's always lots and lots of variables that go into this.

>>2953448
You'd want to double check me on this, but I think the family member thing is household, like in that scenario you'd each need a license, since you live in different residences.

is the hackrf portapack worth it? and i know there are multiple hardware revisions or some shit so what is the "most up to date" revision?

>>2953030
> PMR 446 MHz exists in Germany ?
Yes it does.
I see so there is nothing special about devices like pic related except that they limit their frequency range and output power .
So as long as I set a handheld ham radio to those frequencies, and don't start blasting with too much energy, things would remain legal (roughly speaking), which means that would be one way to communicate with unlicensed friends and families within legal boundaries.
>>2953282
> Licensed talking to unlicensed radio operators within (or outside!) the designated amateur bands is probably strictly verboten.
Even in the example above?
> study up on regulations
Will do
> visit the locals
I'll probably do that as well, but only after I've at least learned some fundies

Anyway thanks for the help brehs

>>2953456
If i recall it says specifically "you and your immediate family"

which while thats not my permanent residence I do visit him on a weekly basis, and my brother is the only blood family I have besides my daughter. So I'll double check (although the fcc literally will literally never ever give a shit) but I'm pretty sure the definition is vague

>>2953449
40 miles between us, and theres a repeater inbetween us. I can pick up the repeater anywhere in the county practically, even with an FRS radio. I guess "across the state" was me being a little hyperbolic. But I am pretty damn certain we'll be able to talk

>>2953460
the h4m is the way to go I think. I'm gonna buy one of the already assembled deals next month. Also yes it is super super worth it. I do a lot with radio in my work, but I also just fucking love scanning and listening to stuff. You can do so much with the portapack h4m its not even funny

>>2952430 (OP)
Any Canadian jambons? I've been reading a lot about radios, and loved the class during my undergrad (EE). The links I see in the sticky are all US. Anyone care to talk about their experience in the north?

>>2953570
If the repeater's antenna is up on a high tower (though they have restrictions), then you should have no problem even if the repeater can only output 50 watts legally on GMRS. Though that's provided there are no issues between your brother and the repeater. The main ham repeater I use is 21 miles away from me and I can hit it full clear with an HT. Though granted its antenna is 200ft up the tower and the people who run it are your nerd of nerds about repeaters. Funnily enough, some of them are Extras who don't really care about HF.

>I guess "across the state" was me being a little hyperbolic.
That was the main concern since across the state can mean many distances. But 40 miles isn't much. If you want to experiment, you might want to think about a base station and see if you can reach each other at 50 watts without the repeater. I wouldn't be surprised if you could reach him, though it may be extremely hard to pull out of the noise. You could also use directional antennas which would help a lot.

Is there any probability of Icom launching a 9700mk2? I'll wait for the 7300mk2, but I have no idea how product line updates work in this industry.

>>2953708
>Is there any probability of Icom launching a 9700mk2?
Yes. 7300 mk2 was lauded for use of more modern interfaces such as USB-c. They will probably realise that a refresh of 9700 will be equally well received.
>I'll wait for the 7300mk2, but I have no idea how product line updates work in this industry.
Way too long. Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood are way too conservative. For my part, I'd like a FTDX-9000D mk2.

Is pic related approachable for beginners who want to dive a little deeper than "just learn the questions", can they be used for from 0 learning?
Or are they more of a reference for people with intermediate/advanced knowledge of radio and electronics?

>>2953638
>50 watts at 40 miles
I mean, you could do that with 5 watts.

>>2953925
Nah, it's approachable. You'll be fine.

>>2953927
Only if you got absolute perfect line of sight and the planet and stats align, or if you got a repeater put together by a lot of radio nerds. You got conned by blister pack radios that promise 20 billion light year range. What does the border of our expanding universe sound like?

>>2953927
I can hit a repeater 50+ miles away on low power (10w) and the tower is on the other side of a mountain of which I live at the base of. Every propagation simulation I run says its impossible, yet I'm living it daily.
I figure the mountain is causing a scatter effect. Not sure if that's the correct term, but there is a phenomenon where 2 meter signals can follow the curvature of a hill or mountain and scatter over the top in a broad radiation pattern.
Never know what's going to happen until you try.

poor nigga hours

>>2954143
What's a good basic antenna upgrade for the Quansheng?

