kidphc
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Posts posted by kidphc
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Our numbers have been dwindling. Mostly to our Elmer's no longer being with us. We we were always a small number what is it 1% of the global population.I looked it up earlier this year and there were something like 13 thousand more active ham licenses last year than the year before. That doesn’t point to it going away.
Basic testing is necessary in order to ensure that people have learned the bare minimum regulations and a small amount of the science. Many of the most basic questions that people ask when they become involved in radio are those things that a person learns while studying to pass the Technician test. Not only that but the questions are all publicly available. Eight year old children pass the test. Some ham clubs even have one day cram and test days where a person goes through the material for a while and then immediately tests on it.
The test is truly not a barrier unless a person is unwilling to put forth any effort at all.
But there are certainly a lot of new hams. Always 2-3 new technicians on one local weekly club net.
Food for thought. This snapshot was 40m. For those unaware, each vertical line is a transmission.
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We have those types. Like I say aholes and jerks in every group.There are plenty of folks running around with GMRS who already don't follow the simple rules (identify transmissions, no swearing, etc.). Can you imagine if these same folks decided to do the same on analog public service bands (telling cops and fire bogus information)? And no, I am not an amateur radio licensee.
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Well. The are things that are essential to the technician test that really are relevant. It is a real easy test (depending on skill and background) most people test with in a month of studying the material. Crap some do it in little less then 2 weeks.Posted from other discussion.
If the Hams are willing to help others to become Hams, then why don't they help in doing away with the Test that is required to get a license? I can see the purpose in the test for the advance license levels but, for the entry level license, I can see that will keep people in the future from being a HAM and the hobby will eventually be nearly non-existent, maybe not tomorrow, but I feel the future will be on the horizon very soon.
That is probably why GMRS is becoming so popular with the younger generations. I know the older Hams won't agree in doing away with the entry level license test because they had to take the test but they better think about the future of the hobby before their frequencies become less crowded with Ham hobbyists as time marches on.
It will be interesting to know the stats on the number of people becoming Hams today as opposed yesteryear.
Gmrs/frs like cbs are compartimilized/channeled. Lmr/commercial radios the license is set to the entity and not the user. Hence, why front panel programming is really limited if even avaible. Non radio people mucking with a radio isn't a good idea.
Most ham radios we can spin the dial (vfo) to whatever frequency in or out of band as we want to a point. Depends on the radio, we get limited also to prevent inadvertant interference. Still happens on band edges. We don't just do what ever, because of interference to adjacent frequencies and band plans as well as etiquite. Don't be that guy.
Believe or not gmrs/frs frequencies are actually stitched between lmr/commercial frequencies. Could you imagine the chaos/interference if the service wasn't channelized.
Really about 75%-80% of the questions on this forum could almost be answered by just studying the technician material.
It covers quite a bit of information. From rf exposure, what antenna style does what the best and its negatives. Different modes of operations as well as light legal information.
I for one, do not want to have it go away. It's an easy test, fast and cheap. Gives some rudimentary information on a broad spectrum of radio topics. People miss understand amateur radio a bit. It is amazing the different things you can do.
Think about this for a second. We technicians can blast away at legal limit 1500watts. Do we? Nope for the most part no. Several reasons why, but to the average person whom had no knowledge (unfortunately most license by device or no skill test) first thing they would do would be to price the cheapest ht, highest gain antenna and the cheapest most powerful amplifier to out reach and out talk everyone else.
Crap if you are close by (30 minutes or so), I will hand you old material, help you study. If you needed the support hold your hand as you walk in to take the test.
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10 hours ago, WRKC935 said:
Interesting.. Would like to hear a recording of what you are hearing. Curious if you have your radio programmed narrow band on the repeater channels or not. COmmon mistake that will cause audio issues on receive and transmit.
Truth is that radio is radio. Commercial, Ham, GMRS, FRS, it's all FM modulated carrier. It should all work about the same and sound about the same.
On 5/7/2023 at 12:07 AM, WRDC898 said:Outstanding point when hitting an IRL repeater! But, I also hear it on a local repeater where, yeah, you can tell if someone is on a mobile or HT, bit it's not that "wuan, wuan, wwwaun 9 wauuuun 7 won" I hear every day. I think I'm just totally spoiled listening to 2m nets where the people sound like they're sitting next to me or just crystal clear. Granted, some of these guys have thousands just into their desk mic not to mention their equipment.
