Muzic2Me
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Posts posted by Muzic2Me
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17 hours ago, Muzic2Me said:
I also own this radio. I love it!.. The one issue I have is that when you hit the FM option and save our channels(FM), there isn't a way to go straight to a channel. you have to Press the PTT2 and then scan to get to the channel you want to listen to, or I haven't figured a way otherwise.
The radio station that is
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On 1/11/2021 at 8:08 PM, mbrun said:
I finally made the purchase of the HD 46’ push-up fiberglass mast I referenced in my earlier post. This weekend I rigged things up in a temporary way to conduct tests with local (and not so local) repeaters, as well as do some local simplex work.
The image below shows my antenna at full elevation (56’ AGL to tip of Antenna). Mast was installed in a temporary way just for testing. Eventually it will get moved next to the house. Amazing how plumb the mast was being guyed only at 7’3” (not good long term, but good enough for testing).
The antenna is a Comet 712EFC Collinear 9dBi.
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-ca-712ef
Cable is TMW LMR400
Mast is from DX Engineering.
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-tfk46-hd
All of my testing consisted of using two handheld 5w radios. One feeding the Comet antenna, one in the car using an MXTA-26 antenna.
First, the high-point of the testing. I was able to communicate from my home southeast of Cincinnati to the Dayton 700 repeater located 50 miles north(straight line distance) using approx 3 watts of input power into the antenna. Signal report from a Dayton area resident was “very good” and “into the repeater solid”, perfectly suitable for a QSO. That alone made my weekend.
On the local front I was able to get into three local repeaters located 20, 21 and 26 miles way. Got in with full quieting to the one 20 miles away (“just as though I was next door”), and with just a hint of noise on the ones 21 and 26 miles away. Getting the antenna up high obviously makes a huge difference.
On the simplex front I found I could achieve pretty reliable coverage out 4 to 5 miles where things transitioned to hit and mis out to about 7-8 miles when all seemed to die completely. I expect the reliable range will decrease as foliage comes back. Not bad though for a couple of lower power HT and with good external antennas.
It will be nice to experience the positive change to simplex coverage after I up the power of the base and mobile to legal limits.
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM
Curious...So, you were able to hit a repeater 50 miles away on 3 watts. but not able to talk simplex 7-8 miles? Just curious to why you could reach repeater that far away and not farther on simplex. Same wattage for the same distances?
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2 hours ago, mbrun said:
I use the Comet CA-712EFC for GMRS. Has worked well for me over the last year. 9dBi of gain, and very well factory tuned. Not necessarily an appropriate antenna if you live in a valley and the repeater is on top of nearby mountain or vice-versa, but appropriate if the terrain is flat to moderately rolling.
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLMAre they pretty sturdy in the wind?
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My power supply came in today. It and my Coax cable are staring at each other waiting on the KG-1000g to arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing how it performs. I have been using a HT for the last 3 weeks tied to the Base antenna. Not too much excitement. The nearest repeater to me is 20 miles with tall hills in between us. I have charted it on a RF line of sight calculator and its 140' tower mounted and I'm 20'ish.I will definitely correct that issue. We will see if the base will push it out there a bit farther. In the meanwhile, studying up for the Amateur technicians' license. I tell ya, when you fall into the radio hobby and wanting to go higher and stronger, one must work longer...and pay more..i guess i have the fever now.
I am currently using Ed Fongs UHF omni-directional antenna and I find no problems with it all, but any suggestions on a great qualtiy base station that is farther reaching and great quality? TRAM, Comets, etc......anyone?
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51 minutes ago, WROZ250 said:
Thanks Michael!
Actually , I am pretty familiar with Wouxun radios. While I only have one other, a UVD1P I picked up at a hamfest years ago, however, my other half seems to collect them and really struggles with the programming. LOL!
I'm pretty sure I wasn't using the menu incorrectly, but I totally agree with your comments on entering data that way.
Kinda funny, when I picked up the UVD1P, the guy selling them had no idea how to program anything into it and was stunned when after a few seconds I had figured out the menu system. They really are not that difficult, but then I've been in radio for over 50 years (retired now).
