Any Ham/CB Operators Here?

[patriot 7,197]

This one should do what you need, and it won't break the bank.

It handles trunking, is fully configurable via Windows.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/4800.html

[Conscript 99]

RE: Scanner, I like to use a handheld uniden BCD396 with a 800mhz magnetic whip in the car. Just know that by using a freq specific antenna your going to lose out on either certain freq ranges depending on which one you select. The rubber duck that comes with it is multipurpose and actually works pretty well.

 

If I'm taking a long trip I will use the rubber duck as the State Patrol here is still on conventional, whereas the local/county police/fire/ems/etc are digital trunked. Also to note, don't plan on doing 80+mph with a magnetic mount, personal experience.

 

ETA: Also get an area specific frequency book, they are available on radioreference.com, it's even got drivethroughs and casino security freqs.

Edited January 19, 2013 by Conscript

[HB of CJ 1,263]

Anybody remember when we made that radio receiver crystal set for our Cub Scout merit badge? In Boy Scouts we took it one step further and made a two way radio out of about the same stuff including a toilet paper roll, some wire, a rusty razor blade and a safety pin. Even made the battery out of potatoes. I also need to get back into Ham radio...it is very fun. HB of CJ (old coot)

[jdtravers 637]

I was a Special Forces Radio Operator (18E) and Light Weapons (18B) and cut my teeth on the Viet Nam Era AN/GRC 109 Radio. Consisted of a Transmitter, Receiver, Power Supply and a Hand Cranked Generator. We had to cross load all the commo gear because of the weight. This radio used plug in crystals just like our base station radio of that era the AN/FRC-93.

 

Seem like yesterday!! Everything was SSB, HF, Manual Morse Code and we used the AN/GRA-71 Code burst Device.

 

Definitely don't miss carrying a 100 + pound ruck every time I went out. I was lucky to see our communications go from the analog era to the digital era and the changes are really amazing.

 

Jack

[patriot 7,197]

That's been replaced by a radio smaller than your Vietnam era walkie talkie.

[jdtravers 637]

That I know! I have stayed active in Special Operations since that time and the changes in communications are pretty wild. My most important piece of survival/E&E equipment is/was my Thuraya Satelite Phone! Never left base without it!

 

Jack

[Spartacus 1,619]

For me the idea is to put it in the gobag, not for everyday use. For the price...if I never use it I haven't lost much

 

Looks like it's holding up well for every day use too....

 

 

"Extra heavy use of the UV-5R for the past few months

Posted By: vortex_ia

Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:07 pm

 

 

Well I gotta say, I'm really impressed with this $48 radio. Unlike my more

expensive HT's I take this one everywhere. It has been in use every day of the

week for the past several months and its holding up very well.

 

Even the BF-888S UHF 16 channel model for $23 is another great buy from the 409

Shop! I jointed the Yahoo group for this radio an uploaded all of the programs

and drivers need for this radio. It uses the same cable as the UV-5R so there

is nothing else to buy. An incredibly inexpensive radio to have in all of your

vehicles just in case.

 

I also bought the Nagoya NA=771 for my UV-5R. I don't really notice any

difference in performance, but this may be because I am less than a mile from

the 3 major repeaters I use continuously. I can normally hit them all with

about 1 watt.

 

Anyway, this little rig has become my primary HT and it still going strong.

Also the battry life is still incredible! All day transmitting and receiving

with power to spare on the way home! Once this guy dies, I will buy another one

without hesitation!

 

73's

--

Joe

KC2ZKI"

 

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baofeng_uv5r/message/19216

[gunman1 1,753]

Anybody remember when we made that radio receiver crystal set for our Cub Scout merit badge? In Boy Scouts we took it one step further and made a two way radio out of about the same stuff including a toilet paper roll, some wire, a rusty razor blade and a safety pin. Even made the battery out of potatoes. I also need to get back into Ham radio...it is very fun. HB of CJ (old coot)

I remember climbing under the kitchen sink and scraping a bare spot on the cold water line for a ground to use with it, good memories

 

For me the idea is to put it in the gobag, not for everyday use. For the price...if I never use it I haven't lost much

 

Looks like it's holding up well for every day use too....

 

 

"Extra heavy use of the UV-5R for the past few months

Posted By: vortex_ia

Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:07 pm

 

 

Well I gotta say, I'm really impressed with this $48 radio. Unlike my more

expensive HT's I take this one everywhere. It has been in use every day of the

week for the past several months and its holding up very well.

 

Even the BF-888S UHF 16 channel model for $23 is another great buy from the 409

Shop! I jointed the Yahoo group for this radio an uploaded all of the programs

and drivers need for this radio. It uses the same cable as the UV-5R so there

is nothing else to buy. An incredibly inexpensive radio to have in all of your

vehicles just in case.

 

I also bought the Nagoya NA=771 for my UV-5R. I don't really notice any

difference in performance, but this may be because I am less than a mile from

the 3 major repeaters I use continuously. I can normally hit them all with

about 1 watt.