2 Different services. Most of the quality ham gear starts in price, where the most expensive chinacom (not all are bad) gear ends in price. Even the beloved KG100G is a ham radio with new firmware to lock it down for GMRS. Is it a bad radio? NO, its a great to even fantastic radio. Even then there were compromises made to get it into a price point. But the target audience was different. So you always kinda get what you pay for, more features and better components etc.
My fengs have always gotten the under driven, under modulated, you are readable but scratchy comments. Wonder if the mics are garbage, actually I know the answer, they are. So not completely shocked about the comments about the UV5R.
Wooxun to me has been a good company like Allinco and Anytone, for the most part. Crap a lot of radios now a days, seem just to be retags/reboxed/relabelled of the same 4-5 manufacturer's radios. So generally, you get similar performance across that radio style regardless of it being a bs19999ht 100 watt ht or myass200000ht.
I get what the OP is saying. I have been spoiled by ham and lmr gear. I guess I shouldn't say spoiled but kinda had my bar of expectations high.
I think some of the Harris radios the receive audio I wish was more like a Motorola. Damn, Motorola radios receive beautifully and most of the speakers have left me with no desire for improvement. Which for me says a huge amount.
- SteveShannon, WRDC898 and gortex2
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Yup. Kinda weary of the used or older ones for that reason.Before spending your money try to track down the data sheet for the switch. Many times you can find it on line. In other cases sending a friendly email off to the company's sales or tech support department might work.
The other thing to look at is the power handling capacity of the switch. A switch you're interested in might be cheap because it won't do more than maybe a few watts.
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7 minutes ago, tweiss3 said:
Yea. In my case, its more beneficial to run separate lines as I might also include a mast mounted pre-amp for better receive.
Most definitely.
If you ever need Mouser will let you search for a relay that might work. SurplusSales can have stuff that might work as well.
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There are spdt and dpdt switches. But then you would have to do everything. They are also very expensive as you get up to shf frequencies. Guess because they are often marketed to cell providers.Yea, I was searching last month for a switch that would hold up at 1200MHz. Couldn't find a single one. Well, if I remember, there is an old bird switch that is NLA, but was about $2000. I decided the project would have better results if I just went and ran individual hardlines for what I needed, and either manual switch at the base station, or physically move the coax between radios.
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The 2m/70cm yagi were for ssb with the ft991a. The x200 was for ht/repeater/ fm work again with the ft991a.Going to have a lot of polarization mismatch losses -- most all 2m/70cm (and GMRS) are vertically polarized signals (mobiles and HTs)
The gmrs yagi is set for vertical
polarization with either a xtl5000 or one of the cdm1250s I have laying around.
Sorry for any confusion.
Got word back from Mfj, not going to work around 500MHz.
The ebay seller said around 450 MHz it is a vswr of 1.5 and climbs fast.
So I guess I am running another lmr400 run. Then saving up for a 2-4 port remote switch for the other yagis, vertical and fan dipole.
Thanks to all for entertaining this thread.
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Sent an e-mail to MFJ about the Ameritron 8v. I asked if they had any documentation on specs post 250MHz up to 500 MHz.
I did find this information in the manual
- VSWR at all frequencies up to 250 MHz. Only a slight compromise in VSWR occurs at 450 MHz. Power rating is four kilo...
- WRUU653 and SteveShannon
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1 minute ago, WRUU653 said:
It just means it transfers one source to another for a common output.
P.S. I like where you’re heading with this solution.
Thanks I guess. lol...
If the Ameritron 8v was rated to more the 250 Mhz. This thread would not exist. Might contact Ameritron to see what the VSWR is like 250 MHZ up from the rated 250 and 1.2. Might be the turn key reasonable priced option I was looking for.
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2 minutes ago, Sshannon said:
Right - I wouldn’t buy one without having something to go by.
Kinda a big worry. I contacted an Ebay seller of ip addressed wifi remote switches.
I asked to see if he had anything spec'ed for DC- 800Mhz or so. Keeping fingers crossed.
I guess I was hoping for a diy kit I could modify with different relays so the losses and the cost wouldn't be obnoxious. Either case starting to lean to surplus 12vdc radial (nominal 10vdc-14vdc) coaxial switches. Then i can simply it power it from the power supply of the radio.