Thanks for the heads up on the UV8D. I have been reading through the manual and watching reviews. Quite frankly, I really don't need another Ham HT, so it's not like I'm ready to buy one (yet).
I really do like the 935G though, it is a really decent radio for the money and, as I noted before, I wanted to have a 'completely legal' radio for GMRS. I am not one for doing the 'MARS' mods on my ham rigs. Besides, I have a couple of commercial HTs that don't need the mods anyway.
In any event, Thanks Again for the comments!
I also own this radio. I love it!.. The one issue I have is that when you hit the FM option and save our channels(FM), there isn't a way to go straight to a channel. you have to Press the PTT2 and then scan to get to the channel you want to listen to, or I haven't figured a way otherwise.
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46 minutes ago, mbrun said:
As a general rule you do not need to have an SWR meter when purchasing and using a purpose-built antenna like the Ed-Fong and a number of others. However, as you will learn, having some basic test equipment in your radio tool box can be incredibly helpful when installing a radio and antenna system, confirming operation and when trying to diagnose problems. In the consumer radio world, the SWR meter is probably the simplest and most fundamental of all radio tools. In my view however, you should plan to get one, and learn how to use it.
To second question, the SWR is checking exactly what? I could give you a detailed explanation, but I thing I will defer you to youtube and google as there is far more out there that will do your question justice then any simple answer I can give here on the forum. In a nutshell, the SWR meter is used to gives you a sense of how well you antenna system matches (is tuned) to what the radio is expecting to experience on the frequencies you’ll be operating on. If it is not tuned well or is defective your radio could perform poorly or perhaps even be damaged.
Google ‘What is SWR’.
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLMThanks @mbrun.No better time to play around and learn with one I guess when the stuff is working right, ey.
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Just now, Muzic2Me said:
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5 minutes ago, PartsMan said:
Does anybody make one with a battery backup built in?
5 minutes ago, PartsMan said:Does anybody make one with a battery backup built in?
6 minutes ago, PartsMan said:Does anybody make one with a battery backup built in?
(1) Pilot G2 - Rugged LiFePo4 power system, made in the USA - Bing video
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Im new to the game .....So if purchased an Ed Fong UHF antenna that has worked well for my HT and is tuned already for 462 I should not really need to check anything, correct? IS the SWR meter for checking exactly what?
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Chomping at the bit for my delivery tomorrow and Friday. Finally will have a radio other than a HT. YaY! for me.
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38 minutes ago, Sshannon said:
Divide watts by volts to get amps. An advertisement for the Jackery 240 mentions 14.4 volts, so divide 130 watts by 14.4 volts and you get a little more than 9 amps.
Ohms Law
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12 hours ago, billwil said:
I have a KG1000-G and run it on a 30A continuous power supply. At 50 watts, I've never really seen it use more than 10 Watts when transmitting. It might go to 11 when I'm not looking just for that little extra (extra credit for the reference). Anyway, a 30A power supply should handle two 50 W radios, especially if you're not transmitting on both at the same time...which shouldn't happen very often if ever. But if you want to be sure, and plan on using both radios at the same time for transmitting, you could go a little higher on the continuous rating just to be sure.
I ended up purchasing the Astron SS-30m-AP switching. We will see how it works , hopefully before the weekend
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11 hours ago, wayoverthere said:
Not so much a product suggestion as a source...I've been checking out hamestate dot com, and they have some seemingly decent deals on some astron linear power supplies...I'm tempted. There's a triband alinco HT tempting me too, but I don't really have a use for 1.2ghz
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11 hours ago, wayoverthere said:
Not so much a product suggestion as a source...I've been checking out hamestate dot com, and they have some seemingly decent deals on some astron linear power supplies...I'm tempted. There's a triband alinco HT tempting me too, but I don't really have a use for 1.2ghz
Cool site. Thanks
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ooopppsss.. didn't mean to delete, I just wanted to edit....I went with the Astron MS-30m-AP switching.