 

Anyway, this little rig has become my primary HT and it still going strong.

Also the battry life is still incredible! All day transmitting and receiving

with power to spare on the way home! Once this guy dies, I will buy another one

without hesitation!

 

73's

--

Joe

KC2ZKI"

 

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baofeng_uv5r/message/19216

 

Thanks for update, I have yet hear any bad reports.......considering the cost.

[bklebel 0]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

[gunman1 1,753]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

Actually around the world....Its all about the antenna and mother nature!

 

27.385 LSB is my CB standby freq, I go by WWO667, give a call if you have conditions round Viginia

[kresk 10,063]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

I've worked Burma on 10m with 5w output when condx are right.

[MT Predator 2,294]

I was lucky to see our communications go from the analog era to the digital era and the changes are really amazing.

My team had a couple of AN/PRC-117 Foxtrots in which we could transmit encrypted voice/text/data/photos and connect through a satellite for over the horizon comms. You could fit the radio, sat dish and other accessories plus a Panasonic Toughbook into a Camelback HAWG. You could talk to Mars with that setup! Each individual also had a AN/PRC-148 JTRS Enhanced MBITR so we could talk amongst ourselves or to anyone and their Grandmother.

 

My most important piece of survival/E&E equipment is/was my Thuraya Satelite Phone! Never left base without it!

We had a couple of sat phones too. Made us the popular kids on the block while deployed as we handed it to everyone to call home with especially those who hadn't phoned home for months.

 

Sorry for the threadjack! I have run CBs and scanners in vehicles forever. I need to step up to Ham soon.

Edited January 22, 2013 by MT Predator

[gunman1 1,753]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

I've worked Burma on 10m with 5w output when condx are right.

I never ran any extra power until this past year, I never had a radio with more than 4 watts AM, 12 watts SSB, but I always had good antennas, and mother nature allowed me to talk around the world in those early years I was into it. All on 11 meters.

[patriot 7,197]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

 

100W on CB channel 38? Break laws much? I hope you get caught and everything seized. You make it hard on the rest of us.

 

Wanna play with real range and power? Get your license and do it legally on properly allocated frequencies.

Edited January 22, 2013 by patriot

[bklebel 0]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

Actually around the world....Its all about the antenna and mother nature!

 

27.385 LSB is my CB standby freq, I go by WWO667, give a call if you have conditions round Viginia

Look forward to making contact with you, my call sign is 507 in southern, Mn.

[bklebel 0]

Great topic..When the conditions are right a 100 watt radio on 27.385 lsb can talk coast to coast with a

good verticle antenna. Its all about the antenna and mother nature! 2SD507 have fun.

 

100W on CB channel 38? Break laws much? I hope you get caught and everything seized. You make it hard on the rest of us.

 

Wanna play with real range and power? Get your license and do it legally on properly allocated frequencies.

Patriot.. you are correct 100 watts is breaking the law and i do not encourage that kind of operation, my Bad.

My operation runs QRP that is more of a challenge to make contacts with.

[patriot 7,197]

Wanna see a killer HF radio system?

 

http://www.thalescomminc.com/maritime/hfps.asp

[Spartacus 1,619]

RE: Scanner, I like to use a handheld uniden BCD396 with a 800mhz magnetic whip in the car. Just know that by using a freq specific antenna your going to lose out on either certain freq ranges depending on which one you select. The rubber duck that comes with it is multipurpose and actually works pretty well.

 

If I'm taking a long trip I will use the rubber duck as the State Patrol here is still on conventional, whereas the local/county police/fire/ems/etc are digital trunked. Also to note, don't plan on doing 80+mph with a magnetic mount, personal experience.

 

ETA: Also get an area specific frequency book, they are available on radioreference.com, it's even got drivethroughs and casino security freqs.

 

Ended up getting the BCD396XT on sale (419.00) at Rat Shack.

Very cool radio! Amazing number of features in a small package.

 

Works well on P25 and EDACS (what's not encrypted that is).

 

Never had a scanner before and this was way more than I wanted

to spend, but I think it's worth it. Interesting to listen to what's going

on locally and it could be extremely valuable in SHTF situations.

[gunman1 1,753]

I talked to this guy a couple of weeks ago, he puts out an amazing signal, and he's a pretty cool guy to talk to. The crazy thing was talking to someone in texas and listening to my coversation on my computer (about 3-sec. delay), after it went through Giancarlo's radio in Italy.

See this link http://www.ustream.tv/new/search?q=1SD227

[Spartacus 1,619]

I talked to this guy a couple of weeks ago, he puts out an amazing signal, and he's a pretty cool guy to talk to. The crazy thing was talking to someone in texas and listening to my coversation on my computer (about 3-sec. delay), after it went through Giancarlo's radio in Italy.

See this link http://www.ustream.tv/new/search?q=1SD227

 

I'm not up on this stuff yet, but is that portion of 11m open now?