Should be an costly learning affair.
- SteveShannon and WRUU653
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1 minute ago, Sshannon said:
Those both look good. I’d love to see what’s inside the box.
Biggest problem with some of the used gear is finding diagrams to help with pin outs.
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2 minutes ago, Sshannon said:
Here’s a schematic for one of the Transco transfer switches. I like the fact that when it’s unpowered the common defaults to port one. I would hook that to either a dummy load or ground.
https://www.hamanuals.com/MMans/Transco Switch - Schematic.pdf
No clue what the difference is between that and a transfer switch. Hell not 100% positive on what they mean when an ad says its a transfer switch. Just kinda figured it was a mechanical latching style switch. Might just be overthinking it. To the point, I also noted most almost all the transfer switch default to port one.
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Yeah that is what I figure. They seem to be straight forward. Staring at more that have a db9 or that style connector. Since it will be much easier to source and rig a serial connector to cat6e with a straight patch or simple soldering. With some of these connectors it might be a complete pain to locate.
Another one I have been looking at. It looks even easier to wire up.
Please feel free to pick up anything you locate. I am still deep in research stage, with a while to go before I even start experimenting.
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I have been looking at surplus switches on ebay. I would need to figure out the controller as wellWhat about one of these surplus coax switches. Several use SMA or N switches. Here’s one in particular that only requires 24 vDC to actuate and it latches.
https://www.rfparts.com/switches/switches-coax/062-b37-a1c-4a2-loral-p.html
It is one of the more viable options.
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I would. But drilling through 3 floors (2 being hardwood flooring) might make the xyl more upset then the coax. LolFor the antennas in the attic just run all the wires internally. You don’t need lightning protection for them and the HOA should never know or care.
Only run the coax for the HF outside.
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- WRUU653 and SteveShannon
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I have a Diamond X200a in my attic for 2m/70cm fm operation. Was given a 7 element DIY GMRS Yagi. Which will have to go in the attic also, because of the HOA.
i was investigating remote coax switches to limit the runs of wires going up the side of the house. Don't want the HOA to have a reason to poke around my house and see my bird stoop random wire antenna.I was planning on mounting a horizontal polarised 3 element 70cm yagi, a 3 element horizontal 2m yagi as well as the GMRS yagi. With a possibility of a fan dipole for hf.
However, on investigation there aren't many if at all off the shelf remote coax switches that support vhf/uhf/gmrs frequencies. Most are HF or SUHF (silly expensive). Gonna be hard to explain why I have up to 4-7 runs of coax and control wires etc. Going up the side of the house. It's ugly already the way it is with one run of LMR400. Diplexers are kinda out due to the fact that i would need so many of them adding to the cost.
I thought about buying a DIY switch kit on ebay, modifying it to use CX-140D (silly expensive, cost about $300 aprox $70 each just to cover the uhf/vhf ). Really not sure if I have the skills or thought process to do this.
I should mention that the current coax line is DC Blocked at the lightning arrestor. So using coax as a control channel will not work.
Any ideas or suggestions on economical ways to do this?
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Nanovnas are awesome. Especially, when building antennas. But overtly complicated for most.
They do have some what of a steep but fast learning curve to them.
Most just buy a surecom, really more then enough. Fairly fast and not complicated.
If really serious, you start looking at rigexperts and up. But they are $$$.
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23 hours ago, Lscott said:
I doubt you'll have much luck with that. The following is my understanding.
Typically the trunking systems requires the radios to register, or affiliate, with the system. The trunking systems are designed so any radio that accesses the system has to be preregistered on the system. The radio requires special programming using a system key file that is tied to the specific trunking system and has to be obtained from the system owner, which you most likely will never get. In fact the TK-5220/5320 Kenwood radios I have won't allow you to even edit the trunking system network info in the programming software without first loading the system key file. All you see it the default values which you can't change.
The radio when it receives a transmission it's coded such that the radio knows it's from a trunked system. Without the programming with the system key file the radio will not decode the audio. That's how they maintain security.
I have a buddy that purchased a used Motorola XTS-5000 on 800MHz. There was a hack he found so the radio could be spoofed in to doing what is called "non-affiliated" scanning. I haven't heard of others using different radios successfully.