>>2954149
ABBBREEEEEEEEEEE

Is there really anything that could go wrong if I use my handheld ham radio on a currently unoccupied frequency or pmr446 frequency at like 500mW to 1W and maybe a stubby antenna?
> get a license
I am very much interested in doing so.
Just thinking about ways I could practically use my radios on a small scale like occasional hiking, inside a house or between two cars driving somewhat closely to the same destination, shit like that.
Obviously most of these things are illegal or barely illegal (for example using pmr446 frequencies at 500mW is fine but the radio isn't supposed to have a detachable antenna) considering I would not announce my callsign and/or hand another radio to a friend and such.
But if I do things like that I wanna do them in ways that do not bother anybody.

>>2954149
hes right>>2954159

the abbree folding whip antennas are pretty good. These tidradio ones came with my baofengs. They're also solid, but I'm buying x2 42" abbree whip antennas next month sometime

>>2954161
not unless you get unlucky or piss someone off

>>2953460
it's cheap as shit and good enough. i'd wait for the hackrf pro to drop though. fixes a lot of issues like frying the LNA + has better selectivity and filtering

>>2953460
The main advantage imo is that it's a hackrf that costs way less than "the original".
That it comes with the whole portapack stuff was just a kind of bonus to me, the build quality is very poor and it's very cheap plastic.
I would not feel comfortable throwing this thing in a bag without some kind of foamed hardcase and even then I don't believe the portapack buttons will last long.
But the newer model 4 comes with USB-C which is a nice plus because I fucking hate micro USB so much it's unreal.

Roger beeping.
Yes or no?

>>2954176
there's a guy a couple miles from me that rants on GMRS almost every night. non stop cursing and slurs and whatever. he's been reported to the fcc many times. FCC does not care about enforcing any rules if you are not some company or corporation.

>>2954196
it pisses of sad hams, so YES.

rofl found some random retard on UHF that has vox left on or her ptt is pressed against her bag and at some fucking church choir practicelmao. shes dropped so much drama on the local karens. theyre singing fucking church songs and shit my wife and i are losing our shit over this

>>2954258
That's pretty funny

> buy cheap hand radio to listen to local radio talk
> expect to laugh at old farts talking about stupid shit
> catch first conversation between two older hams on 70cm
> one is giving the other an update on how things are going after his sister died and that he is now also scared about losing his job which could fuck up his retirement plans and that someone backed into his car and he has no idea how he is supposed to pay for that. And that he doesn't want his wife to think less of him because he has trouble providing.

>>2954346
Wow, now all you have to do is jam them by screaming racial epitaphs over their conversation. You can celebrate your success by coming back here to troll other users in this very thread. Epic high five!

>>2954346
I've been saying this for years. most ham radio conversation are the same shit you could listen to from the old cordless phones.

either boring, or depressing.

>>2954355
Why would I do that?

>>2952478
That project is now in the books. I have 2 hf radios and 2 tuners.
Connected are
>6 band vertical
>40 meter dipole about 40' in the tree
> 80 meter dipole about 50' in the tree
>6 meter loop in the tree
>160m inverted L starting in this tree and going across the yard into another tree
I'm happier than a pig in slop, especially with 6 dxpeditions under way.

>>2954440
* that's 5 antennas. I also have a switch in another room where the incoming coax is for the 80 and 160 antennas.

>>2954440
>I'm happier than a pig in slop
congrats anon, can you listen to dipoles and emit on verticals for example ? To listen to a less noisy antenna and emit on the antenna with the best take off angle for DX ?

>>2954001
I don't have to deal with any mountains, but the low rollings hills and short, dense, brushy forests here have similar strange properties. Under certain atmospheric conditions I regularly pick up signals from little 0.5w HTs that are way out of commonly accepted range.

>>2954196
A lot of people don't like them, but I'm personally a fan.
I like to listen for very faint signals, and a lot of the time the situation will be that I legit can't tell if a section of noise I'm listening to is just noise or a signal so garbled and faint I can't make it out.
However, if they're using a roger beep, that often enough is just enough to stand out from the noise in a clearly identifiable way.
Bit of a niche use, I'll admit, but it certainly helps.