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3 hours ago, WRPD494 said:
I have had an Astron RS-20a for a long time in my shack - very pleased. This was an upgrade from a Pyramid and a Radio Shack, which still get pressed into service if traveling, operating remotely, but still grid connected.
Don't skimp on a solid power supply - and quality connectors (like Anderson Power Poles, etc.).
Mark O.
WRPD494
KJ4OUS
You like the linear over switching?
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2 hours ago, WRPD494 said:
I have had an Astron RS-20a for a long time in my shack - very pleased. This was an upgrade from a Pyramid and a Radio Shack, which still get pressed into service if traveling, operating remotely, but still grid connected.
Don't skimp on a solid power supply - and quality connectors (like Anderson Power Poles, etc.).
Mark O.
WRPD494
KJ4OUS
Thanks for the info. I’ve heard to many good things about the brand, so I guess that’s were I’ll be heading.
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1 hour ago, marcspaz said:
I am in the Astron Camp, too. I have an SS-30M good for 30 amps cont, 40 peak. It's super quiet with the fans being off a vast majority of the time, and when they are on, they are high volume, low speed, so noise is reduced.
I run a 100w HF radio, a 50w VHF/UHF radio, a 40w GMRS radio, and a 225w VHF amplifier with it, and I use it to keep my 100 ah battery charged.
Thanks a lot for the info. Appreciated. I’ve heard great things about them.
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1 hour ago, mbrun said:
I use the ALINCO DM330MVT. When operating radios at 50-watts and less (
I have not viewed the PS signal on a scope so I cannot speak to the actual noise on its output. At VHF and UHF frequencies however I have observed no perceptible difference in receive audio quality between power supply and battery operation in the shack.
For over a year I have been pleased with the power supply performance.
Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLMThanks for the input!
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Who personally has a quiet fan, goof RF filtering power supply and what brand is it..?
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Thanks for the prompt response and the info you have provided.
”Buy once,cry once”…. Isn’t that the truth. I like that phrase!
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Wanting to inquire on Power supplies. I've reviewed endless GMRS Mobile/base station radios. I was going to possibly go with the Wouxon KG1000G. I have read great/ and not so great about them. I have HT Owouxon and would like to keep it together since I have been pretty stream less on getting through the menu for the most part (unless convinced not to purchase). But onto the power supply for it. It looks as if I need a 30 amp by my readings. Does anyone have any feedback on a chosen power supply unit. I haven't been able to locate what the specs. of the current draw is. I do know it's a 13.8vdc output power of 50/20/10/5 watts. I'm still thinking of what the continuous amps would have to be, and I assume that there isn't a Max amperage I have to worry about. Wouxon SPS31win rated at 30 max; 20A Continuous. Any advice/ preference is welcomed.
On a side note. Maybe one that will supply two radios, so when I get a HAM. I will knock out two-birds with one-stone..??
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3 hours ago, Tyke said:
Well thank you sir believe it or not my antenna will be mounted on 2 1/2 pipe reducing to 1’’ pipe at the top, 80’ tall, top and middle attached to tree. Concrete base and will be hinged to be able to lower it down for servicing. I have to rent a 125’ boom lift to get the reach and height. Weather is slowing me down here. May have to wait till spring. I’ll post pics when done.
Hope its not a Pine. They sway when the wind gets up. Please post pics
Better option
in Technical Discussion
Posted
Installed my new 50 mobile as a base station on a 5 db Ed Fong antenna 25' up tuned for GMRS. Purchased a 20" UT-72G 3.5 db magnetic for the vehicle attached to the HT. I honestly did not tell the difference at all in distance between the roof mount antenna and my Whip for the HT. I am in a rural area with plenty of trees. I think the best I got was a mile. I am wondering if the HT at the house on the higher Antenna and the mobile in the vehicle would increase the range? Slowly acquiring more equipment as fast as the $ will grow on the tree out back.
I know its line of sight and the higher I can get is better. THis is what I am experimenting with as how high I need to go for promising communication. Then I can purchase/build the height I need. OR I need another mobile for the vehicle.