Even if you did find a way to scan a P25 trunked system your efforts might still be wasted since more agencies are going encrypted.
Then there is P25 Phase 2 which is specific for trunking systems. Unless you pay BIG bucks for a newer P25 radio with Phase 2 you're dead in the water if that's what they are using. All my radios are Phase 1 since I use them for Ham and monitoring commercial conventional repeater systems. As far as I know Phase 2 is not used on the Ham bands.
The NXDN trunked systems work about the same. I did read someplace where it was claimed some of the Icom radios will do "non-affiliated" scanning. I know the Kenwood radios won't.
One other thing about the Kenwood NX-210 radios. I think there is railroad specific firmware for them too, so if you're looking to buy you might want to inquire with the seller if that the case. Since the NX-200's are basically the same radio I haven't been all the interested in getting one so I never worried about it or researched it.
Part of the reason i love the Harris 100p. 2 check boxes and it won't affiliate or transmit on, said said trunked sets. Unlike some Motorola radios that will try to affiliate if you don't do it right. Then the radio will get zapped, to get it working again the system admin will have to unlock it. But good luck on explaining that and not ending up with hefty fines, the middle finger or some potential jail time.
Better to get a scanner for the cost they are awesome. With a GMRS radio you are set. Sure you gotta carry 2 radios, but for simplicity,cost and legality wise it is going to be simpler.
Really, wish there was ham gear that could do p25, trunked work. But it would be low volume. To be fair how many repeaters would even ever be set up for trunking? Yep, that is the answer I came up with.
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Not really any issues but wear and tear and the cost of the installs on each vehicle.
For the battery charger issue, might want to contact midland to see if there would be an issue. Really wasn't designed for the way you want to work it.
I thought something similar using an xts5000 hand held, several XTVA units (dock for the ht) in different cars. Problem was the amplifier, it just got expensive.
It would of been cheaper to have a anytone 779/radioitty 20g in each car.
So there are several ways to skin the cat.
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Normally, you do need 2sdrs. One for control and 1 for scan.Haven't tried Unitrunker. I thought you had to have at least two SDR receivers to track trunked systems. I just have one at the moment (DX Patrol) but looking at getting different as a 2nd SDR receiver - looking at a RSPduo but find it hard to stomach the $300.
Always thought the duo was built for contesters. Kinda gave it a glancing thought for trunking work. But then you are getting into sds100/g5 prices.
Frugal radio on YouTube setup trunk tracking and scanning with 1 rtlsdr (cheapest option I know of).
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Have you unitrunker? How is it? I recommended giving it a try to someone whom was trying to listen to p25 and dmr trunked systems.SDR Sharp with Simple APCO (p25) and Simple DMR plugins most of the time. Simple point and click the waterfall for analog and most unencrypted DMR and P25 traffic. Kinda like HDSDR for the limited HF I listen too though. I'm a Windows guy and currently have HDSDR, SDR Console, SDR Sharp, SDR Uno, SDR++, SDR Trunk and SDR Angel installed. Spektrum is a pretty cool as well, makes your SDR dongle into a quick down and dirty spectrum analyzer and actually works pretty good.
Out of of a lot of the software that was kinda free it had something that had something like a GUI vs dsd+ (I think that is what it was called).
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Sounds like you will be upgrading the jeep again. Maybe the new one with the fully floating rear axle and a diesel.. lol
I thought about buying an inexpensive used pop-up travel trailer. Depending on how the year goes, that may happen next year.
I've been eyeballing a motorized cart with big inflatable tires and a 500 lb capacity. It costs about $1,000. Maybe as we closer to the end of the year.
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- SteveShannon and marcspaz
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Actually, Marc ever thought about a small trailer with a motorized trailer dolly?
Only since you do the events so often?
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Coaxial cable
in Technical Discussion
Posted
Least amount of loss, aircore hard line. Like heliax. Usually, used on repeaters. Avg $2-7 a foot.
Most commonly used for 100ft. Probably lmr400. Acceptable cost and acceptable losses. Avg $1-4 a foot. You could also look at lmr600, but it gets to aircore levels of stiffness, which can make routing difficult.
Keep in mind the connectors also come into play. Really high quality "n" connectors can average $25 each.
So it's best to set the budget. Your expectations and meet in the middle or what you are comfortable with.
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