>>2954478
Yes and no - and I'm still learning.
I quickly learned that transmitting on one band blows out the receive on another radio's band which is close in frequency or harmonic.
My biggest lesson is that the 'just chuck a wire in the tree' meme is based in reality.
I have had the vertical in place for years by only drilling a 1" hole through the wall big enough for 1 run of LMR-400 and have worked ~250 entities and am darn close to a WAS Triple Play.
Recently I had the bright idea that I could snake 4 very short runs of R-8X into that same opening, then LMR-400 to the tree and into the shack.
I dusted off my spare FT-891 and after about $250 later (coax and conduit), I have 5 great antennas and 2 HF radios on the air.
I want an antenna designed for 6 meters? It's a click away.
Same with 160 meters. And 80 meters and 40 meters. And it turns out the harmonics between the group (plus the vertical) cover all the gaps. It's the best and most simplest upgrade I failed to think of. I reserved such luxuries to 'contest stations' or 'clubs'.
>Oh wow is me, let me switch antennas

Sorry for the ramblings, but to your point about comparing a vertical to a dipole, it's been neck and neck. A 30' vertical pole with a healthy radial setup and a 120' dipole up about 50' have been neck and neck.
I've picked up a few in the past day on the dipole(s) which I hadn't snagged on the vertical.
It's the breadth/diversity that drives it home.
>My antenna sucks on X meters
>Click
>This antenna rocks on X meters!!
>Look at the next screen
>Anyone worth working while we get through the pileup on the other screen?

>>2954001
Sounds like you're describing 'knife-edge diffraction'.

>>2954506
Not enough antennas. Now you need to put up matching dipoles perpendicular to the other ones. That way you can switch back and forth to find the best signal. :^) By the way, what coaxial switch are you using? Do you have recommendations?

>>2954196
I kind of like the ones that give a low amplitude/short duration "pip" sound when you unkey the mic only. I can't stand echo mics, though.

>>2954196
On simplex: fuck yes. On repeater: no. The repeater itself has its own roger beep. The squelch tail itself tells you when the transmission is over, but I just like that extra beep to confirm.

>>2954440
>>2954506
Congrats on the project, anon. Pictures of finished product? I'd be interested in how you did the 6 meter loop and 160m inverted L. Especially that 160m inverted L.

>>2954240
They never do unless you are causing actual damage like tying up an emergency repeater or trying to direct firefighters towards a certain area when you are not supposed to be on any emergency frequencies. Just change the channel or if you want to coordinate with your local shitposters, make a custom channel on your ht set to one of the gmrs channels with a ctcss code.

>>2954532
>coaxial switch
kek, 2X LDG AT-200s for 4 of the antennas and a Daiwa 2 way for the 5th. I agree - not enough antennas on 1/5 of an acre. Maybe I'll setup a 160m phased array tomorrow.
>>2954540
It's a bit hard to take pictures of such large wires, but I can share links.
The 6 meter delta loop has been awesome and isn't much more trouble than a dipole.
Get an arborist's throw bag and some string and find a high tree limb and you have a tower given to you by God. It also works well on 12 and 17 meters.
https://km4nmp.com/2019/06/22/6m-delta-loop/

Similar thinking with the "L". Cut a wire to about 126.5", string it in the tree with help from that arborist's bag, and you'll be on the air before you know it.
https://www.zerobeat.net/g3ycc/invv.htm
Run coax to said tree, then connect both runs of coax to the back of your tuner and abracadabra, you're me! Now make 2 more antennas and runs of coax!

truckers on MURS talking shit about their wives will never not be funny

>>2954535
what's an echo mic?

So those big sexy radios typically list/advertise only HF, but can they be used basically for any frequency like VHF and UHF too, given the right antenna?
Or are they really only (useful) for <= 100mhz?

>>2954630
NO ?

>>2954631
no what?

