gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 After 25 years in storage, I broke out my radio/antenna gear and began putting a radio base station together. I've come to realize that the more modes of communication I have, the better I can try to keep my finger on the pulse of the nation, and in fact much of the world. Over this past year my station has morphed into a pretty good base, with the ability to go mobile within minutes, in case of SHTF. Just wondering if anyone else here is on the waves? 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Comms have been on my mind as well. It wouldn't take much to get completely cut off from the outside world if the web, TV, and phones "go down". The way things are going, I can certainly see it as a reality. I am considering a CB and am considering a vehicle unit or hand held. I may get both. Any recommendations that won't break the bank? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 KB3PJK 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 (edited) Nice set up. Your tower reminds me of growing up. My dad's set up was in the basement right under my bedroom. I could hear him in the middle of the night and remember cards coming from all over the world. Edited December 31, 2012 by NM0 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
avnate 335 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 We just invested in Boafeng UV5R+ handhelds. For under 60 bux each... Its a great BOB radio. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Venia 249 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 We just invested in Boafeng UV5R+ handhelds. For under 60 bux each... Its a great BOB radio. I just ordered the same thing last night...it's a good deal! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 (edited) Comms have been on my mind as well. It wouldn't take much to get completely cut off from the outside world if the web, TV, and phones "go down". The way things are going, I can certainly see it as a reality. I am considering a CB and am considering a vehicle unit or hand held. I may get both. Any recommendations that won't break the bank? I would recomen a 10 meter mobile rig with am, fm, ssb, which you can use as a base radio running off of a 12v power supply, send PM if you want moer info. We just invested in Boafeng UV5R+ handhelds. For under 60 bux each... Its a great BOB radio. We just invested in Boafeng UV5R+ handhelds. For under 60 bux each... Its a great BOB radio. I just ordered the same thing last night...it's a good deal! I have two of these in my go bag, sealed from water/air. KB3PJK I'm studying for test now, will take it in Feb. at the hamfest in Richmond. Edited December 31, 2012 by AA re-cvrd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yakdung 2,926 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I'm not a Ham, but I was give a radio tower minus the base mounting section. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Nice set up. Your tower reminds me of growing up. My dad's set up was in the basement right under my bedroom. I could hear him in the middle of the night and remember CQ cards coming from all over the world. Thanks......the tower is relatively new addition, I initially put up 30 feet of 1-1/2 pipe. I bought the tower sections from a local Ham and worked on it for about 6 mos. off and on. I just picked up another 10 ft. section to add, don't really need the height for getting out, but I have a plan for a small windmill and small solar panel off the side of the tower, making it usable off the grid or just cool as hell. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I'm not a Ham, but I was give a radio tower minus the base mounting section. I made all of my own brackets, did all of my own welding. Got 4 ft. of the first section buryed in concrete. Be creative, you don't have to spend a bunch of money. With that said, I did purchase a new antenna from Copper Electronics, Maco-3, works great, covers 10 and 11 meters. I'm willing to talk to any of you about getting started (send PM), I did it (relatively speaking), on the cheap, example...I paid $27.00 for my base radio on e-bay, have talked around the world on it 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
montec 164 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I've got handheld and car CB's that would take me just under mins to get running in a BO situation. I've been running CB's for well over yrs. Started in the Semi, riding with my grandpa. Never did get an official call sign. Don't have any with SSB right now. Got set up with a wholesaler on them. Just everyone of my customers is on a budget that I just can't seem to get them into the good stuff or even money for the low end. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AE86FL 6 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 dah di dah di dah dah di dah dah di dah di dah dah di dah I am a ham but not as active. had tower setup at my old house; just use my skyloop nowadays for fun. your yagi is setting for vertical polarizaion? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Large antenna/towers here and there were fairly common where I grew up in Midwest. Was fortunate to help my dad with more than one tower adventure. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 your yagi is setting for vertical polarizaion? There is a small rotor in the middle of the antenna boom, I can flip the antenna to vertical or hoizantal, SWR stays 1.1 to 1.2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AE86FL 6 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Maco-3, your setup reminds me my old cushcraft ten-3. if you like to have both polarizations, have you considered to use something like the Moonracker 4 (Maco's Shooting Star 8 Element or Comet 6 Element Beam)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Maco-3, your setup reminds me my old cushcraft ten-3. if you like to have both polarizations, have you considered to use something like the Moonracker 4 (Maco's Shooting Star 8 Element or Comet 6 Element Beam)? If I only had the money This is the poor mans bipolar beam Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 KWØA Have used cw (my favorite), ssb, am, vhf/uhf fm, rtty, packet, WSJT meteor scatter, couple other modes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 It's easy to roll your own. I put up an off center fed dipole that works pretty well on HF. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 It's easy to roll your own. I put up an off center fed dipole that works pretty well on HF. Yup......the most fun in all of it is DIY, and the ability to make your own antenna from "junk" layen around...."priceless" 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jrance@iacwds.com 716 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Kudos to all the Ham Operators and the fantastic hobby. For the rest looking in just realize that any drone (and satellite for sure) will home right in on that – same same with a cell phone. The fact you even have the battery installed will lite you up like a neon sign. Just sayin'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 ...only if you're transmitting, which I rarely do, then only for a couple of seconds at a time. It's not a party line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TapeWorm3 104 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 K5MOZ -US call 3DA0TT- Swaziland call Very active Quote Link to post Share on other sites
macbeau 902 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 KF4AFR -- .- -.-. -... . .- ..- ... . -. -.. ... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulyski 2,227 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Never got licensed as a civi though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AE86FL 6 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 you did a good job on your tower. it is time to work on a very good grounding system. and copper is expensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
termite 463 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I was wondering what a good lightening bolt would do to that tower. What would be the proper way of grounding to keep it out of the house, or could it be done. We get big ass bolts dancing all around our house during the good storms. Last one dropped a 40ft pine tree up on the hill, about 100 feet from the house, and lite up the sky like a GIANT flash bulb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 The tower is grounded, and lightning arrestors are installed on the feedline, if it's done correctly. I've worked everything from maintenance/installation to design on high power radios/comm stations for the last 30 plus years. That's how we do it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AE86FL 6 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 (edited) As Patriot mentioned "tower grounded". a solid grounding system is needed for lightning protection. it utilized mulitple grounding points with equal ground potential. quality lightning arrestors on all incoming feedlines is a must. Edited January 1, 2013 by AE86FL 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunman1 1,753 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 The tower is grounded, and lightning arrestors are installed on the feedline, if it's done correctly.I've worked everything from maintenance/installation to design on high power radios/comm stations for the last 30 plus years. That's how we do it. I looked you up on QRZ......impressive. Unless someone has money running out of their but, most people start into this very small, but man it doesn't take long for it morph, much of it comes through trading and older operators helping younger ones come along. ARRL specs. for tower grounding is a seperate 8ft copper clad rod for each leg of the tower, each rod located 1ft from the tower leg and bonded with copper strap. I do have grounding in place, but it isn't ARRL spec., so I'm living on the edge right now, but it is winter and I should be ok till March. I'm hoping to obtain the supplies needed at the Feb. Hamfest in Richmond, it's HUGE. All things in time, I try to do something every day to be prepared for various scenarios, I do the best I can with what I have at the time, and always leaving the option to upgrade. Like I said earlier in the post....I started with 30 ft. of 1-1/2 galvenized pipe strapped to house, the tower is a huge upgrade for me. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 As a newbe to this, yall got any links on the web to do a bit of readind and price checking? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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