 

I don't even see 11m on the ARRL band chart.

 

The stuff I read online indicates the range above CB and below 10m is freebanders and pirates.

[kresk 10,063]

I talked to this guy a couple of weeks ago, he puts out an amazing signal, and he's a pretty cool guy to talk to. The crazy thing was talking to someone in texas and listening to my coversation on my computer (about 3-sec. delay), after it went through Giancarlo's radio in Italy.

See this link http://www.ustream.tv/new/search?q=1SD227

 

I'm not up on this stuff yet, but is that portion of 11m open now?

 

I don't even see 11m on the ARRL band chart.

 

The stuff I read online indicates the range above CB and below 10m is freebanders and pirates.

Eleven meters includes the CB band, not amateur, so it won't show up on the ARRL band chart. Ten meters is iffy at this time and nothing like the last sunspot cycle. You can check realtime spots on the ham bands, including 10 meters, here http://www.dxsummit.fi/

[jdtravers 637]

Was taking to a customer, probably about 2 years ago, who said he worked in an observatory observing/counting sunspots, etc. He told me that the numbers where in a major decline that would be indicative of a mini ice age.

 

I haven't kept up with prop charts, antenna design, and such in over 20 years. I also went/graduated from the Frequency Managers School at Kessler Air Force Base back in 1983 where I learned a boatload of information of which I was only interested in High Frequency, as that is what we utilized for operational purposes in Special Forces at the time.

 

So I was wondering, are the Sun Spots in decline, rendering the higher frequencies (11 Meters) not useable for long range skip/hop during the daytime?

 

Jack

[kresk 10,063]

Here is the solar cycle prediction http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml The current cycle will not top out anywhere near the last solar cycle, but it will be later this year. There is always hope for 10m dx skip during daylight. Just don't hold your breath for working Burma on 10m with 5 watts like I did the last cycle.

[gunman1 1,753]

I'm on 11 meters right now, 27.3850, and the DX is just plain rollin from up north (Canada).

[patriot 7,197]

Check out what HAM radio is all bout with these Web-controlled radios. Listen in real time.

 

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Internet_and_Radio/Online_Receivers/

 

http://www.livecbradio.com/ham-radio.htm

[gunman1 1,753]

Here is the solar cycle prediction http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml  The current cycle will not top out anywhere near the last solar cycle, but it will be later this year. There is always hope for 10m dx skip during daylight. Just don't hold your breath for working Burma on 10m with 5 watts like I did the last cycle.

 

Well here we are, almost a year later and the daytime DX on 11 meters is still pretty good. Europe in the morning, western states all afternoon, Pacific (including South Pacific) for a brief period in the evening, not bad!

[patriot 7,197]

My antenna's down right now, and it's too effin' cold to go put it back up.I had it strung through the trees, and some asshole cut about 3' off one trailing end. I wish I'd have seen him do it. PA's a castle doctrine state.

[gunman1 1,753]

My antenna's down right now, and it's too effin' cold to go put it back up.I had it strung through the trees, and some asshole cut about 3' off one trailing end. I wish I'd have seen him do it. PA's a castle doctrine state.

Well that sucks, pray for warmth! I know of a few that something like that needs to happen to....radio trolls

 

I installed the additional 10' of tower that I acquired, it helped with some of the noise I was getting and, my SWR went completely flat across the entire 11 meter band, I mean the needle on the meter has no detectable movement     I was pretty surprised at how much weight it added, my poor little winch almost didn't pull it up, it's only rated for 2,00 lbs. I've got an idea going for a counterweight system to assist the winch and, hopefully stabilize things a little better, as it can get pretty "JERKY" when raising and lowering it

[whitetrashrn 74]

Awesome set up AA.  I do know in any major emergency "Com is King" is one of the truest statements ever said. Reading this thread

convinced me to buy a Baofeng UV-82L. I wanted to have a radio for the backpack. It came in the mail today. Its a nice little unit. New to this I am a complete brick. Aside from the bare bones instructions it comes with can you point me in the correct direction on info. that would allow me to program and operate this device. I do understand there may be licensing issues but as of now I want just to learn a new form of communication in case of a severe emergency. maybe pick it up as a hobby in the future.. Thanks in advance ..

[Spartacus 1,619]

It should program the same way as the UV-5R. You can use the mfr. software or a free one called "Chirp".

I use Chirp and it works well.

 

You'll have to do some searching to find repeaters in your area. It's great to have a scanner to find traffic

on the 2m band. Once you find some repeaters and the popular freqs in your area you can program them

into your HT.

 

Here's the Yahoo user group for the UV-5R (lots of info there):

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baofeng_uv5r/

 

Also check out the Radio Reference forums:

 

http://forums.radioreference.com/

 

You may also find that you can receive fire/police on your HT, you'll have to search for the freqs used in your area.

Obviously, do NOT try to talk to them on the radio.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Spartacus