>>2954630
Some do HF VHF UHF
They do what they say they do

https://www.rigpix.com/

From the 3 main manufacturers :

Kenwood
TS-2000 10-160 m + WARC/6 m/2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / NFM / SSB / CW / FSK 100/100/100/50 W 2000 23 cm/10 W option. DSP. Twin RX
TS-2000LE 10-160 m + WARC/6 m/2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / NFM / SSB / CW / FSK 100/100/100/50 W 2006 23 cm/10 W option. DSP. Twin RX
TS-2000X 10-160 m + WARC/6 m/2 m / 70 cm/23 cm AM / FM / NFM / SSB / CW / FSK 100/100/100/50/10 W 2000 DSP. Twin RX
TS-B2000 10-160 m + WARC/6 m/2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / NFM / SSB / CW / FSK 100/100/100/50 W 2000 23 cm/10 W option. DSP. Twin RX

Icom
IC-705 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW / RTTY / DV 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 W 2020 D-Star. RX: 0.03-200 / 400-470 MHz
IC-706MKIIG 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / NFM / SSB / CW / RTTY 100 / 100 / 50 / 20 W 1999 RX: 0.03-200 / 400-470 MHz
IC-7000 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / WFM / SSB / CW/RTTY 100 / 100 / 50 / 35 W 2005
IC-7100 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / (4 m) / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / WFM / SSB / CW / RTTY / DV (D-Star) 100 / 100 / (50 W) / 50 / 35 W 2013 IF-DSP. Touch-screen
IC-9100 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW / RTTY / (DV) 100 / 100 / 100 / 75 W 2010 23 cm/10 W and DV (D-Star) options. DSP

>>2954633

Yaesu
FT-100 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW 100/100/50/20 W 1998 DSP. RX: 0.1-970 MHz
FT-100D 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW 100/100/50/20 W 2000 DSP. RX: 0.1-970 MHz
FT-847 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m /2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW 100/100/50/50 W 1998 RX: 0.1-512 MHz with gaps
FT-857 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW (WFM RX) 100/100/50/20 W 2003 DSP option
FT-857D 10-160 m + WARC and 60 m / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW (WFM RX) 100/100/50/20 W 2004 DSP
FT-897 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m /2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW (WFM RX) 100/100/50/20 W 2001 DSP
FT-897D 10-160 m + WARC and 60 m / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW (WFM RX) 100/100/50/20 W 2004 DSP and TXCO
FT-991 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW / RTTY / PSK / DV 100/50/50 W 2015 "Fusion" concept. 32-bit IF DSP
FT-991A 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW / RTTY / PSK / DV 100/50/50 W 2016 "Fusion" concept. 32-bit IF DSP
FTX-1 Optima 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm AM / FM / SSB / CW / DV 100 / 100 / 50 / 50 W 2025 "Fusion" concept. Twin RX.

>>2954633
>They do what they say they do
I see, thanks

>>2954635
I've come to prefer dedicated rigs for 2 meters and 70cm. I don't want the local repeater or allstar shitting up my cw rig. I think the single band Japanese mobile units from the 90s are just right for 6m/2m/70cm. The backlights are often 5mm incandescent bulbs instead of shitty leds; way more comfortable to look at. And the 90s rigs are usually built more robustly. Plus most new radios are ugly to look at.

>>2954630
>So those big sexy radios
These are hot.
>typically list/advertise only HF,
True, though most do MF (like 1.8 MHz), some also LF (470 kHz) and VLF (136 kHz)
>but can they be used basically for any frequency like VHF and UHF too, given the right antenna?
In themselves, no, but you can use transverters, in which case you need the appropriate antennas.

>>2954629
One of these, at the 9m15s mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSCLHp0mUHg

First time I heard one of these was back in 1988 in a buddies Camaro. His had a slider switch that adjusted the echo repeat up to 2 seconds duration, irc. and it also had a roger-beep function.

>>2954680
>some also LF (470 kHz) and VLF (136 kHz)
Transmit? Can you name one? I've only seen stand-alone single band units.

And, no bully, but i'm going to be 'that guy' and correct you that 470 kHz is MF and 136 kHz is LF. :-)

>>2954629
One of these, at the 9m15s mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSCLHp0mUHg [Embed]

First time I heard one of these was back in 1986 in a buddies Camaro. His had a slider switch that adjusted the echo repeat up to 2 seconds duration, irc. and it also had a roger-beep function.